Mango’s is a venue located on International Drive close to downtown. I have worked there three times as a gogo dancer. Read on for some insider info on one of the most fun clubs in Orlando.
About Mango’s Tropical Cafe Orlando Mango’s Tropical Café Orlando is a bar, restaurant, club, and show venue. They are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9PM to 2AM. It is rated as the best place to celebrate in Orlando!
Weekly they host dance lessons, dinner shows, performers, and then they turn into a club! The venue whisks you to tropical vacations as you sit next to tiki-themed furnishings in colorful lighting, downing pina coladas and luxuriating on cheetah couches. The staff is friendly, the music is bumpin’, the drinks are tasty; it’s a fun spot to be!
Gogo Dancing At Mango’s
Working at this venue was different every time and really enjoyable! I worked there two Saturdays and one Friday in April.
The first Saturday was my favorite night working at Mango’s because my family and friends came. They had a blast (and were quite hungry after from all their dancing). It was so cool to see their smiling faces in the crowd! They were hyping me up so much that my stamina significantly increased. Also, the costume I wore this night was pretty comfortable!
What is Gogo Dancing?
A gogo dancer is a performer who dances to music at a venue for typically a flat rate. Each job entails different costuming, staging, and use of different dance styles. Sometimes dancers are on stage next to the DJ, sometimes they are on podiums spread throughout the space, and sometimes they are dancing right next to the venue’s attendees! Usually the performances are completely freestyled; however, occasionally there will be pre-staged movement.
Gogo dancers are generally seen in clubs. However, they also work at corporate parties, pool parties, concerts, special events, and festivals. Gogo dancers are usually booked through talent companies/agencies. Gogo dancers are paid anything from $100 to $1000 (holidays pay more). Most Gogo jobs are three to five hours long. Dancers typically perform 15-minute sets with timed breaks in between (i.e. 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off). Also, they take tips! 😊
Other Fun Details
Mango’s Orlando has been established for a while. In the backstage areas you can see lots of old pictures of performers and employees, which I love!
The venue is huge! Not only do they have a large main area with several different bars, but they also have a large office and back area! They have a full-service kitchen as well. Normally when working at venues as a gogo dancer, the dressing/break room is tiny, doesn’t have good lighting, or is straight up a closet. Mango’s felt like a special treat because they have large locker rooms for the employees with makeup mirrors.
I have friends in the dinner show they have on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm called Mango’s Live! I have yet to see the show myself, but it is on my bucket list for sure! You should see it too if you haven’t!
I was booked at this club through a gogo company called Bella Bella Talent (@bella_entertainment).
Let’s Make Something Clear…
Gogo Dancing is not stripping! I don’t care what you think you know, what you’ve heard, what you picture in your head; gogo dancing is not the same as stripping. Gogo dancers never take off any piece of clothing or perform private dances.
I have so much respect for exotic performers; pole dancing takes an incredible amount of strength! I just wanted to clarify that gogo dancers and exotic dancers are two very different things, and if you want strippers, hire strippers.
