Not Bad to Just Watch the Stage

If you’re checking out Silk Exotic Madison, you’ll find it’s the furthest from downtown, tucked away near Middleton in a pretty nondescript building that kind of looks like a warehouse. When you walk in, you’ll pay a cover charge and get searched, though they didn’t scan my ID the last time I went—which is a nice change of pace from other clubs.

Inside, the club is spacious enough with a T-shaped stage off to one side and a long bar against the opposite wall, which tends to get pretty crowded. Straight ahead is the lap dance area, and right nearby are the VIP rooms if you want to upgrade your experience. The stage setup is neat, with three poles and dancers rotating through them. Behind the stage, there’s a giant light board that kind of looks like a connect 4 board, part of the Vegas feel, I guess. It’s colorful and changes with the music but can be a bit distracting if you’re trying to focus on the performers.

Drinks were decently priced, grabbed a Bud Light for about five bucks, standard for Wisconsin. When the bar gets packed, the wait for a drink can be longer. Lap dances run about $40 for a song or two, fully nude but with no touching allowed. VIP rooms cost significantly more—around $325 for 30 minutes—and you get some limited touching (only butt and hips), but the security staff keeps a close eye to make sure you don’t cross any lines.