The hackathon consists of several programmer teams that in 24 hours must create an IT project on a particular subject. But the task is complicated, since it is the strip club that has set the subject.
Mikhail Sinitsyn
The hackathon consists of several programmer teams that in 24 hours must create an IT project on a particular subject. But the task is complicated, since it is the strip club that has set the subject. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
"Dude, what are you doing here?" a tall, broad-shouldered guard in a suit asks me.
"You won't believe it – I'm working!" I reply. I'm sitting in a dressing room, surrounded by 20 half-naked girls.
Some of the girls could be called "sweet," some "hot," others have a diabolical flame in their eyes, one that entices you despite their ordinary appearance. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
But I am working. Honestly. I'm collecting material for this article on the Strip Hack Moscow 2016 marathon, the first hackathon in the world, which is taking place in Moscow's elite Golden Girls Club.
The hackathon consists of several programmer teams that in 24 hours must create an IT project on a particular subject. But the task is complicated, since it is the strip club that has set the subject.
There are three distinct groups in the club: the frightened 20-something programmers who are trying to win the million-ruble prize (about $16,500); the beauties who must use all their wiles to prevent the computer specialists from realizing their "golden" dream; the club's management, which has organized the contest in order to develop an IT project for attracting new clients to the club.
Most of the performers are girls who are tired of the boring professions that their parents imposed on them. Among them are former ballerinas and professional dancers who refused to work for peanuts and an idea, as well as just money-hungry young ladies. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
The club's ambiance is saturated with the atmosphere from the 1995 film Showgirls. The dancers are basically living the life of the film's protagonist Nomi Malone. However, instead of Las Vegas, they are out to conquer Moscow.
Most of the performers are girls who are tired of the boring professions that their parents imposed on them. Among them are former ballerinas and professional dancers who refused to work for peanuts and an idea, as well as just money-hungry young ladies.
"They are all beautiful ladies who don't know how to be happy with men. We help them become happy," explains club owner Lucky Lee.
Some of the girls could be called "sweet," some "hot," others have a diabolical flame in their eyes, one that entices you despite their ordinary appearance.
Being uninhibited is their main quality. They tell me: "Whatever is forbidden is possible." Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
Being uninhibited is their main quality. They tell me: "Whatever is forbidden is possible." And throughout the evening they shower you with this illusion as the club's guards tirelessly look on.
They merrily run around, laugh, change into expensive lingerie right in front of me without embarrassment and prepare themselves to seduce the men in the audience.
Meanwhile, 100 programmers divide themselves into teams and start working.
But with the appearance of the girls, problems begin to arise in the audience: Someone's system turns off on his laptop, someone else needs to urgently go and get some electronics for the gadget he is developing, etc. And obviously many begin socializing with the girls.
The majority of the programmers are still trying to be patient and restrained and to continue working. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
"I am not a stripper! I'm a flirt actress," says a minute 18-year-old girl with dark hair in pink lace underwear to a rotund programmer with a laptop in his hands. In response he mumbles something about morality and self-development.
"I can develop here, in the strip club," parries the dancer.
The majority of the programmers are still trying to be patient and restrained and to continue working. But others are deciding whether or not to forget the IT marathon and enjoy the free company of the girls. Besides, not everyone understands the concept of the "flirt actress" and they take the words "whatever is forbidden is possible" literally.
"Can you believe it – I'm dancing for him and he [one of the programmers] offers me 500 bucks for a night at his place? Does he really think I cost so little?" complains Olesya, standing in front of me on her 20-centimeter-high heels and wearing turquoise lingerie. "Prostitutes have clients! We have guests. And we don't sleep with them," she adds after some thought.
The winners of the hackathon, as expected, are those who were able to resist the temptation. "I am a deeply married man with kids. What do I need strippers for?" says Ruslan, head of the Brocard team. It is his five-man group that receives the competition's main prize: financing for the project and a job contract with the strip club. He will have time to admire the flirt actresses later.
"I am not a stripper! I'm a flirt actress," says a minute 18-year-old girl with dark hair in pink lace underwear to a rotund programmer with a laptop in his hands. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
"Thanks to our development, the club will be able to screen people. We've invented the concept of cards that guests, after their visit to the club, will hand out to their friends and thus attract people from their social group to the establishment," explains Ruslan.
Depending on the amount that a customer spends in one night, they will receive a certain set of services at the strip club: alcohol, food, private dances, etc.
"This system also includes the "kickback algorithm," meaning that if you bring a friend with a similar social status, you'll get a bonus," says Ruslan.
After the 24-hour hackathon you stop noticing all the delights of the strip club: The girls' beauty fades with your weariness and the ceiling lights lull you to sleep. The winning team celebrates their success with Lucky Lee and I make for the exit… bumping into a journalist colleague. Just like in a cheesy film my glass of red wine spills on her new blouse.
"You goddamned journalist! Get the hell out of here!" she yells at me. I could have made a new acquaintance. But definitely not today. Not after the strip-hackathon. And so I leave.
"You goddamned journalist! Get the hell out of here!" she yells at me. I could have made a new acquaintance. But definitely not today. Source: Mikhail Sinitsyn
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