Chantal started life in Berlin as a sex worker. For the last ten years she has been hostess and star of the incomparable House of Shame. George, discodamaged's Berlin correspondent, was recently privileged to interview her er... him. It’s a reflection of the wild side of Berlin from the 1980’s to now, with a few useful tips for wannabee rent boys.
So darling, what was the attraction of Berlin?
I grew up in a village 20km from Heidelberg. It was boring when I was 17. I had been hitch hiking on holiday and then a girl picked me up and took me to a squat in Berlin. I started to lived there. I soon returned to my village and picked up a few things to take back to Berlin, except my pet snake which went to the reptile house in Karlsruhe.
What did you do for money when you first came here?
I sucked dicks for money, what else? It was gay pride in Berlin, I was beautiful and I dressed in drag. A pimp saw me on Potsdamer Str and asked me to work for him.
Why did you decide to do that?
At the time Romi Haag had the most popular drag show at “Chez Romi” in Berlin. It was at what is now club Connection. Some of my friends worked there. They got 50 marks (25€) a night, had to pay for their own costumes and their own taxi home. I could earn much more than that, more easily. Rumour had it that Romi “I was born a hermaphrodite” Haag had a fling with David Bowie. When he lost his lust for her and only wanted to borrow her dresses, she threw him out. He was seen crying on her doorstep begging for glamorous outfits.
What’s the secret of making a living, with your personal assets?
Rule 1: I never worked for more than two hours a day. I had to pay the madam on the street 250 marks per week. It was 30 marks for a blow job with a condom and I could do ten in the two hours. The rent on my flat was 85 marks per month. I didn’t need a big one and it didn’t have a shower. But I never slept at home.
Who was your most famous customer?
I can’t remember all their names! It was half the Berlin senate and three quarters of the Royal Air Force.
Who was your best paying customer and what did you have to do?
A man came from a big win at the casino. He had 24,000 marks in cash. He sucked my tits a bit, but mainly wanted to talk. He didn’t even realise I had a cock. Then he stuffed my handbag full of cash, it was about 3,200 marks. I didn’t work for the next three months.
What about the breast implants? Do men like cocks AND tits?
I got breast implants in 1986 because I had the money – it cost me a blow job with a senator. You needed tits and if you didn’t come, spurting 3 metres, your client wasn’t happy. Fake fannies don’t work.
In the end, did you get bored with doing rent?
The first ten years were fun, but the next seven were not so much and I had had enough. My fellow workers got more sex for more money but they were careless. There was a group of about eight of us of the same age. They are now all dead of AIDS either from heroin or sex. You can’t do sex work on heroin you are out of control. I had some terrible times with my co-workers – we had fights and they stole off me. In the end I started to work in a friend’s club at the bar. But I wanted to be independent and I started House of Shame. One of the worst times was when it was at Kinzo club and a famous American photographer came in followed by a gaggle of rent boys. They demanded heroin. I think they ended up taking GHB, because they were puking in the corner and I had to call about 5 ambulances. Some people treat me like I’m a drug dealer. I’m not. I’m a hostess.
House of Shame will soon be 10. What’s the plan?
Well that’s a secret. I won’t do what Bob Young did at Ewerk. Perhaps I’ll have a weekend marathon party at House of Shame.
What’s the next thing for House of Shame?
In this business I think the first ten years are the hardest. As long as it’s fun and the people keep coming I will go on. It is fun and it’s growing. It’s my party.
Where will you be in ten years time?
Business as usual: Sex, drugs, rock n’ roll.
And finally, what’s the best sex you ever had?
Last night when I was sucking your arse and you were discussing with your boyfriend what to cook for dinner the next day.
