Long Island New York "Gentlemen's Casino Boat" Scam

I am writing this blog about my unfortunate experience yesterday.
When I write it makes me feel better and I also will be posting this on several websites on the web. I also plan to go to a Long Island media to see if there is interest in the story. I think it is important when you have encountered someone or a company who is dishonest , conducting bad business and is just out to make $$ no matter what lies they tell,to expose them. We as entertainers, or the consumer public should and have the right to inform others. How else will people know about it if you don't put it out there for people to see and read.

I usually go to different websites that have talent castings adult or modeling to see what jobs have been posted. I frequently post ads on craigslist.com and backpage.com regarding Tastitreats Productions casting calls or looking for photographers, webdesigners, etc.
In December I saw a post looking for adult entertainment for a casino boat on Long Island. I contacted the poster to ask for the details.
The following is copy and pasted email correspondence which starts Dec 5, 2005 with the promoter of the casino boat. His name is Cielo.
Traci Islands writes:
Hello , I saw your ad on newyork.backpage.com. I am interested in the dancer position when needed. what is the pay for a dancer on a 6 hour trip? I have include 2 photos . You can also see more photos of me at
http://www.tracisparadise.com
http://www.onemodelplace.com/tislands
http://www.traciislandsxxx.com
http://www.myspace.com/traciislands

Cielo writes:
we are not paying being that we are giving you everything you would need to make alot of money, you have to hustle. we are providing a casino boat, over 200 men , food and beverages.. let me know if your satill intrested..

Now at this time I am still thinking if I want to do this kind of dancer job , then I get a phone call from Cielo telling me that other feature adult entertainers are going to be there like Gina De Palma and Dynamite and that we could make tips from Gentleman on the boat. He says that they want to make an e-flyer so he needs photos for the flyer. I agreed and the following is more email correspondence...
Traci Islands writes:
Hello, I have attached 3 photos from my most recent photo shoots. Sorry for the delay. I have been ill for the last few days and needed time to select a few photos. Please send me a copy of flyer before it goes up on the web.

Cielo writes:
yea you will be the first to get a pic as i need you to put it on your website.. gina is also going to post it on her website..

Traci writes:
Hello Cielo, Do you have a website that you will be posting the flyer? What other websites will the flyer be posted on? In what town and place is the casino boat leaving from? What time will it be leaving and when Is arrival time? How much is the trip? I have to know all this information for my schedule and for invites. You really have not given me much information.

Cielo writes:
leaving about 8 be back by 1 am. it is leaving from freeport. the flyer is being posted on your site and on ginas and is going to be circulated in an email blast thru that will circulate thru people in the financing , real estate and stock industries
Cielo writes:
This is just a proof copy there are a few adjustments that need to be made but I am basically sending this out to see how you guys feel about the way it looks so far , let me know if youd like any changes to be made
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Now the original flyer that was sent to me had name spelling errors , wrong website domain names even though he had my correct domain urls from original emails. He also wrote without my permission or a prior discussion on the flyer that there will be a live shows from the adult stars plus 30 dancersand you ccan buy tickets from my website as well, so after seeing this on the flyer, I wrote...

Traci writes:

Hello Cielo , I'm sure your know already that you sent out this proof with Gina's named spelled wrong and my website address is not traciislands.com . Where did you get that web address from? I cannot sell tickets because I am in the middle of getting a production together and cannot commit myself, which I had discussed on the phone with you earlier. I was also not told that I would be doing a live performance and it was not made clear that I would have to compete with 30 other dancers for money when I am not getting any base pay.
I'm sorry but I feel it would be in my best interest to pull myself out from being an entertainer on this cruise.
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Cielo then calls me once again to persuade me into still being an entertainer on this cruise by telling me you don't have to do a live show if you don't want to. I told him, it is not that I don't want to do a show. I do shows for parties and events where I receive a base pay for my show plus tips. I also told him they it is false advertising to place that on a flyer and not do what is advertised. I also told him if you hire too may dancers all the dancers will feel that they will not make enough tips especially us features that are not getting paid to perform. (please keep in mind! no dancers were getting paid to be on this trip!) We came to agreement that I would do my show and use it also as a promotional opportunity where my video and camera man will record my show, we can take photos with the passengers and make tips, plus I would receive 5 tickets , which I used to give away to friends, that were very appreciative to be on a casino boat cruise where there will be live adult entertainment.

Now, I have given tickets to my friends , posted this flyer on my website, myspace, xpeeps. I also posted bulletins of flyer that I will be performing etc.
Cielo wanted all the girls to meet at his office to be what called "briefed" . A few days before I called him to ask him to email me his offiice address, days passed and no email. One other adult feature called me to know how she could get in touch with Cielo because she was flying into New York and did not know address where to go. She said she was continually trying to get in touch with him. I found this odd since he had a casino boat cruise coming up with many dancers and I'm sure other people were trying to get a hold of him. (I know when I am about to have an event that phone is by my side ready to answer any questions.) On Wednesday , the day before the event I tried all day to contact him by phone and there was no answer and it went to voice mail .

Now we are at the day of the cruise, yesterday, Thursday, Jan 25. It was about 11 am when I was in the stores getting accessories for my show. My cameraman was all set , he took the night off .
Cielo calls i pick up and say "why are you MIA(missing in action)?" He says we have a "thing" going on... I said "what kind of "thing"?
He proceeds to tell me that there cannot be any live shows or adult entertainment of any kind on this casino boat. He says they found out just yesterday that there was a problem. I said "why was your phone off yesterday and why didn't he call me and what would be the point of going on the trip at all. Why would the gentlemen tip dancers that are not doing anything?" He says, "you can still network." I am very upset at this point and say "what will you tell the passengers that paid $100 per ticket to see live adult entertainment?", there is no answer. I also say I'm sure all the other features are upset and he says all is cool with them and they already know.

I end the conversation by saying I will get back to him after I talk to a few people.
I proceed to call Dynamite one of the other feature New York adult entertainers. All I had to say was how are You? and she started telling me not good since she just got off the phone with Cielo and she is not happey about the situation and their conversation. She also said to him "what is the point of going on this criuse if there can be no adult entertainment? She also says that Cielo has not provided her with any address and directions to get to the boat, even though she was coming from Manhattan and had to make sure there was enough time. She says if he doesn't call with the courtesy of giving her directions in sufficient time that she will not be going on the boat . I did call Dynamite a few hours later and she had spoken with Cielo and told him it is now 4:30 pm day of cruise and still have not received directions. She tells me that Cielo said " I don't have time to chase after you" Dynamite then hung up the phone on this rude guy which personally I would have done the same.


In the few hours I had before the 8pm departure of the boat my cameraman( Ken Davis) and I had decided to go to the boat dock and give out copies of a letter stating why I will not be going on this trip to the passengers and confronting Cielo in person.

Here is what the letter said:

Attention: Gentlemen's Casino Boat Ticket Holders

This afternoon, the promoter (Cielo) of this boat cruise called each of the feature adult entertainers to let us know that they will now not allow any live shows or adult entertainment of any kind on this trip!
As an entertainer I feel that we were mislead into being advertised as a feature when there was no way for the passengers or our fans to be entertained by us. I in no way wanted to be associated with an event with promoters that choose to false advertise.
I do know that as passengers you expected to be entertained and for this I'm very sorry that these promoters do not have the knowledge on how to prpperly promote and run an event. My opinion. and the opinion of other feature performers i have spoken with today is that these people have no business in this business.
As a result of these unfortunate events I will not be going on this trip.
i apologize for any inconvenience but you can contact the promoters of the casino boat cruise with your complaints.
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As I am giving out these letters to the passengers, Cielo also confronts me and say it is not my fault and he just found out himself about all of this and if I wanted to talk to the manager . I said I would love to speak with her. All three of us go into the office of the Long Island Casinos cruise lines (Freeport, LI, NY) and speak to Brenda.
She says to me she just found out herself that was even going to be any adult entertainment. I asked her when she found out and she said 3 days ago. She says that the Nassau county authorities were there to say that there cannot be any adult entertainment on a casino boat that is is against the law . I then look at Cielo and say so you promoted all this featuring adult live shows and enertainment not knowing first from the proper authorities that you can even have an adult themed event on a casino boat. He says, well you are not going on he boat so why do you care anyway. I said that is not the point
that is what you call false advertising and that is illegal. I then asked him to leave the office so I can talk to Brenda alone. She tells me that Cielo is a liar and knew all along that they could not have adult entertainment on the boat. It is against the law to have adult entertainment and gambling at the same time. He just used your names as the hook to get passengers to buy tickets.
I then thanked Brenda for the information and left the office.
As I walked passed Cielo he just looked at me.

This is a warning to all adult entertainers here in Long Island, New York and elsewhere. Please find out from the company that the promoters are legitimate and that the adult event being organized and advertised is within the law. Never let a promoter use your name or solicit you in any way. Remember they are trying to use you to make $$ for themselves.