The only clothing remaining on Justin Guttridge is a modest thong.

The Grand Ledge native thrusts his pelvis and shakes his butt, hoping he will be able to court some money for his striptease.

Women and men begin to scream and yell as Guttridge performs a highly erotic dance of sensual moves.

Daring customers sprawl out on the hardwood floor with money clinging from their teeth at Club X-Cel, 224 S. Washington Square in downtown Lansing.

Guttridge, who goes by the stage name of "Demise," slowly moves his body over his customers. He grasps the money out of their mouths and places it with the wrinkled dollars in the back of his thong.

The few wrinkled dollars later amount to more than $400 for his weekly Tuesday strip performance at former Club Paradise, now Club X-Cel.

Stripping became a profession after Guttridge decided to compete with a friend. He profited from the competition and decided he liked it more for the money.

"When I first started stripping, it gave me such an adrenaline rush," Guttridge said. "And I just like taking my clothes off - plain and simple."

Guttridge strips on Tuesday nights at Club X-Cel, a gay dance bar, and will journey to gay bars in Grand Rapids and Flint to earn a few more dollars.

He says that he's secure with his sexuality and doesn't mind dancing with guys.

"When I go out and dance, all I see is money signs - I really don't care who they are," Guttridge says.

But not everyone in his life is OK with his choice of employment.

Guttridge has been in and out of relationships, and they normally end the same way.

"Girls normally can't handle it," Guttridge said. "But it's what I do, and I'm not willing to compromise."

However, Guttridge began dating a girl six weeks ago who attended high school with him.

Deborah Delcamp says she doesn't care that he strips.

"I think I would have a problem with him stripping if I didn't know him before," said the 24-year-old. "But I actually think it's appealing.

"It turns me on to see other people want him yet to know he is mine."