Tampa Fetish Party Organizer Kills Himself - GoFuckYourself.com

badmunchkin · 04-25-2007, 09:47 PM

weird, I've met this guy a few times - he went by Thee Big Bad Wolf - he's very well-known among the local fetish and burlesque crowds...

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB5UOIIR0F.html

Man Who Lived To Be Life Of The Party Took His Own

TAMPA - Stephen Huff wanted to be Tampa's toastmaster.

He promoted decadent parties filled with beautiful models. He envisioned people from across Florida traveling to attend.

He advertised appearances by some of the top burlesque, fetish and adult entertainers in the country. And he always promised proceeds to be donated to local charities.

For the past three years, Huff, 35, planned one spectacular event after another. Then each party began to spectacularly fail.

Contracts were broken. Performers weren't paid. Excuses were made.

With each setback, Huff would disappear from the club scene for a while. Internet message boards buzzed with rumors of his death.

But each time, he would resurface. And he would plan a new party.

The most recent party, however, on April 13, was his last.

After failing to draw a crowd once again, Huff took his own life. He was taken off life support and pronounced dead Monday at Town & Country Hospital.

For days, no one believed the news.

'Visions of Grandeur'
The Tampa Erotic Ball was supposed to draw 2,000 people and raise $10,000 for the Autism Society of Florida.

Huff promised appearances by a bevy of adult entertainers, headlined by Sophia Rossi, a rising starlet formerly contracted to adult film actress Jenna Jameson's Web site, Club Jenna.

Huff booked Club Underground, a cavernous nightclub in downtown Tampa, the site of two previous lackluster events. General manager Gary Alan agreed to give him one more chance.

"He had visions of grandeur," Alan said.

Rossi and several other performers canceled the morning of the show, however, claiming Huff violated the terms of their contract.

"The girls were supposed to be at a certain kind of hotel, have a certain kind of transportation, and be paid at a certain time," said Taryn Pieh, former contract girls manager for Club Jenna. "None of that happened."

Word got out, and only about 60 people attended the Erotic Ball. The club made less than $1,500 in admission fees. Alan said Huff's career as a party promoter was probably over.

Hours later, on April 14, the man whose nickname was "Thee Big Bad Wolf," contacted his girlfriend, Sally Studley. He had left a note on her car saying he planned to take his life.

"He was text messaging me that he was going to disappear for a while," she said. "I thought his suicide note was just a joke, that he was going to disappear because people wanted money from him."

Studley arrived at the Homestead Studio Suites, an extended-stay hotel next to the Veterans Expressway off Hillsborough Avenue, about 4:40 p.m. Huff had booked rooms there for the performers but failed to pay the bill, Studley said.

As she approached the building, Huff stepped out onto a second-floor balcony. He had tied one end of a nylon rope to the balcony railing, the other end around his throat.

"I saw him wave," said Studley, 20.

Then he jumped.

The rope had enough slack that his feet almost touched the concrete floor below.

"I don't think he even meant to kill himself."

A Double Life
Hundreds of people across Tampa knew Huff for his parties. And each new event brought a fresh round of skepticism and criticism.

"It's true Steve had made a lot of enemies in the scene, mostly for making promises it seemed he couldn't deliver on," said Rubberdoll, a nationally known female model from South Florida who specializes in wearing latex fetish clothing. "I think he was always trying to do something bigger than his capabilities, and then he would take it really hard when things didn't work out."

He wasn't hard to miss, with stringy, thinning strawberry-blond hair and black T-shirts that often sported profane statements. He carried a camera always and had whips dangling from his belt.

His personality polarized people he met.

"He's like the opera," said Yvonne Ponce, a friend of six years. "You either really like him or dislike him."

But Huff, who grew up in Palm Harbor, led a double life, according to his family, who knew nothing about the erotic parties he planned or the company he kept.

The former Army veteran and lawn service employee did not share that side with them.

"Last time we saw him was last summer. My wife went down there," said his father, Robert Huff, of Easley, S.C. "He kept that part of his life secret from us because he knows I wouldn't approve of it."

Huff also kept getting in trouble.

His name appears in nearly a dozen criminal reports from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, with accusations ranging from theft to assault.

In March 2005, Huff was confined under the Florida Baker Act after he sent a five-page e-mail to a friend threatening to harm himself. When Tampa police arrived at his home, they found Huff, visibly upset, with a rope, tied in a noose, on a table nearby.

"There were two sides to him," Ponce said.

Those two sides collided this month.

In advertising the Erotic Ball, Huff included a logo from the Autism Society of Florida on a Web site and a flier that included photos of scantily clad and nude adult performers.

Charity officials called Huff to complain that he had not sought permission to use the logo, according to a story April 6 on WTSP, Tampa Bay's 10 News.

Huff lost his job at All Pro Lawn Maintenance as a result, Ponce said. Darlene Van Zile of All Pro Lawn said Huff's personal business had begun to interfere with his job.

As news of Huff's death got out, people commented in public forums and on Web sites where the WTSP story had been posted.

Some cited his reputation: "Another supposed hoax?"

Others were more blunt: "Huff is faking his own death by suicide to try and duck out."

A Sad Ending
The Erotic Ball was supposed to be his return from a resounding embarrassment.

In August, Huff announced a party called the Starlets and Harlots Ball at Club Underground to be headlined by Dita Von Teese, a popular burlesque performer married to rocker Marilyn Manson.

He offered VIP tickets at $50 apiece or $75 for two. General admission was $15 in advance, $25 at the door.

The day before the event, Von Teese announced on her Web site that she was canceling her appearance because of a contract violation. Huff had failed to pay.

A day later, he was arrested for nonpayment at a downtown Tampa hotel. Shortly after, as criticism mounted and people demanded refunds, a rumor began that he had killed himself.

"He didn't go out of his way to fake his own death," Ponce said, "but he cut off all of his ties because he wanted to lay low."

Huff resurfaced with a plan for the Erotic Ball. He approached Alan about using Club Underground. Alan said he was willing to take a chance. He tried to help with advertising, leaving Huff to deal with the performers.

"Everything screwed up," Alan said.

Alan spoke to Huff the morning after the party. Huff told him his life was ruined.

"I said, 'Steve, it ain't the end of the world,'" Alan said.

"I've been in the business 30 years. This is just one of the saddest endings," he said.

pornguy · 04-25-2007, 10:00 PM

Hmm Dont know him. Anyone ever seen a photo of him. I was raised there and he was about my age.

badmunchkin · 04-25-2007, 10:09 PM

www.myspace.com/theebigbadwolf

badmunchkin · 04-26-2007, 06:24 AM

Interesting blog about this:

http://huffsblog.com/?p=121

AndyA · 04-26-2007, 07:07 AM

YIKES! that's weird

rbrruss · 04-26-2007, 07:59 AM

I knew him. He had been around the florida fetish scene for years.

Saw him at the exxxotica miami convention a week before he killed himself.

Kinda sad to see someone go out like that, but I can't really say I'm shocked. I knew he had some issues. Still sad though.

seeric · 04-26-2007, 08:29 AM

wow. thats terrible news.

promoting events period in tampa is a risk. there is no way i would try to promote anything there, especially erotic events. anyone that lives there knows how that area is. churches on every corner, bible thumpers everywhere. thats one of the reasons i couldn't wait to get out and will never go back.

poor guy, i feel sorry for him. promoting clubs is hard enough in big cities with the dems to fill those types of events, let alone trying to do them in a place like tampa.

04-25-2007, 09:47 PM	#1
badmunchkin Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,797	Tampa Fetish Party Organizer Kills Himself weird, I've met this guy a few times - he went by Thee Big Bad Wolf - he's very well-known among the local fetish and burlesque crowds... http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB5UOIIR0F.html Man Who Lived To Be Life Of The Party Took His Own TAMPA - Stephen Huff wanted to be Tampa's toastmaster. He promoted decadent parties filled with beautiful models. He envisioned people from across Florida traveling to attend. He advertised appearances by some of the top burlesque, fetish and adult entertainers in the country. And he always promised proceeds to be donated to local charities. For the past three years, Huff, 35, planned one spectacular event after another. Then each party began to spectacularly fail. Contracts were broken. Performers weren't paid. Excuses were made. With each setback, Huff would disappear from the club scene for a while. Internet message boards buzzed with rumors of his death. But each time, he would resurface. And he would plan a new party. The most recent party, however, on April 13, was his last. After failing to draw a crowd once again, Huff took his own life. He was taken off life support and pronounced dead Monday at Town & Country Hospital. For days, no one believed the news. 'Visions of Grandeur' The Tampa Erotic Ball was supposed to draw 2,000 people and raise $10,000 for the Autism Society of Florida. Huff promised appearances by a bevy of adult entertainers, headlined by Sophia Rossi, a rising starlet formerly contracted to adult film actress Jenna Jameson's Web site, Club Jenna. Huff booked Club Underground, a cavernous nightclub in downtown Tampa, the site of two previous lackluster events. General manager Gary Alan agreed to give him one more chance. "He had visions of grandeur," Alan said. Rossi and several other performers canceled the morning of the show, however, claiming Huff violated the terms of their contract. "The girls were supposed to be at a certain kind of hotel, have a certain kind of transportation, and be paid at a certain time," said Taryn Pieh, former contract girls manager for Club Jenna. "None of that happened." Word got out, and only about 60 people attended the Erotic Ball. The club made less than $1,500 in admission fees. Alan said Huff's career as a party promoter was probably over. Hours later, on April 14, the man whose nickname was "Thee Big Bad Wolf," contacted his girlfriend, Sally Studley. He had left a note on her car saying he planned to take his life. "He was text messaging me that he was going to disappear for a while," she said. "I thought his suicide note was just a joke, that he was going to disappear because people wanted money from him." Studley arrived at the Homestead Studio Suites, an extended-stay hotel next to the Veterans Expressway off Hillsborough Avenue, about 4:40 p.m. Huff had booked rooms there for the performers but failed to pay the bill, Studley said. As she approached the building, Huff stepped out onto a second-floor balcony. He had tied one end of a nylon rope to the balcony railing, the other end around his throat. "I saw him wave," said Studley, 20. Then he jumped. The rope had enough slack that his feet almost touched the concrete floor below. "I don't think he even meant to kill himself." A Double Life Hundreds of people across Tampa knew Huff for his parties. And each new event brought a fresh round of skepticism and criticism. "It's true Steve had made a lot of enemies in the scene, mostly for making promises it seemed he couldn't deliver on," said Rubberdoll, a nationally known female model from South Florida who specializes in wearing latex fetish clothing. "I think he was always trying to do something bigger than his capabilities, and then he would take it really hard when things didn't work out." He wasn't hard to miss, with stringy, thinning strawberry-blond hair and black T-shirts that often sported profane statements. He carried a camera always and had whips dangling from his belt. His personality polarized people he met. "He's like the opera," said Yvonne Ponce, a friend of six years. "You either really like him or dislike him." But Huff, who grew up in Palm Harbor, led a double life, according to his family, who knew nothing about the erotic parties he planned or the company he kept. The former Army veteran and lawn service employee did not share that side with them. "Last time we saw him was last summer. My wife went down there," said his father, Robert Huff, of Easley, S.C. "He kept that part of his life secret from us because he knows I wouldn't approve of it." Huff also kept getting in trouble. His name appears in nearly a dozen criminal reports from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, with accusations ranging from theft to assault. In March 2005, Huff was confined under the Florida Baker Act after he sent a five-page e-mail to a friend threatening to harm himself. When Tampa police arrived at his home, they found Huff, visibly upset, with a rope, tied in a noose, on a table nearby. "There were two sides to him," Ponce said. Those two sides collided this month. In advertising the Erotic Ball, Huff included a logo from the Autism Society of Florida on a Web site and a flier that included photos of scantily clad and nude adult performers. Charity officials called Huff to complain that he had not sought permission to use the logo, according to a story April 6 on WTSP, Tampa Bay's 10 News. Huff lost his job at All Pro Lawn Maintenance as a result, Ponce said. Darlene Van Zile of All Pro Lawn said Huff's personal business had begun to interfere with his job. As news of Huff's death got out, people commented in public forums and on Web sites where the WTSP story had been posted. Some cited his reputation: "Another supposed hoax?" Others were more blunt: "Huff is faking his own death by suicide to try and duck out." A Sad Ending The Erotic Ball was supposed to be his return from a resounding embarrassment. In August, Huff announced a party called the Starlets and Harlots Ball at Club Underground to be headlined by Dita Von Teese, a popular burlesque performer married to rocker Marilyn Manson. He offered VIP tickets at $50 apiece or $75 for two. General admission was $15 in advance, $25 at the door. The day before the event, Von Teese announced on her Web site that she was canceling her appearance because of a contract violation. Huff had failed to pay. A day later, he was arrested for nonpayment at a downtown Tampa hotel. Shortly after, as criticism mounted and people demanded refunds, a rumor began that he had killed himself. "He didn't go out of his way to fake his own death," Ponce said, "but he cut off all of his ties because he wanted to lay low." Huff resurfaced with a plan for the Erotic Ball. He approached Alan about using Club Underground. Alan said he was willing to take a chance. He tried to help with advertising, leaving Huff to deal with the performers. "Everything screwed up," Alan said. Alan spoke to Huff the morning after the party. Huff told him his life was ruined. "I said, 'Steve, it ain't the end of the world,'" Alan said. "I've been in the business 30 years. This is just one of the saddest endings," he said. __________________ Custom, Full Color Printing with BIG Discounts for GFY! ICQ 283197499

04-25-2007, 10:00 PM	#2
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	Hmm Dont know him. Anyone ever seen a photo of him. I was raised there and he was about my age. __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

04-25-2007, 10:09 PM	#3
badmunchkin Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,797	www.myspace.com/theebigbadwolf __________________ Custom, Full Color Printing with BIG Discounts for GFY! ICQ 283197499

04-26-2007, 06:24 AM	#4
badmunchkin Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,797	Interesting blog about this: http://huffsblog.com/?p=121 __________________ Custom, Full Color Printing with BIG Discounts for GFY! ICQ 283197499

04-26-2007, 07:59 AM	#6
rbrruss Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South Florida Posts: 228	I knew him. He had been around the florida fetish scene for years. Saw him at the exxxotica miami convention a week before he killed himself. Kinda sad to see someone go out like that, but I can't really say I'm shocked. I knew he had some issues. Still sad though. __________________ RubberDollars - Latex and Gothic Kink

04-26-2007, 07:07 AM	#5
AndyA So Fucking Banned Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 1,670	YIKES! that's weird

04-26-2007, 08:29 AM	#7
seeric .......... Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: .......... Posts: 41,917	wow. thats terrible news. promoting events period in tampa is a risk. there is no way i would try to promote anything there, especially erotic events. anyone that lives there knows how that area is. churches on every corner, bible thumpers everywhere. thats one of the reasons i couldn't wait to get out and will never go back. poor guy, i feel sorry for him. promoting clubs is hard enough in big cities with the dems to fill those types of events, let alone trying to do them in a place like tampa.