Felipe Rose loves his job, which is hardly surprising given his work typically involves wearing a Native American headdress while hip-thrusting in front of a screaming crowd.
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But there is a lot more to being a disco icon than the glitz and glamour of the stage, the Village People founding member insists.
It is 9.30pm in New York and Rose is eager to get on with his night.
"I literally have to eat dinner and go straight to bed because we're rehearsing a new number ... it's just crazy right now," the 61-year-old says.
"I don't just do the Village People show, I have fittings for new costumes, also there's the business end of the company, there are usually 50 to 30 emails to answer a day - it's not just go on stage put on a headdress and go 'hey, look at me,' it's not about that, it's a full-time job."
But You Can't Stop the Music, and Rose has no plans to hand in his feathers any time soon.
His career has so far spanned close to four decades, joining the Village People in the late 70s when he was discovered while working as a dancer and bartender, dressed as an Indian, in a New York Go-Go club.
His look fascinated French producer Jacques Morali and executive producer Henri Belolo, inspiring the group's now iconic Macho Man characters.
The hits quickly followed with a combination of catchy chorus and kitsch costumes, cementing the Village People's place in popular culture.
Rose admits the group's enduring fame has afforded him a privileged, joyous life.
"I love what I do, there's nothing like it," he says. "I'm rewarded handsomely, I make great money - I make money while I sleep.
"It keeps me young and keeps me in shape, keeps me out of trouble and I love the sense of adventure and travelling around the world, who knows who's sitting next to me on a plane, you know?"
Those long plane journeys have included 37 to Australia - 38 as of this week when the group touch down for their Village People Live tour.
They may have played to countless audiences across the globe, spelling out YMCA more times than Rose cares to remember, but he never gets tired of seeing a crowd dressed in full Village People garb.
"The sense of dressing up is part of the whole allure of going to the concert, they get to live vicariously through us and imagine that they are part of the disco era," he said.
"We always emphasise the disco and the party, let's have a good time tonight and let's just really do it up."
And when it comes to a good time, Australia never fails to disappoint, making it tough for Rose to head back home.
"If I could live there I would move tomorrow and leave it all behind," he says."I cry every time I leave Australia."
Village People, March 13, Anita's Theatre Thirroul. Click here for bookings.
