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A business venture modeled after a car rental agency. With just a phone call, clients could hire “the body” to do a variety of tasks ("carnal knowledge" not allowed).  Basic—providing physical presence, including the possibility of altering the physical appearance of the rented body; Premium—providing small physical and intellectual tasks; and Deluxe—providing the above-mentioned services, as well as intense, intellectual activity. Rent-a-Body was promoted through the use of mass media including brochures, billboards, and print ads in newspapers. Originally launched in Oviedo, Spain in 1993 the enterprise expanded to New York City establishing a partnership with Creative Time, Inc in 1995.

Operational Locations: Oviedo (Spain), New York (USA)
Partnership: NYC, Creative Time Inc. , NYC

A/ Basic (Body as Prop)

Our basic service provides the rental body as a prop or an object, including the possibility of the renter making temporary physical alterations to the rented body, its clothing or accessories. If arranged in advance, photographs, videos and/or sound recording  can be done by the renter. (Sorry, we cannot honor requests for irreversible physical manipulations.)

B/ Premium (The Active Body)

In this category, in addition to basic physical presence, the customer will have access to all the physical and manual tasks that the rented body can perform. (Smaller intellectual tasks are also include.) The rented  body will engage in active and dynamic conversation with the customer. (Please note that this last contractual obligation will be most efficiently conducted in the Spanish language, although less complex communication in English is also available).

C/ Deluxe (Total Mind Function)

In addition to the services listed above, our most deluxe category, allows the customer to engage the rented subject in profound and intense intellectual activity. Under this plan, the rented body can serve as an alter ego.

THE BODY

Male. Caucausian. Born in Spain: 1965.
Leptosomic-athletic build. Height: 5'5''  Weight: 121 lbs.
Catholic education. Ph.D. History of Art.
No ailments or contagious diseases. Psychologically stable.

A TRIP ON THE SUBWAY
New York City, March 15, 1996

Hired to remain seated on a New York subway train, with the eyes closed, and wearing a sign with the following text: "This body has been rented to stay in this place three hours. Please do not talk to the body or disturb it. If you have any suggestion you can write it on the sheet of paper bellow. Thanks."

A LUTHERAN CHURCH IN BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, New York, 4-5 April, 1996

Hired by the Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY to perform a historical re-creation of Jesus Christ crucifixion.

INSULTS ON THE STREETS OF MANHATTAN
New York City, April 5, 1996

Hired to accompany a client on the streets of Manhattan to be insulted and humiliated by her.

A MARTYRED SAINT ON AN S/M BOUTIQUE
New York City, April 21, 1996

Hired by the S/M boutique Body Workship (East Village, Manhattan) to be on display as an unnamed saint, covered in blood with the hands suspended above by heavy chains.

ON TRIAL FOR THE SPANISH INQUISITION
Queens, New York, May 10, 1996

Hired by the Queens Robert F. Wagner Jr. Institute for Arts and Technology for academic purposes to confront in a theatrical way the issue of the Spanish Inquisition and its presence in the Americas.

PRESENTATION AT CHRISTIE'S
New York City, May 14, 1996

Hired by the Educational Department of Christie's auction house to do a lecture about the nature of the Rent-a-Body business.

12 A.M. ON SUNSET BOULEVARD: AT ABC STUDIOS.
Hollywood, California, June 18, 1996

Hired to appear on the ABC TV show Caryl & Marilyn Real Friends.

Paco Cao Rent-a-Body, Paco Cao, Rent a Body