More reflections on Boyztown's future

[Oliver2]

When I first arrived in Boyztown twenty-two years ago, it was predominantly British-owned, from Amor to Cafe Royal. Now, with the Prisma premises becoming part of an expanding Ambiance and Cafe Royal bought by BBB, it is predominantly Chinese. As many have pointed-out, the Asian market will soon be the major target for BT businesses and that market will not be gay in the sense that we consider the term.

One of the advantages of the British-connection was that the owners worked together for the success of the soi as a whole, recognising that a vibrant soi, bright, cheerful and busy, brought in custom that may spend money in different venues during the course of one evening. Furthermore, co-operation ensured that the lighting and signage was maintained and that, when Sunee was reeling from allegations of illegal activities, BT remained, relatively speaking, "clean."

There is no such mutual support now; the owners no longer meet and I've had the impression-an outsider's impression, admittedly- that it's every business for itself. I recall the effect of Copa's all-night street parties on other businesses, despite protestations from owners. And now , BBB points its outdoor loudspeakers at Cupidol and Pamorama, , not to entertain guests but to provide enjoyment for its own workers. Meanwhile, there is the concern expressed by some as to what the effect of LCR's business model will be on the soi as a whole.

Whoever owns the businesses, surely co-operation in maintaining BT as a whole is not impossible? BT was established by a group of people working together. In these difficult times, it needs to recapture that soi -identity....and, at the very least,the owners and managers need to talk with each other in the common interest.

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[arsenal]

Another great post Oliver.
I read on GT that Big Boys (formerly 360 Degrees) are charging 360 baht for a shit show and dressed boys with a reported off fee of 800 baht before midnight.

Someone has obviously been into BBB and decided that they can copy the pricing structure. They simply don't know the three most important rules in that type of business. Location location, location. It will close again shortly after high season ends.

On my last visit I had a nice chat with Mr Speakeasy, the capped manager of BBB. I told him that there's nothing in his place for me now and at 350 baht a drink it simply isn't worth the money.

[Dimsumbear]

I vaguely remember a racist joke on Jewish and Chinese businessmen. Jewish A opens a gas station and attracts good business, Jewish B sees the traffic and opens a mini-mart nearby, Jewish C sees the crowd and opens a restaurant next to B. The location becomes more prosperous and good business for everyone.

Chinese A opens a gas station at a similar intersection and attracts good business. Chinese B comes along and opens one too but charging patrons 10cents less per litre. Chinese C then opens one himself and charging 20 cents less than B. Eventually everyone loses money and closes all shops. They are a determined bunch nevertheless and decides to repeat the same cut-throat practices elsewhere.

[latintopxxx]

Oh Lord, that is so true...a Jew would never undercut another...too clever for that...imagine the scandal at the schul...

[Marsilius]

You can easily look at it another way. In the 1990s Boystown as it then was - before the S was transmogrified into a Z - was operating as a cosy cartel. While the owners may well have used their meetings to discuss street lighting, does anyone also doubt that they were simultaneously agreeing to fix - and not to undercut each other on - prices for drinks and off fees?

Today, however, there is, as noted above, a changed and more competitive environment. A smaller number of punters have more options (e.g. internet sources) on how to find boys without having to pay 350B for a drink. Therefore it's become a case of every business for itself.

With the end of the 1990s cosy cartel, it ought to be expected that increased competition between businesses would drive prices down and so customers would get better deals. This, however, is Thailand where its bizarre brand of capitalism tends to respond to falling sales by increasing prices!

[kjun12]

Oh Lord, that is so true...a Jew would never undercut another...too clever for that...imagine the scandal at the schul...

Ah, racism alive and well on Sawatdee.

[latintopxxx]

dont be silly...its only racist if it is negative...not when u praise someone/race/people

[DoubleDutch]

Ah, racism alive and well on Sawatdee.

What are you talking about, latintopxxx is Jewish, how can he be racist?

[DoubleDutch]

When new le cafe opens, it may change the Soi, if it opens as karaoke or any kind of live music. Thais do only one kind of live music, very loud.
Even during the last year of previous le cafe, a show bar, it was difficult to sit anywhere near le cafe. The stupid drag show with volume cranked to the max, absolutely empty bar, only staff watching the "show".
Across from le cafe, at Ambiance even wearing headphones didn't help, it is impossible to listen to my own player with oversize headphones, only with ear canal IEM, in ear monitors, I managed to sit at Ambiance terrace through the show. It was difficult to even talk when show was on. It didn't help that around same time, every night similar drag show started at what used to be Copa, so sitting at Ambiance, you had unbearable noise coming from left and right. Former Copa had at least customers watching the show, le cafe was consistently dead.

It's puzzling who these drag shows are meant for. No one seems to like them, gay guys like men, we don't like women, so why would we need a show with groups of woman screaching away? I asked this from every gay friend at Soi, no one says they like it. But bars are almost on auto pilot - let's open a gay bar, and OF COURSE we shall have drag shows.
Maxis at Soi Twilight is excellent example what most people really want, but places like this are rare, there are almost none, Ambiance terrace the only place like this in Boyztown.
I bet le cafe will be noisy, and if live show, or karaoke will be zero interest for westerners. Maybe Chinese, but so far Chinese are not visiting Boyztown in large numbers, they only go to few gogo's.
But on other hand, Ian's and Robby's later years le cafe, restaurant was dead, day or night. In 2003 it was still super busy, after Panorama and gogos closed at 1am, everybody went to let cafe, with hotel, and bar was not subject to 1am law, bar was open 24hr. There were foreigners, hustlers, everybody was happy.
By 2006 it was getting quiet, bars were allowed to open after 1am, Panorama remained very popular, and there was really no point for le cafe to exist. Night after night empty tables on terrace, bored staff hanging around.
It's difficult to predict what would work for that location, a proper night club would be a guaranteed hit, but zoning doesn't allow it. Karaoke? Don't think so!

[arsenal]

Unlike any other bar LCR can open up completely or close up. Therefore they could actually combine the showbar with a genuine go go bar and a more risque show and alter the feel throughout the night. The dreadful lip synching dhows seem to be what the dancers want to do rather than what customers want to see.

The only lip synching I've ever seen that was enjoyable was in Castro. Some huge granny stood in a large plastic boat and mimed to My Heart Will Go On. It was hilarious and everyone enjoyed it's ridiculousness. More of that would be great.