Well they are wearing more in Bangkok Go-go bars than pre Tawan Television programme. This subject like so many in Thailand seems to be almost infinitely variable. In a Go-go bar you can almost always 'off' the waiters, doorman, barman and even Mamasan though these are an additional fee due to the inconvenience of key staff departing - even five minutes before closing.
Host bars seem to vary quite a bit from the sort of place where clothing is skimpy and the boys come over and wave their thingies around to places where they all wear a shirt and a same coloured tie and sit on tiered benches, like a jury, watching television opposite. Some host bars will have a show when the staff appear wearing little or less. Most have employees but some just have local money boys attending for a small fee when they want to some call these Beer bars to differentiate between Host bar indoors or similar outdoors.
No mention in Fromers or Lonely Plant - How much missed is The Men of Thailand by Allyn and Chaiyana - out of print for 7 years or so. Here are a few extracts though I don't find them particularly accurate. It's amazing that the prices have varied so little since the book was written nearly ten years ago.
Gay Host Bars
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At some gay host bars, hosts wear numbered badges. The Police in that particular district require this. The number corresponds to Police records on the particular host. Since pointing at someone is taboo, the numbers function to help patrons indicate which host they would like to meet.
At gay host bars (and some pubs and saunas) patrons sit with a host and buy him a drink and, if he does not want to take the host out of the bar with him, gives him a tip for his time (customarily B100-B200). In some bars that are frequented by foreigners, hosts approach a non-Asian patron. If the patron is Asian, it is assumed that he may be Thai and the host would only join him if invited.
When a host is seated with a patron, some bars encourage a drink purchase. The host gets a small percentage of the cost of a drink (B10-B20).
In all bars, the captain or manager can arrange a match. In bars that are frequented mostly by Thai, hosts do not approach foreigners at all. Tips to the captain and waiter are customary.
Hosts can be taken "off" with a patron in which case an "off" fee is paid to the bar, usually B200-To B300.
A "Gift" between B500 to B700 is given for short term sexual services; B500 to B1000 for overnight. Hosts who work with tourists may also press for a specific amount of money depending on what activities are requested. Hosts from venues that are frequented by tourists are more demanding about money.....
...Sometimes things do not work out between patron and client. Regardless of whether or not sexual encounter has occurred, the host is customarily given a tip.....
Gay Go-Go Bars
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Go-Go bars have hosts some of whom go-go dance and most have stage shows. Live show mans the bar has either "sexy" shows (semi-nude or nude candle dancing, showers and simulated sex shows), big cock or masturbation shows or an actual sex show. Cabaret are lip-sync transvestite shows.
Gay Cocktail Lounge
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format has hosts but no go-go and some form of live musical entertainment (bands, singers) or karaoke. Hosts usually sit waiting to introduce customers.
Gay Beer Bar
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Open air-drinking spots, called Beer Bars, are common in tourist destinations, including Pattaya, Ko Samui and Hat Yai. Although gay beer bars were common in Phuket most were converted to enclosed bars during a major renovation in Patong Beach's Paradise Complex. Usually beer bars are open all day and late into the night.People sit around a bar drinking ( not just beer ) chatting and watching the passing crowds. Usually freelancers work out of them, but several have a regular staff of hosts.
There is also stuff on Pubs/Restaurants, Saunas, Freelancers, Go betweens, Touts, Guides and Escorts
Please remember that this 7th edition was published in 1999 and probably written two or three years earlier at least.