Originally Posted by
Stickman
Adding to PattayaтАЩs woes this year are the growing number of gogo bars and growing demands of dancing girls for higher and higher salaries. This represents a double threat for owners, inasmuch as clubs are competing with one another on two levels: both for the dwindling number of tourists and for the available stable of Isaan girls willing to trade in their baggy clothes and sandals for high heels and nothing else.
But as clubs - new and old - find themselves forced to offer higher wages in order to lure dancers as well as showgirls and waitress away from other establishments, they are forced to push up the price of drinks and bar fines. Hardly a combination that will attract those sought-after customers. In fact, with beer and alcohol prices hovering around and above 100 baht, bar fines surpassing 500 baht - to 600 and 700 baht - and ladies demanding 1,500 to 3,000 baht for the pleasure of their company - even visitors from Bangkok are thinking twice before venturing down for the weekend.
The depressing picture seems to have taken its first casualty. Teasers, the gogo that launched operations a mere three months ago, closed its doors last week. No one could be reached to explain the clubтАЩs demise.
If higher prices are not enough to ward off business, attitudes are contributing to the problem. Girls are making so much money in many gogo bars that they have less reason to flirt with customers. This weekend, visiting a dozen Walking Street clubs - most of which were hurting for business - the overwhelming majority of male patrons were sitting by themselves while dancers, idle between sets, mixed only with their own - ignoring the obviously willing clientele. Instead of buying another round and a lady drink, the overlooked customers bolted after their first drink.
Furthermore, Walking Street clubs seem to have toned down the glamour, despite now needing all the resources they can muster. Shows at most gogo bars have become tedious, there is less showing, and the quality of dancers and showgirls has suffered a marked decline.
Even such new and promising venues as Angelwitch and X-Zone leave a lot to be desired. Interesting decors and layouts, to be sure. But that is not enough to overcome a les-be-friends show featuring fully dressed performers, or every dancer fitted with white cotton ankle socks. WhereтАЩs the fun in that?
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