[wowpow]

Bangkok’s go-go bars have recently made price hikes in their prices. The standard for some years in the leading bars with a show has been drink Bt200 and Off free Bt300.

Now the prime bars have increased prices and are charging extra on the busiest nights Fridays and Saturdays. Off fees seem to have all risen by 33% to Bt400 and drinks to Bt220 to 250 on weekdays and Bt250 to Bt270 on the weekend. A few bars do charge a little less for the drinks after the first one.

The Boys Bangkok started all this with their swish new bars with high investment. Others have been quick to follow and Future Boys and Jupiter were quick off the mark as was Tawan. Now some of the minor bars with very few boys and virtually no show e.g. Blue Star are charging Bt200 a drink.

The number of bars is increasing. The customer numbers seem to be at best static and probably decreasing. There seems to have been no improvement in the show standards and I have not heard that the boys are paid much more. Maybe the ‘protection’ is more expensive? There has been a tiny increase in spirit cost prices.

A number of friends have been screaming loudly about how outrageous this is. However the bars where they have made the increases remain the most popular bars in Bangkok and on the weekend it is often standing room or restricted view only.

The only other new facet to the business seems to be the growing number of females visiting the bars and offing boys. I don’t remember seeing many women at Jupiter but on my last visit there were three groups of Asian women obviously fascinated by the big cocks.

Most bars seem to serve decent drinks. I am always happy with Future Boys, Jupiter and Tawan. I am often unhappy at Dream Boys and Boys Bangkok.

Over the years the folder for the bill and presenting the change has become the norm with big tips expected. Often the waiter wish interrupt to give you change and stand there expectantly of even give you a shove to let you know that he is waiting for his tip. Anything less than Bt20 can get a frown. Before one left small change.

I always thought that the boy got 20 - 40 baht if you buy one a drink. Now I find that certain bars give them 100baht and also 100 baht to the tout who brings in a customer.

I also thought that the bar boys got no salary but sometimes got free food. Now I find that most bars pay from 100 baht a day and with over a hundred boys that adds up. They also pay the boys who perform in the shows. Tawan musclemen get 80 baht a performance for the muscle show - twice nightly and the tariff rises to the top performer, the katoey in the fuck show - difficult to recruit seemingly.

I don’t know where all this information leads but from my point of view I am very happy to pay Bt250 baht for a drink, to ogle some lovely lightly clad lads and a sexy show. I think it is still a great world bargain albeit a tad more expensive than before.

[boygeenyus]

So, obviously, do the people that continue to pack many of these bars. I'm sure the prices will continue to rise until the owners see a fall-off in revenue. I'm not sure what the breaking point is, but when the bars act as a cartel (as they do), it could be quite a bit higher.

[let me tell u]

Make the most of it wow pow you know if you cant get it any where else in the world you have to pay, every one knows your like a drug addict on heat when your in the Tawan bar.

I'm sure your keep paying to see your beloved tawan boyz same as cigarettes and gasoline they complain every time it goes up, but if you want what you need to carry on your life in complete happiness your still pay no matter what.

[Thaiquila]

Make the most of it wow pow you know if you cant get it any where else in the world you have to pay, every one knows your like a drug addict on heat when your in the Tawan bar.

I'm sure your keep paying to see your beloved tawan boyz same as cigarettes and gasoline they complain every time it goes up, but if you want what you need to carry on your life in complete happiness your still pay no matter what.

Hmmm. Those 100 baht porno VCDS are looking better and better ...

[TrongpaiExpat]

One day last week the BF and I paid a little visit to soi Cowboy. Drinks are 90B at every go go bar and less at some of the open bars. There are no aggressive touts/doormen. We went in several and there set up similar to our bars with a stage, bar and tables. Most rotate 6 to 8 girls on a stage and almost all topless and some total nude.

There are no formal shows with show times. There are short shows interspersed between the go go's. Some dance, other just shuffle.

I was not subjected to aggressive mamasans, waiters or door men. Drinks were not forced and tips not suggested. It was relaxed and the men seem to be having a good time. I did not see any females or hetero-couples as customers.

We talked to several of the girls bought some drinks and non expected tips and when we did tip it was met with a surprised look.

I was told an off fee is 200B. The lady does not much of a drink commission and does not ask for one and your not hustled to buy one.

I have always heard that the ladies expectation of a tip was more than the boys. I asked around and did not get many answers other than it's a negotiation generally made in the bar one on one and depends on the girl. The girls don't leave the bar until the amount is agreed on for the services expected. The pretty ones expect more than those who are not.

[Thaiquila]

Yeah ... well ... interesting, but

we ain't buying what they are selling!

[sing_lofty_sing]

I go a lot to the girlie gogo bars and beer bars, and have a good laugh with the girls. I find they are cheaper than the boy bars and the off fee is as said bht200. Likeing a bit of both i somtimes take a girl with me and find they dont seem to ask for so much. Maybe thats luck i dont know!!
Its nice to swing both ways

[homintern]

I'm not sure where you've been wowpow old boy, but reports of the off fee at 400 baht have been current for months now. Drink prices vary considerably, with most in Soi Prostitute plus Tawan having a recent hike, but other bars in Soi 6 are still less than 200 baht - with prices even less earlier in the week

[bucknaway]

When I was in Bangkok last time, I only did one off and that was from A-Bomb in Pattaya. When I went to the bars I only purchased one drink for myself and nursed the hell out of it. The only time I had more than one was if someone had a drink sent to me or someone purchased another drink for me.

When I return in October

(For the Nation party in Phuket) I plan to do much the same as I did this past trip.

A little time in the bars and more time with guys from online, babylon, DJ Station and the beach.

Now that Thailand seems to be becoming my 2nd home, maybe I will try new things.

But one thing is for sure and that is that I won't be dumping my money into a gogo bar for overpriced drinks and high off fees..... that is for sure

[homintern]

I rely much more on the chat rooms on the Internet now - plus my little black book - than on the bars

[boygeenyus]

Me too. It's probably been two years since I've offed anyone.

[Thaiquila]

Me too. It's probably been two years since I've offed anyone.

I think a lot of people are offing less.
Most sex workers also have cell phones and can make offline deals.
This all might be part of the cycle, charge more over less volume.

[Smiles]

For Bucknaway ... the drink prices in Patong GoGo bars have always been less expensive than Bangkok.
Last time I was in a GoGo Bar in Bangkok, and then a week later in Patong, it was was standard 200 Baht former, 100 baht latter.

We're not much into GoGos anyway so this was 2 years ago. Now it seems the prices in the more popular Bangkok bars are around 250 baht, so perhaps Patong has gone up as well (to 150 Baht?).

Maybe jinks, who was in Patong recently can let us know.

Cheers ...

[macaroni21]

I was in Patong Phuket in July 2005. According to my little expenses notebook, I paid 100 baht for a drink in almost all the go-go bars. The off fee however was 500 baht! I had the sneaky suspicion even then that that was a unusually high fee quoted only to me because they hadn't seen my face before.

[Scott123]

Perhaps they rise the fees because of high season?