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He did have staff, a handful at least. They must have walked out on him when after a couple of weeks they realised that there weren’t enough customers to provide them with income. Launching a new business is horrendously difficult. I’ve been trying to help businesses step up a notch, and even then, one notch is helluva difficult, especially when the business owner (a) has had no business education and (b) started it as a personal hobby. Many things must come together, synchronously, to launch a business successfully. In the case of a gogo bar, the lease and outfitting the space, getting staff, building up a head of excited customers waiting for opening day, advertising campaigns, and most important of all, a business plan to fight for market share and create a brand identity. One needs deep pockets. Rent has to be paid (including up-front deposits). Contractors and suppliers have to be paid. Staff have to be paid. Palms have to be greased. More than that, just to fight for market share will likely involve price promotions, loss-leader offers and so on... for several months or even a year before one breaks even. I have no details about the finances at White Cat, but he must have lost a lot of money on Atlas and probably does not now have the cash buffer (the working capital) needed to launch White Cat properly. That he can’t even afford to get a signboard made is symptomatic. I have seen too many people start businesses the way they would pitch up at a farmer’s market in the village square -- park yourself there and customers will come. Well, if you’re selling your home-grown water melons, if you don’t hire staff but expend your own time, if you don’t have to pay for the space in the village square, and if the human traffic is already in the square, maybe.... except that you still need to be prepared for the other stall to undercut you price-wise and your melons go unsold. A gogo bar is nothing like that. Every little component of the business plan and set-up costs money. Most important of all, the human traffic is not waiting for you at the village square. Your potential customers are dispersed all around the world. How do you get them to know about your water-melon stall? How do you get them to make their way to your door? And mind you, they have to make their way to your door in enough numbers within a week or two of opening day so that you start with a bang, and that momentum is what will hopefully create the further word of mouth to carry you further. Of course, you need staff at hand to create the bang too, you need a DJ, a bartender, you need stock for your bar.... so as I said, a million things need to come together synchronously to launch a business successfully. I don’t see that White Cat was doing any of these things right. Instead I see a copycat idea (thus no unique branding) poorly, pennilessly executed with no realistic plan. I'm not trying to diss his attempt, and I for one would love to see an addition to Bangkok's gay scene, but I also appreciate how difficult it is in business.

No, just 3 customers there. I went 3 times and there were never more than 3 customers in the bar during the apparent show time.

Was just catching up on this thread... Do I understand you correctly? The boss himself performed a full monty on stage? Just for you only or were there other customers in the bar? Or do you mean he got one of his boys to do the show/monty?

It still mystifies why you would advertise for staff after opening the bar. I'm still hoping that it will survive.

I imagine the Quarter Silom could get very cruisy, considering how many gay men stay there.

A friend from Singapore stayed there a few weeks ago. He liked it. Said the gym had nice facilities but he was not there for cruising and so did not mention it to me. However, he said transport from that part of the city was sometimes quite difficult. Although it is relatively close to Thonglor Skytrain station, we had arranged to meet at the Yunimori onsen off Sukhumvit. This was his choice as I had sugested the newer Sathorn one. The original one is a lot closer to Rama 4 and badly placed for public transport. So he ordered a Grab car to get him there for 3:00 pm. It took 25 minutes for a car to arrive and then they got caught up in Sukhumvit traffic.

Thanks @hank75, I usually stay away from Onsens because all the guys I see going in have nice bodies, I don't want to go there and stick out like a sore thumb.hahaha Ohhh I already have my trip and stay booked 😁 👍 I will be arriving a week after Songkran to avoid the water flights. @RavenFlock Hope we see a Trip report here soon! 😁👍

How sad that you don't even want to see snow! It has the same ability to transform relatively ordinary landscapes as blossoms do in the Spring. And throwing snowballs can be fun - but perhaps not as much as the balls you prefer playing with 🤪

Yeah I read similar reviews for that area. I read Hamilton sauna offers back scrub too. The Korean scrub is quite good.

Thinking of trying the intercontinental hotel near thonglor. It's much newer property than the chitlom location. N price is cheaper too. Looks very nice. I think they have a jacuzzi n steam room in the men's. Nice pool too. Any one tried ?

Silom is the most convenient place to be if you want to go to bars or clubs, especially if you intend to bring someone back with you to your hotel. If it's massage parlours that you mainly have in mind, it isn't such a barrier to being further out of town..

some may have different ideas but I have habit of fixing expected tip before hand, if boy doesn't quote anything , I ask them outright " how much you want" . If they say ' up to you " , I tell them what I will give them. If they don't like my offer I usually say " I asked you already and you told me , up to me". That settles matter . Others may simply hand over money to boy at end of session , whatever they think is fair and that approach works too.

Marble Mountain, highest point and place of my winning bet one of temples in the caves angry dragon and cooling down city from above, bye, bye Da Nang, I'm on my way to Phu Quoc

Thank you, I only stumbled upon this forum recently so I didn’t know about staying near Silom area. My hotel was booked around Petchaburi in advance =(. Will take note to choose a better location hotel next time. Thanks for sharing, will provide the recommended tips you mentioned to the boys 😃

few pictures to enliven the thread Da Nang railway station Campa Sculptures Museum My Son ruins beautifull mountain views from Ba Na hills and fake church in fake village ( rain outside was real)

Thank you for sharing and the clarifications. I have tried to search the forums based on your suggestions and booked S’Sense and Jey Spa first haha. I hope it will be good as it is my first visit to these places.

Next few days I did mainly touristy stuff outside of city during days. Ba Na hills was my first destination, 550 000 dong , about 22$ by car , waiting included plus admission 1 000 000 dong. Complex is vast with multiple cable car lines offering I assume great views. There is famous , often photographed bridge supported by gigantic hands. They even have copy of French village complete with church which looks like church not only from outside but inside as well. Unfortunately I had bad luck . It was raining and fog was so dense that I could hardly see fingers on my hand ,forget those views. Still I enjoyed several rides, walked around , if only to get more wet although rain coat purchased for 50 000 was quite a help to stay at least partially dry. Surprise was , all that nasty weather was localized in the hills and city was dry when we arrived. Still about 5 hours spent well, At dusk I went for consolation to Nam Spa. I was told that guy there are more hunky and indeed three present all were. I was given option of choosing guy there. 75 minutes VIP treatment 1 500 000, ( 60$) . Not exactly cheap. This time promised body to body massage materialized with gusto, massage was again very good, clothes were shed in first few minutes. At end of session guy asked , if I have tip for him , to give it right in the room so I did. One thing I did not like was that I was left to shower alone which made bit difficult to get rid of all that oil . This was my second and last massage , or speaking more broadly , boy experience in Vietnam and while massages themselves were very good and professional, additional stuff was under executed to put it mildly and at prices they were charging not as good value for money as Bangkok massages are. But I’m glad I tried and certainly will again if travel to Da Nang again – highly likely as I liked the city vibe and have that Ba Na hills experience to repeat in better weather. Next day I visited or rather re-visited Champa ruins of My Son ( I was there in 2002 ) . I love ruins so it was highlight of my stay in Da Nang , weather cooperated today, heavy rain arrived exactly in the moment when I was getting back into my car. The same feast repeated in the afternoon which I devoted to exploring Marble Mountain in southern outskirts of Da Nang . I liked place a lot, temples , caves , quite a few climbs to get a views and it proven to be big ego booster for me. On top of highest point young Westerner told me he is impressed how well was doing climbing up in just plastic sandals and asked my age. When told he couldn’t believe so we made bet , 1000 dong ( 4 cents) and I prove it with my driving license. I collected banknote gladly. In the evening I went to Dragon Bridge to see Dragon breathing with fire and then splashing people with water. Spectacle is only Fri to Sun at 9p.m. Next morning funny thing at breakfast. I brought a soup to the table, left it there and returned to pick up more food and spoon. Upon return I see couple sitting at my table ( it was big one , sitting 6) and lady is eating my soup already !!!! WTF ? It turned up , she thought her husband was so nice and brought it for her and was even surprised how nice he indeed is. We had good laugh and become instant friends. In the early afternoon I took a car to Hoi An for 250 000 curious how I find it after 24 years since last time. Then it was charming little town, now I found it to be busy and noisy tourist trap . Walked though the old city, had 30 minutes river cruise , then some meal and was happy to go back to Da Nang. I know Ho An has many admirer, one of my friends even calls it “Quintessence of Asia” but, me, no , I’m not sold on it. Perhaps bkkmfj is right that I should spend night there to appreciate place fully. Like in all tourist infested places, I noticed tendence to overcharge. Both boat captain and taxi driver I took to drive me back to Da Nang started quotation at twice of final price I negotiated. All in, I enjoyed Da Nang a lot and can recommend city to everybody, I could stay few days more but my next stop is Phu Quoc island .

not intentional, I started feeling sleepy and decided to cut relation short for that reason

Your best chance for a sensual spa massage in Hoi An is "Male Massage for Men" spa. "Relaxant Wellness Spa" has male therapists and very good, inexpensive therapeutic massages, but sensual only if you really click with the therapist... Male Massage is down the street from a gay bar, Living Colors. All three places are on Google Maps

Oh no! A cliff hanger

Digressing slightly but I remember you posted some personal pics in a trip report (with face covered) and you are a very nice looking guy. No reason at all to be body conscious. I hope you will get to return to Thailand soon.

Yes, they are looking for staff. Their posters say they are looking for large numbers of young, goodlooking, handsome men, aged 20 and older, who are service oriented and good at entertaining. They don't say applicants need to be jacked or muscular which means half of our forum members should qualify. 😏

Will pass on your recommendation.

hope chicken with cashew nuts will be on the menu and to standard of Sophia's Kitchen