Shows in Thailand

[Guest YardenUK]

I have posted this question on SGT forum but i am very curious to see what guys on this forum thinks too:

 

As a matter of curiosity on my part, how many guys actually enjoy shows? (be they in bars or wherever)

 

Am I alone in really hating them - either in go go bars, normal bars or even DJ Station?

 

I love looking at hot guys but not when they are badly choreographed or in costumes.

 

I see so many people clearly enjoying them - Thais especially seem to love shows -am I missing something here?

 

I am not talking about sex shows (which don't really seem to happen anyway) - i mean the cabaret style stuff with costumes, music and more often than not the odd drag queen thrown in for good measure......

 

Please don't attack me - i am just curious about whether there are other gay men who go to Thailand and avoid shows at all costs if possible.......

 

 

[Guest stef]

Please don't attack me - i am just curious about whether there are other gay men who go to Thailand and avoid shows at all costs if possible.......

 

 

 

That's a good question and I am glad you asked it.

Personally I don't like them either as I am not a big fan of drag queens shows but I respect them .

I have been to few of them as I had to take a bunch of photos for the gaythailand gallery but if I had to choose , I would prefer to go watch a nice movie at the movie theater.

 

I am also used to bigger shows as I most of the time reside in Las Vegas, NV so seeing a drag queens show really doesn't rock my world.

 

I think it is cute if you haven't seen one before , but my second time was enough.

 

I wouldn't say I would avoid them at all costs either but it wouldn't be my first choice, that's for sure.

[Guest wowpow]

I see that Cirque du Soleil's 'Beatles in Love' is on UBC tonight. It's from Las Vegas - I think The Belagio?

 

In my experience there is very little of International quality in Thailand. Very occasionally in Bangkok there is a good show or concert - very often at the The Cultural Center and the only other place is Fantasea in Phuket - which was organized from Las Vegas I hear.

 

But that is not what we are talking about here. We are not talking 3000 to 7000 a seat but 150 to 250 baht which includes an alcoholic drink. Casting is often from bar boys though some employ professionals from the big lady-boy shows.

 

A point of clarification - a ladyboy show as at famous Boyz Boyz Boyz is, in Thailand, a Cabaret and a boy show often with sexy parts is a Show{/i] These are often confused and I suppose that a place like Wild West which has a bit of both is a Showaret?

 

There is little doubt that these are popular as the bars with good shows are the busy ones. They also have a tendency to have the largest numbers of attractive go-go boys.

 

I think that boy shows can be divided into:

 

Dance shows, as at Jupiter 2002

Fun shows as at Wild West

Saucy shows in several Sunee bars

Cabaret shows as at Boyz Boyz Boyz

Burlesque/ sex shows as at Dream Boys Bangkok

Lady Boy Theatre shows as at Tiffany

Competitions which has a show combined with a handsome man contest or suchlike and often in support of a charity.

 

Over the years I have seen stunning and delightful dance shows. Icon, Throb, X-treme, Jupiter 2002 and Wild West have, at their peaks, been astonishing. Cabarets at Boyz Boyz Boyz, Simon Cabarets (Pattaya and Chiang Mai). I have gawped - as do all newbies, at erotic and sex shows at Dream Boys, Boys Bangkok, Blue Star, Future Boys, Tawan and Crazy Pub.

 

I have friends who hate all shows with a passion which I don't understand. Is it anger at not getting what they want when they want it - the parade of offable boys 'dancing'? I don't know. I don't care for pop concerts so I don't go to them. Similarly shows are easily avoided in Thailand.

 

What I do find surprising is that Asians seem entranced by any show and the bar boys will watch, with interest, shows that they see twice nightly every day.

 

Life's too short to waste time hating.

 

 

 

 

[Guest pete1969]

For me, it depends on the show. The sex shows at Dream Boys and Boys BKK are okay once or twice but not every day. Some shows to me are just dreadful (New My Way in Chiang Mai). However, I've always had a soft spot for drag shows in bars (not revues like Tiffanys where liquor is not served). Thus, my favorite bar in LOS is My Way in Phuket because I think the owner (Bon) does a great show, and I could watch it every night.

 

It is also obvious that bars become much busier during the show (regardless of the type), so there is a reason the show must go on!

 

As Wowpow states, the Asian customers love the shows.

 

Pete

[Guest]

I have always loved the shows in Thailand and other places. I love a drag show and a cabaret show. I don't like the sex shows or the jo shows. They do nothing for me. But, I do love a good dance routine. I really enjoyed the fat girl when she was at Throb/Splash and hope to see her again when I come to Pattaya.

 

I always enjoyed the shows at Xtreme in Bangkok and there were many in Chiang Mai that I liked.

 

I also enjoy the USA drag shows and especially the ones at the Latin gay clubs. The drag shows in Sao Paulo are the best I have ever seen anywhere and no place compares. Not the ones at the saunas as they are laughable but they have dance clubs dedicated to the drag queens and those shows are on my to do list every time I hit Sao Paulo.

 

In Pattaya, I always like Throb/Splash shows and I look forward to the Topman shows.

[Guest stef]

I see that Cirque du Soleil's 'Beatles in Love' is on UBC tonight. It's from Las Vegas - I think The Belagio?

 

The show is great.. seen it twice.. and still love it. The show is located at the Mirage Hotel I believe.

 

In my experience there is very little of International quality in Thailand. Very occasionally in Bangkok there is a good show or concert - very often at the The Cultural Center and the only other place is Fantasea in Phuket - which was organized from Las Vegas I hear.

............

I have friends who hate all shows with a passion which I don't understand. Is it anger at not getting what they want when they want it - the parade of offable boys 'dancing'? I don't know. I don't care for pop concerts so I don't go to them. Similarly shows are easily avoided in Thailand.

 

What I do find surprising is that Asians seem entranced by any show and the bar boys will watch, with interest, shows that they see twice nightly every day.

 

Life's too short to waste time hating.

 

The shows at the Future boys & Throb and boys boys boys are quiet different from the big cabaret shows I have seen in Thailande. Big difference in Time first of all but you can as well enjoy the cute guys before and right after the show is done. So I don't mind waiting.

I prefer those small sexy shows to the big cabaret shows...

 

[Guest wowpow]

Yes it is The Mirage. It is easy to get confused as Cirque du Soleil have 5 shows currently in Las Vegas! Happily they are not averse to showing a bit of prime male flesh!

 

Cirque Du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil is currently staging five great shows in Las Vegas:

To see schedules and pricing, click on the show below you'd like to see.

 

O show at Bellagio

KA at the MGM

Mystere at Treasure Island

LOVE at Mirage

Zumanity at New York New York

"O"

The water spectacular by Cirque du Soleil is "O"

The stage at the Bellagio is the surface of a 1.5 million gallon tank of water, which adds a whole new dimension to theater productions. Actors rise mysteriously from below the surface, or dive out of sight, never to be seen again. There are trapeze acts high above the water, synchronized swimming, fire-eaters, live music and elaborate stage effects all seamlessly blended to create a dream-like journey through the imagination.

 

KA

KA is Cirque du Soleil's epic story of a pair of twins who must embark on a perilous journey to fulfill their individual destinies. The direction of Robert Lepage brings uncanny cinematic techniques to the stage. KA is a live action adventure that features unique performance arts, multimedia and state-of-the-art technology.

 

Mystere

Mystere at Treasure Island is a permanent show in Las Vegas that is still considered to be one of the best performances in town. Describing this show as a “circus without animals” doesn’t begin to do it justice. Highly talented acrobats perform feats that often seem humanly impossible, sometimes appearing to levitate by force of will, alone! Performed to live music, there is but one word to adequately describe this show: “Stunning.”

 

LOVE

In LOVE at the Mirage, Cirque du Soleil brings the magic a stage exploration of the music of the The Beatles, the most beloved rock group of all time. The exuberant and irreverent spirit of The Beatles is put on the stage in vivid freestyle dance multi-media production featuring Cirque’s signature aerial mastery. Sixty youthful, international artists exude the raw, urban energy of extreme sports in a series of scenes based on Beatles songs.

 

Zumanity

ZUMANITY is Cirque du Soleil's provocative exhibition of human sensuality, arousal and eroticism at New York-New York Hotel & Casino. You must be 18 years or older to attend. This is a show for lovers, would-be lovers, and anyone whose imagination has ever been sparked by the idea of love. Fifty flirtatious performers and musicians create a vibrant eroticism by blending movement, style, acrobatics, and beautiful bodies in uninhibited costumes with sensual human voices and the insistent pulse of exotic rhythm and music.

 

 

 

[Guest]

I have seen them all except for the Beatles Love show. Last time I was in Vegas it was on a break and did not get to see it. I hope it is there when I am in Vegas in January as it is one I really want to see.

 

For Vegas, there is also the show at the Wynne Hotel. It is great. Similar to O with water but creative. There is no bad seat in the house.

 

Zumanity is great and wonderful to see. I have seen it about 5 times. Growing up in the drag scene in NYC, it is great to see one of NY's stars as the MC there and he brought along a few other NY'ers with him.

 

[PattayaMale]

I share the opinion that many shows are not that exciting. However, another poster (soi 10 tom?) posted about the Dynamite show. I and a few friends went there New Years eve. I was really amazed. If you haven't been there or haven't been recently you may want to see the boys and the show. The acts rotate between a sexy boy show and then a cabaret ladyboy show. One of the things that amazed me were the costumes. Since Dynamite is a small intimate bar you are close to the stage no matter where you sit. In my opinion the show was very good. It was very professional.

 

I do know one of the performers. But I am not plugging the show for that reason.

 

I have been told that the current owner bought out the Thai partner and has brought many good looking boys back to the place. I counted abut 30 boys dancing and many were good looking. I only saw that was a real muscle boy but most were not very fem...some were, but not the majority. I was told by some of the boys that on the evening of Jan 1, they will have a party. I did not see any flyers about that but the bar does not seem to advertise very much.

 

I am posting this also on SGF since I have noticed that ther is not much activity here latlely.

[Guest fountainhall]

I am not quite sure how the extraordinary Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas got into a thread about bar shows in Bangkok - but it does keep the topic fresh. I have seen three. 'Ka' has the most extraordinary, wow-inducing stage technology I have seen anywhere. 'Love' promises much - perhaps too much - and to my mind does not quite deliver (how can it, when it does not include my all-time favourite "Peny Lane"?). 'O' at the Bellagio, on the other hand, I found the most glorious, perfect entertainment I have seen anywhere - 90 minutes of pure joy, artistry and amazement.

 

To get back to BKK shows, let's not forget that these are not put on for us farangs. Increasingly they are for Thais who make up the vast majority of the clientele and who do seem to enjoy almost whatever type of show is staged, even if the presentation and 'stage 'management' may seem dire to others. Personally, I much prefer just to watch the go-go boys - provided they are cute!

[Guest stef]

To get back to BKK shows, let's not forget that these are not put on for us farangs. Increasingly they are for Thais who make up the vast majority of the clientele and who do seem to enjoy almost whatever type of show is staged, even if the presentation and 'stage 'management' may seem dire to others. Personally, I much prefer just to watch the go-go boys - provided they are cute!

 

 

Hummm... I doubt very much those cabaret shows would be around if there were no farangs around to watch them. That there were Gay & Straight.

The few times I saw some shows, I just remember 1/5 of the audience was occupied and all were farangs. May be I was there at the wrong time of the year... probably was low season.

 

I also prefer the go-go bars

[Guest wowpow]

stef - I have a very different view of Bangkok go-go bar audiences to you. I find that they are, in the main, more Asians than farangs. Jupiter 2002 has very few farangs and often I am the only one there. In most of the bars in Duangathawee Plaza I find that Asians are often in the majority and even more so on Gala nights.

 

Soi 4 Silom the clientele are mostly farangs and Soi 2 mostly Asian. In Pattaya it is different and Sunee Plaza seems virtually all farangs and they/we are in the majority in Boyztown area.

 

"To get back to BKK shows, let's not forget that these are not put on for us farangs." fountainhall

 

I think we should establish that first. I have no information or observation that makes me believe it true. I wonder why you think it is so?

[Guest fountainhall]

"To get back to BKK shows, let's not forget that these are not put on for us farangs." fountainhall

 

I think we should establish that first. I have no information or observation that makes me believe it true. I wonder why you think it is so?

 

I was referring to shows in Bangkok as I am rarely in Pattaya. And the observation is purely that, based on what I see. Years ago most of the shows seemed to attract farangs (other than Twilight which always had its Thai clientele). But as most comments in chat rooms and forums now confirm, few farangs actually enjoy most of the shows (apart from occasional stand outs!). It's the Thais who find them much more fun and interesting, and Thais make up most of the 'audience' in the main bars in places like soi 2 nowadays. Compare that to a bar like Solid which is geared mostly to farangs - and which has no show. So my western logic assumes 2+2 will equal 4. But as this is Thailand, I concede I may be wildly off the mark.

[Guest fountainhall]

For Vegas, there is also the show at the Wynne Hotel. It is great. Similar to O with water but creative.

 

Just for information, this show Le Reve was created by Franco Dragone, one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, and the creator of both 'O' and 'Mystere'. So it's similar in many ways to the Cirque experience. Vegas is certainly the place to see the best in entertainment, even if you don't fancy a flutter.

[Guest zzrichard]

I have been living in Las Vegas for over 12 years and have seen many shows..the extravaganza and the more simple. I do not enjoy them. A close friend owns "American Superstars" at the Stratosphere and I don't like that one either. Perhaps of my living with a Philippino "drag star" in Los Angeles for over ten years or being a recording engineer at a major studio has made me find this type show boring. Who knows? Just not my cup of tea. I will say that I do admire all the talent and their effort. A performers life is not easy.

 

Now, in my opinion the only show that I love in Las Vegas is "The Amazing Jonathon" who is probably the worse magician in the world.

 

With the exception of a real sex show I saw in BKK during the 80's I have not seen any more in that location. In Pattaya I did see the shows at Throb and Splash and did not go back. The show at BOYS BOYS BOYS did not do anything for me as I prefer guys who are not so muscular. And again, I appreciate all the guys working the shows, but I just don't enjoy them.

 

[Guest stef]

stef - I have a very different view of Bangkok go-go bar audiences to you. I find that they are, in the main, more Asians than farangs. Jupiter 2002 has very few farangs and often I am the only one there. In most of the bars in Duangathawee Plaza I find that Asians are often in the majority and even more so on Gala nights.

 

 

You're probably right, I only saw Simon Cabaret show in Chiang Mai and Tiffany Show in Pattaya and it was enough for me. 2 shows wouldn't really justify what type of audience we could find... I just remember just farangs people to fill up barely half of the audience.

[Guest wowpow]

stef - In the case of Simon Cabaret, Tiffany and similar I am sure that you are absolutely right.