What happened to all the great Cabaret shows in Pattaya?

[TotallyOz]

When I first started visiting Pattaya, I was always entertained with great shows and full crowds. It was not often that I was in Throb/Splash that there wasn't a full crowd.

 

I have been in the Boyztown area for several nights this week as I had a friend visiting from USA and he wanted to see the gogo boys there and he always enjoyed the shows. However, every show I saw was a bore. No enthusiasm. No sexy guys. No creativity. What happened to all the great shows in this area?

[Guest jomtien]

What happened to all the great shows in this area?

 

 

Once I retired from dancing things just weren't the same.

[Guest fountainhall]

Once I retired from dancing things just weren't the same.

Aw shucks! Come on! Be a sport! It's amazing what a facelift and the odd nip and tuck can achieve to give you a few more years on the boards. Get up there, Jomtien, and strut your stuff once more! Let's get class back into the bars. Let Pattaya live again

[Guest Martelly]

Since Throb/Splash finished, the soi has never been the same. All lady boy and lip sync shows just dont work.

All the bars benefited from when Throb was full as they got the back lash. Yet they could not wait to get rid of Kevin and Mark.

 

The venue have tried, but just have that missing something, called talent.

 

Copa should try something new, the old lady boy show is just not working as the crowds prove it. BBB are just doing what they have done for the last few years,same same same.

[macaroni21]

When I first started visiting Pattaya, I was always entertained with great shows and full crowds. It was not often that I was in Throb/Splash that there wasn't a full crowd.

 

You mean there were ever great cabaret shows? I've been visiting Pattaya since the early 1990s, and I don't remember any.

 

That said, Copa's present show is particularly dreadful (Boyzboyzboyz might be worse but since I haven't suffered it for years now, I should hold my tongue).

 

From unreliable memory, the differences between the Throb show and Copa's are:

 

1. Throb interspersed its lipsync acts with items that only had boys doing masculine dance movements. Copa has virtually all its items as diva-style lipsync.

 

2. Even then, Throb's lipsync acts had a higher energy level in the dancing. The choreography for the boys gave them more masculine moves, whereas Copa's choreography uses the boys in androgynous ways. There was even a time when Throb had a surprisingly acrobatic fat "girl", wasn't there?

 

3. Throb's dancer boys were more minimally clothed than Copa's, whose present dancer boys tend to be dressed in sequinned vests and frilly collars.

 

Indeed, Copa's crowd is a far cry from Throb's. Copa looks relatively full on some nights only because its seats are spaced much further apart than Throb's.

 

I'm not sure though whether the thinning crowd is only due to the show quality. Two other factors must surely be important. Throb had over 20 (25?) boys for offing. Copa can barely muster 10 of which at least 5 are past sell-by date.

 

Then there is the general slowdown in tourism to Pattaya. The Nation reported last December 29 that tourist numbers in Pattaya fell 9 percent over the past five years. I suspect the fall in gay visitors was greater.

[Bob]

Even then, Throb's lipsync acts had a higher energy level in the dancing. The choreography for the boys gave them more masculine moves, whereas Copa's choreography uses the boys in androgynous ways. There was even a time when Throb had a surprisingly acrobatic fat "girl", wasn't there?

 

They used to have a dancer named "A" (I think that was the name) and A was very good (as I understood it, he was employed solely as a dancer and he had a job elsewhere in Pattaya as a dancer). Anyway, for a while, he seemed to me to be the most talented dancer there and it didn't hurt at all that he had a well-toned body and looked rather handsome (or so I thought); anyway, a somewhat exceptional dancer.

 

The "fat girl" was Oh and you're dead right about the acrobatic ability. He/she would somewhat shock everone when turning a cartwheel almost standing in place, a feat that one would think that somebody that size could hardly perform. Obviously the stage was rather well-built.

 

Although I thought the Throb shows were entertaining in general, I'm with you about not seeing any shows in Pattaya that I would ever call "great." Generally, they were rather bad (especially the lip-synching ladyboys and the painted clowns) and the only saving grace on many occasions for me was that many of the dancers were good-looking and had trim bodies.

 

Just my thoughts.....and I'd note that I was only around Pattaya sparingly between 2000 and 2005 (since then, I've only been there two nights). The show at Lavender Lanna - at least the one I saw a couple of times when it first opened - here in Chiangmai seemed to me to be a bit more professional than the shows I ever saw in Pattaya (but even then I wouldn't have called it "great"). The shows in the other gogo bars up here have never even approached mediocre in my opinion.

[Guest Thor69]

When I first started visiting Pattaya, I was always entertained with great shows and full crowds. It was not often that I was in Throb/Splash that there wasn't a full crowd.

 

I have been in the Boyztown area for several nights this week as I had a friend visiting from USA and he wanted to see the gogo boys there and he always enjoyed the shows. However, every show I saw was a bore. No enthusiasm. No sexy guys. No creativity. What happened to all the great shows in this area?

 

 

I have been visiting Thailand since 1969, sometimes for months at a time. I always thought those carabet shows were about the

worst thing that was offered to tourists. I can't imagine anyone liking them. They are more like a high school production than

a stage production.

[KhorTose]

I have been visiting Thailand since 1969, sometimes for months at a time. I always thought those carabet shows were about the

worst thing that was offered to tourists. I can't imagine anyone liking them. They are more like a high school production than

a stage production.

 

Sometimes corny can be fun. Have you ever heard of "the court" in the USA?

[Guest lonelywombat]

I think those great cabaret shows were great because they were new for you at that time.

 

BoyBoyBoy had the shower show at midnight, maybe earlier and then the team from Alcazar arrived and did their show.

For me newly arived in Pattaya they were glamorous.

 

I certainly preferred Cockpit and they were well staged and presented.

 

BBB went downhill after Madame Jim started to star in her own show and became "The Diva" The shower show and the boys were pushed aside. Michael sold Cockpit which left the only other show of note Simon Cabaret down in Walking Street.

 

Michael reopened in Sunee for a few years and then sold out again.

 

My casual observation is that the shows suffer by the preferences of the owner The Venue is a good example. Copa and BBB not far behind. IMHO Wildwestboys until the last 6 months was the best cabaret show in the gay venues, but that has gone downhill badly.

 

Maybe that is unfair to WWB but I have seen nothing to the contrary,

[Guest Thor69]

I think those great cabaret shows were great because they were new for you at that time.

 

I certainly preferred Cockpit and they were well staged and presented.

 

Michael sold Cockpit which left the only other show of note Simon Cabaret down in Walking Street.

 

Michael reopened in Sunee for a few years and then sold out again.

 

 

The show at the Cockpit was enjoyable and it ended with the song -" When will I see you again" made famous by the Three Degrees.

 

What I liked most about the Cockpit was the selection of boys. Some were there for a number of years and I would see them on subsequent visits. Cockpit felt more like a special place and I have some fond memories of the place.

[Guest lonelywombat]

The show at the Cockpit was enjoyable and it ended with the song -" When will I see you again" made famous by the Three Degrees.

 

What I liked most about the Cockpit was the selection of boys. Some were there for a number of years and I would see them on subsequent visits. Cockpit felt more like a special place and I have some fond memories of the place.

 

Does -When Will I See You Again -bring back memories. Thanks for that reminder. My fond memeories just became even more fonder.

[Guest HeyGay]

Of course not every one can like Cabaret, I use to love the Hunky Guys who worked dancing at the old Icon Hotel, in the late 90s, early 80s, real men, not a sign of fem boy, then they started to go a bit skinny after the new Icon opened and some Farangs started to complain all the time about the show, but it was much more like a Club everyone knew every one and a party every night and after when we use to go to varous guys houses including mine for after party fun.

 

The VENUE or the COPA, only really caters for customers, as if they were coming on a Coach Party, shuffle them in and out, grab their money and wait for the next lot, much like Seaside end of Pier show in the UK.

 

What the owners don't realize is this is a Sex City and only a 1/3 of the customers love fem lady boy types, even though they are told to act manly, it don't work, you have to have the majority of men on show or it all goes down hill very quickly, yes the COCKPIT did have the right mix, I use to love the all Green, La Bistro restaurant up stairs, I have No idea why Michael Sold it and even though the TOPMAN had one of the best rooms in Gay Thailand, even though it could of been 1/3 larger, the show was never the same or the boys on offer.

 

 

I loved BOY BOY BOY when Jimmy did his show, because in the UK all the best shows had a live drag'on, making insults at the audience, Mark Flaming, Lee Sutton, and Mrs. Shuffle wick to name a few, and I find it hilarious and brings in the crowds, the more they get insulted, or their friends, when I lived in Florida it was Miss 'P' at the Parliament House Hotel in Orlando she was the biggest crowd puller, who use to go for women and lesbians in the audiences, even use to hit them, what a hoot,, I know Ray tries to do his smaltsy act at the Venue, Jomtiem, Show Bar and Gay Resort, and it can be fun they put a lot of work into it and the costumes are the best in Gay Thailand, and if you could bottle insincerity Ray would have a hit on his hands, even though the Show is packed most nights, but I do find it fun watching him prance around the stage, with his ass sticking out of one end and his stomach protruding out the other, it is all quite amusing, and would be fabulous if he could gets some hunky men.

 

 

Alcazar use to have the most exciting show in Town that was as good and any in Las Vegas, but that was only when it first started in the 80s, then they watered it down to just another Feathery Show, you can get in any Gay Show Bar, once again if you don't like shows don't go, at least its a night out and break for the continuous ritual of trying to find the boys of your dreams every night for sex, even that must get tidious if you have nothing much else going on in your life and can be very addictive for some guys to just go round in circles doing the same thing every day how boring that must be.

[Guest wellinever]

You mean there were ever great cabaret shows? I've been visiting Pattaya since the early 1990s, and I don't remember any.

 

That said, Copa's present show is particularly dreadful (Boyzboyzboyz might be worse but since I haven't suffered it for years now, I should hold my tongue).

 

From unreliable memory, the differences between the Throb show and Copa's are:

 

1. Throb interspersed its lipsync acts with items that only had boys doing masculine dance movements. Copa has virtually all its items as diva-style lipsync.

 

2. Even then, Throb's lipsync acts had a higher energy level in the dancing. The choreography for the boys gave them more masculine moves, whereas Copa's choreography uses the boys in androgynous ways. There was even a time when Throb had a surprisingly acrobatic fat "girl", wasn't there?

 

3. Throb's dancer boys were more minimally clothed than Copa's, whose present dancer boys tend to be dressed in sequinned vests and frilly collars.

 

Indeed, Copa's crowd is a far cry from Throb's. Copa looks relatively full on some nights only because its seats are spaced much further apart than Throb's.

 

I'm not sure though whether the thinning crowd is only due to the show quality. Two other factors must surely be important. Throb had over 20 (25?) boys for offing. Copa can barely muster 10 of which at least 5 are past sell-by date.

 

Then there is the general slowdown in tourism to Pattaya. The Nation reported last December 29 that tourist numbers in Pattaya fell 9 percent over the past five years. I suspect the fall in gay visitors was greater.

Are you talking about the same bar my dear? I tried to get a seat in Copa tonight, and i had to sit on a picnic style chair next to a pillar because the place was so busy, and as for the show, it is much better than it ever was as Throb, nearly twice the number of dancers, far more attractive, all under 30, unlike Throb, and yes, they still have the cartwheeling fat one! as for the boys, at least 20 odd tonight, most offable, the seats are comfortable, the decor beautiful, and very friendly attractive staff, times change, unlike most establishments, so has the copa, and at least 50% of the customers there tonight were asian, so they are not ex-pat re;liant, which is why they are full ,and most other bars are empty! oh, and finally, there toilets are beautifully decorated, and spotlessly clean!

[Guest wellinever]

Are you talking about the same bar my dear? I tried to get a seat in Copa tonight, and i had to sit on a picnic style chair next to a pillar because the place was so busy, and as for the show, it is much better than it ever was as Throb, nearly twice the number of dancers, far more attractive, all under 30, unlike Throb, and yes, they still have the cartwheeling fat one! as for the boys, at least 20 odd tonight, most offable, the seats are comfortable, the decor beautiful, and very friendly attractive staff, times change, unlike most establishments, so has the copa, and at least 50% of the customers there tonight were asian, so they are not ex-pat re;liant, which is why they are full ,and most other bars are empty! oh, and finally, there toilets are beautifully decorated, and spotlessly clean!

Sorry! the other thing i should have mentioned is, where can you go in the world and get these shows (love them or hate them) for 5 Bucks? when i go to a bar/disco in NY, i pay 30/40 bucks just to get in! these are just bars with shows, try tiffany or alcazar, 700-1000 baht door charge, but you do get a free orange squash! so, please, put it in context?

[Guest anonone]

I just got home from a week in Pattaya and saw several of the "shows".

 

I enjoyed Copa very much. Seemed to be a different show every night, they actually added some variety to the song selections instead of the over-used drama queen / raining men / etc. that seem to be in every other show. There was also a welcome sense of humor to several of the songs. I actually laughed out loud several times. Great performers.

 

The earlier show was always full of customers, much less so for the later (12:45, I think) session. Wait staff was a lot of fun, attentive but playful.

 

I will freely admit that I became infatuated with one of the dancers at the Copa show, which probably is coloring my review a bit...but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

I am not a huge fan of cabaret shows, but my companion for the week was into it. I actually looked forward to the Copa show. Can't say that about some of the other venues.