Fan Club Massage in Bangkok

[TotallyOz]

I usually go to Hero every weekend as I am never disappointed. A friend who is visiting Bangkok suggested that I try Fan Club Massage off of Soi Convent. I remember going there once a few years back but he said he has had 3 guys in the last few weeks and all 3 excellent.

 

Anyone else like Fan Club? Recommend it?

[firecat69]

I usually go to Hero every weekend as I am never disappointed. A friend who is visiting Bangkok suggested that I try Fan Club Massage off of Soi Convent. I remember going there once a few years back but he said he has had 3 guys in the last few weeks and all 3 excellent.

 

Anyone else like Fan Club? Recommend it?

 

Big Rooms with shower. Bed on floor which I like. Boys hit or miss like most places. Can be excellent or fair.

[fedssocr]

I usually go to Hero every weekend as I am never disappointed. A friend who is visiting Bangkok suggested that I try Fan Club Massage off of Soi Convent. I remember going there once a few years back but he said he has had 3 guys in the last few weeks and all 3 excellent.

 

Anyone else like Fan Club? Recommend it?

 

Under new management from late last year. Supposedly they did a bit of a clean up and remodel. The place was getting a bit dirty before then so a good scrubbing would have been a good thing. Under the previous management I went a few times and generally had a pretty good time. As Firecat notes, the rooms are large with large, low beds. Large shower-room attached to the room. Water temp and pressure was usually an issue. Maybe that's been corrected? a/c tends to blow right on the bed as well which seems to be par for the course but isn't always very comfortable. My last visit was an excellent massage by a beautifully toned guy in his early 30's or so who really knew what he was doing. But I suspect the guys come and go pretty frequently from all of these places. It's relatively easy to find on the small sub soi just off Silom.

[ChristianPFC]

I had a look inside, even sat down and made a choice of massage and masseur. But then the manager told me that expected minimum tip for 1,5h massage (my choice) is 1500 THB and for 2h massage 2000 THB, in addition to 700 THB for 1,5h massage (don't remember which kind of massage I wanted) I quickly calculated that this will be fare more expensive than I had thought and excused myself.

 

The major problem was rather that none of the masseurs was really my type, otherwise I would have stayed and paid. So I can't say anything about their rooms or quality of massage.

[fedssocr]

I had a look inside, even sat down and made a choice of massage and masseur. But then the manager told me that expected minimum tip for 1,5h massage (my choice) is 1500 THB and for 2h massage 2000 THB, in addition to 700 THB for 1,5h massage (don't remember which kind of massage I wanted) I quickly calculated that this will be fare more expensive than I had thought and excused myself.

 

The major problem was rather that none of the masseurs was really my type, otherwise I would have stayed and paid. So I can't say anything about their rooms or quality of massage.

 

Wow. That seems crazy. Senso tried to get away with that too. But I think I will take my business somewhere else. The old management never required a minimum tip as far as I can remember. But I usually tipped in the neighborhood of Bt1000.

[floridarob]

I did have a good talk with the owner here as well as the partner that runs Dream Boys and Boys Bangkok (as well as G.O.D.).

 

Westerners are not the demographic they are trying to capture, it's the Asian Market. Said they come here with fistfuls of cash wanting to spend it. Americans only account for 2% he said and with the economy and the cost of flightss, so few of us come here, we're not worth the time or attention and we are more price conscious, lol

 

I'm reading some posts on another message board mostly Singaporeans and they travel here like most people take a bus somewhere.

[Guest fountainhall]

Westerners are not the demographic they are trying to capture, it's the Asian Market.

Posters on this Board have been saying this for some time now. Any gay establishment whose business model is now based solely on patronage by westerners is doomed to failure in the longer term. Two examples are all it needs to highlight this.

 

Most Japanese, despite 20 years of virtual recession, are far wealthier today in Baht terms than most westerners. Thirty years ago, US$1 bought you Bt. 25. Now it’s hovering just under 30. Thirty years ago, ¥260 bought you US$1. Now ¥77 buys you US$1. And not only are the Japanese proportionately far wealthier, they are also amongst the world’s great savers. So they have lots of cash on hand. Add to that increasing leisure time, far cheaper air fares (fares out of Japan used to be the amongst the highest in the world) and a more assertive gay community, and travel to Thailand is bound to leap up.

 

Singaporeans have also become wealthier in an even shorter period of time – only the last 10–15 years. Salaries are considerably higher than in the 1990s, a much larger proportion own their own homes, their currency continues to rise, and younger gays feel the need to get away from the more restricted social climate. With low cost carriers mushrooming, Thailand is bound to benefit.

 

But there is one point I think worth adding. Taking the two examples above – Japanese and Singaporeans – their lifestyles at home are fairly well structured, well organized, squeaky clean (for the most part) and harmonious. Most of those with cash are not coming for sleaze. Yes, they want a more abandoned lifestyle for a few days, but cheap joints are generally not for them. They will tend to go more upmarket. So far as I can tell, saunas and massage are much preferred for sex than go-go bars. For both these nationalities generally prefer to 'hunt in packs', as it were. They go to saunas and massage parlours together, have their fun, and then go to a drinks bar to chat and laugh amongst themselves rather than drink in a go-go bar, for example.

 

So, I cannot see much long-term gain for places like the Soi Twilight bars (sure, some will see a show, one drink - and perhaps a few will arrange an 'off', but they will not become regulars) or Sunee Plaza, unless these establishments significantly upgrade their facilities.

[Guest]

But there is one point I think worth adding. Taking the two examples above

[pong]

@michael-fanclub: asd above, they how often do half price or even lower promotions for slack hours-often via Thaimassageboy-print out or boys distributing to people they seem fit for @ Silom. I think for you it is slightly more hitormiss compared to Hero. (which would mean a higher chance on 'misses'').

@ khun FH: about the khon Yipun/Nihon jeen: in fact there are also quite a lot in less rich positions-many of them in fact also come to Thaild-or Cambodia, Indonesia etc and live for cheap in budget rooms and eating Thai-style (thus for most considerd unclean) streftfood etc. Quite some chraracters among them. This would also apply to the majority of young JPNese backpackers-and there are millions of them, though they do not all come to Thailand. Often much better sources at saving money as even the most frugal wstern bekpekkers- yes, I admit, I have a weak spot for them. OHIO!

[Guest fountainhall]

Tokyo has quite a few bars with hosts available for far more than a chat and there's evidently demand in Japan for that type of thing. I'd expect the patrons of host bars to be attracted by the novelty of gogo bars.

I only once went to one in Tokyo - Kings of College, I think it was called. You are correct, there are many to be found in all big Japanese cities. But these are very far from what we know as go-go bars and very few farang/gaijin patronise them. As you suggest they are host bars, where there is a routine and a very strict pricing structure - same as the girlie host bars. My view is that the vast majority of Japanese who patronise them - especially those outside Tokyo or Osaka - would actually feel uncomfortable in a Thai-style go-go bar.

 

It's the same with saunas. Tokyo alone has many dozens of gay saunas, but only a handful welcome foreigners. Attending a sauna also has its rituals and you can see some of the Japanese guys almost squirm when a foreigner pays no attention to them (often due to ignorance, I guess). Apart from one (the original 24 in Asakusa), the others open to foreigners are remarkably squeaky clean compared to what I have heard about some of the Bangkok saunas, for example.

 

there are also quite a lot in less rich positions-many of them in fact also come to Thaild-or Cambodia, Indonesia etc and live for cheap in budget rooms and eating Thai-style

Yes, indeed there are. As you point out, these tend to be students or recent graduates waiting to take up their first jobs. So they travel on very limited budgets. They also tend to travel solo, whereas those in jobs are much more likely to travel with friends.

 

They also tend to be more adventurous. I met several in Nepal and Bhutan, for example. But because they spend most of their cash on air tickets and cheap accommodation, these guys are hardly likely to be found in a go-go bar. Very few in this group, to my understanding, are looking for sex. It's more a cultural experience and a chance to see parts of the world they might not see again for many years. So they certainly won't be a target group for Thailand's gay establishments.

[Guest]

I only once went to one in Tokyo - Kings of College, I think it was called.

 

That's one of them. Upstairs, opposite a convenience store. I've been there maybe 4 times. http://www.kocnet.jp/index.html

However, at current exchange rates, this would be an expensive pastime. Much better to try your luck at the sauna around the corner first.

Last time I was at King of College, the selection wasn't that great and the one I offed hadn't brushed his teeth for some time, which is unusual for the Japanese.

 

As for Japanese tourists, professionals employed in the manufacturing sector would get 3 fixed breaks of approximately 1 week and might just take another 1 week break at a time of their choosing.

Everyone taking their breaks at one time is bound to put up the cost of air fares for the holiday weeks. I don't know if this will reduce demand for overseas travel to places like Thailand. I guess some other sectors are less restricted.

[Guest vpnoy]

I usually go to Hero every weekend as I am never disappointed. A friend who is visiting Bangkok suggested that I try Fan Club Massage off of Soi Convent. I remember going there once a few years back but he said he has had 3 guys in the last few weeks and all 3 excellent.

 

Anyone else like Fan Club? Recommend it?

 

I went to Fan Club under the old management. Did not like the massage that I received. I don't think the guy worked on me had any massage training.

 

I generally tip well if the massage is good. I don't go to any place that required minimum tip. It's the principle - if the massage is not good, why am I required to tip the minimum amount!?

[floridarob]

I made another trip today to Fan Club and finally got to see the guy that was on their website that drew me there to begin with!

 

I guess one of the things I like is the location, since it's close to Silom & Convent, I don't have to go far... Over the years I can't remember going back to the same place but maybe twice because things that are good one time suck the next, but as everyone knows, This Is Thailand

 

So, I'm 4 for 4 here, maybe a 1st in Thailand for me, lol

[Guest]

I generally tip well if the massage is good. I don't go to any place that required minimum tip. It's the principle - if the massage is not good, why am I required to tip the minimum amount!?

 

I quite agree. Almost by definition, a minimum tip should correspond to minimum service. If that minimum is 1500 for 1.5 hours, what are we expected to tip if the service is good, or even above average?

 

This does not seem competitive.

[Guest vpnoy]

I quite agree. Almost by definition, a minimum tip should correspond to minimum service. If that minimum is 1500 for 1.5 hours, what are we expected to tip if the service is good, or even above average?

 

This does not seem competitive.

 

I understand that the massage therapists usually do not get pay from their employers and depend solely on tips.

 

So I always tip, even if the massage/service is bad. For a 1 hour, I usually tip 400; 1.5 hour 600.

 

For a good/excellent massage/service, for a 1.5 hour, usually somewhere between 800 - 1500.

 

Am I too low?

[Guest fountainhall]

As for Japanese tourists, professionals employed in the manufacturing sector would get 3 fixed breaks of approximately 1 week and might just take another 1 week break at a time of their choosing.

I wonder where you get this information, z909. I have a friend who joined one of the big conglomerates 4 years ago. Now in a Junior Manager position, he gets one week's paid vacation. In addition he gets 3 days during Golden Week in early May, 3 days during the Obon holiday in August, January 1 and 2, and assorted other single day public holidays. I do not know of any Japanese workers who are entitled to additional weeks of their own choosing.

 

If the Golden Week and Obon holidays fall at the beginning or end of a week, then many Japanese take 5 days. But most often it is just 3.

 

The longer you stay with one company, the more holiday entitlement you will get. But another factor to bear in mind is that most Japanese traditionally never take their full holiday entitlements. Several surveys show that the average worker/salaryman takes only 55% - 60% of his entitlement.

 

Students and other young people will all say they want more vacation time. Yet once they start working, they get sucked into the almost rigid hierarchy of the Japanese employment system. For most, that means pretty miserable holiday entitlements.

[Guest]

I wonder where you get this information, z909.

Well, I have lived in Japan and am in almost daily contact with Japanese for my job. They get at least 3 full weeks out, but only a few seem to take another additional week.

You are right about them tending not to take their whole allowance and having poor holiday entitlements.