Thinking of opening a Gay Bar

[kokopelli]

(No vote - question to long/complex.)

 

I dislike tight fitting trousers. But I like tight fitting shirts. I prefer tight fitting underwear (or rather exactly fitting, like a second skin or painted on the skin) over boxer shorts.

 

Christian,here is a blog with photos regarding underwear and boxers and an explanation for wearing both.

 

http://www.ricequeendiary.com/thai-boys-underwear/

[Guest thaiworthy]

Christian,here is a blog with photos regarding underwear and boxers and an explanation for wearing both.

Unfortunately, this poor kid has practically no butt at all. For underwear to look good, it has to fill out with something prominent. Let's hope the front view shows a little more structure.

[Guest]

Unfortunately, this poor kid has practically no butt at all. For underwear to look good, it has to fill out with something prominent. Let's hope the front view shows a little more structure.

That's slightly unkind. I suspect his butt would look just fine if he was stood in an upright position.

 

As for the front view, please remember this board has a no nudity policy (sorry).

[ChristianPFC]

Christian,here is a blog with photos regarding underwear and boxers and an explanation for wearing both.

 

http://www.ricequeendiary.com/thai-boys-underwear/

I know this blog and I know this article. I wanted to say that I like briefs more than boxers, not wearing briefs over boxers.

[Guest buckbee]

It sounds more like your want to build your fantasy, rather then build a business

 

lol you are probably correct

 

Thanks everyone for your in-depth replies and suggestions. I've decided not to proceed with it at this stage, maybe in a few years time I may look at it again. I've spent some time over the last week doing the figures and it would be very hard to break even plus there are additional factors such as kick backs for the local police. That being said its still a useful thread for anyone thinking of opening a gay bar

[Gaybutton]

Speaking only for myself, when I go to a go-go bar, the main factors that influence how long I'll be in there and how often I'll go are:

 

1. Types - Are at least some of the boys my type? Since everyone has his own preferences, I think a successful bar needs a diversity of types - to be able to please the widest range of customers.

 

2. Music volume - Anyone who has been reading what I've been harping on for years probably knows one of my biggest complaints is excessively loud music volume. I won't repeat all I've already said in the past so many times other than to say if the music is excessively loud to the point of discomfort, then even if every boy in there is my type, I'm going to quickly be out the door.

 

3. Mama-sans - To this day I'm still trying to figure out the necessity of some bars having mama-sans, especially the aggressive ones who try to sit down with me, uninvited, doing little more than trying to solicit drinks and tips for themselves. Many bars have no mama-sans at all and they're doing just fine without them. I can certainly do without them. I always shoo them away. And while I'm at it, why do some bar owners tolerate their mama-sans pushing only the boys who give them kickbacks when they're taken off?

 

4. The "One-knee Shuffle" - Oddly enough, when I go to a go-go bar, I actually want to see the go-go boys dancing. Isn't that strange? In the bars where most of the boys are just standing there on the stage, looking bored out of their minds, and doing nothing more than rocking a knee back and forth, usually while staring at themselves in a mirror, my attention span is, shall we say, limited. In other words, bye bye.

 

5. Drink prices and off fees - Sorry, bar owners, but I'm not going to patronize a bar charging 180 baht for a watered down drink when I can get the same drink - not watered down - at another nearby bar for half the price. And if you're going to try to charge me 400 baht on up to take a boy off, guess what - I'm not taking a boy off. Not at your bar, anyway.

 

6. Bar shows - That's another one I've been harping on for years. I don't like bar shows in the first place, but obviously many do. I'm not going to suggest doing away with bar shows (although I wouldn't have any objections if that happens), but I am going to suggest, yet again, to do something different in the shows. Is there a bar show anywhere that doesn't include lady-boys with breast implants lip synching . . . ? If you just must do bar shows, please - how about some genuine originality for a change.

 

7. Aggressive street touts - I don't mind so much the street touts shouting "Have BOY, sexy BOY, have new BOY," along with "Welcome inside Mister." But if you have street touts trying to physically pull me into your bar, I'm not going into your bar.

 

8. Fun - What happened to the "fun factor?" Where did it go? I often find it difficult trying to distinguish one bar from another. I think for a bar to really succeed, bar owners need to pay much more attention to making sure it's fun for the boys and fun for the customers. As far as I can tell, in Pattaya two of the very few go-go bars doing that are Happy Place and often Funny Boys. Can anyone figure out why those bars are usually packed while if you go to some of the other nearby bars, you'll probably be the only customer in there?

 

9. Individuality - While many like the idea of all the boys wearing precisely the same attire, unless it's a theme bar or a special theme night, my preference is letting the boys decide for themselves what they're going to wear. To me, that makes a statement and is a large part of my decision making as to whether I want to call a boy over to sit with me and/or take him off.

 

10. Furniture and cleanliness - Another factor for me is the furniture. Some bars have very comfortable furniture while in other bars, by the time I leave I'm also leaving with a backache. If you're going to invest in a bar, invest in some decent furniture too, willya? And while you're at it, what's so difficult about having clean, odor free restrooms? If I need to use a restroom, for some strange reason I like it a lot better if it's clean. In some bars, the restrooms are as if the last time anyone cleaned them was the day the building first opened. And is providing paper towels really such a major expense? In some bars, there is a community terrycloth towel that God only knows how long it's been there and what was on the hands of those who used it before it was my turn. No thank you. With those kinds of towels, I think you're better off just drip drying. For some bar owners, here's a new word for you: Sanitary.

 

If anyone out there is seriously considering opening a bar, I hope you'll give consideration to those factors. If you do, again speaking only for myself, I'll be much more likely to be a customer of yours rather than spending my money elsewhere.

[TotallyOz]

Speaking only for myself, when I go to a go-go bar, the main factors that influence how long I'll be in there and how often I'll go are:

 

1. Types - Are at least some of the boys my type? Since everyone has his own preferences, I think a successful bar needs a diversity of types - to be able to please the widest range of customers.

 

2. Music volume - Anyone who has been reading what I've been harping on for years probably knows one of my biggest complaints is excessively loud music volume. I won't repeat all I've already said in the past so many times other than to say if the music is excessively loud to the point of discomfort, then even if every boy in there is my type, I'm going to quickly be out the door.

 

3. Mama-sans - To this day I'm still trying to figure out the necessity of some bars having mama-sans, especially the aggressive ones who try to sit down with me, uninvited, doing little more than trying to solicit drinks and tips for themselves. Many bars have no mama-sans at all and they're doing just fine without them. I can certainly do without them. I always shoo them away. And while I'm at it, why do some bar owners tolerate their mama-sans pushing only the boys who give them kickbacks when they're taken off?

 

4. The "One-knee Shuffle" - Oddly enough, when I go to a go-go bar, I actually want to see the go-go boys dancing. Isn't that strange? In the bars where most of the boys are just standing there on the stage, looking bored out of their minds, and doing nothing more than rocking a knee back and forth, usually while staring at themselves in a mirror, my attention span is, shall we say, limited. In other words, bye bye.

 

5. Drink prices and off fees - Sorry, bar owners, but I'm not going to patronize a bar charging 180 baht for a watered down drink when I can get the same drink - not watered down - at another nearby bar for half the price. And if you're going to try to charge me 400 baht on up to take a boy off, guess what - I'm not taking a boy off. Not at your bar, anyway.

 

6. Bar shows - That's another one I've been harping on for years. I don't like bar shows in the first place, but obviously many do. I'm not going to suggest doing away with bar shows (although I wouldn't have any objections if that happens), but I am going to suggest, yet again, to do something different in the shows. Is there a bar show anywhere that doesn't include lady-boys with breast implants lip synching . . . ? If you just must do bar shows, please - how about some genuine originality for a change.

 

7. Aggressive street touts - I don't mind so much the street touts shouting "Have BOY, sexy BOY, have new BOY," along with "Welcome inside Mister." But if you have street touts trying to physically pull me into your bar, I'm not going into your bar.

 

8. Fun - What happened to the "fun factor?" Where did it go? I often find it difficult trying to distinguish one bar from another. I think for a bar to really succeed, bar owners need to pay much more attention to making sure it's fun for the boys and fun for the customers. As far as I can tell, in Pattaya two of the very few go-go bars doing that are Happy Place and often Funny Boys. Can anyone figure out why those bars are usually packed while if you go to some of the other nearby bars, you'll probably be the only customer in there?

 

9. Individuality - While many like the idea of all the boys wearing precisely the same attire, unless it's a theme bar or a special theme night, my preference is letting the boys decide for themselves what they're going to wear. To me, that makes a statement and is a large part of my decision making as to whether I want to call a boy over to sit with me and/or take him off.

 

10. Furniture and cleanliness - Another factor for me is the furniture. Some bars have very comfortable furniture while in other bars, by the time I leave I'm also leaving with a backache. If you're going to invest in a bar, invest in some decent furniture too, willya? And while you're at it, what's so difficult about having clean, odor free restrooms? If I need to use a restroom, for some strange reason I like it a lot better if it's clean. In some bars, the restrooms are as if the last time anyone cleaned them was the day the building first opened. And is providing paper towels really such a major expense? In some bars, there is a community terrycloth towel that God only knows how long it's been there and what was on the hands of those who used it before it was my turn. No thank you. With those kinds of towels, I think you're better off just drip drying. For some bar owners, here's a new word for you: Sanitary.

 

If anyone out there is seriously considering opening a bar, I hope you'll give consideration to those factors. If you do, again speaking only for myself, I'll be much more likely to be a customer of yours rather than spending my money elsewhere.

 

Gaybutton, I totally agree with you! Excellent post. I have nothing to add other than I'd move Music Volume as my number 1. Other than that, your list is spot on!

[Guest thaiworthy]

Gaybutton, you have excellent literary skills. It was a joy to read this post. I may not always agree with everything you have to say, but this example is clear, concise and shows an effort to have chosen just the right words. I hope others take note of how to organize one's thoughts and present them in a way that everyone can understand.

[Guest]

Good summary by Gaybutton, which I mostly agree with,

 

My views on shows have been recently modified, as the Cheers Bar in Sihanoukville manages to put on some quite entertaining dance routines. These work as they have cute boys, appropriately dressed & some quite lively dance routines.

 

What I don't like is drag acts or sex shows.

Of course, drag acts are OK providing these are clearly advertised outside the bar, so the customer can decide if he wants to watch the show (I would not).

The worst part in entering a boy bar, then finding there's some unadvertised (or barely advertised) drag act which results in all the boys getting shunted off stage 2 minutes after ordering that 150 baht drink. Then the choice is either to be bored for 30 minutes or write off the cost of the drink.

 

I'd also disagree slightly on the underwear issue. Gogo dancers will generally choose underwear which has rather more cloth than the optimum. Due to human nature, most people will not want to be the most scantily dressed on stage, so the tendency is towards bigger briefs.

Now if the bar specifies some more sexy underwear, or even makes a few options available, then that becomes the norm & everyone on stage is happy to wear it.

[Gaybutton]

Of course, drag acts are OK providing these are clearly advertised outside the bar, so the customer can decide if he wants to watch the show (I would not).

That's precisely why they usually don't advertise them outside.

 

 

Due to human nature, most people will not want to be the most scantily dressed on stage, so the tendency is towards bigger briefs.

I doubt it. So far, in my experience, it doesn't work that way. Don't forget, the reason most boys are there in the first place is to try to be taken off. If one boy is wearing a thong and another boy is wearing bib overalls and a long sleeve shirt, guess which of the two is most likely to be taken off.

 

I like them attired minimally too, and the boys who choose to be rather than forced to be - that's the kind of "statement" I like and that's the boy who has the best chance to be taken off, at least taken off by me.

 

I've been in a lot of bars where the boys decide for themselves what to wear. Believe me, scanty attire is not a problem for most of them. As a matter of fact, many of them wear attire even more scanty than the bars where the boys are told what to wear. Thank goodness!

[Guest]

I've been in a lot of bars where the boys decide for themselves what to wear. Believe me, scanty attire is not a problem for most of them. As a matter of fact, many of them wear attire even more scanty than the bars where the boys are told what to wear. Thank goodness!

 

Obviously you have more experience of these matters than me, but I see the sexiest underwear where the bar specifies it.

I see the most revealing outfits in Nature Boy (BKK) & Happy Boys. The Euroboys standard briefs are also memorable. The Eros posts here also refer to some themed nights, so I need to go along & check out the thongs....

 

Of course, there are people who wear some sexy items in the other bars, but maybe only 5~10% choose anything really special.

If there's a bar that demonstrates your point, please name it, as I'll be delighted to go down there to research it and find out you were right all along.

[Gaybutton]

If there's a bar that demonstrates your point, please name it, as I'll be delighted to go down there to research it and find out you were right all along.

A bar, as in just one? I don't know about Bangkok. I haven't gone to a go-go bar in Bangkok for years and I doubt I ever will again. If they want people to pay the kinds of prices most of them are charging, fine with me, but include me out.

 

In Pattaya, try most of them, including Eros when it isn't a theme night. And even on many of their theme nights, the boys still wear whatever they want. For instance, on thong nights, the boys wear whatever kinds of thongs they want - no standard issue. Try Mic My, Nice Boys, Lucky 777, along with most of the others in Boyztown-Pattayaland.

 

Even in Krazy Dragon, I've seen some boys wearing what they want rather than the issued attire. Have a look at the second photo on their gallery page and you'll see what I mean: http://www.krazy-dragon.com/galleryall.html

[Guest]

Try Mic My, Nice Boys, Lucky 777, along with most of the others in Boyztown.

 

OK, this is a matter of taste. Last night I saw one or two in Nice boys that really dressed to impress, but averaged across the entire workforce, the overall effect of the Euroboys standard corporate workwear was much more pleasing to my eye.

[ChristianPFC]

Gaybutton's list is a must-read for every bar owner!

 

For me, dancing is not that important. It's a nice addition, but not absolutetely necessary. For dancing, I can go to a ballet.

 

For me it's fine if the boys wear whichever underwear or swimmwear they want. I actually prefer it to underwear given out by the bar. The boy's taste in undwear is more like my taste in underwear than what the bar owners give them.

[Guest]

2. Music volume - Anyone who has been reading what I've been harping on for years probably knows one of my biggest complaints is excessively loud music volume.

 

That can drive away customers. Last night I spent all of 10 seconds in Happy Place, just long enough to step through the doorway, realise it was WAY too loud, then to tell them this, whilst covering my ears to demonstrate the fact, as they probably couldn't hear me.

 

I also e-mailed them, explaining the music is much too loud for me to visit and asking if there are any times when it's played at a lower volume.

 

If anyone else wants to try the same, here is the address: info@happyplacebar.com

 

Not much point in spending money on websites & advertising, then deafening customers.