What on earth happened to Nana Plaza?

[Skeptic7]

Great Thai nightlife ceased to exist about 8 years ago. Two different worlds comparing 1990 - 2009 and now. NO comparison. Gave up on Cowboy 6 years ago and Nana about 5 years ago. Though have spent considerable time in Patts over the past 4 years...only been to Walking Street twice and it sucked. Overpriced everything and no shortage of "baditude". 

It's been over for a long time. 

[OneMoreFarang]

Just now, Skeptic7 said:

Great Thai nightlife ceased to exist about 8 years ago. Two different worlds comparing 1990 - 2009 and now. NO comparison. Gave up on Cowboy 6 years ago and Nana about 5 years ago. Though have spent considerable time in Patts over the past 4 years...only been to Walking Street twice and it sucked. Overpriced everything and no shortage of "baditude". 

It's been over for a long time. 

I must have missed that special event about 8 years ago. What exactly changed between 2009 and 2011?

[thaibeachlovers]

16 hours ago, poanoi said:

"Back in the 90s it was a great night out, ....

I got the impression that it's just putting lipstick on a pig. It might look more attractive, but it's still a pig."

my theory: you got 25 years older since the 90's, and to the girls,

you are just lipstick on a pig these days, your money are attractive, but you aint,

and odds are they can pick up a punter half your age and still get paid & laid

I am well aware of how it works, but while it may be 25 years later, the girls are still DDG and will still go with me if I want one. Money still gets the girl. I don't know about getting one half my age though. Most guys looked over 50.

There were a few young guys around, but a minority and seemed more into looking than doing.

The point of my thread is that while Nana may look sophisticated, what goes on behind the curtain isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be. The outside bars ( Lucky Lukes etc ) seem way more packed and fun than the Gogos, and certainly played more enjoyable music. Even Hooters with it's live band ( very good one too ) seems more fun than inside the Gogos.

[somtamjames]

I went to a bar that turned out to be a ladyboy bar. When I didn't order something, they got angry and I decided to better leave them alone. And there was nobody else than ladyboys and some angry looking guys. 

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎5‎/‎5‎/‎2018 at 7:30 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

About the music: The problem for many bars is to get girls. And to make sure the girls stay in that place. Many customers agree they don't like the music. But the girls like it and if the bars play other music then the girls will possibly work in another place which plays the music they like.

 

The coyote situation is similar: It is difficult for many places to hire girls and make sure the girls stay. It's a lot easier for the owners and managers to hire a couple of coyote girls from a coyote supplier. The girls are more expensive for the bar and they are more expensive for the customer. But it's better to have expensive coyotes compared to no girls at all. And if coyotes quit, no problem, the supplier will get some new girls.

 

I wasn't aware of the coyote situation. Back in the 90s, none were "coyotes" and all would go with one if the price was right.

That might explain why the best looking girl in a certain Gogo hadn't been bought out by midnight, and wasn't even trying to attract a customer. Normally if one looks at them they'll be all over one soon as they stop dancing, but this DDG girl was more interested in chatting to the other girls than looking for a meal ticket out.

One thing that has definitely changed is that the girls are all gone a lot sooner than I expected. The bar with the best lookers was down to 4 girls on stage by 11pm. One obviously has to be fast these days.

[somtamjames]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I wasn't aware of the coyote situation. Back in the 90s, none were "coyotes" and all would go with one if the price was right.

That might explain why the best looking girl in a certain Gogo hadn't been bought out by midnight, and wasn't even trying to attract a customer. Normally if one looks at them they'll be all over one soon as they stop dancing, but this DDG girl was more interested in chatting to the other girls than looking for a meal ticket out.

One thing that has definitely changed is that the girls are all gone a lot sooner than I expected. The bar with the best lookers was down to 4 girls on stage by 11pm. One obviously has to be fast these days.

One obviously has to be fast these days.

 

  That's true, and it gives them time for more customers when you're that fast. 

[Skeptic7]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I must have missed that special event about 8 years ago. What exactly changed between 2009 and 2011?

Kinda like evolution, it's a gradual process. Just a general time frame for reference which can't be nailed down to a specific date. IMO this was around the time that Thailand became a bona fide Tourist Trap...give or take a year or two. Attitudes were changing drastically and prices rising dramatically. NOT just in the bars...everywhere. This gradual process is ongoing and is worse than ever. Prices continue to rise exponentially. Though I don't frequent these places anymore...have good friends that do. The prices quoted for beers, barfines and babes are ridiculous. But the market obviously bears these prices. I choose not to pay them, nor put up with the "baditude". 

 

In a nutshell...Supply & Demand happened. From 1992 - mid 2000s, supply was rife and demand was way low, especially in the 90's and even to the mid-2000s. It's quite the opposite nowadays. Quality supply is at a premium and demand is off the charts. 

 

Times change...places change...people change...things change...and usually not for the better IMO. 

[poanoi]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I am well aware of how it works, but while it may be 25 years later, the girls are still DDG and will still go with me if I want one. Money still gets the girl. I don't know about getting one half my age though. Most guys looked over 50.

There were a few young guys around, but a minority and seemed more into looking than doing.

The point of my thread is that while Nana may look sophisticated, what goes on behind the curtain isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be. The outside bars ( Lucky Lukes etc ) seem way more packed and fun than the Gogos, and certainly played more enjoyable music. Even Hooters with it's live band ( very good one too ) seems more fun than inside the Gogos.

well, the girls want to have fun too, if applicable.

i used to be able to amuse them and got the reward of party time,

but that was over 10 years ago, they already told me back then

they had no interest in anyone above 50.

--> i am now 50, not much to add or do about it i think.

i asked them why they would sit in a queue waiting to play with me rather

than playing with my friend who objectively looked better,

the answer was he looked serious, they want a party if possible,

just like the rest of us, i found it went a long way just putting up a smile

even if i wasnt in a mood, the girls would soon enough give me a reason to smile

[metisdead]

An obscene troll post has been removed. 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, somtamjames said:

I went to a bar that turned out to be a ladyboy bar. When I didn't order something, they got angry and I decided to better leave them alone. And there was nobody else than ladyboys and some angry looking guys. 

When I didn't order something

If you went into a Gogo and didn't buy a drink you were lucky not to be "escorted" to the door and thrown out. They are not a "free" entertainment place. I'm not surprised they got angry.

 

I used to go to the lady boy bars because they played better music and seemed to be more enthusiastic dancers than the girl chrome pole shufflers, but the "girls" were always pushy. I went back to one just for old times sake, but they are really desperate now, and soon as a new customer comes in the door, they all gather round trying to get the guy to buy them a drink or take them out. However, they need to understand that desperation is a turn off and give the customers some space. I just kept saying no, and when the pressure got too intense I just left. Much less pressure in the real girl bars, but worse music, and no enthusiasm.

[somtamjames]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When I didn't order something

If you went into a Gogo and didn't buy a drink you were lucky not to be "escorted" to the door and thrown out. They are not a "free" entertainment place. I'm not surprised they got angry.

 

I used to go to the lady boy bars because they played better music and seemed to be more enthusiastic dancers than the girl chrome pole shufflers, but the "girls" were always pushy. I went back to one just for old times sake, but they are really desperate now, and soon as a new customer comes in the door, they all gather round trying to get the guy to buy them a drink or take them out. However, they need to understand that desperation is a turn off and give the customers some space. I just kept saying no, and when the pressure got too intense I just left. Much less pressure in the real girl bars, but worse music, and no enthusiasm.

I wanted to meet a friend and just looked around if she was there. I wasn't sitting there without ordering a drink, they were not in a good mood because they had no customers. I only stood there for maybe three minutes. 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, poanoi said:

well, the girls want to have fun too, if applicable.

i used to be able to amuse them and got the reward of party time,

but that was over 10 years ago, they already told me back then

they had no interest in anyone above 50.

--> i am now 50, not much to add or do about it i think.

i asked them why they would sit in a queue waiting to play with me rather

than playing with my friend who objectively looked better,

the answer was he looked serious, they want a party if possible,

just like the rest of us, i found it went a long way just putting up a smile

even if i wasnt in a mood, the girls would soon enough give me a reason to smile

That only works as long as there are "party" guys willing to pay. Starvation and being evicted tends to have a profound effect on their willingness to go with anyone that has the readies.

[aboctok]

On 05/05/2018 at 4:58 PM, lovelomsak said:

You are so right. It used to be so much fun.Not sophisticated at all in the old days. Just raw fun. Now it is like an entertainment for guys who never got out of the house till after the kids were married.It used to rock in the late 80's and early 90's. Then it went wide open in your face crazy which was fun too. Now it is like they think Hooters  is fun. the places are boring and I mean boring now.

  I always found Cowboy better and now if they can get the coyotes out it will still be better. Cowboy has always been more thai style. Just raw lets get down to it fun.

  I just skip Bangkok now got direct to Pattaya . I love the Windmill it is all the things that were fun wrapped up in one place but more pricey than it used to be but still can have old time fun.

Here's a Like for your seven funs.

Edited May 6, 2018 by aboctok

[torrzent]

9 hours ago, coxo said:

I agree with the poster also, it seemed to go downhill with the English in the late 90's when there pound was strong, they threw money around and the price trebled in six months, with that the girls bad attitude started and it never recovered to the good old days.

Love the high finance angle.  I bet all the punters and girls are rushing to the FX markets  charts to get a clue as to what will happen in the future....LOL!

Edited May 6, 2018 by torrzent

[Unsane]

Just now, torrzent said:

Love the high finance angle.  I bet all the punter and girls are rushing to the FX markets  charts to get a clue as to what will happen in the future....LOL!

It was always better in the good 'ole days.  Let's sit about and reminisce forever and a day or just grow up and get a life.  

[torrzent]

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That only works as long as there are "party" guys willing to pay. Starvation and being evicted tends to have a profound effect on their willingness to go with anyone that has the readies.

Totally true....it is about the money, not about someone who thinks they are a good looking party clown.

[Unsane]

1 minute ago, torrzent said:

Totally true....it is about the money, not about someone who thinks they are a good looking party clown.

Wouldn't go with someone over 50?  Erm, okay.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, elgenon said:

Yes, The music and DJs are for the girls not the customers.IMHO  The bars would save money by having a hard drive of music. But then the girls would be even more bored.

Many times I've heard the DJ say something and the girls shriek with joy

The girls are a lot more sophisticated (yikes) than the farm girls of yore. Due to the internet and social media. On the whole they don't wear the ugly dresses like years ago. Also,the bars have had to accommodate the girls more than before. Like the bars that offer the girls time off for selling a certain number of drinks per 10 days.

These are strictly my observations and opinions, your mileage may vary. 

There was a period in the late 90s when the girls en mass decided they would wear big boots and I hated it. They were so unattractive.

Happily they have returned to pretty shoes now.

Re the music, whether the music is for the girls or not, it should be for the customers, without whom there is no business. I have a compilation tape made from what Hollywood Royale played in 96 and it is all really great popular music.

Playskool also used to play popular rock and roll music.

I wonder if the change happened because the farang managers seem to have all left.

 

The girls are a lot more sophisticated (yikes) than the farm girls of yore.

I don't think I saw any "farm girls". They were mainly sophisticated city girls. A lot taller than they used to be, and some are actually plump, which was never seen in the 90s.

 

On the whole they don't wear the ugly dresses like years ago.

Back then they didn't actually wear anything, but if you are referring to what they wore to go out with a customer, yes, clothes are a lot better now than the cheap, badly made stuff they wore then.

[torrzent]

29 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

In a nutshell...Supply & Demand happened. From 1992 - mid 2000s, supply was rife and demand was way low, especially in the 90's and even to the mid-2000s. It's quite the opposite nowadays.

Brilliant micro-economic analysis.  We need some supply demand curves and a few pie charts to get to the bottom of this.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, torrzent said:

Brilliant micro-economic analysis.  We need some supply demand curves and a few pie charts to get to the bottom of this.

to get to the bottom of this.

 

Whatever my disappointment with Nana now, I did indeed enjoy seeing so many attractive bottoms on display. The girls seemed to mainly be exceptionally good looking.

[torrzent]

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

There was a period in the late 90s when the girls en mass decided they would wear big boots and I hated it.

The gogo boots were great.  They just got too expensive to repair, so the girls went the cheap charlie route back to shoes which can be bought even used, at markets for a few pennies.

[sanemax]

2 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

Yes is  it not nice to know that is possible?

 I would rather have them available than not have them available.

  Long live the oldest profession.

I suppose that if you want to have sex and you are on your own with no one to have sex with, then prostitutes are quite useful then , but then again, if you become a regular prostitute user, it can have a detrimental effect .

   You can lose the ability to converse with normal girls and therefore lose the possibility of getting into a long term proper relationship .

   I lived in red light central and most of my neighbors were prostitutes and I got offered sex numerous times a day , I did initially over indulge in alcohol and woman , but after a few months , I got completely bored with it .

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think the current music seems to be the best compromise of what the girls and the customers want. The girls don't like constantly rock music for old men. And the guys don't like Isan music all night. Both can live more of less with whatever the music is called that they play now.

Personally I am ok with 2 or 3 Isan songs, especially when I am drunk enough to enjoy almost anything. But if they would play that for more than 15 minutes in the evening I would be out of that place.

I can only tolerate the head banging stuff for so long before I have to leave. I'll have to use earplugs in future.

Only "bar noise" worse was the bazouki music they played in Cyprus nightclubs.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, torrzent said:

The gogo boots were great.  They just got too expensive to repair, so the girls went the cheap charlie route back to shoes which can be bought even used, at markets for a few pennies.

We'll have to disagree on that. I thought they were ugly. IMO nothing more attractive than a long slim leg with a sexy high heeled shoe.

However, I am a leg man.

[smotherb]

18 hours ago, mstevens said:

 

So true.  It did use to be a fun place to go but now it feels seedy, sad and in some ways depressing.  Cowboy started changing when they dressed it up with beautiful neon.  Sure, it looks a sight - and any first timer might be impressed but the vibe is not one of fun at all.

Ah, too bad. I get, "Hello, hansum man, come inside, me buy you drink." 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, starfarm said:

I visited Nana Plaza a few weeks ago. I left very early. It was my impression that there were very few girls but a lot of ladyboys. And hardly any customers.

Loads of girls, but also loads of ladyboys. The secret is being able to tell the difference.

[InMyShadow]

A bunch of old farts talking about the good old days. You know your are seriously old when this happens

[smotherb]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

We'll have to disagree on that. I thought they were ugly. IMO nothing more attractive than a long slim leg with a sexy high heeled shoe.

However, I am a leg man.

#Metoo, leg and butt. However, I don't mind a bare foot.

[smotherb]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Loads of girls, but also loads of ladyboys. The secret is being able to tell the difference.

Do the Dundee.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, InMyShadow said:

A bunch of old farts talking about the good old days. You know your are seriously old when this happens
 

Anything to contribute to the discussion, or just like being insulting?