How many go-go-bars will survive the next months?

[Why Me]

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

most girls have found thaifriendly and I can't see them going back to bars

True, most have a TF profile. But the rap on TF I hear from the gals is that it's hugely hit and miss, mostly miss. Guys dialing in just to chat, many not even in LOS, asking for pics and freebies and making a date and standing the gal up.

 

I know at least a couple of attractive gals who've given up on TF and are back working in a bar now that the lockdown's lifted. Keep in mind that in a bar even if you don't get, ahem, taken out, at least you tend to make a decent amount in drinks and tips. And you have a good time with your buddies in the process which is very important to Thai lasses, who tend to suffocate without company.

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, CGW said:

That would be my guess, probably 50% of the bars have an alternate income stream 

That they need to "hide" ????

Yes, perhaps the ones who survive have that, nudge nudge wink wink

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, Why Me said:

True, most have a TF profile. But the rap on TF I hear from the gals is that it's hugely hit and miss, mostly miss. Guys dialing in just to chat, many not even in LOS, asking for pics and freebies and making a date and standing the gal up.

 

I know at least a couple of attractive gals who've given up on TF and are back working in a bar now that the lockdown's lifted. Keep in mind that in a bar even if you don't get, ahem, taken out, at least you tend to make a decent amount in drinks and tips. And you have a good time with your buddies in the process which is very important to Thai lasses, who tend to suffocate without company.

Using just TF is a lonely business for them so i can see them drifting back to bars and gogos, ideal is part time for them. Girls do ask almost immediately if in Pattaya, which rules out the time wasters straight away

[Walker88]

The size of this industry pre-Covid masked the harsh reality that traditional gainful employment in Thailand cannot come close to fully employing all those who need a job. The bar and agogo industry that caters primarily to foreign tourists employs an awful lot of people, as dancers, wait staff, security staff, cleaners, beer and booze distributors and manufacturers, taxi and tuk tuk drivers, short term hotel staff....even police. The Thai-driven industry is supposedly much larger still.

 

Not all of those folks can open a nail salon or work at Macs. If this service and entertainment sector ceased to exist, UE would jump and tourism in general would slump, as even "decent" people like to take a peek at it. Also, a high percentage of women in that industry are single mothers who became pregnant as young teens and whose baby-father simply walked away. Because a 16 year old girl in school is 'confusing', she was likely made to drop out, which limits any career she might have hoped to have had. Women or females---as many of these mothers would be defined as 'girls'---pay an infinitely harsher price than males for a moment of irresponsibility or passion. For these women, it's a life sentence. Right or wrong, the bar industry---catering to both foreigners and Thais---absorbs tens of thousands of these women. How about some compassion?

 

There is constant talk from the chattering class about how this industry should be reined in.  Fine, what's the alternative?  NOBODY offers up any solution, but instead just gets all righteous and holier-than-thou and says 'it's bad for Thailand's reputation'. Well, until somebody does something about it at the govt level, these women are going to gravitate to an industry that is about the only thing available to them. They didn't invent the profession, but they made it into an art form of sorts, literally creating a lot of jobs where they were none.

 

Re the OP's question about how many will survive, probably not that many. Rents in Bangkok are absurd, but they will likely be the last price to tumble, though tumble they surely will. The women and staff currently employed, however, will not simply disappear, and there are fewer alternatives today to them then there were pre-Covid. There are countless mothers with 2 year old kids under great stress right now. There but for the grace of......

[tribalfusion001]

2 minutes ago, Why Me said:

True, most have a TF profile. But the rap on TF I hear from the gals is that it's hugely hit and miss, mostly miss. Guys dialing in just to chat, many not even in LOS, asking for pics and freebies and making a date and standing the gal up.

 

I know at least a couple of attractive gals who've given up on TF and are back working in a bar now that the lockdown's lifted. Keep in mind that in a bar even if you don't get, ahem, taken out, at least you tend to make a decent amount in drinks and tips. And you have a good time with your buddies in the process which is very important to Thai lasses, who tend to suffocate without company.

I've replied to guys before from the girls TF account, normally the guys who are annoying to the girl, I put lovely replies back to sleaze bags 555. I've been in bed with a few on them when a guy does a video chat and I'm right next to the girl (obviously not in view). Some sad sap somewhere telling the girl how much he likes her pmsl.

 

TF is hit and miss as it's a dating site, not all the guys on there are looking for hookers. I use it for both dating and freelancers.

[CorpusChristie]

Many of the bargirls would have found other sources of income in the last few months 

Lots of the girls were also coming to the end of their bargirl careers .

Will the girls be going back to work in bars ? 

The girls entering the trade will be doing it online , why sit all night in a bar when you can go elsewhere and just wait for your phone to ring ?

   This could be the end of the bar scene due to lack of females .

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

   This could be the end of the bar scene due to lack of females .

 

 

I seriously doubt that.

 

There is a more than adequate supply - it is demand that is the issue at the moment. A lacklustre bar scene with no international tourists is not conducive to a vibrant environment that encourages patrons to visit.

[Why Me]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

A lacklustre bar scene with no international tourists is not conducive to a vibrant environment that encourages patrons to visit.

Sounds excellent and official enough to include in a memo the the chief of TAT to Prayut.

[sezze]

16 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Many of the bargirls would have found other sources of income in the last few months 

Lots of the girls were also coming to the end of their bargirl careers .

Will the girls be going back to work in bars ? 

The girls entering the trade will be doing it online , why sit all night in a bar when you can go elsewhere and just wait for your phone to ring ?

   This could be the end of the bar scene due to lack of females .

All is temporary . For now , you are right . As soon as foreign tourists come in , and they are willing to spend some money in bars and on girls , then the girls will rush back . It's easy money , which they cannot make otherwise . All it takes are tourists , no tourists , bar scene is dead ... since they cater for tourists and not for Thais .

[bwpage3]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Maybe you missed it: Not a single recorded local Covid-19 infection for over a month. Who is going to infect whom? Covid-19 is probably the smallest risk in Thailand at the moment.

My father in law just told us last night, people are dying in his village from CV-19.

 

This is out in the boonies in Isaan, 40km from the nearest 7/11.

 

So to say there is no CV-19 cases?

 

Who in the Thai government is going around to Isaan and other rural places to check?

 

According to my father in law, no one.

 

A person has to ask themselves, if there really were zero cases, why the delay in re-opening the economy?

 

I suspect the gov't knows there are many cases or hasn't bothered to investigate the vast rural areas and suspects many cases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

My father in law just told us last night, people are dying in his village from CV-19.

 

This is out in the boonies in Isaan, 40km from the nearest 7/11.

 

So to say there is no CV-19 cases?

 

Who in the Thai government is going around to Isaan and other rural places to check?

 

According to my father in law, no one.

 

A person has to ask themselves, if there really were zero cases, why the delay in re-opening the economy?

 

I suspect the gov't knows there are many cases or hasn't bothered to investigate the vast rural areas and suspects many cases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What village are you talking about  ?   name   ?

[ChipButty]

12 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

My father in law just told us last night, people are dying in his village from CV-19.

 

This is out in the boonies in Isaan, 40km from the nearest 7/11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living 40km from a 7/11 many Thai's will die

[johnray]

It's their house as well so I don't think it will go under.  These places are a just a house with whores in the front.

 

The business will remain dead until it picks up again.  I don't they can loose the property. 

[3NUMBAS]

not enough punters to survive so try again in 5 years time ..they were raised when farangs were throwing money around with wild abandon but those days are gone for 5 years or more ..aussie regulars i know dont plan on any thai trips at all

[bwpage3]

11 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Living 40km from a 7/11 many Thai's will die

There are rural villages in Isaan, that even 7/11 is a luxury they can't afford.

 

 

[bwpage3]

42 minutes ago, sezze said:

All is temporary . For now , you are right . As soon as foreign tourists come in , and they are willing to spend some money in bars and on girls , then the girls will rush back . It's easy money , which they cannot make otherwise . All it takes are tourists , no tourists , bar scene is dead ... since they cater for tourists and not for Thais .

One thing people have to understand?

 

Covid 19 has affected people's finances all over the world!

 

People that use to travel and takes trips, do to layoffs, salary cuts, etc. just won't be traveling as much or at all.

 

That is even with all the airlines open and countries accepting tourists. Flights seem to be more expensive as well.

 

I don't know one person at all that is even talking about traveling anywhere international this year. 

 

Us included.

 

Tourists need money to travel and I think Thailand is under-estimating how much of a financial impact Covid 19 has had on many that traveled previously and won't have the money to travel till next year or beyond.

[Yankeesvsredsox]

3 hours ago, bitterbatter said:

Do you really think that destroying thousands of businesses, and millions of incomes, is worth saving a few hundred lives?  I don't see it.  
You think that this will end soon and things will return to normal.  I don't see it.  I would love for you to be right.  But this is not about the virus, this is a global attack on human freedoms.  If I am right, the shutdowns will continue into next year.  
As for the US, again lots of distortion there. Doctors are saying that every test they have been taking in the last two weeks is coming back positive. Social distancing, and stupid masks are supposed to slow down infection spreading.  Mainstream media is only talking about number of infections, but now completely ignore the fatalities which are dropping quickly and at the lowest levels since this early outbreak. Here is a stat showing just how poorly the US is doing, compared to other countries. You won't see this in the news.

I think I seen this on Tuckers program. It sure does make one wonder who's spin is more accurate. I agree with you waiting for the cure is devastating countries economies,civil liberties and one's ability to work!

Getting back to Go GO , I miss it very much

[Destiny1990]

Yeah most will probably go broke soon so perhaps an excellent opportunity to redesigning walking street into a Smart walking street ! 

[murraynz]

17 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Most of the expats only go to go go bars occasionally, then it's mainly to drink and look at the girls rather than bar fine. The go go bars in Cowboy are too expensive for drinks, Baccara is 190 baht for a 330ml bottle, the best value is Dollhouse happy hour at 90 baht. Some good go go bars in Nana plaza, Butterfly, Billboard and Rainbow 4, 140 baht 330ml bottle. These places were busy before the close down, but without a regular flow of tourists will struggle too.  I usually stay in BKK for 2 or 3 months per trip and 2 or 3 trips per year, not now 555. I only went to a go go bar with friends occasionally and the guys left in BKK I know never go to them.

 

If you want a girl in BKK then it's online or maybe some street meat if desperate 555. 1000 baht bar fines and lady drinks is too much unless on a short holiday.

Drinks are too expensive in soi cowboy.

At Nana and cowboy,the attitude of service staff and mamasang,is very very bad.  Most of the dancing girls are ok,but they are pressured too much by mamaasang,get barfine,get barfine,get barfine.

If they dont have many customers now,theyve got what thry desetve.

In pattaya,drinks are cheaper and there is not huge pressure to barfine.

With a few less bars in pattaya,im sure that they will survive.

Im going to walking st.tonight,to see what bars have re opened.

I know more are opening on 10th.

[meechai]

16 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Personally I think the Thai government made the right decision when they closed the country. And I hope they will make sure no Covid infected people will come into Thailand for the foreseeable future.

You really believe that? You really believe the whole 40+ days no cases story eh?

 

Country next door to China...70 million people no new covid cases 40+ days?

You buy that eh?

 

Santa too? Easter Bunnies??

 

Pretty silly...Truth is Covid was in Thailand from late last year

 

Also folks believe it or not are dying in Thailand but they don't call it covid

They call it viral pneumonia so they dont need to tally it as C19

Folks in Thailand have Covid & get over it too same as 99%  all over the world

 

But that aside anyone who believes in todays world that Thailand is covid free 40++ days

because what?? They closed?? Man wanna buy some clouds with that?

 

Here is a good read for you although anyone with common sense need nothing more than to look at the

world then remember how many Chinese visit Thailand before you swallow the blue "we have no covid 40+  days" pill

 

Man you been in Thailand too long....You have lost all reasoning & now have been assimilated to think like a Thai (no tink too mutt)

 

https://bangkokherald.com/coronavirus/new-evidence-casts-doubts-on-accuracy-of-thailands-official-coronavirus-statistics/

 

Edited July 9, 2020 by meechai

[Darksidedude]

none

[micmichd]

19 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

In Bangkok we might see bars opening only Friday and Saturday, there are simply not enough customers to operate on week days.

I can only admire Thai people for their optimism, as there is a great deal of renovation work going on. Guess that some people sit on a pile of cash and can plan for when a vaccine to come up. But they might have some staff problems then.

I thought the Bangkokians would go to Pattaya on weekends, and I guess the remaining expats from Bangkok will come here, too. And soon there will be tourists from overseas again. In the meantime there's a lot of building construction going on in Pattaya. And, yes, many go-go bars will open again (maybe with different business concepts) 

[Miami007]

19 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

Thais became addicted to this easy cash from stupid foreigners. I hope this health crisis weans them off this bs. I'm sure the strip clubs in Miami are doing well lol.. 

Sorry to disappoint.. but strip clubs in Miami were ordered closed after the mayor realized that it is not possible to properly distance during a lap dance. 

[Nanaplaza666]

19 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

Thais became addicted to this easy cash from stupid foreigners. I hope this health crisis weans them off this bs. I'm sure the strip clubs in Miami are doing well lol.. 

I think your forgetting how hard many of them are working in the scaffling heat to serve you (the stupid farang) your drink or coconut or whatever for 300 baht a day . You have a very narrow mind and i think the stupid farang part only counts for yourself .

[NanLaew]

16 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

16 hours ago, Trujillo said:

So what is the, "If you don't get enough lady drinks, we will deduct from your monthly salary" thing? 

 

I'm embarrassed that I don't know about this. Perhaps it never came up (so to speak) since this was never an issue in the past. What are the mechanics of this? 

You have a quota per month, if the girl fails to get her quota her salary is cut, same for not fulfilling the bar fine quota, same for turning up late or not turning up at all. It is to encourage the girls to get the guys to spend more money, same as 3 girls hanging around one guy, more drinks, more money for the bar.

This 'Ahhh...grasshopper...' moment brought to you by...

[Thingamabob]

20 hours ago, Oldie said:

Why you care? They are there for their own purpose. There will be always sex online available and booze at the next convenience store. If people are so desperate to get their booze and sex - if Thailand wants to continue to attract them then they need to fix this problem. If not - why care. It is not a great feeling to live in one of the biggest open air brothels of the world... Was my fault... 

Lighten up for heaven's sake !

[wavodavo]

Oldie,You are missing the point.Most older blokes that perhaps live alone go to a bar not to get drunk but to socialise with their mates and talk <deleted>. Also if one of the regulars is absent someone will go and check on the or ring them to see it they are o.k.This is far better than sitting home alone drinking too much.

[Ajvat37]

Forget Gogo bars, soapy massage and thaifriendly or thaicupid nonsense.  Why do all you old timer farangs who still like pay4play not go with sidelines girls?  Cheaper, way hotter and more readily available than alternatives.  I just don’t get it.

[NoshowJones]

20 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Yes for farang sex tourists, adulters and losers who never seem to catch on that most of the girls actualy despise them.

Yes, they will despise certain types, the fat bellied ugly ones. But I don't think you could say that about the slim handsome type, but there are not so many of these left now, and again, they will get their leg over without going to the bars or taking a walk along Beach Road in Pattaya, or the odd no Soi part of Lower Sukhumvit Road.

[Bangkok Barry]

In my view, things are looking bleak for the Thai nightlife industry, with very few customers in sight for what could be months to come. Even when tourists are able to return, will they have the money and will to do so? The industry has struggled for some years due to much higher and often unrealistic prices and a general turndown in attitude by bar staff of all kinds. Stickman has reported that at least one bar in Cowboy, in typical Thai-style, has actually raised prices upon re-opening. Unbelievable.

 

Now, this long closure could well be the final nail in its coffin. In recent times the girls have increasingly been turning to social media to meet ‘friends’, rather than spend many mind-numbing hours dancing in the bars hoping to catch someone’s eye. With bars closed, they have been forced to turn exclusively to their phones to find company, and one wonders how many will now return to the bars even when they are allowed to. Especially, as the OP says, the number of lady drinks they will receive will be way down with the resulting loss of wages.