The only way Soi Twilight can survive into the future is if they can capture the Chinese gay market. Not curious tourists, but actual gay guys who are willing to off boys as we do, not just watch a show and have a drink.
If the boys don't get offed, why would they bother turning up every night? They'd make more money on the apps.
The old German will be retiring soon. He doesn't care whether or not the boys get offed; he's just interested in making a reasonable amount every night from drinks.
Are any of the bars actively pursuing the gay dollar by advertising on Chinese websites?
I seriously doubt it.
Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
- Undaunted
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Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
When I am in BKK I see many groups of young Chinese gay guys in Soi 4 they aren't interested in the commercial gay scene and why should they with all the apps. and saunas. Soi twilight's decline is symptamatic of most if not all gay venues in Thailand.
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
The problem with the Chinese tourists is that they are group-minded; how often do we see singles? It is much more likely that a single guy- as I assume most of us are, or were in our "offing careers"- will attend a bar to meet someone than those in a group of friends. They'll drink, maybe even leer but then leave together. I wonder whether they even book single rooms at hotels. And they even go to Babylon together in some cases.
My impression is that Thai punters are similar in this respect.
My impression is that Thai punters are similar in this respect.
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Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
They travel much the same as the Japanese did years ago minus the cameras around their necks.Oliver wrote:The problem with the Chinese tourists is that they are group-minded; how often do we see singles?
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
Oliver, they are exactly the type of tourists who will not save soi Twilight.
If punters don't off the boys, then the sex trade will just go to the apps and the bars will close.
They need to advertise to the single guys in China and let them know what is available. Even if only a very small percentage of Chinese gays are interested in travelling alone and offing boys, that would still be a considerable number.
The Chinese signs outside the bars only mention show times and drink prices. They need to encourage the visitors to off a boy, perhaps by telling them the boys are available and stating the off fee. Let them know that the night doesn't have to end with just a drink and a show.
They need to do something.
If punters don't off the boys, then the sex trade will just go to the apps and the bars will close.
They need to advertise to the single guys in China and let them know what is available. Even if only a very small percentage of Chinese gays are interested in travelling alone and offing boys, that would still be a considerable number.
The Chinese signs outside the bars only mention show times and drink prices. They need to encourage the visitors to off a boy, perhaps by telling them the boys are available and stating the off fee. Let them know that the night doesn't have to end with just a drink and a show.
They need to do something.
Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
I wonder what opportunities Chinese single guys have to learn about Thailand's unique opportunities. A few years ago, I saw a mamasan in Fresh Boys explaining the system at inordinate length to a young Chinese guy who had clearly arrived with little knowledge but wanted to try.
Hotels have successfully marketed themselves to Chinese tourists- the one P. and I stay in regularly is 90% Chinese- and so there must be ways of advertising . There's plenty of Chinese gay porn on-line, too and it's certain that gay sites exist there.
However, even if more single Chinese were to come, wouldn't they react to the scene in much the same as our younger falangs do and prefer non-commercial sex?
The target age group must be the 40 plus one....but how do bars attract them?
Hotels have successfully marketed themselves to Chinese tourists- the one P. and I stay in regularly is 90% Chinese- and so there must be ways of advertising . There's plenty of Chinese gay porn on-line, too and it's certain that gay sites exist there.
However, even if more single Chinese were to come, wouldn't they react to the scene in much the same as our younger falangs do and prefer non-commercial sex?
The target age group must be the 40 plus one....but how do bars attract them?
Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
With that number of Chinese, I suspect the hotel will be selling almost exclusively to tour agents. So apart from a few "familiarity visits", little advertising will be required.Oliver wrote:Hotels have successfully marketed themselves to Chinese tourists- the one P. and I stay in regularly is 90% Chinese- and so there must be ways of advertising
I think a great many Chinese gay guys are well aware of Bangkok's gay sex scene. China has a large number of websites at least some of which discuss gay travel issues. As a result, word gets spread around quickly. But from the many guys I have both met and chatted with (admittedly younger than the age group Oliver mentions), their priorities are quite different from most westerners. They are fascinated by what they see as the freedom of Bangkok's nightlife, but the idea of offing a barboy has no real interest for them. If they want sex, they will go to a sauna or more often for a massage. I don't write Chinese and so can't quote examples. But if you check the travel section on Singapore gay sites, at least half the extensive posts are about specific massage spas, the most handsome guys for massage and whether HEs are more than just hand jobs. I see almost no posts about specific gogo boy bars - or even gogo bars in general.
Westerners find Thais extremely attractive and many are happy to pay for sex. The impression I have is that Thais do not hold anything like the same attraction for other East Asians. My young Asian friends far prefer Soi 4 to Soi Twilight.
- christianpfc
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Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
In low season, some bars should close for some months and the boys work either in other bars or go home. Thus, a viable ratio of staff to customers can be maintained.
If the bar owns the building, they have no income from the property (but still better than running at a loss, and I would say most places run at a loss). If they rent the space, they would have to continue paying rent to come back in high season, but no expenses for staff, light/water, bribes.
If the bar owns the building, they have no income from the property (but still better than running at a loss, and I would say most places run at a loss). If they rent the space, they would have to continue paying rent to come back in high season, but no expenses for staff, light/water, bribes.
Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
Not sure I'd be happy paying rent for 6 months with no income. That would mean I'd have to have even higher drinks prices during the high season.
It will be interesting to see if there is an uptick in attendance during the two big Chinese holidays in early October when China and Taiwan have their National Day holidays.
It will be interesting to see if there is an uptick in attendance during the two big Chinese holidays in early October when China and Taiwan have their National Day holidays.
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Re: Soi Twilight on a very Low Season Monday
Hotmale bar on Soi Twilight has had a major interior renovation. There's a new modern looking colorful stage to the left as you enter. New seating but really looks like it was taken out of some other bar. All seats face the stage. The annoying strobe light is gone and all the new lighting is LED. There's a bubble and smoke machine. Music too loud as usual.
Three shows, 9:45, 10:45 and 0025. Don't expect promptness. All new costumes more or less. The erotic show is pretty much the same just with smoke and bubbles. Also, pretty much the same performers, just a few new lads. Some quite good looking. There were 8 Coyote boys and around 15 other boys on a weeknight. Few customers but perhaps more of the weekend.
Drinks/entry 400B
No ladyboy shows. All male review.
In the old Hotmale seating to the right was non-smoking. Now there's no non-smoking section.
Three shows, 9:45, 10:45 and 0025. Don't expect promptness. All new costumes more or less. The erotic show is pretty much the same just with smoke and bubbles. Also, pretty much the same performers, just a few new lads. Some quite good looking. There were 8 Coyote boys and around 15 other boys on a weeknight. Few customers but perhaps more of the weekend.
Drinks/entry 400B
No ladyboy shows. All male review.
In the old Hotmale seating to the right was non-smoking. Now there's no non-smoking section.