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Booming Thai clubs draw young execs with cheap booze and pretty hostesses
BUY A DRINK, GET A KISS
By Hedy Khoo
August 17, 2009
THEY are the dark horses who are set to give the major players in the clubbing scene a run for their money.
From humble beginnings at Golden Mile's 'Little Thailand', there are now about 35 Thai clubs around the island. Their turf now includes Shenton Way, East Coast Park and even Orchard Road.
They have surprised alcohol distributors and made mainstream club operators sit up and take notice by attracting a young executive-type clientele.
'These Thai clubs may be smaller operators, but the amount of alcohol they can sell is fast catching up with that of the big mainstream clubs,' said an alcohol distributor who declined to be named.
The poisons of choice at these Thai clubs are cognac, whisky and beer.
Another alcohol distributor, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said Thai clubs began booming in the last two years.
'I was sceptical of the Thai club concept when it moved out of the Golden Mile area. I didn't think it would take off.'
However, several visits to various Thai clubs convinced him otherwise.
'I was surprised to see many club-goers who are executives in their early 20s or 30s. They show up at 2am or 3am after the main clubs close because Thai clubs can stay open until 6am,' he said.
Apart from longer opening hours, these clubs have other attractions to pull in the young, hip white-collared party crowd.
Given the current economic situation, one is value for money.
Cheaper alcohol
One of the alcohol distributors said bottle prices are cheaper.
A bottle of whisky which costs $240 in a mainstream club could cost $30 less in a Thai club.
Clubbers also like the mix of music and relaxed atmosphere in such clubs.
'The Thai bands can sing Mandarin, English and even Cantonese hits besides Thai songs. Their versatile repertoire gives them a competitive edge,' said the alcohol distributor.
'The singers are also friendly, going around to mingle with the customers and socialising. They build relationships with the customers and make them feel good.'
He also observed that the relaxed atmosphere means clubbers need not dress up to look glamorous.
'You see many people dressed down in T-shirts, bermudas and evenslippers.'
But by far the main attraction at these clubs are the young women, mostly Thai and some Vietnamese, who act as drink hostesses.
Male customers need only buy them 'ladies' drinks' and they will sit with them, pour the drinks and keep them company.
At one club, The New Paper saw some women sitting on the laps of male customers and allowing the men to kiss them. (See report at facing page.)
The alcohol distributors both agree that young, sexy women are the biggest draw in Thai clubs.
Said one of them: 'It reminds me of Duxton Hill previously. It is known within the industry how it works.
'Once you walk in, you see that the ratio mix in the club is strange, 100 guys to about 30 to 40 girls, of which most of them are Thai. You don't really see many local female clubbers.
Commission
'These ladies sit with the men, help to pour drinks, and ask them to buy a 'ladies' drink, which is termed 'LD'. These girls get a commission.
'The customers' defences are down. Guys who usually never have women approach them get these doe-eyed sweet young Thai girls asking them to buy them a drink. It's hard to say no.'
A financial adviser who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 35, said he has been frequenting Thai clubs every week since last year.
'It's fun because it bridges the gap between pubs and KTVs. You get to drink, you get the girls but it is not as sleazy and the atmosphere is very laidback,' he said.
'No hanky-panky goes on within the club premises. But the main reason I go there is for the girls.'
So how do these young women end up in these clubs?
Some of the club-goers do have an inkling after speaking to the women.
Said Mr Lim: 'They tell me the same thing. They come in (to Singapore) on student or social visit passes and work at these clubs for commission.
'They will sit with you and you are expected to buy them a 'ladies' drink', for example, a tray of 12 shooters for $120. The club gives them a commission of 30 to 50 per cent.'
Mr Lim said the girls told him that they 'register' with the clubs and are given a number.
'It is very discreet. Whenever the waiters come with the drinks, they will ask the girl for her number, then slip her a piece of paper. The girls collect these chits to claim their commission later,' he said.
'I found out when I asked the girls why they were holding on to these pieces of paper all night.
'The other usual nightspots don't have such girls working on this 'freelance basis'. Can you imagine if so many of these girls are walking around asking customers to buy them drinks? I think the bouncers would throw them out.'
Mr Dennis Foo, CEO of the St James Power Station group of clubs, questioned the legitimacy of these girls.
'Why are there so many of them sitting around with the customers and helping to pour drinks?' he asked.
'I have made this comment previously - when recession hits, operators may use underhanded techniques to draw crowds and this is an example. If such practices are legal, let us know.
'It is not fair that some club operators can circumvent the rules and profit at the expense of those who follow the rules and abide by the law.'
LifeBrandz chief executive Bernard Lim, 40, also questioned the presence of the foreign women in Thai clubs.
He observed that some smaller clubs which closed in the last two years have been converted to Thai clubs.
'It seems to be a lucrative business. Otherwise, why would so many jump on the bandwagon? But is the modus operandi legitimate?' he asked.
Booming Thai clubs draw young execs with cheap booze and pretty hostesses
BUY A DRINK, GET A KISS
By Hedy Khoo
August 17, 2009
THEY are the dark horses who are set to give the major players in the clubbing scene a run for their money.
From humble beginnings at Golden Mile's 'Little Thailand', there are now about 35 Thai clubs around the island. Their turf now includes Shenton Way, East Coast Park and even Orchard Road.
They have surprised alcohol distributors and made mainstream club operators sit up and take notice by attracting a young executive-type clientele.
'These Thai clubs may be smaller operators, but the amount of alcohol they can sell is fast catching up with that of the big mainstream clubs,' said an alcohol distributor who declined to be named.
The poisons of choice at these Thai clubs are cognac, whisky and beer.
Another alcohol distributor, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said Thai clubs began booming in the last two years.
'I was sceptical of the Thai club concept when it moved out of the Golden Mile area. I didn't think it would take off.'
However, several visits to various Thai clubs convinced him otherwise.
'I was surprised to see many club-goers who are executives in their early 20s or 30s. They show up at 2am or 3am after the main clubs close because Thai clubs can stay open until 6am,' he said.
Apart from longer opening hours, these clubs have other attractions to pull in the young, hip white-collared party crowd.
Given the current economic situation, one is value for money.
Cheaper alcohol
One of the alcohol distributors said bottle prices are cheaper.
A bottle of whisky which costs $240 in a mainstream club could cost $30 less in a Thai club.
Clubbers also like the mix of music and relaxed atmosphere in such clubs.
'The Thai bands can sing Mandarin, English and even Cantonese hits besides Thai songs. Their versatile repertoire gives them a competitive edge,' said the alcohol distributor.
'The singers are also friendly, going around to mingle with the customers and socialising. They build relationships with the customers and make them feel good.'
He also observed that the relaxed atmosphere means clubbers need not dress up to look glamorous.
'You see many people dressed down in T-shirts, bermudas and evenslippers.'
But by far the main attraction at these clubs are the young women, mostly Thai and some Vietnamese, who act as drink hostesses.
Male customers need only buy them 'ladies' drinks' and they will sit with them, pour the drinks and keep them company.
At one club, The New Paper saw some women sitting on the laps of male customers and allowing the men to kiss them. (See report at facing page.)
The alcohol distributors both agree that young, sexy women are the biggest draw in Thai clubs.
Said one of them: 'It reminds me of Duxton Hill previously. It is known within the industry how it works.
'Once you walk in, you see that the ratio mix in the club is strange, 100 guys to about 30 to 40 girls, of which most of them are Thai. You don't really see many local female clubbers.
Commission
'These ladies sit with the men, help to pour drinks, and ask them to buy a 'ladies' drink, which is termed 'LD'. These girls get a commission.
'The customers' defences are down. Guys who usually never have women approach them get these doe-eyed sweet young Thai girls asking them to buy them a drink. It's hard to say no.'
A financial adviser who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 35, said he has been frequenting Thai clubs every week since last year.
'It's fun because it bridges the gap between pubs and KTVs. You get to drink, you get the girls but it is not as sleazy and the atmosphere is very laidback,' he said.
'No hanky-panky goes on within the club premises. But the main reason I go there is for the girls.'
So how do these young women end up in these clubs?
Some of the club-goers do have an inkling after speaking to the women.
Said Mr Lim: 'They tell me the same thing. They come in (to Singapore) on student or social visit passes and work at these clubs for commission.
'They will sit with you and you are expected to buy them a 'ladies' drink', for example, a tray of 12 shooters for $120. The club gives them a commission of 30 to 50 per cent.'
Mr Lim said the girls told him that they 'register' with the clubs and are given a number.
'It is very discreet. Whenever the waiters come with the drinks, they will ask the girl for her number, then slip her a piece of paper. The girls collect these chits to claim their commission later,' he said.
'I found out when I asked the girls why they were holding on to these pieces of paper all night.
'The other usual nightspots don't have such girls working on this 'freelance basis'. Can you imagine if so many of these girls are walking around asking customers to buy them drinks? I think the bouncers would throw them out.'
Mr Dennis Foo, CEO of the St James Power Station group of clubs, questioned the legitimacy of these girls.
'Why are there so many of them sitting around with the customers and helping to pour drinks?' he asked.
'I have made this comment previously - when recession hits, operators may use underhanded techniques to draw crowds and this is an example. If such practices are legal, let us know.
'It is not fair that some club operators can circumvent the rules and profit at the expense of those who follow the rules and abide by the law.'
LifeBrandz chief executive Bernard Lim, 40, also questioned the presence of the foreign women in Thai clubs.
He observed that some smaller clubs which closed in the last two years have been converted to Thai clubs.
'It seems to be a lucrative business. Otherwise, why would so many jump on the bandwagon? But is the modus operandi legitimate?' he asked.
