The catalyst which started our motors running on rating A Go-Go bars came from our readers - one of the most frequently asked questions is, "Which A Go-Go bars are the best?" - or, "Which A Go-Go bars should we visit when in Bangkok?"   But the catalyst is not, in this case, the reason - it was only the kick-start.   Our reasons are several, as you will see below, but our overriding thought and consideration is that Bangkok's bars, once the greatest in the world, are losing their grip (shame, shame....).   Bangkok's slide from the top of the heap has been slow and almost undetectable, and it's not just because the A Go-Go bars in other towns are getting better, it's because we here in Bangkok are getting worse.   (Bear in mind, MIDNITE HOUR is making a generalization - there are yet many great A Go-Go bars in Bangkok; we are speaking on-average.   Nevertheless, it is long past time we own up to our own failings.)

         Our guidelines in formulating this review, this evaluation form, are simple and to the point.   We believe that the overriding tenet, the primary reason customers go to A Go-Gos is to watch "young, beautiful girls dancing to great rock 'n roll music".   We also believe that customers go to A Go-Go bars to meet and to know the girls working there.   And we further believe that the customer should not be gouged, cheated or harassed while doing so.   It's really just that simple.


         It follows that if the A Go-Go bars being evaluated by MIDNITE HOUR are doing anything at all to discourage these three above-mentioned basic tenets of customer satisfaction, then it should be publicly noted.    -An A Go-Go bar's failing is just that -a failing - and should not be something the owners have given spin to, or rationalized as "necessary or desirable", or whatever.   (Believe me when I tell you - most of you have no idea how much of this kind of crap we have heard from bar owners past and present....)

         Our individual evaluations focus on the 'negatives' and the 'positives' of the A Go-Go bar in question.   On the positive side, we believe the A Go-Go bar that provides pleasant physical surroundings and the basic amenities should be given credit - they are doing a better job than the bar that does not, and our evaluation should likewise make note.

         Having seen the A Go-Go bar come to Bangkok and grow up here over the last thirty odd years, and having watched what worked and what didn't, the format and contents of the below A Go-Go Evaluation Form could only have been what it has become; it almost wrote itself.

As this is the inaugural issue, at least for the A Go-Go bar evaluations, we are going to kill two birds with one stone.   As a reference, or benchmark, we will be evaluating four A Go-Go bars in Pattaya that have been the focus of major buzz over the last three months.   These bars are amongst Pattaya's best, and it will prove interesting to see how Bangkok's A Go-Go bars will fare against these four.   The four A Go-Go bars in the spotlight this month are in Covent Garden Night Entertainment Area in South Pattaya. [ Don't forget to click anywhere on the below tables to see in detail how we came up with our composite score for each A Go-Go bar - (you may be surprised). ]

            CLUB BOESCHE.   This bar is probably the ultimate evolutionary state of the A Go-Go bar, with split level see-thru stages, non-stop shower shows and Jacuzzi scene.   There are several shades of pink showing at any given time - considerably more than the prudish among you could tolerate.   It has taken the ball from the Bangkok Super-Bars of the early '90's and run with it.   While the lowest scoring bar on our survey this month, they could remedy those things that most irritate the customer in 5 minutes, and become one of the best bars of this era.

Bangkok Eyes A Go-Go Bar Evaluation

Name : Club Boesche A Go Go			(*Click* ANYWHERE
Start : 100 Points - Deduct From Below -	100		on here for Details)
Seating	-0
Decor	-0
Dancers	-5		Visited : 3 & 20 Mar 06
Dance Set Length - A Go-Go Girls	-15		South Pattaya
Dancer / Hostess Interaction w/ Customers	-20
Overly Aggressive Drink Hassling	-0
Prices	-5		RATINGS :
Music	-0		EXCELLENT = 85 - 100
Barfine	-5		VERY GOOD = 75 - 80
Settling the Bill	-0		GOOD =         65 - 70
Toilets         (Aggressive, unwanted towel boys)	-15		FAIR =          55 - 60
Door Touts	-0		POOR =         35 - 50
.	-		Stay Home = 30 Or Less
TOTAL (Remaining from 100 points)	35
A Go-Go Bar Rating :      POOR !	-
(Click ANYWHERE on this Table for Details)

            CATZ A GO-GO.   This is the smallest of the A Go-Gos at Covent Garden, and most like the bars of old.   No hustle, no hassle.   In spite of the ratings, we like this bar the best of the four - perhaps derived from an unquantifiable 'nostalgia quotient', who knows?

Bangkok Eyes A Go-Go Bar Evaluation

Name : Catz A Go-Go			(*Click* ANYWHERE
Start : 100 Points - Deduct From Below -	100		on here for Details)
Seating	-0
Decor	-0
Dancers	-5		Visited : 3 & 20 Mar 06
Dance Set Length - A Go-Go Girls	-15		South Pattaya
Dancer / Hostess Interaction w/ Customers	-20
Overly Aggressive Drink Hassling	-0
Prices	-0		RATINGS :
Music	-0		EXCELLENT = 85 - 100
Barfine	-5		VERY GOOD = 75 - 80
Settling the Bill	-0		GOOD =         65 - 70
Toilets	-0		FAIR =          55 - 60
Door Touts	-0		POOR =         35 - 50
.	-		Stay Home = 30 Or Less
TOTAL (Remaining from 100 points)	55
A Go-Go Bar Rating :      FAIR	-
(Click ANYWHERE on this Table for Details)

            BABE WATCH.   By far the best name for an A Go-Go we've seen in a long time.   We noted with interest (on both visits) that this bar, while maintaining a decent rating, had the fewest customers.   We also noted that it was playing Rap Music.   We also noticed that another bar in this complex was playing a lot of Techno, and we noted that that bar had the second lowest number of customers.   Connect the dots, gentlemen.

Bangkok Eyes A Go-Go Bar Evaluation

Name : Babe Watch A Go Go			(*Click* ANYWHERE
Start : 100 Points - Deduct From Below -	100		on here for Details)
Seating	-0
Decor	-0
Dancers	-10		Visited : 3 & 20 Mar 06
Dance Set Length - A Go-Go Girls	-0		South Pattaya
Dancer / Hostess Interaction w/ Customers	-20
Overly Aggressive Drink Hassling	-0
Prices	-0		RATINGS :
Music         (RAP !)	-15		EXCELLENT = 85 - 100
Barfine	-0		VERY GOOD = 75 - 80
Settling the Bill	-0		GOOD =         65 - 70
Toilets	-0		FAIR =          55 - 60
Door Touts	-0		POOR =         35 - 50
.	-		Stay Home = 55 Or Less
TOTAL (Remaining from 100 points)	55
A Go-Go Bar Rating :      FAIR	-
(Click ANYWHERE on this Table for Details)

            X-ZONE A GO GO CLUB.   This A Go-Go is the only one of the four accessed from the second floor - always a potential disadvantage in attracting customers.   They could do a lot by maximizing their service to the customers - starting with getting rid of the Techno music.   

Bangkok Eyes A Go-Go Bar Evaluation

Name : X-Zone A Go Go			(*Click* ANYWHERE
Start : 100 Points - Deduct From Below -	100		on here for Details)
Seating	-0
Decor	-0
Dancers	-15		Visited : 3 & 20 Mar 06
Dance Set Length - A Go-Go Girls	-0		South Pattaya
Dancer / Hostess Interaction w/ Customers	-20
Overly Aggressive Drink Hassling	-0
Prices	-0		RATINGS :
Music	-5		EXCELLENT = 85 - 100
Barfine         (550 B)	-0		VERY GOOD = 75 - 80
Settling the Bill	-0		GOOD =         65 - 70
Toilets	-0		FAIR =          55 - 60
Door Touts	-0		POOR =         35 - 50
.	-		Stay Home = 30 Or Less
TOTAL (Remaining from 100 points)	60
A Go-Go Bar Rating :      FAIR	-
(Click ANYWHERE on this Table for Details)

         As a final comment, we should note that these evaluations have been prepared, not as an owner's guide, but as a customer's guide.   However, we invite A Go-Go bar owners to see how the customer views his, or her, A Go-Go bar, and if so motivated, send us their comments.   Perhaps another way of saying the same thing, - we are not interested in the "formula" that the bar owner believes makes the bar the most money, we are interested in bringing the standard of Bangkok's A Go-Go's back up to the top, and to provide for maximum possible customer satisfaction.   Nothing would please us more than to see Bangkok's bars regain their former "World No. 1" status.

Door Art Of The Month Award                 MIDNITE HOUR awards the Door Art Of The Month to the Babe Watch A Go-Go bar, in Covent Garden in South Pattaya.   A professional and colorful job.....

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