BANGKOK EYES PRESENTS -
1927 - 2016
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BANGKOK EYES PRESENTS -
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1927 - 2016
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"NO PHOTO" is the ubiquitous non-greeting found in virtually every Night Entertainment Venue in the Kingdom. And it is most often accompanied by an outrageous threat of fine to the customer (even though there is no law on the books against taking photographs). But in the final analysis, is 'NO PHOTO' really the operant agendum? We are about to find out there are more than a few exceptions.
In an earlier era, it was quite acceptable to take photos in the A Go-Go bars, provided you asked permission prior to snapping away. However, with the advent of 'Sex Tourism' and the explosion known as the Internet at the end of the last century (and the mountains of follow-on negative international publicity), bars put a stop to virtually all photography. Door girls, door touts, mamasans, et al, with all the zeal of true converts, became aggressive, if not hostile at the sight of an unsheathed camera. That mind-set, for the most part, prevails today. (We were recently threatened by a door slug at the Crazy House because we walked past the front of the bar with a camera strung around our neck.)
VIDEO CLIP
Increasingly, A Go-Go bars are broadcasting live or taped goings-on to the outside street, as above, to encourage customers. We have observed that these outdoor 'shows' are frequently photographed or taped by tourists. Rarely are the girls consulted, rarely have they given permission.
The various Night Entertainment Venues give a number of elaborate reasons as to why photography is banned in their Venues, however there is really only one legitimate reason: privacy for the young ladies working within. Most of the dancers / hostesses have lives outside the 'bar arena', and would prefer that their employment in a bar area not be public knowledge. All the rest of the reasons (with the possible exception of videotaping the cashier) are poppycock, but the girls' individual privacy is a legitimate concern - and should be heeded by all.
VIDEO CLIP
This A Go-Go bar has a large outdoor LED billboard-screen (above) showing samplings of the dancing going on within. Most of the bars showing these candid videos to all-who-may-pass-by, rarely get the girls' permission, and these streetside videos can be (and frequently are) photographed or re-taped by visiting tourists.
But this does not mean that there is NO photography going on in the A Go-Go bars. This photography falls into two major categories -
(1) WITH knowledge of the management,
The first category, ' WITH knowledge of the management' is further broken down into "WITH the dancers' knowledge and permission", and
"WITHOUT.".
and, (2) WITHOUT knowledge of the management. 
The G-Spot, during its long tenure, would have 2 or more VCRs videoing during the A-Go-Go dancing, the shower shows, and other shows.
An example of photos properly taken in Nitespots is the Nana Group photos appearing regularly in the Stickman Weekly <
 link>. And there are many other examples of photos legitimately taken inside bars - for example, many A Go-Gos have their own websites, which include their own 'permissioned' pix. Also, there are a number of Thai Nightlife websites which have published photos taken in various bars, and have obtained prior permission. (Note: these pix are almost always copyrighted, and should not be misused by others.)
In some A Go-Go bars, the girls dance full-face onto the street, and often encourage the taking of photos using laser pointers, etc.
However, examples abound of bar owners/ managers abusing their position. Many bar owners post photos on their websites without permission of the dancers. Other bar owners create videos unbeknownst to the girls, some of which are shown to the public outside the bars, and others end up on YouTube or other Internet sites. Several bars now have CCTV - taping virtually everything going on in their bars. (A friend recently related that a dancer in a bar well-known for 'showing' was afraid to give him her phone number because they were being observed by a CCTV 'eye-in-the-sky'.) This group of bar owners (to include some who have 'nanapong-type' shows) know who you are.
On Soi Cowboy, if you can't photograph the girls in the A Go-Go bars (and you can't), then walk out onto the soi and photograph them there.
The last group of 'gentlemen' who take pictures and videos in bars are those who do so surreptitiously and without permission. Much of this ending up on YouTube and elsewhere is very low quality, and just plain sleazy - akin to those Japanese toilet-cam and Japanese shoe-cam videos that make their way onto the web.
This A Go-Go bar on the Patpongs has dancers at street level, separated from the passers-by by a thin pane of glass. Obviously, the girls are photographed frequently from the street.
A last word of caution for those wanting to photograph the Nitescene - when shooting the ladies, get permission, take photos where it is allowed. Best not to ruin your holiday to Thailand with an ugly bar scene, and perhaps a broken camera....
If you are after photos taken in A Go-Go bars, just go to their website and download them - those pics will often be more raunchy -if that is your thing- than any you might take on your own. Other bars, not wanting to bother obtaining permission, use photos of girls no longer working there. We have been told by some of the dancers that they only reluctantly agree to such in-house photos. (Before downloading, pls note: pix may be copyrighted....)
The above is a grab from a YouTube video (it is not the video). Today's technology has given the world smaller, higher resolution cameras, making it more and more difficult to catch those who video and photograph secretly in Night Entertainment Venues. This 'without-permission' video was taken in the Thermae.
BANGKOK EYES
Let the August 2017 Follies begin-
The Muzzik Cafe is the best (and most consistent) Nitespot on PP1 for live music. A great mix of the old rock classics. Let the good times roll. A pic for the Archives.
 PATPONG 1
De Talk has not only added A Go-Go to the menu, but they are putting it out there in the front window. Shake it, don't break it, ladies.... ('Pool Bar' is still their strong suit.)
PATPONG 2
Any more, it's hard to get a sign in edgewise. This particular sign greets nightcrawlers entering from the Soi 23 end of Soi Cowboy. BTW, last weekend, Soi Cowboy was crawling with customers yet again....
SOI COWBOY
SOI COWBOY
Mercury Go Go Bar, having made the trans-gender plunge last month, have augmented their neon this month.
NANA PLAZA
Angels Four have opened in the Rajah Hotel compound - occupying the front loc facing the street in the Rajah outbuilding. And yes, the 'angels' are all wearing halos.... Welcome them to Partytown.
SOI NANA
The unnamed Bar - Restaurant we mentioned last month now has a name. They are the Super Bowl. Located in the left-hand corner of the Rajah Hotel entertainment area. May they continue to shine brightly....
SOI NANA
As the Rajah Hotel continues to populate its empty shops with new Night Entertainment Venues, we thought it would be timely if we provided an interim 'graphic' showing the current Nightlife status at the Rajah Hotel.
SOI NANA
The Red Zone popped up out of nowhere. Welcome to the machine. They moved into the old Finnegan's Irish Pub digs. (Finnegan's closed 31 January 2015.)
SOI NANA
Last month we announced the opening of P's Thai Massage, but didn't have a pic to show for it. This month we got our act together and came up with a half-way decent photo. May they persevere.
SOI NANA
When Luminous closed in October of 2008, construction fencing went up around the property which carried ads for the future Tapas Club. But there already was a 'Tapas Room Club' just across the Soi, and the old guard weren't particularly pleased with these newcomers (whom they did not know) ripping the name. The renovations on the old Luminous took many months, but finally opened as Spanish on 4 in September of 2009 - so something had been worked out with the original Tapas Room Club on the name.... Fast-forward to April of this year, and the original Tapas Room Club closed. This month, the Spanish on 4 changed its name to Tapas Cafe. What goes around....
SOI KATOEY
Last month we welcomed the 'unusually named' Honny Pup, which took over from Denny's at the front of the Holiday Inn. This month they are sporting new neon - they are now the Honey Pub - so it was just a case of   . We wish them constancy.
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
No sex? You call that service?! (We're just kidding.) It's good to see that there are still some massage parlors that you can go to for a real massage... May they continue to slip and slide...,
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
The Kiss Bangkok Massage 2, is just three doors down from the original, and basically offering exactly the same services. It is located in the small soi just past the new Marriott (along with 10 other massage parlors). Welcome them to the slippery slope.
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
Also located in the same soi is the new Paradise Thai Massage (as opposed to the sister massage parlor located in the same soi named Paradise Massage). They took over the recently abandoned Malaiseeda 1 Massage digs. Welcome them to the nightgames.
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
Truffles Bar & Ristorante have stepped newly into the Chao Siam Theater Bar & Restaurant shoes. Wish them well as they venture into the neon jungle. (They may want to find some bolder signage, though....)
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
Thongpattaya Massage has faded into the night - no explanation given; no explanation needed. There are enough massage parlors on Soi 22 to choke a horse. Greener grass, ladies.
SOI 22 (Sukhumvit)
SOI AMBASSADOR (Sukhumvit 11)
Last month the long-standing Lek Massage & Spa, at the front of QPP, closed down (as many regulars noted), renovated, and then reopened. Welcome them back to the Big Uneasy.
QUEEN's PARK PLAZA (Sukhumvit 22)
Last month we noted that the upstairs Dozo Love & Massage had reopened their downstairs (ground level) facilities. This month we find that the downstairs portion is being converted to Hana House Japanese Karaoke, and should be opening ...right about now... Located in the S-33 Compact Hotel.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33) The Amethyst Massage was looking darker than a poisoned well when we passed by on Saturday evening. Taped in the windows were signs saying that they were urgently hiring - the usual ambiguity when places are closing down. Are they open or closed? We'll keep an ear to the ground and get back atcha.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33)
New Wave have added a new outside corner bar. All else remains the same. Go with the flow.
SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7/1)
The Classic Boys Club has for some time been the New Classic Boys Club - and now they have some new signage nailed up which says so.
SOI TWILIGHT
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William R. Morledge |
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