he most prevalent form of interaction with Westerners – though it is far less common than the Thai sex trade – is through the various forms of bars. Young women ("bar girls", or men in the case of gay bars, or transsexual"kathoeys") are employed by the bars either as dancers (in the case of go-go bars) or simply as hostesses who will encourage customers to buy them drinks.
The hostesses or dancers are often looking to find customers for sexual services, though this is not always the case. A bar usually employs one or more "mamasans" who will help match interested customers with companions, though usually their assistance is unnecessary.
A customer will pay a bar fine in order for his choice to leave the bar early, and will need to negotiate with him/her the cost of service itself (however, sometimes it is fixed and 'bundled' into bar fine), as well as the length and type of sexual services. Typically, "short time" (at most a few hours) and "long time" (overnight and in most cases the following day) services are available.
The payment paid to the employee him/herself is not fixed (if not bundled), but is almost universally 1,000 baht (US$28) for a "long time" and 500 baht (US$14) for a "short time" in Pattaya, or 1.5–2 times more in Bangkok. Actual sum, however, depends entirely on the bar employee, and may sometimes be even zero, if an employee is interested in something else (possible long-term relationship, for example). The bar fine is typically between 250 and 700 baht (or more in case of "all inclusive" bar fine), and a small percentage (approximately 100 baht) may be credited to the "offed" worker.
Some larger bars have "short time rooms" available on site. Instead of paying a bar fine, the customer will pay for the use of the room and services will be performed on-site. Pattaya, on the east coast of Thailand, is home to many such bars – known as "bar beers" – and according to some estimates has about 40,000 to 50,000 bar girls who cater to Western men.
Many girls in the Pattaya bars have a child from a previous or current relationship with a Thai man (and may be kept secret from clients). Go-go bars are distinguished by having dancing on stage similar to a strip club in Western countries, although in general as of 2004 following the "social order" crackdown, dancers will more likely be topless or in a bikini or similar revealing costume rather than fully nude. Even topless dancing is technically illegal, though fairly common.
"Beer bars" and hostess bars are similar. Beer bars are outdoors, fairly small, and often clustered together with other beer bars; hostess bars are generally indoors. Besides that, there is a very great range in size and amenities. There are also bars which blur the line with a brothel, such as the notorious "blowjob bars" or short-time shagging establishments.
Beer bars and gogo bars operate similarly. The staff receive a monthly salary, from about 2,000 baht in some beer bars to 10,000 baht in better gogo bars (as of 2006). They receive a commission of approximately 30 baht on any drink that is bought for them. The bar also often prescribes a minimum number of bar fines the individual staff members need to generate per month (typically about five to six); falling below results in a pay reduction.
The workers receive only two or three days off per month; they are charged a bar fine for any additional day of work they miss, in addition to the loss of pay. Many go-go bars require the women to undergo regular health checks, enforced by financial penalties. In Soi Cowboy one popular bar requires their girls to have a health check every month and if they fail to do so, their salary will be cut by 1,000 baht.
Private Member Clubs serve the wealthy. These clubs are staffed by more sophisticated Thais who are fluent in English, or for venues targeting other nationalities, in the client's mother tongue. They entertain the client at the club. If the girl likes a client, typically she will leave the club with him. Most clubs usually have live music and a relaxed atmosphere. Some employ kathoey ("ladyboys") exclusively. Many of the bars are owned and operated by Westerners.
Technically, foreigners are not allowed to own more than 49% of a bar or nightclub ( or any business for that matter), so the Westerners either partner with a Thai or lease the bar from a Thai owner. Some entrepreneurs also create a number of bars with the chief purpose of selling or leasing them to poorly informed Westerners.
Apart from these sorts of bar, there are a number of other venues for the sex trade; some bars, while not employing staff as sex workers, will allow freelancers to solicit clients. This is also true of some coffee shops near night-time entertainment districts, and many of the foreign-oriented nightclubs.
Many Thai prostitutes have the ultimate goal of meeting a rich Westerner as husband or boyfriend.[15] Some have numerous foreign boyfriends (referred to as sponsors) sending money, and therefore they have friends, family and a good level of income. Many foreigners are unaware that they are just one of many sponsors sending money to the same woman.[16]
The Bangkok nightlife was the topic of a columnist, "Nite Owl" for almost forty years in the Bangkok Post; the column was dropped in 2003.
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