Thai Club Culture in Singapore.

I was first introduced to alcohol at an age of 18. The Aunt of a buddy of mine owns a KTV pub and that's how it all started. Over the years I've enjoyed myself as long as the party involves drinks, dance and some nice girls. Regardless if it's a bar, KTV pub or a club.

Types of drinking holes in Singapore.

For those who are unfamiliar, with these terms maybe I should run it through a little.

1. Bar - Places where the only entertainment is the beer, the drinks and whoever you bring along. For example Harry's which is all around Singapore. And now we have a good spawn volume of Cocktail bars like Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall, Spiffy Dapper and many more. More commonly along Boat Quay, Clarke Quay or Club Street.

That's my friend Sam, now the famous bar tender and owner of the popular "Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall"

2. KTV Pub - which is commonly judged as the "Ah Beng" drinking place where alcohol is being sold at one of the most reasonable price and you get to sing in the main hall. The microphone goes around the place and each table is entitled to 2 songs. Such places commonly also includes Darts, Pool and also some Sweet Young Thing hostess who may or may not drink or play some bar games with you. Can be found along Prinsep Street, Circular Road.

All those good times at a KTV Pub with these guys.

3. Club - This is the place that my wife hates the most cause you can hardly get seats and more often than not we are being squeeze like a can of sardine. Young girls in short skirts are commonly spotted at such places. Example like Zouk, Butterfactory and Fenix Room. Clarke Quay, One Fullerton.

Not the best picture of me dancing but that's how I do it. 

4. LSB - Of course, we have the final main category which is the LSB aka Lup Sup Bar which can be commonly found in Geylang, Joo Chiat, Selegie where man main motive ain't the drinks but the girls and other activities.  Erm.. no picture for this.

Beside the fact that the scene and entertainment is different, the crowd of such places are very different too. It's pretty much about choosing your poison or meat to some in this case.

Thai Club

So where does "Thai Club" fall into?

In fact, what is a Thai Club and what do I mean by "Culture".

As the name suggest, "Thai" simply means that it's club that has singers, hostess and even bar tender from Thailand. Such places mostly involved massive number of entertainer, from singers to dancers. Truth is these entertainers are really really very talented.

The Culture

I was 1st introduced to Thai Club culture probably 6-7 years ago when it wasn't as big a thing as it is currently in 2014. Live Impact at Central Mall was a nice Thai Club which is pretty much something alike to one you can see today but smaller scale and not as crowded on certain days.

You usually get to drink with the hostess, dancers and if you are "lucky" even the singers off the stage or make friends with them and bring them out for dinner.

The question, are you really lucky?

Picking up girls in a common club includes pick up lines and maybe some alcohol or the Playbook but things at the Thai Club gets a little simpler.

By Simple I mean really simple but it ain't gonna be cheap.

The Garland

A Garland as much as $2,000 to a singer for 1 song.

When I was 1st introduce to a Thai Club, I thought the whole idea of giving a Garland to a girl as tips was silly. Why do I want to pay $30 for a flower Garland just for the girl? Later I know it's because the girls get to trade it in for cash value. Depending on the venue, some takes a cut as much as 50% - even 70% of it.

So I ask, why not just pay the girl the sum into her pocket? Why not just give cash? I've no idea about the origin of it but I must say the psychology of it was simply magic.

Man's Ego

Why does man go to such places night after night and weeks after weeks? What is it that they want to get out of it? To enjoy the drinks? To dance? Listen to the songs? To bang the girl on stage? I wouldn't say I know any better but from the people around me I would say a little of everything.

I ask myself, why are these people so rich? Why are they willing to spend so much money just to give the girl money? Is it as simple as just "tips"?

1. These people ain't all that rich. I've friends who fall into this bottomless pit owing banks and credit card bills up to thousands and thousands of dollars.

From interview with some friends, they can visit the place almost 3 times a week and spent a good average of $600 - $700 on drinks. That is not including the "tips" they give nor Taxi fare when they go home. And in many cases, these guy friends of mine would bring the hostess out for supper there after and let's make a guess who foot the bills? So why am I not surprise these guys fall into the pit of credit card bills?

2. Why are they willing to spend so much? Like I say the magic garland. It doesn't only show the girl how sincere (or stupid) you are that you want to be thier friend and appreciates her singing, it also show the other (stupid) guy at the other table that "Hey, this girl is mine and I'm better than you so you F*uck off". Ego. This is the magical part of these garland. It makes man's ego boil and trying to top one another. The Ego where you bring a new group of friends into the bar and the girls greet you by name. You feel special, you feel like a VIP. The ego where other guy friends tell you that the girl dancing on stage is hot and you say "yup, that's my girl. I went out with her for dinner, movie and even make out before."

Can't Buy Me Love

As much as this culture is satisfying man's ego, little do many know that money can't buy you love. It's really money works. And these ladies are embracing on the fact that man loves such attention.

They will make the guys buy them dinner, bring them out for movie and even drive them around. "She is my girlfriend" says so many man and my question is always "Which days?"

Despite all these there are still many man who falls into the "KC (Kam Cheng - Love) Trap"

#TrueStory

"I've this hostess that managed to get guys to buy her the newest iPhone 4S when it was launched and at the end of 2 weeks she has almost 10 sets and she started selling it away. All she did was to tell them her phone is spoilt and can't message them but she miss them and want to text them. A simple phone is not enough because she cannot whatsapp them her sexy pictures. And there was this army boy who was too poor to buy one for her so he ended up signing an expensive two year plan to get the phone at $0 and pay the instalment of few hundred dollars a month. And the army boy only has a few hundred dollars a month from their "job" in the army." - "Talent Scout" from Thai Club

"I enjoy going to Thai club to meet the girls there. They are so nice to me and not demanding like Singapore girls. They don't ask for LV or ask me to get a better job for our future or ask me to marry her" - One of the many silly men.

That is because she doesn't want to marry you and she don't want LV too, she just want your money.

"I like it when my friend tell me which girl is hot and I get to tell them I've bang her before." - Yet another silly men.

Guess what, you are the lucky 75% of the club.

"It's easier to hit on a girl here. They are not like Singaporean girls. Golden Cheesepie so hard to ask them out." Depressed and low self esteem local man.

That is because he didn't try.

"I'm here just to make friends" - Delusional army boy

Ya, give me all your money I can be your friend too.

"It's not sex I'm looking for." - Man with Pants on Fire

That's true as well, cause it's not that easy to get it these days.

Not A Hater But...

I've seen so many of my friends falling into this routine over and over again. Bringing their "girl friend" to create the whole awkward scene where no one else knows what to say to her or him.

Don't get me wrong. I am not looking down on them or judging anyone who visits Thai pub. I have friends who are there to have fun with their own friends too. Friend who just visit to have drinks or watch the performance. In fact to be honest, it can be pretty entertaining at times.

Moreover, who am I? I am in no position to judge how people choose their own happiness.

I do waste money on entertainment too, I love my beer, my whisky and even buying toys at a age of 30.. So what am I saying here? What is my point of this article?

THIS

Singapore Girls

We still remember Little Miss "No $6,000 No Talk"? I Can't deny that there are girls who are practical like this out there but truth be told, she doesn't make up the majority of the population. There are many girls out there who are very nice and I guess guys are mostly intimidated.

This is my only problem with the whole Thai Club thing. It is almost like playing game with gameshark. Getting things the "easier" way. Skipping the whole dating and getting straight to the point with the help of money. It gives good man the illusion that they are living their life as a player or as a VIP and putting good man into the gutter. The truth is they can do better and be happier somewhere.

So instead of spending the thousands of dollars on an "easy target" and going no where, why not pick your game up, spend the money, time and effort on finding a real partner, girl friend or wife if that is your rant?

Mr.Smith, don't hate the player, hate the game.