On the "Puffs and Pans for gay venues" thread one of the things being discussed is the music volume in Thailand's gay bars. I started this thread to see what the majority of opinions turns out to be.

 

I think I covered most of it in the poll questions. If not, I put in an option for "other."

 

Ok, let's see what everyone thinks.

To explain my "other" vote: I don't go to the bars, but if I did I would certainly not frequent those that have the music so loud as to give me a headache or not be able to carry on a conversation.

I too voted "other" and reluctantly. That's because the poll doesn't have an option which it should: "It is not loud". How can the poll presume the music is loud and then ask people for their opinion of it?

I rarely find the volume 'too loud'.. and sometimes it's useful to ignore the annoying mamasan as you can't hear her.

I define "too loud" as making it difficult to have a conversation.

 

Fortunately, most gogos do not have this problem. I tend to leave those that do, although if the offending bar has the nicest boys in town, it would be more difficult.

 

A gogo bar SHOULD have some music & the boys should be dancing to it. The music should never be intrusive.

That's because the poll doesn't have an option which it should: "It is not loud". How can the poll presume the music is loud and then ask people for their opinion of it?

No, I don't think a "not loud" option belongs on this poll. I'm not asking about the bars at which the music volume is at a comfortable level. I'm talking about bars at which somebody would have to be awfully stubborn to insist the music is not loud. I think everyone reading this thread knows exactly what I mean. However, that's what "other" is for if you feel I left anything out.

 

I'm not looking for a dispute about what constitutes 'loud.' Again, I think everybody knows what I mean.

 

Basically, what I'm trying to find out is whether most people are going to tolerate excessively loud music or not. The way I see it, Thai law permits the music volume to be up to 90 decibels. Beyond that, now the law is being violated and the music is loud.

I don't like the loud volume and I will leave the bar because of it

Well, bar owners, it looks like the point is already made. You can see the results this poll is so far producing just as well as the rest of us can. Now will you give some thought to turning down the volume? I don't know what more needs to be said. You're the ones looking for customers. This aspect of what it takes to get customers seems simple enough to deal with. So, what will you do? Will you reduce the volume or will you continue to cause a significant number of your potential customers to go someone else's bar? The choice is yours.

sometimes it's useful to ignore the annoying mamasan as you can't hear her.

The trouble is you also can't hear the boy you may have called over when you're trying to make chit-chat with him or make off arrangements with him.

 

Others may view it differently, but spending time, as well as money, in a bar where the music volume is causing painful, aching, ear throbbing, along with making it impossible to simply talk to someone sitting right next to you, somehow doesn't make it to my list of enjoyable, fun ways to spend an evening.

I don't like the really loud music, and will leave the bar because of it.

 

I believe that the reason some bars keep the music so loud is that the boys like it that way...and they have to put up with them more than each of us.

I believe that the reason some bars keep the music so loud is that the boys like it that way.

The boys do like it that way. That explanation has been given to me many times too. And it makes little sense to me. One of these days maybe they'll realize they make their money by attracting and catering to the wishes of the customers, not the go-go boys. The way I see it, if the boys want to dance to excessively loud music, then after work go to a disco. But they're in the bars to work there. I could be wrong, of course, but my logic tells me that people at work need to cater to the wishes of their customers, not just themselves.

 

I don't see how it could be any more obvious. The majority of bar customers are farang and the majority of farang are making it plain they don't want excessively loud music. Someone is going to have to very carefully explain to me how, knowing this, it still makes sense for the bars to keep the music volume excessively loud anyway.

 

As strange is this may seem, if a bar has excessively loud music, pushy mama-sans, is permitting their go-go boys to stand there doing nothing but the "One-Knee Shuffle," is charging much more for drinks and off fees than other bars in town, has uncomfortable furniture, filthy stinking toilets, has aggressive touts standing outside blocking my path and trying to physically pull me into the bar, then guess what. The chances of me being a customer in your bar are absolutely nil. And I have a feeling I'm not alone in that. Very sorry, but I don't go to bars at which it's much more of a chore than an enjoyable experience being in there.

 

I'm leaving out the part about the same, tired old crappy drag queen shows, with the lady boys wearing ridiculous costumes and lousy lip-synching. A lot of people like those and do go to those so-called shows. I don't. As soon as those shows start, I'm out the door. That may be the subject of the next poll . . .

 

In any case, most bars are complaining that they're not getting the customer numbers. Three guesses why. When on earth are you going to start paying attention to what your customers want and start doing something to make your bar attractive and a place where customers want to spend their evening as well as their money? As you're putting the "For Sale" sign on your door?

It seems as though bar owners here have forgotten the old, but true axion, "The customer is always right".

It seems as though bar owners here have forgotten the old, but true axion, "The customer is always right".

Not all bar owners lvdkeyes. You can still enjoy a drink and converse with your friends here, if you ever get down to Dongtan Beach! - Tui

Well, bar owners, it looks like the point is already made. You can see the results this poll is so far producing just as well as the rest of us can. Now will you give some thought to turning down the volume? I don't know what more needs to be said. You're the ones looking for customers. This aspect of what it takes to get customers seems simple enough to deal with. So, what will you do? Will you reduce the volume or will you continue to cause a significant number of your potential customers to go someone else's bar? The choice is yours.

The point is taken and as I have always asked for people to comment on their likes and dislikes to make improvements and changes, as of last night and reading some of the comments yesterday from people whose comments I respect, the music volume has been lowered to a level that I hope most people will find a happy compromise.

I would be happy if people keep me informed over the next few weeks of their opinions.

 

Mark

I can't begin to count the number of times the loud music has provided me with a ready excuse to sit thisclose to a nearly naked barboy and check him out at close range. Since I normally leave the bar as soon as I have made my off, I really can't complain about the music, I guess.

You don't need loud music as an excuse to sit close to a nearly naked boy in a go go bar.

the music volume has been lowered to a level that I hope most people will find a happy compromise.

I hope the other bar owners will do the same thing. At least you're trying. You're to be commended for that, and I think everyone will appreciate it and give your bar another chance. I certainly will.

 

Some of the other bar owners seem as if they couldn't care less about what their customers want. And they can't figure out why their bars are empty.

Not all bar owners lvdkeyes. You can still enjoy a drink and converse with your friends here, if you ever get down to Dongtan Beach! - Tui

I certainly will. Many of us are very familiar with Tui's Place. For those of you who aren't, he's right there in the heart of the gay beach. His hotel rooms are very nice. I've been in a couple of them and if I wanted to stay at the beach, Tui's Place would be my first choice.

 

He also has a very nice little restaurant. Good food at very reasonable prices. When you're on the beach and you order food, quite likely it is Tui's Place that prepares it. That's where many of the concessionaires get it from.

 

He also has absolutely immaculate, spotlessly clean restrooms. If you are at the beach, he charges 10 baht for use of the restrooms. Directly across from Tui's Place is that circular restroom on the beach, run by the lady I call "5-Baht Mary." She charges 5 baht to use her restroom facilities and it wouldn't hurt her to take some lessons from Tui about cleanliness and maintenance. So, you get a choice . . . "5-Baht Mary" or "10-Baht Tui." Personally I think it's worth another 5 baht to be able to use a good toilet facility.

I certainly will. Many of us are very familiar with Tui's Place.

Thank you so much Gaybutton for your very kind appraisal!

I can't begin to count the number of times the loud music has provided me with a ready excuse to sit this close to a nearly naked barboy and check him out at close range.

 

I'm with you there. Get to the point and don't bother about anything else. Even loud music has its uses.

If I earned a living as a barboy, as soon as I realised loud music meant fewer customers, a more reasonable music volume would be preferable.

 

Unfortunately, I believe most bar owners don't read this forum. If they do, that's a lot of lurkers.

 

So one obvious solution would be to make these results into a bi-lingual bar chart & distribute printed copies to the bars and a small number of their customers. The cost should be minimal. I don't live in Pattaya, but would certainly chip in towards the cost of that.

I, certainly, didn't mean all bar owners. I should have said "many bar owners".

Unfortunately, I believe most bar owners don't read this forum. If they do, that's a lot of lurkers.

You might be surprised at how many bar owners do read these forums, but rarely post on any of them. If they are not aware of the results of this little poll, they'll know soon enough. The next question is whether they'll pay any attention to what is being said here.

I can't find the "beat a dead horse" icon

I can't find the "beat a dead horse" icon

Here 'tiz . . .