There is 'nothing new under the sun,' they say, but there are likely a number of things you and I haven't yet seen.   Nevertheless, when it comes to the Night Entertainment Scene in Thailand, there is a number of long term residents and frequent return visitors who would, and do, disagree with that, - they are quite sure they have seen it all, and know it all.   .....We know better, and so on our latest "Pattaya Run" (July 11) when came across a couple of new "twists" to the Nightscene, we were mildly surprised (but not surprised that we were surprised....)   Let us explain:

Tac Girls

         Of the myriad niggly little problems facing virtually every bar owner/ manager, perhaps the most niggly is trying to keep their A-Team dancers.   The girls will buy themselves out early and go to the disco once they are money ahead.   Or they will head off with customers for two or more days, and never return.   Or they receive an offer for more money from another bar and disappear.   Girls will stray to any of a number of bars offering temp work, paid by the night, for good dancers - the bar owners hoping to get some in-depth talent on their busy nights.   (This is of course, a partial list.)   Not even the best of mamasans with recruiting resources reaching deep into the fabric of Isan can keep up for long.

         Enter the Tac Girls.   A bit of explanation, etymologically speaking, is in order at this point.   Tac is the coloquial bargirl pronunciation of 'Tract', which is yet again, short for 'Contract'.   So when we hear, "Tac Girls", or, "She dances Tac", we can do the translation in our heads.   

         Tac Girls are either A Go-Go girls or Coyote girls (as if changing out of a bikini into hotpants somehow makes any difference to a punter).   They will get paid Baht 10,000 for ten consecutive nights work - they have to show up each night.   They are required to get 50 lady drinks over that 10 day period, for which they will not get a commission.   (That's 5 drinks per night.)   Anything over 50 drinks, they get the normal Baht 50 per drink commission, however.   The Tac Girls are not subjected to all the extra "fines" or "cuts" from their pay for offences such as showing up late, or skipping their "floor", not wearing regulation high-boots, or not making their minimum number of ops, ....ad nauseum.   Tac Girls can usually be bought out like any other dancer, but they are dancing 'second tier', which is to say, their barfine is Baht 1,000 instead of the usual Baht 600 or 700 (prices vary slightly depending on the bar, of course).   Some bars differentiate between first and second tier dancers by the color of their numbers / name tags - other bars you have to ask.   Tac Girls, as you may have already correctly assumed, are a cut above.

         So how is this working out for the bar owners and the Tac Girls?   Great, say both parties.   Win-win.   The bar owners find that after they have a few Tac Girls working, the girls tell their friends, and the next thing they know, they have a first-string A Go-Go stage.   The Tac Girls themselves are making more money (when all-in) than before, and are free to take off after their 10 day contract is up.   They find the additional freedoms afforded by this "semi-freelance" lifestyle much to their liking, and most often return after a few days off for a follow-on contract.   The only downside, say the owners, is the extra bookwork - they find they have "paydays" for the Tac Girls coming every few days - but they say they don't really mind - especially when word gets around, and business starts picking up.

         Inevitably, however, there is an end in sight, at least theoretically, to this type of 'windfall' contracting, at least as far as the bar owners are concerned:   Once all the bars are doing it, the 'hot' dancers will be just as scarce as before.   But until then, may they all continue to 'make hay while the sun shines'....



         Closed bars, in the generic sense, have been around at least since Jim Lowe's original version of Green Door, a number one hit record, back in 1956.   However, the Closed Bars (or 'Close Bars', or occasionally, 'Dress Bars') we are speaking of today were more likely inspired by The Story of O, the underground, world-acclaimed 1954 erotic novel by Anne Desclos.

         The three Pattaya bars in operation today, the Telephone Bar, the Bar Four and the Carte Blanc (or Carte d'Blanc) are all owned, some say not coincidentally, by Frenchmen.   But don't look for the signs; there are none.   These bars are by invitation only, (or occasionally, if you have a white face....).   Regrets in advance to all - we are not at liberty to publish the locations of these Nitespots - for what will become 'obvious reasons'.

         Typically, entrance is gained by pressing the buzzer, and waiting until you are screened from within through a peephole or CCTV.   Once the door is opened, you are welcomed into a darkened bar, and offered a seat.   A hostess (normally not selected by you, but rather whoever is next in the queue) will come to sit with you.   She is wearing a dress.   Only a dress.   You may buy the lady a drink (normal price), and your drink is on the house.   (Yes, you do not pay for it....)   A bought drink for the lady will have her lower the top of her dress to the wasteline.   Should you enter into negotiation with your hostess for something more carnal, once the price is agreed, the dress comes off entirely.   By this time, your eyes are adjusting to the low light and you begin to notice others seated at the bar next to you, also with their nude hostesses.   The additional carnal services you had just negotiated will be applied while you sit at the bar - unless you prefer to do what you do standing up.   Or if you are stricken with gymnophobic hang-ups, there will be a room upstairs, or in the back for your prudish privacy.   Again, prices are within the going Nitescene range.

         This would not be everyone's perfect night out, of course, but if you have a voyeuristic streak in you, or an exhibitionist streak in you, or both, you might enjoy such a night out "behind the Green Door".

Carpe Diem
...BUT REMEMBER TO LET GO BEFORE MORNING

The Neighborhood,
...THERE IT GOES

Don't ask...
JUST. . . . DON'T

If they are giving a prize for "Miss Selfie", then Miss Thai Smile for August is a shoe-in.