Holding the $20 line

New York

Sunday, September 12, 2010 10:52 PM

Seems like more clubs are trying to move to $25+ dances, or worse yet, charge an entry fee every time you take a girl to a LD area.  In recent review of Goldfingers, the Value rating dropped from an 8 to a 5 because on my 2nd visit (during evening hours) they charged a LD entry fee. In addition to a lower review on TUSCL, they lost my business. It sucks b'cause I could have seen this club being my new "go-to" spot. There are two reasons I'm writing this.  First, hoping that by some odd chance, club management reads it.  And second, hoping my fellow clubbers join in the battle to HOLD THE $20 LINE! Myth - We'll make more money:  I guess simple logic concludes that a club and/or dancers will make more charging more for dances - actually, it works just the opposite. If you read through TUSCL, you'll see that a lot of guys have budgets in mind before they head to a SC, especially the regulars.  If they feel entertained and relaxed, they'll spend their budget (maybe a little more).  If you try to shake it out of them the minute they hit the door their defenses go up and the club prob gets less and doesn't see the customer again anytime soon.  For a good equivalent, look at Casinos.  They understand that taking customers for huge money when they hit the door will earn them less in the long run than building an environment the customer loves and taking their money slow and steady - the customer is lulled into bliss and stays in the seat, ends up spending more money.  It's the same thing at a SC. If you try to grab too much $$ too quickly, then the customer starts thinking about money and cost.  $30 for a 3 min song = $600/hour. You don't want me thinking that much!  I didn't come to your SC to run value calculations or time how long the frickin song is. I came here for entertainment and to forget about life for a while.  The more you lay on the hustle, the farther I am from my goal of a fun, entertaining night, and less I'm spending.  Any successful, veteran dancer will tell you that. In the end, I'll lose out because I end up getting less LD's, no VIP's, and won't stay as long.  You'll lose out because you'll get less cash!  Imagine a Casino with only Roulette, Craps, and Pick-A-Number games.  These games grab the money fastest and provide the least value (time) for customers.  A Casino with only these games wouldn't last very long.  The money makers are the slow drip games that keep customers in the seat - blackjack and slots, these players are the regulars for Casino, they are the bread and butter.  It's the same for a SC. My advice to club owners who want patrons to spend more money:  focus on making a better club!  The money will follow. My advice to fellow SC goers.  Stop going to clubs that don't have $20 dances.  More expensive dances do not ensure a better dance.  In fact, most clubs in NYC, $20 clubs are actually better LD's.  If we, the SC regulars hold the line, the clubs will follow.

17 comments

sinclair
•
14 years ago
HOLD THE LINE!
troop
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14 years ago
fuck 20! let's make it 10! <img alt="" src="/editor/images/smiley/msn/wink_smile.gif" /> in northern ohio most dances are priced from 10-25 dollars. i've actually received as good and sometimes better 10 dollar dances than 20-25 dollar dances. the only thing that the higher price guarantees is that i will be more selective in buying and buy less dances overall.
Rod8432
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14 years ago
I concur  totally. My comparison is Brad's Brass Flamingo in Indy ($10/dance daytime, $12 at night) versus any of the clubs in Miami/Ft Lauderdale area ($25/dance). What happens is at Brad's I feel free with my money, so I hang for 3 - 4 hrs, drink accordingly, buy a shitload of dances with lots of girls, and tip early and often. At a Miami club (say, Pure Platinum), I feel like I gotta make my dollars count, so I really screen the dancers beforehand by locking them in unprofitable (for them) conversation before I decide, often turning ones who don't give me a really good vibe. I also bag it after about an hour or two, figuring I kinda shot my wad and don't feel like blowing another $25 just to find out if another given dancer's any good or not. And you're right about the relative quality. I swear my BBF dances (or at Follies, for that matter, too) at $10 are just as good, if not often better, than the $25 dances.<input type="hidden" id="gwProxy"></input><input type="hidden" id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" /> <div id="refHTML"> </div>
steve229
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14 years ago
How right you are, yankee.  When I first found a club I liked with no cover, cheap drinks and $20 2-4-1 dances, I figured I would save a small fortune.  Turns out I end up spending more per visit than at my old, expensive club.  But I don’t mind, because I feel like I’m get value for my dollar.  I’ve made the $20 lap dance my personal Maginot Line…ah, wait, that’s not really the best analogy, but you get the idea.  <o:p></o:p>
MisterGuy
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14 years ago
"$30 for a 3 min song = $600/hour" ...and $20/3 min. song = $400/hour, and so on & so on...so??  If everyone thought that way, then no one would be getting any LDs, ever.  I agree that some strip clubs have a lot of nerve with their LD and/or VIP Room price structure or even with their nickle-and-diming routines, but one can usually move on to another club if one wants to.
MrNads
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14 years ago
Damn straight! It isn't like a guy can make a cent more himself in this shitty economy.
rl27
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14 years ago
Same here, I have gotten better $10 dances than $20 dances.  The problem is the $10 dance is now quite rate.  When I do get $10 dances, or $20 dances with a discount for multiple dances, I usually end up spending more than I do for $25 or more a song, and spend the same amount of time at both.  For one at a lower price club there are normally many dancers I will get my dances from, and therefore don't have to wait as long before I get lap dances.  while at the $25 and up clubs I have one or two favorites and I may wait for over 30 minutes before one is available. I don't know why clubs don't see that dancers and the club may make more at lower prices, since the dancers can stay busy during their shift, which draws more dancers, which brings more customers. I have seen average looking women giving tame dances, average 5 songs an hour at $10 to $15 a song, and hot women giving top notch dances who barely average one song an hour at $25 plus a song clubs.
samsung1
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14 years ago
I agree that $10 is reasonable in some parts of the country (cleveland, phoenix, indianapolis) but $20 is a more reasonable price for most of the country.
samsung1
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14 years ago
I have got better $5 couch dances at Fantasyland West than I have with a $35 VIP dance at Club X
RocStarsky
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14 years ago
I'd just stay away. they are charging too much. if they want business. they need to study the demographics in their area.
ChrisCoolidge
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14 years ago
Totally agreed about holding the line.  As a North New Jersey resident, I get the chance to go to NY and NJ clubs frequently.  Many NY clubs have a cover charge plus lap dance room fee plus 20 or more per song.  It's always a shorter night.  You blow thru about 40 dollars in liquor and bar side tips before you even pick a female and what was once 5 LDs becomes 4 or less if you've budgeted 100 for girls.  Way too quick.  I don't even bother with these places now that I found the 10 dollar bar side grinds in Irvington NJ.  The quality of the girls is a little lower but I get all the rubbin'  I need plus the OTC option.  Theses other places can keep their "model' like dancers.  Just as an aside, it's also simple economics.  The price gets high enough, the consumer will seek a substitute ie. at these NEW prices, you might as well get an escort.
Leparsdon
•
14 years ago
Wow $20 a dance. I feel like a cheap skate. I go to a place with $5 dances and the girls earn every penny. Why spend $100 on 5 dances when for $100 you can get 20 LP. I know some of you like the thrill of the chase and chat up your dancer and ATF but I've grown accustomed to just staring at the back of a head, butt and back. Heck $10 dances give me pause so at $20 a dance I wouldn't even stop in to take a peek with $0 door cover charge. Line held and receded and drawn anew. <img src="/editor/images/smiley/msn/shades_smile.gif" alt="" />
bumrubber
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14 years ago
If anything, prices in SoCal have been going down. If not list price, then specials or whatever. Most clubs seem to be gravitating toward $10 dances, or at least starting there. You might or might not get what you pay for , and it's true that you might get the same or better dance for $10 as $20.
jackslash
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14 years ago
I agree that $20 should be the price, but I've been paying $25 for years in the Detroit area.
SexyAlissa
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13 years ago
It also needs to be stated that it depends on the clubs demographics and the demand for that dancer... I can charge more than 20 which I do because I get a lot of advanced bookings for private dances and time... I'll charge 35-40 per song for guys who dont book in advance but I also give a solid 15 minutes for 100 dollars.. Its supply and demand!
Dr.F
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11 years ago
Excellent points and discussion, Yankee428. I've found the $20 LD to be a significant line in the sand. A few weeks ago I was at Xplicit Show Club (or something similar) in Glendale, AZ and actually went for a LD with a "7" I never would have considered normally, but for a couple of good reasons: 1) I noticed how well she treated a guy who came to the stage to tip her a few dollars -- genuine smile, sensual hug, generous amount of titties in the face, lingering kiss on the cheek, some flirty conversation, acknowledgment of where he was sitting so she could join him later. Great stage game and the guy was beaming while he walked back to his table / friends -- and again, she wasn't all that hot... 2) Lots of time (at least 15 minutes) spent talking with me at my table, laughing and building chemistry. No hustle. 3) $10 LDs in a relatively private area, which I had to inquire about -- she wasn't pushing it on me. I eventually insisted on 2 and tipped on that because of the great price and the very good quality of the dances. Not my regular type at all, but she got some hard wood out of me, which is not always the case when a legitimate hottie hustles you for $25-plus per song and gives mechanical grinding. Plus, I bought another drink while I was talking to her -- so the bar made more money on me too. You're right, I don't want to do any calculations or risk / reward assessments -- I just want to flirt, laugh and snog all within my set budget, which may be as low as $50 or as high as $250 depending on many factors. Some may find it ironic / crazy that I wear very expensive watches and drive a Porsche, but still get bothered by an unwarranted $25 up-sell, but that's how I play in this sordid little game as a monger. That was one of the reasons I had such fun in Tijuana, because it exceeded my expectations, gave me a tremendous experience to remember and came in UNDER BUDGET. SCs in the States / Canada have wondered far off course with their misguided pricing structure and marketing strategies. P.S. Thanks for the kind words on my HK Club in TJ article. Cheers and happy hunting.
justified
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8 years ago
I know the original post is from 2010, but just needed to comment on the changes I've seen. Too many clubs are now charging $30 per lap dance. At a recent club visit not only did they charge $30 instead of $20, but absolutely NO touching is allowed unless you get 15 min for $150. I'd love to go to another club, but the competition just isn't there. I plan to just not go anymore. I cannot justify it to myself.

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