Private Rooms - Really Need Some Advice

avatar for Myoman
Myoman
I rarely even go to Private Rooms. I often go to clubs with friends or clients and they go, but it's a type of thing where I don't ask details. I have the impression they are not happy with the outcome though.
So, I went to a private room for the first time in a long long time at Rick's Cabaret. Guys, it was insanely expensive and not worth it. It was highway robbery. Let me tell you about my experience.
I was drunk as fuck, and not thinking straight. The girl was a 6.5 to 7.0 at best and by far the hottest girl there. With my drunk goggles, she was a 9 possibly.
Anyway here are the exact details on the costs:
- It is $400 for 30 minutes, but that goes to the club. I always thought that was it, and maybe a little tip, but boy was I wrong.
- The girl asked for $500 upfront. It's way too much but fair, b/c she was honest about it before my decision. So I was thinking I was paying $1000 total for the 30 minutes. Which I knew was way too much, but I was splurging b/c I got a good bonus. But, again, boy was I wrong.
- When you pay the $400 to the club upstairs, they basically demand a 20% tip. And they are pushy. You basically can't refuse. At the point, you feel you don't want to get into an argument and ruin the vibe, so another $80. Ok, but we're not done.
- When you sit down, both the girl and the waitress was extremely pushy on getting a champagne. Again, very very pushy, like I would be treating the girl like shit if I didn't. The cheapest one was $450, but they upsold me to 600. And again, she demands a 20 percent tip. So basically another $700.
- So we have 480+500+700. It's approximately $1700 for just 30 minutes!
- The experience: Well, no extras. It was basically similar to a very good lap dance in most clubs outside of NYC probably.

So, is this what to expect for private rooms? Is it really that much higher than the "listed price." Even if I insisted on no champagne, it would have been about $1000 for the 30 minute experience. And is it always a hustle to suck more money out of you. One would think, they would be happy with the $1000 total for 30 minutes! Why extort money out of me with the champagne, more tips etc and potentially deter me from ever considering this in the future.

Looking forward to some responses, information of how your experience in recent times has been. Let's refrain from the "you're an idiot" etc responses, in the interest of saving us time and keeping this an informative and productive thread that can help us all navigate the world of private rooms better.

27 comments

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avatar for Specialj
Specialj
a year ago
I've only inquired about the VIP package. Today I was at my regular club. I spoke with the manager and he explained to me that the price for the room would be somewhere in the $250 range. I'm not sure how long it's for but I'm assuming 30 minutes or an hour. In addition to the room, you negotiate with the dancer her fees, which usually run around $500. He said the daytime averages about $800 for the VIP experience, and the price at night tends to be double that. So not cheap in my opinion, and as always your mileage will vary depending on many factors including the dancer, how busy the club is, your approach/appearance etc. You only live once so have fun and be safe out there
avatar for funonthaside
funonthaside
a year ago
myoman, your mistake was doing VIP at an upscale club such as Rick's. For better value, stick with lower-end clubs.
avatar for Myoman
Myoman
a year ago
so from the last two responses I'm thinking my experience was not an exception, but expected - at a higher end club anyway.
One of the questions remaining is the high pressure I got for: 1) the champagne, and not the cheapest one. 2) 20% tips to the "house" and the waitress.
avatar for idletraveler
idletraveler
a year ago
On one of my first club experiences, I made the same mistake. Got upsold to VIP by the seductive dirty talk and taken for room fee plus pushy waitress and dancer tips, etc. And, ended up getting a tamer dance than if I'd just stuck to the regular lap dance booth paying by the song. Afterwards, I was pissed off at being effectively robbed. I eventually chalked it up as a learning experience and moved on.

I still visit that club semi-regularly on work travel, and have lots of fun in the regular lap dance room. BUT, I'll just never do a higher priced VIP dance there, or almost anywhere else, ever again. TUSCL reviews do help figure out where VIP is not just a rip-off trap, but those places seem few and far between. Higher-end clubs and tourist destinations are effectively guaranteed to take take take.
avatar for boomer79
boomer79
a year ago
The key to not gettting ripped off is knowing what is normal for a club and clearly communicating expectations. Usually if you read reviews there is at least some information on most clubs.
avatar for Muddy
Muddy
a year ago
Unless your fucking loaded take that shit out the club. They don't want to go out with it, fuck 'em. That money can get you alot of girl.

Ultimately when you pay those VIP's upfront they really got you by the balls, if they want to lie there ain't much you can do. But still if your are going to do it. EVERYTHING get negotiated on the floor, no finding anything out in VIP. Talk about everything that your going to want. Don't take "Oh I'll show you, Oh you'll find out, Oh trust me, it'll be hot" Na uh. Any mystery bail on that shit. If there a true insidious lying ROB, then there ain't much you can do.

Manhattan is not for new jacks, that is bethpage black. Jersey is a great place to get your feet wet in some of those go go bars. Real cheap and these off the boat latinas working in a lot of them want you to have a good time so you'll come back, although those girls ain't gonna be working in midtown anytime soon but that's ok.
avatar for funonthaside
funonthaside
a year ago
myoman, I would say your experience is not that far off for upscale clubs, which is why I avoid them.

IMO, more hands get into your pockets as the upscale nature of a club increases over others.
avatar for Specialj
Specialj
a year ago
Another common misconception is that you are guaranteed intercourse in VIP.....you aren't. If that's what you're looking for you're much better off getting an escort.
avatar for Studme53
Studme53
a year ago
Ha ha. Great “Bethpage black” metaphor
avatar for ilbbaicnl
ilbbaicnl
a year ago
It's the same as many other consumer choices. In truth, what "upscale" means is expensive, high-profit add-ons, which aren't worth it for most customers. It's possible there are some people whose strip club experience would not be the same without an expensive bottle of booze. But I think that stuff is mostly targeted to those who are very wealthy, or like to fantasize they are very wealthy.

The root problem with the strip club industry is the gubment. It's true that a bad strip club (like a bad bar in general) can be a nusaince to the area, or a danger to vulnerable women. But, instead of closing clubs with those issues, the gubment just makes it hard to open a strip club. If it weren't for that, it probably would not be hard to find a budget or upscale strip club (whichever you prefer) that's nearby (like restaurants, hotels, etc.). But places like Manhattan might be the exception. The real estate costs might mean that only an upscale club is viable.
avatar for JamesSD
JamesSD
a year ago
This sounds mostly in line with NYC club reputation.

One unfortunate nature of clubbing is for a lot of people there is no value in their local market.
avatar for iknowbetter
iknowbetter
a year ago
For that kind of cash book a cheap flight on Spirit to FLL, then Uber to Pompano. Depending on where you go, you can get VIP sessions in the $250 - $500 range that will include everything you’re looking for. Grab some food, Uber back to FLL, and take a nap on the flight home. You’ll get want and still be $ ahead.
avatar for gSteph
gSteph
a year ago
Sure makes me appreciate my small town, low hustle club.
avatar for gammanu95
gammanu95
a year ago
That sounds right for Rick's Cabaret on Bourbon St. If you're a local, you should know to avoid those clubs. Go to Visions in New Orleans East or Crazy Horse II in Gonzales. I used to get take-out at the clubs in Metairie, but i think they've all closed.
avatar for Dolfan
Dolfan
a year ago
This is an absolutely depends where you are situation. Even within the area it can vary from club to club. I'm pretty sure SpecialJ was talking about Scores in Palm Beach. What he didn't mention was that about 10 minutes away at Cheetah Palm Beach, the rooms are $150 for 30 mins & the girls are gonna want about 350 but probably settle for $300. Both of those places will push Champagne and the floor guys & waitresses will want sizable tips. But, another 10 minutes away at Ultra, the room is $50 for 15 minutes & the girls will want $250 but settle for $200 or less during the day. They'll be no pressure to buy bottles, and the floor guy will express genuine appreciation for that $10 tip. Similarly, there's a few clubs 20 minutes or so in the opposite direction where the prices and experience is similar to Ultra. And there's other clubs in the area where the experience will be more like what you described. At Rachels or Scarlett's, the rooms are $300+ the girls are $500+ and they're gonna push those $200 champagne bottles and pressure you for tips.

If you're on here, read reviews about a club before you go. Check out reviews for clubs in other areas, especially the top 40 club lists if you want to see what other places are like. You also gotta be willing to stand up to the pressure to buy shit you don't want, don't buy a $200 bottle of champagne if you don't want it.
avatar for 5footguy
5footguy
a year ago
Damn. I got mad (at you) reading your post. Paying that much for the room and girl is one thing. But letting them push champagne on you at $500 for a bottle? $1700 gets me 4 or 5 goooood trips to VIP. I mean gooooood. That's all in, after all tips and everything. For me it's like food. Usually, the more I pay the less I enjoy it, because I'm eating this meal knowing that my total cost for 2 will be $250. It is a good meal but it ain't 5x better than a $50 meal. The more expensive establishments and girls usually seem entitled and like they don't even need to work for it. In my experience the $200 VIP girls knock your fucking socks off way more than the $700-$1000 ones. They work for that money (and for everything else), and many of them legitimately enjoy it (their non-fakable involuntary body responses say so). They actually enjoy pleasing a man. They're good at it, and the way they behave when they are uninhibited show that they want the customer to leave feeling good and wanting to come back again. The $$$$ VIP girls sometimes make you feel like you should be grateful that they let you pay them $1000 for the privilege. These are generalities and everyone's different, but these are my observations. Really, in the end, it's all about the girl, not how much money you pay.

Also, fuck the champagne. The girls don't even like to drink it anyway. I have done VIPs with champagne service, and these waitresses want a big tip for carrying a bottle on a tray about 20 feet and opening a door. Fuck that too. One time I gave one of them a $20 bill. She worked 30 seconds, did nothing, and said ironically "wow, thanks, twenty dollars."

Respect yourself, and your money. I have dropped as much as $2000+ on 2+ hrs VIP with all of that shit, and it just isn't worth it. It doesn't matter how much money you have or how much your bonus was. Get a good VIP for $300 or $400 all in, and take that extra money and do anything else with it. If the expensive VIP was better, it would be one thing. But it never is, for me.
avatar for Myoman
Myoman
a year ago
Thank you very much for these responses - extremely helpful. The above responses, advice, and information are what this forum is all about.
avatar for ilbbaicnl
ilbbaicnl
a year ago
The key thing is, with lap dances or pretty much anything else, you want to spend your $ with someone who wants your repeat business. You're less likely to find that in a strip club that attracts a lot of out-of-towners. (Or people who only go there to celebrate some thing a big bonus.)

Most sex workers are comfortable with their work as long as you are friendly, considerate, not condescending, and respect their individual boundaries (which vary widely). Even though they provide you with a better time, they typically are OK with less $. They realize a lower price per visit means you will likely feel like it's worth it to see them frequently and regularly. Generally someone would rather get $200 - $300 once or more times a month on an ongoing basis, rather than two or three times that as a one shot deal.
avatar for Jascoi
Jascoi
a year ago
high end vip usually ain't worth it.
avatar for Brahma2k
Brahma2k
a year ago
Fully Upscale + keep ordering what you’ve already been drinking + find! the! Right! stripper¡ + 15 mins in a room with a curtain + an LDK(not getting more than an LDK, not here) = abt. 250$ (room 150, 40 curtain keeper, 60 stripper).
avatar for ancientlurker
ancientlurker
a year ago
I don't have a problem with a 20% tip, but when one bottle is $450+ it gets to be a ridiculous amount for two minutes' work. I think there has to be some kind of 'tip cap' for the waitress/bartender. (Of course I don't mean legally, I mean as part of our voluntary custom)
avatar for Ian1968
Ian1968
a year ago
My usual SF VIP is about $500 for 30 min. Girls and bottle inc.
avatar for docsavage
docsavage
a year ago
That feeling afterwards of "it wasn't worth it" would almost certainly happen with me after doing a private room. Usually after about two regular dances I feel like I've had enough. I would never spend half an hour doing lap dances with anyone and here in Indianapolis that is often likely all you would get in a private room.
avatar for mark94
mark94
a year ago
Most people on this forum got the same expensive education that you got. I’ll bet you never make the same mistake again.

Next time, you’ll make a smarter choice.
avatar for wld4tatas
wld4tatas
a year ago
Some of us never had that experience, but always suspected it might play out like this at an upscale club. Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share with all of us.

The VIPs I usually do are 90 for the house and 200-250 for the dancer (that's what I negotiate). No stupid champagne and tips, except I give the floor manager 100 for the house and he keeps the 10 change.
avatar for Myoman
Myoman
a year ago
I don't understand the business model from the clubs' perspectives tbh.
As these comments prove, we end up seeing this as a "lesson" and learn to "never again." I mean, I get they just want to take advantage of one-timers like tourists etc. But why? Why not just make it really expensive, but just a little less.. and not add the extra ripping off (like the mandatory 20% tips and pressurized champagne purchase).
That may bring back at least some repeat customers, and still a shitload of money for no more overhead on the part of the club - the rooms are already there and they are already paying the staff.
Am I wrong here?
avatar for Rob1115
Rob1115
a year ago
At the clubs I usually go to in the Philly area the VIP is $170/$300 for 15/30 minutes including two drinks. Whether the girls want any extra varies. I know several who provide FS for nothing extra or maybe $20-$50. Others want $100. I also know of at least one girl at Playhouse who offers FS for $150 plus the LD fee ($30 per 4 min). I've never done the champagne thing as it always seemed ripe for a rip off. At purple Orchid FS is almost certainly available in the $30 LD rooms and often in the $20 open LD area. Cost varies but $100 is a good bet for at least a BBBJ.
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