Comments by Chatterbox_Bob

@desertscrub: Would you care to dispute a specific point? I'm only human and it's always possible I might mis-recall a detail not in my written notes. Since the prior review was nine months earlier, it's also possible that the club's vibe has changed (its "soft product", to borrow a term from airline reviews).

There is a Yelp review dated 3/11/2019, by a veteran dancer, that alludes to a new renovation. (The review is rambling and autobiographical, but the renovation bit is plausible.) There are photos of the bar (https://www.bellascabaret.com/about-us/) and of the stage (https://www.instagram.com/bellascabaret/) which match my visit -- do they look renovated relative to your most recent visit, @Papi_Chulo? I can only attest to my own visit. It was during an early and slow hour, and it's plausible that the vibe and staff behavior alter during peak hours -- YMMV.

@BigSlim123: Re: the presence of curtains - Thanks for the correction. In the dim lighting and not inspecting closely, I could have misinterpreted the combination of upholstery and wall on one side. If the booths had been occupied at any point, the lack would've been more apparent.

@Papi_Chulo: As I see it, I review the aspects of the venue that (a) are persistent and (b) are a precondition to enjoying the dancers. In any club the nature of the dancers is YMMV, and I haven't quite figured out how to describe my own experience to be useful for others. (I come from a technical background and it probably shows.)

@laplurker: Re: 24/7, two of their suggested hashtags (posted on a sign under the porte-cochere) are actually #btsontheriver247 and #btr247. One of the bouncers confided that they sometimes get big groups at 5:00 a.m., which (I think) is when other clubs close.

@Fullon: Lap dances are $25, and the entry fee after 10:00 pm is $20. (I have a pending review, and although I didn't partake of all the services, I asked the receptionist about any prices that I avoided. Except for the VIP room, which I didn't think to ask about.)

My stance is: treat the dancer like a lady. It's a relationship, albeit accelerated and finite, but it should start with small talk to establish an emotional connection. A successful dancer is, presumably, one who can project a persona that's flattering to the male ego. Any particular dancer might have a mix of motivations -- money, exhibitionism, rebellion, enjoys the look of stupid glee on a patron's face -- but the niggling worry is that the dancer is in it *only* for the money, and secretly loathes every patron and the entire biz; i.e., that the mask is not just exaggerated, but totally false. --But that's probably corrosive and unsustainable. From the POV of behavioral economics you can assess how much anybody enjoys their job with the question, "if you won the lottery, would you still do this?" but that's kinda personal. Try it out on your hairdresser first.

Japanese strip theaters do not operate like strip clubs; that's why they're called (in bilingual English signage) "strip theaters". Theirs is more of a burlesque model, and the closest U.S. equivalent might be Las Vegas shows like "Fantasy" (Luxor) or "X Rocks" (Bally's). There's no pole on stage, no circulating among the audience selling private dances, and the venues are set up with theater seating -- no tables or booths. I have been to three such venues (Asukusa Rockza and Shibuya Strip Live Theater in Tokyo in 2017, and Toyo Show in Osaka in 2018), and I can corroborate 669's account. The routines are individual and creative, the performers are skilled and enthusiastic, and the audiences are polite and quiet (and generally older men). Two hours with five to eight performers can be draining, hence the associated bar (I'm a non-drinker, so I didn't test that feature). Both the Tokyo theaters charge 5000 JPY, but Toyo Show is 3000 JPY. All three locations are accustomed to foreign tourists -- the staff may not speak English, but the necessary information is posted in several languages (in addition to English, Strip Live has Russian, and Toyo Show has Korean). Toyo Show simplifies the transaction by using a ticket vending machine (as at ramen places); you buy a ticket, then turn and hand it to the front desk. www.asakusa-rockza.com www.dotonbori.co.jp www.toyo-show.com