Not Much Bang for the Buck

Being somewhat new to Columbia and not having been to a strip club yet, I decided to check out Platinum Plus first since it seemed to be the top club in town based on what I'd seen online. A friend and I went in and a couple of things stood out immediately: the music was thumping (think club atmosphere), they allowed smoking, and they gave change in $2 bills (presumably to increase tipping), none of which were very appealing to my first impression. Almost every dancer there was smoking, which looks quite out of place in 2015.

The club itself is midsize, with a large stage and DJ booth up front, two small stages in the back, and lap dance areas on either side. There was also a rather expensive VIP room as well. Upon siting down, we were approached immediately by a pair of dancers that chatted us up briefly and then quickly asked if we wanted a dance. We found out that dancers can set their own prices, but most are between $30-40 per dance. We didn't want to get a dance immediately, but the onslaught continued and we were approached by a steady stream of dancers, some more direct than others. I relented and agreed to a dance with a redhead that flattered me with compliments, but wasn't all that attractive under decent lighting.

Prior to the dance, she chatted me up for 3-4 songs and forced me into a tour of the VIP room. The price for an hour was a bottle purchase beginning at $295, plus an hourly rate negotiated with the girl. This was too rich for my blood, but she wouldn't take no for an answer - I had to decline 3-4 times before we moved on. She finally gave me the dance, which was mediocre. I will generally double down on dances from any girl that I choose, but this one was a single and out, partly because she'd been in the industry far too long and partly because of the pushy sales tactics.