The Rent is Too Damn High!

I always try to make a trip to Bare when I am in LA. It has changed quite a bit since pre-Covid. On my most recent trip, I arrived around 10 PM. The place was pretty packed with 25+ customers so I was unable to find a regular seat at a table. There were seats at stage, but noone else was really sitting at stage and I didn't see many patrons tipping stage. Notably, there were booths available, but they all required upcharges, so most of them were empty which made no sense. I'm not playing their upcharge game so my thriftiness forced me to walk around, look for a seat, with noone really helping me to find a seat. A bit awkward with no seats to be had so I ended up standing by the bar. A tall 7-8 brunette came over, fully dressed, where as pre-covid they were typically nude - I asked her if it is always this packed. She responded that it is packed - but entirely with regulars who don't get dances. So what I can't understand is why someone, who is not a regular, comes in off the street, and is prepared to spend money, but cannot find a table. Seemingly, management should know who the non spending regulars are, but they are occupying the tables that don't require an upcharge and not tipping stage. At that point I had already spent $6 to park, $20 on admission, and $8 on a coke at the bar. I dismissed the brunette as she was not my type. There were a lot of attractive woman that evening of all ethnicities (25+). I did note many girls that seemed quite young (late teens since it is a non-alcohol club). There were also annoying eastern european type girls who expected tips just for saying hi. Since the dancers, unlike management, realized I might actually be a spender, many of them came over to say hi. I will say Bare still has some of the highest quality talent out there. I finally settled upon a younger latina girl who said she was fairly new. We went to get a 30 minute but I was floored to find out that it was $420 for a 30 minute. The woman running VIP who received me said the prices were always that high ever since she has been working there - but I'm pretty sure they were like $350 last time I was there about 6 months ago for 30 minutes. The girl was newer so the dance was fairly tame - but it was fully nude with mild roaming. I ended up spending the $420 + $34 on the way in plus a $50 tip for the girl (I don't do extras but tipped her well because spent 30 minutes chatting her before dance and she was nice). I probably also tipped another $20 or so on the stage. So all-in, I got out of there for a little over $500. But here's the thing - I had $2,000 in my wallet. I would have spent a lot more if there was hospitality on the way in, I could get a decent seat, the dances weren't overpriced, and I hadn't been harassed for tips by abrasive eastern europeans. It's not like others were spending. And after my 30 minutes - I still had to stand at the bar! I'm not paying an upcharge to sit down when noone else is spending. It sucks for both the girls and the customers when 30 minutes is $420. I don't know what management is thinking - at some point, demand is elastic. So like everything out there these days, prices at bare are up, and service levels are down (but the girls are still hot). With that said, there was one smoking hot 9.5 dark asian girl consumed by a patron at one of the upcharge booths. I'm sure he was a whale - but that's what it takes to get attention at Bare - and I'm not sure it's worth it unless you are shown hospitality on the way in. Anyways, saved $1500. If those dances were mid 300s for 30 mins and I could get a seat - I'm pretty sure i would have blown it all because the girls are still hot and plentiful at Bare (did I say that already?)....so thanks for the savings?!?!?!? Price gouging shouldn't be rewarded - I believe in disciplined spending - I'll be back to Bare but with tempured expectations. I'm headed to Vegas in 3 weeks and will probably drop my Bare savings at Rhino! See you there!