I've visited the COI Rhino quite a few times, and like others, noticed the gradual decline in energy. This last time it was really pretty striking - even at 10pm, only a few dancers present.
I've always liked sitting at the tip rail and watching stage dances before going onto anything more personal and one on one. There are downsides to that - club rules mean dancers generally won't approach you if you're at the rail - but also upsides; seeing someone on stage you can see if they smile, if they tease, and often tell if they'll be fun to get a private dance with. And more importantly, looking at pretty naked girls is fun! And I do try to tip generously when I'm sitting there.
But in the modern CA club business model where stage tips are only a tiny fraction of a dancer's income, and where most people are there for private dances, it's of course pretty rare to see someone sitting at the rail. On my last visit to COI I definitely go the vibe that the dancers didn't even want me sitting there - if I hadn't been there, the DJ would have left longer gaps between songs, they wouldn't have had to pay attention to the audience, and so forth. By the end I felt actively guilty about sitting at the rail.
Ultimately I did get a private dance (with the lovely and friendly Porcelain). That part is highly recomnended; Rhino private dances are still a lot of fun. But I miss being able to combine that with the fun of watching a good stage show.
