Decided to try out No. 5...

Decided to try out No. 5 as it was getting late and the Paramount was a 40 minute trip. No. 5 is in a seedy part of downtown Vancouver, a little more than 1 km east of the convention center. Cover was $5 and the bottle of swill was $6.50. Mixed drinks go for around $8. The club is cozy, with a small elevated stage in the middle. There are some tables scattered around the stage, mainly in elevated areas behind and to the right of the stage as you walk in. There's a bar behind the main stage with decent views of the action.

In the states, I use the tip rail to make some decisions about dancers I'll take to VIP. Doesn't seem to be the way things work in the BC clubs I've been to (No. 5, Paramount and Brandi's). Dancers perform several songs, starting in a sexy motif outfit (eg. cowgirl, nurse) and progressing to full nude by the last song. Tipping consists of placing a minimum of $5 on the stage (no dollar bills here), for which you get nothing but a "thanks." No Stevie, no face in crotch, nothing. Also, not every dancer working the club performs on stage - I was told by one dancer that only the newer girls are required to get up there.

If you want VIP, basically your only introduction to the dancers other than the stage performer is during the hustle they put on for dances. Between stage performances there is a long interlude in which dancers circulate to solicit for VIP. Most take a polite "no" well for an answer and don't persist. I only had a couple of dancers continue to pester me even after I made it clear I had already made a selection for the night. The VIP area is upstairs, and consists of several couches with decent privacy provided by curtains. It is expensive relative to my typical club experience ($50/song or $200 for 5 songs), which explains my low value rating for this club. At least you are told exactly what you're getting: touching everywhere except pussy. Some patrons were scolded for tongue action although the two dancers I took up there didn't stop me, even letting me suck their nipples.