Babysitting the bar

[Agent Shnully]

OK, so I have a friend (known him 6 years from visits to Phuket) that owns a bar on Soi Sea Dragon. He and his wife are going to Surin for Songkran. Two weeks starting tomorrow. Since his business partner is currently in the UK, I just happened to ask "who is gonna watch your bar?"

Answer: "Uhhh, well I was hoping you wouldn't mind."

Well, I don't have any pressing issues keeping me from doing this (and he knew that). And, apparantly, all I have to do, according to him, is "just show you up every couple of days and collect the previous nights chits (which are in sequence), and the cash. OK, sounds easy, but he's more of a loosey, goosey kind of fellow than I am.

I did go into his bar a few years ago when he had been away for about three days at the time, and it WAS different. The music was blasting to the hilt, the girls were drunk and acting like schoolchildren (OK, I meant drunk schoolchildren), and the bar manager was watching the TV set on a Thai channel more than anything else). No customers were in the bar, and rightly so. I, even had to leave after one beer.

But, there has to be more to the "assigned" duties. I mean.... just show up and collect the cash? Make a presence? Would there be anything else to look out for?

Does the "threat" of a farang presence really that much of a difference?

Just questions running through my mind. Maybe I want to do a better job than even he wants me too, so any tips/advice would be appreciated.

 

[Hello K]

The Thai staff must be told that YOU have the power when their boss is not there, if not they are going to run riot and not care about any consequences. It would be pretty silly for the owner not to 'introduce' you to the staff and lay down the ground rules with them, and you, in my opnion. Must been the same in any work place, if they staff think they have room to do what they want, they will.

I think the "threat of a Farang presence" only works if the staff know that the Farang in question has power over them.

Hard but fair, thats the way I work............ (CV available on request!)

 

[SassyB]

If they know your managing in his absence then yes.. I wouldnt expect full respect but they will probably try to at least pretend to do it the way it should be.

 

[sweetsupplies85]

funny thing is i got a different feeling when i was living at Wet Willy's
Robb owned Wet Willy's and we hung around a lot
then we were going to do the pizza thing and bought a pizza oven
just ebcause him and i purchased a pizza oven together, the staff started treating me as a boss of sorts
it was sort of funny

 

[Dani D]

I never remember going to Willys, but were the staff there proper BG's and 'experienced cashiers'? Although I expect that your joint purchase of the oven was seen as a 'investment' in the bussiness by them. So in a way you were a boss! Besides after meeting you, you do have a very bossy vibe!! h:

Im sure that alot of others have more experience than me in these sorts of situations in Thailand like Geir, Nicke, 7 and Trent who have or still do own bars. I just used the thread to say that my CV is available. 5555

 

[Sinfuel]

You should have a rough idea of what the bar takings will be on a daily/weekly basis. If there's a noticable difference to expectations you'll have to do some detective work. Staff in these circumstances have been known to bring in their own beer and sell it to the customers!

 

[Beach Blondie]

I think I know the bar, and if Im correct the bgs will run riot when the boss is not there (as many do). As the owners (if Im right) have a 'easy going' attitude to its running (well NOT the one in the UK) . I would try to remember that when helping out.
It would be a good learning experience for me and I'd actually turn up a lot, just to experience what its like....

 

[Stu J]

Si, I was introduced to the current staff as the stand-in "BIG bothss", but only at the last minute on his last night out. Like I said, he is the sort of carefree type.

He said I could drink for free while there, and that all drinks I had would go on his monthly "bin". So, San Mig Light, 0 baht I guess.

I, at least, realize that I don't have to worry about the cash out (i.e. BG salaries since it is mid-month), alcohol purchases from the slush fund, et.al.). That's the bar manager's responsibility.

My only response was to tell him that I would NEVER have more than 2 beers on any given night and that there might be a problem if the "paperwork" said otherwise.

Maybe I am making to much of this, as he made his plans to go to Surin long before he knew I was even coming to Phuket...

 

[Krishna]

@LOS, yes I do have a general idea, so that is what I am going to go on for the most part. I certainly don't want to sit in one bar for two weeks from open to close. I don't have the tenacity for that...

 

[The Godfather]

And that is exactly what happened last night. I went in from 10 to midnight and had a couple of beers. In the eyes of the staff, it seemed to me that I went from "esteemed friend of the owner" to "someone to be dealt with". Kinda like being a substitute teacher I guess...

 

[fixed wheel yellowbelly]

Is there any position that commands less respect than 'substitute teacher'

 

[aaron 27]

Forum Moderator perhaps?? 55555555555555555

 

[Ace of Clubs]

Probably not, but it makes you wonder... I'm not looking forward to the next sortie... I think I'll just wander in drunk like I usually do.

 

[Beeker]

"On hi-cash income busisnesses, there're always 3-5% undefined losses. Staff used to sell their stuff and drinks on regular basis or steal. You have to check it to stay low ... but cannot eliminate it...or it will drown all your energy and time on investigation and control". That what I was told by my cousin which manage an Disco in Paris - France, after I saw one of his waitress selling her own whole bottle of XO (that's 500 EU - for 30 sec). "she gorgeous and brings a lot clients" he added.

... I would like to know which is this % losses number in agogo bar (with all the fake bills, etc.).

 

[protein6x]

Interesting Tanman, keep this thread going and let us know how things turn out!!

Oh yeah and when are we going to see you out on the golf course???

 

[Andrew T]

Seems like there a fair bit involvedin running a bar.... Im wondering if it a good or bad position to be in TanMan....

Good Luck anyway mate im sure you'll do just fine.....

Keep us posted id love to know how thing are goin.....

Did he mention anything about shouting you a BF a night or was it only the drinks???? 5555

 

[chasmodeee1]

OK, so last night I went in to babysit the bar on the second sortie of this mission. I hadn't been there in three nights because I wanted to wait out the Songkran water toss. As expected, I was met with the same grim kind of looks. A little like resentment, but I am not sure... What are normally bubbly, giggly girls when the real boss is in town... well they looked like they sucked on a few lemons last night. I don't know where the acting begins or where it ends.

Just to spice up the thread a bit:

On the first night of sitting I left at midnight and went over to Rock Hard. I ended up barfining one of the dancers there. OK, 2,000 baht ST sorted... and before I get the "way too much" or "overpaid" spiel, let me add:

1. This girl is one of the very best lookers in there (in my mind).
2. ST to me is 2-3 hours of carnal escapades, and is very much like a semi-LT, except I get to sleep alone (which is my preference). I can do without the morning shot, thanks.
3. Not negotiating too much makes the girl happy because she thinks you like her. Happy girl = Happy performance.
4. I don't give a toss about a few hundred baht. A night out whether it costs 4,500 baht all in or 4,800 baht doesn't make much of a difference to me really.

So, off to the TanCrib from 1AM to 4AM. Wonderful night, but then the other shoe drops. As I am getting ready to take her down the hill (where she can then get a motocai home), she starts explaining about money problems at home in Chonburi, blah, blah, blah. I'm getting about half of what she's explaining, but I concluded it must have something to do with her wanting to send just a little bit more home being just before Songkran. Basically, she wants to "borrow" 1,000 baht, and the next time I barfine her (her presumption, not mine), ST would be only 1,000 baht. I decided to give her the money.

Last night on my second babysitting sortie, I decided to cash in my 1,000 baht credit. And, true to her word... ST was only 1,000 baht and it was pretty much a repeat performance of the previous night.

Well, this afternoon, I get a knock at the door, and it's the girl. She has an "emergency" at home and wants to "borrow" 3,000 baht. Apparantly, she has a cousin in Chonburi that has loan sharks after her and she wants to help her out. The offer: She wants 3,000 baht today, and she will come over tomorrow night (I told her I didn't want company tonight), and stay with me LT (plus avoid the bar fine). Well, I realize that sex is like currency to these girls, but making appointments for sex just isn't really my style. And to top it off, both her eyes are red and swollen even though she looked fine last night, just twelve hours ago. I don't know if she had been crying on the phone all day or if it was related to the viral Songkran water with a delayed reaction.

Now, I don't really want the drama, nor do I want to get sucked into someone else's financial problems (her's or her cousin's). Nor, am I a bank. At the same time, I felt a little sorry for her predicament. So, I just said, stop by tommorow night, ST, 2,000 baht. She looked a little disappointed, but waiied me several times on her way out the door. So, now, I've unwillingly found myself into a sex appointment for tomorrow night.

In retrospect as I type this, I guess I could have just loaned her the money in hopes of getting repaid in baht, but I doubt my hopes would last very long. As a side note, she's been working in Phuket for about a year. Prior to that, she was working as an 8,000 baht/month QC inspector at an auto parts factory in Chonburi.

Only in Thailand...

 

[waffles]

@Dodger, I recently applied for PEGS renewal... 3,000 baht for 3 years. Great deal.

NOTE TO SELF: You left your sticks in Phuket and you haven't swung a club for 10 months... Go to the driving range first.

 

[Nat2036]

That's Craig banned for 10 days......................Laters!

WP issues spring to mind.............Just a thought!

 

[Jim Halpert]

What you've posted doesn't really add up Steve. If she really is a looker and she works in Rock Hard and can command 2000 ST and probably 3000 LT she shouldn't be short of a baht or 2. She should be pulling in 50 - 60,000 baht a month with ease and that's before any sponsorship money coming in. Trouble is now you've started loaning her money where's it going to end? Anyway, next time you've finished with her if she wants another quick 1000...I can be done and dusted in 10 minutes if needs be...you know where to send her. I'm not far away ;-)