Beginner's guide to the KTV experience in Shanghai - Part 1/2
Many reading this forum will already have some sort of KTV experience in China. Shanghai, being one of the most expensive cities in china offers up a wide range of KTV experiences ranging from sleazy to super highclass with costs ranging from economical to bills making an investment banker blush. I will try to post some information from the most basic to Shanghai-specific here. So experienced readers please bear with me. I have learnt a lot from friends outside and inside of this forum. I would like to summarize what I know so far for newbies. Bear with me all the other bros.
Before I start, I wish to put forth a disclaimer. I am a customer and I do not work in any of the establishments mentioned in the following post. There are some establishments that you, as a reader, may think I am biased to. That is natural as this is personal experience but I am in no way profitting, directly or indirectly, from any statements posted in this post. You may get a different experience from some of these places because of the lack of rapport. Depending on when you read this, situations, ownerships and pricing may have changed in some of the places mentioned. By continuing to read this post you, as a reader, agrees to indemnify and hold me harmless against any expense, liability, loss, claim or proceedings whatsoever arising from actions taken based on the information contained herein.
What is KTV - you want any hostesses with that?
Karaoke TeleVision. A term coined by japanese (or taiwanese?), KTV refers to singing into a microphone to words posted on a television screen. There KTVs here in Shanghai that is family style, catered to people who just wants to sing – you can distinguish this type of KTV with the “Liang Ban 量版”(bulk version) or “Lian Ge Chang 练歌场” (song practice area) wordings somewhere in their brandname or signboard. If you are looking for the ones with female hostesses the wordings “Shang Wu Hui Shuo 商务会所” (business club) or “Ye Zong Hui 夜总会” (nightclub) are dead giveaways.
In a typical setup, there will be at least one TV screen where the MTVs and lyrics are played. Nowadys most KTVs also sport another computer screen which songs are selected and entered. Some places are still using books, especially places with mostly japanese or korean songs. The room will also come with 2 microphones as well a sound system. There will be couches (of course), tables. Nicer places have an attached toilets. Even nicer places (very rare in Shanghai) have attached mahjong rooms, jacuzzis, bedrooms, pool tables, etc.
The waiters will usually run in and out of the room with towels, your unopened drinks, and whatever else you order. We call these waiters “Shao Ye 少爷”. 1 or 2 waitresses (we call “Xiao Mei小妹”) will stay inside your room to mix/pour your drinks, get yours song requests into the system, cleanup. Mommy/Moma-san will be in charge of the hostesses (we call “Xiao Jie小姐”). Mommy will come in and talk to you first, and start to bring in groups of girls and arrange them into a line-up for you to pick your companion for the time in the room. Do not feel pressured and always remember you are the customer. If you do not see anyone you like, just wave them out and the mommy will get the next group in.
So, these are the people you usually need to tip at the end of the night: 1 Shaoye (usually the one that hands you the bill at the end), all the Xiaomeis that stayed and worked in your room, your hostess(es) and the Mommy. Tip amounts vary by the joint. So read on.
Warning!! - bad apples and tricks they play
Shanghai is relatively very safe compared to other parts of China. However, please exercise common sense and due caution anywhere you go. Sometimes you just have to assume there is no honor system here in China. The locals don’t believe in one and neither should you. Here are some of the common KTV scams – more tricks come up from time to time.
- Super expensive snacks. You or your hostess pick these snacks and they get you in the bill at the end of the night. I’ve heard of a case where 5 orders of cheap snacks costed a poor soul 1000rmb. You can still get snacks, but ask and be sure how much they cost. Most places makes you pay cash at the point of ordering which I personally like.
- plus plus plus. Expensive mixers, fruit plates. Ask ask ask. I can’t say more. If you know how much you will be drinking and it is substantial, ask the Mommy to comp it. They can usually do it. Ask for a price list for alcohol and for snacks, fruits or mixers so you will not be unpleasantly surprised at the end of the evening.
- Ladies’ drinks. The hostesses will order some special drinks for themselves. Usually simply calling it “Yin Liao饮料” (drink), they can kill. Some people I know got conned more than 2800rmb for 12 small bottles of budweiser which costs less than 300rmb. The rest of the bill was for these “innocent” drinks. Ask how much they cost when the hostess orders them. The best practice is to ask the girls to drink from the drinks you ordered. If they do not agree, that’s a sign and send the girls out. They may tell you excuses that they do not like beer or whiskey or whatever you ordered. Gently remind them that they are working and if they cannot drink what you are drinking, ask them to leave. And DO NOT give them any tip for warming up the seat for short time.
- If in an unfamiliar KTV, NEVER have any sexual activity (intercourse or otherwise) in the room. This is a very common con around china where halfway thru the act the doors will burst open and burly men will rob you blind while threatening to report you to the authorities or cause your bodily harm. If you are unfortunate enough to get into a situation like this, do not resist. Give them what they want, money or phone (ask for your SIM card back citing you do not want to lose the contacts). Ask for some money left for a cab ride. Walk out, remember the name and location of the joint and go straight to the nearest police station. Many do not do that for fear of legal repercussions or embarassement. You can actually recover most of your loss back. The police will go back to the joint with you and get the money and stuff back.
- Bigger and more wellknown places are safer. NEVER follow any touts, pimps on the streets. They are usually getting a very high commission from the amount they are going to rip you off. Hit places you already know or introduced by reliable sources.
Types of KTV in Shanghai
High Class KTVs
These are very big classy and posh KTVs. Usually having more than 50 rooms, they have awesome facilities as well as many girls working there. Pricing in this category can range from expensive to super-expensive. Bottle of chivas may cost beyond 1k rmb. Hostesses in these kind of joints are usually very attractive as only the best survive here. They are also better trained and are more cultured. Please know these KTVs are usually not as wild as someothers. Most of the hostesses will sit with you, play dice, drink. They will hug you but that is as far as it goes. If you try more, you will see the defence going up. Tips range from 300-500rmb per hostess. 300-500 for mommy, 100 for Shaoye and 200-300 for xiaomei. If you want to take the girl back it is usually 2000-3000 for LT, 1500-2000 for ST, all inclusive of the tip for the night. A lot depends on your ability to negotiate and if you clique with the gal. These places are perfect for entertaining customers. KTVs in this category includes JinBiHuiHuang 金碧辉煌, TianShangRenJian天上人间, JinSeDaDi金色大地, Rainbow Room BinFenSeCai缤纷色彩, Club 151 (this is private and you need a membership if I am not wrong).
Mid-high priced KTVs
These places charge around 700-900 for a bottle of Chivas. Rooms are usually pleasant to posh although not super high class. Girls are still reasonably attractive but the ratio of pretty girls is not as high as Highclass KTVs. Number of girls working is also less. Hostess tips is usually 300. To take the girls back, LT cost 1200-1800, ST 800-1200, inclusive of the tip for the night. For entertaining these are still good and presentable. Places in this category includes JinSeYangGuang金色阳光, HuaDu华都, DiHao 地豪.
Wilder KTVs
The wilder KTVs ranges in prices and class too. I list them as a category on their own since a lot of readers like this category. They play a lot of games in these places and all I can say is that you will be very surprised. I do not want to say more here but you get the idea. Hostesses are not model quality but sometimes you find gems. What they lack in model looks they make up with fun and playability. Tips vary from 300-500 for these places but they are usually more reasonable. Some are still very posh while others may be more lacking. Exercise caution if you want to bring customers there. Check out the place first and guage on your own. Some customers may freak out. Some may love it. Places like these include: Hengyu Poppoint (Hengshan Hotel level2), Golden Globe Star 金球之星 (Higher class, 3 locations: Huaihai road, Gubei road, Kaixuan road), 7m (Xujiahui). In these places a bottle of Chivas cost around 800-900.
To be continued...