\n<\/p>\n
After National Service, Mr Teoh had been unsuccessful in applying to universities. He then chanced upon job openings at the Gentleman Club on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like drinking a lot. I go out drinking with my friends often. And I was thinking, \u2018how about I make this a job so I can have fun and enjoy, while still earning money?\u2019,\u201d said Mr Teoh.<\/p>\n
He declined to reveal exactly how much he earns in a month, but said it was in the \u201cmid-four digits\u201d.<\/p>\n
The hosts said they meet patrons of all ages, although most are in their late 20s to 30s. Most of the clientele is also female, but there are occasionally male customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy oldest, most mature customer is actually a 65-year-old male,\u201d said Jay. \u201cHonestly, a lot of people at that age, they have their finances in check, career in check, almost everything in check. And like anybody else, they come out here because they feel lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the patrons are also rich foreign students \u2013 typically of second or third-generation wealth and hailing from countries such as China.<\/p>\n
Different customers seek different things, be it companionship or emotional satisfaction, and the host\u2019s job is to fulfil these as best as he can.<\/p>\n
For instance, there are women who are newly divorced or whose husbands cheated on them, so they just want to release some stress, said Jay.<\/p>\n
Mr Teoh said: \u201cMost of our customers that come here, we would like to give them the \u2018boyfriend-girlfriend\u2019 experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the emotional intimacy shared with customers, the hosts said they strictly adhere to physical boundaries and keep all interactions non-sexual.<\/p>\n
Mr Teoh recalled an instance when a tipsy female customer propositioned him after a night of drinking. She requested he send her home, and when they arrived at her place, wanted him to go up \u201cto do funny things\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe just told me, \u2018name a price\u2019,\u201d he said. Mr Teoh declined politely.<\/p>\n
He added that when meeting customers outside of the club, he is also careful to avoid holding their hands \u2013 especially when some of them are in relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to be, if I put it directly, prostitutes,\u201d said Jay.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you put a price tag on your body, every time they come and find you for that kind of body service, they will know that \u2026 \u2018it\u2019s S$2,000, S$3,000\u2019. The amount is fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n
In contrast, if customers view a host as a permanent companion or someone they need when going through a hard time, then there are no limits on the amount of money they\u2019re willing to spend, said Jay.<\/p>\n
Jay, who is currently in a relationship, acknowledged it could be tough for hosts to find stable partners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I were them, it would be hard for me to accept that my partner is in this line as well, because it’s undeniable that we do have to have some intimate connection with our customer in terms of \u2013 not necessarily physical \u2013 but emotionally, every single day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Then there is the social stigma, which the hosts CNA spoke to were strongly against.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not dirty,\u201d said Mr Lien, the emcee. \u201cI accompany the customer, talk to them, make them happy, drink with them and sing songs with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet many people still see it as a job that is not open and aboveboard, said Mr Teoh.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome are still very traditional, they think that this is not a good job to work in, you will accumulate bad karma working here, stuff like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When he told his parents about his job, they thought he was sleeping with customers and being a gigolo. Mr Teoh cleared the air with them, although they remain concerned about his drinking habits.<\/p>\n
His friends also know about his employment, as they have seen him on the club\u2019s social media posts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just tell them, \u2018Yeah, I work at a boys club. I’m earning money with my own hard work\u2019,\u201d he said. \u201cI don’t really think it’s a very shameful thing, especially now, when everything is so open. I don’t feel a need to hide it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singapore Nightlife Business Association president Danny Loong told CNA that Singapore\u2019s nightlife scene has always been \u201cdiverse and evolving\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as venues operate responsibly, transparently, and within the law, they contribute to the vibrancy of our nightlife ecosystem. What matters most is maintaining professionalism and creating safe, inclusive spaces for patrons,\u201d he said, adding that perceptions can also evolve over time.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Ma Xiangyu from the Nanyang Technological University said that if host club businesses are indeed thriving, then they are \u201cclearly meeting some kind of market demand\u201d.<\/p>\n
The assistant professor noted the precedents for such clubs in East Asian countries, and that Singapore is already \u201cused to nightclubs, KTVs and beer ladies in kopitiams\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo varying extents, we understand, tolerate and accept the appeal and implications of these businesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n