A Couple of thoughts
I am pretty sure that Calloway is referring to a day pass for the door fee portion of the Flamingo Room. Period.
The economics of it are simple: I have gone in on more than one occasion intending to pay for dances. I bring $$$+ with me. I get a dancer that gives me the “vibe”. I try to get her to commit on services/costs before we go back, but she balks because she’s just fishing me in. Despite my better judgement (alcohol, looks, whatever reason) I take her back. I pay my $22. I get my drink. I get a dance. No mileage. I get a second dance – sometimes they take a while to heat up. A third or fourth before I broach the question – “I’m not that kind of girl.” Fine. Wasted $. Repeat one or more times per night and you’re leaving – usually with most of the cash you intended to spend on entertainment still in your pocket. Worse yet, you’ve done the above trip once or twice and a dancer who you would like to spend cash on, and may deliver the goods, sits down. You’ve already wasted cash, so you’re just not buying. Both of you lose under that scenario, plus you’re a lot less likely to engage in a return visit. Once burned, twice shy.
Now you offer a two price option - $22 for one trip or $40 for a pass. You still can’t go back in the Flamingo Room without a dancer, so I can’t see how you can loiter for that long – either you’re there getting dances with a lady or you’re out the door. But if you buy the pass, you’re a lot more likely to take up a dancer who catches your fancy, even if you’ve been burned once. That’s why other Toronto side clubs, even some of the top ones, have wristbands or passes that they use – because they want to keep the customers in the club drinking (because that’s where the club makes their money) or getting dances (where the ladies make their money). The reality is that the $22 goes to the club and the Manor doesn’t go for the philosophy of getting a portion of repeated business – they make the grab for the quick cash.
