A bargirl is a woman who is paid to entertain patrons in a bar , either individually or, in some cases, as a performer. The exact nature of the entertainment varies widely from place to place; depending on the venue this can be individual entertainment ranging from light conversation to sexual services , or more public entertainment in the form of go-go dancing or striptease. Variants on the term include "B-girl", "hostess", "juicy girl", and "guest relations officer". Bargirls work in various types of bars throughout the world, including strip clubs and regular bars in the U.
A bargirl should not be confused with a barmaid , who serves drinks in a bar but is not expected to entertain customers individually or to dance.
In addition to entertaining customers individually, bargirls also dance on stage in some venues such as strip clubs in the United States and go-go bars in Asia. Bargirls often wear bikinis or other revealing costumes for dancing, or they may dance partially or fully nude. Bargirls often receive a commission on drinks bought by their customers.
In other cases, they may have a periodic quota of drinks or bar fines, or both. It is a common practice in Asia for bargirls to also act as prostitutes , either on-site with the bar effectively acting as a brothel or by being hired upon payment of a bar fine.
In South Korea, "juicy bars" near the gates of United States military bases provide prostitutes for soldiers. In Thailand , and in many other countries where bargirl prostitution is common, it is technically illegal but widely tolerated. In Japan an "entertainers visa" was introduced in allowing migrant Filipina women to work in Japanese nightclubs. The work included dancing in strip shows, socialising with male guests, and in some cases prostitution. Where bargirls act as prostitutes, patterns vary widely.
