KTV

I remember when I was in middle school, someone who had a karaoke machine was presenting us with a novelty. Later in college, I remember going to a party where there was karaoke, with the theme of the party being something like, "Blast form the Past". Americans regard them as antiquated, do we not?

Not so here. Within the block of campus there are three karaoke bars that I know of. In China, karaoke is called KTV for short, and has been hybridized with the chic metropolitan club scene. The other Friday night I was passing by this particular one, Windsor KTV that is just acrossed the street, and notice they had men in sharp suits serving as bell boys, concierges, and bouncers. There were a couple of VIPs that night, given away by their stylish Audi and Corvette cars park out front. It's just weird to imagine all of this glitz focused around lip singing.

A lot of foreigners will go to a KTV bar to experience it the way the Chinese do, but a word of caution. Despite the cheesy connotation it has for Americans, KTV is often a front for drug trafficking or prostitution. In fact, most KTV places have female liaisons that accompany the male patrons everywhere in the club, liasons who will provide additional services for an extra fee. It is not by coincidence that two of the KTV bars in the block are attached to a hotel.