Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Rio Bob]

What if GDPs and gringoes will loot Mud Bug, next to Copacabana Palace? Lots of space, not nearly as big as Help but somewhat bigger than Balcony. Also its already very western style.... Only but is that the owners do not encourage such business... Mud Bug is packed with brasilians anyway... But if gringoes go there, GDPs will follow.

I have never been there but heard about it, sounds like a sports bar but I think you have the right idea.

My money is on Bunker in Copacabana, its a large club, close to Help but out of the way. It's big enough and neatly tucked away enough not to attract attention like Help does today. Don't forget Help at one time was one of the biggest clubs in South America untill Via Show came along so it needs a club of good size to replace it.

[Eros74]

Guys are we sure that the owner/staff of Help will not move to another disco maybe more hidden and that all the GDP will follow too ?

Even with Help working Balcony was packed, later will have to reserve a chair one week in advance....at least LOL.

I confirm, the club next door Balcony was a normal disco in january and in september I was surprised became a boite, I paid some fixed price for 2 drinks, the man at entrance told me all the girls inside did program, but I left very soon, they all were bad looking even if inside was dark.

And if the action will start earlier I am happy, next time I want to enjoy the beach at the morning too and not only late afternoon cause I stayed all the night at Help talking with friends....something that indeed I can do during day time too.

[Rio Bob]

Just had an interesting discussion with someone about Balcony and the GDP clientele. They seemed to think just because the place had a lot of people around that it was a good business. Not the business I would want. I go there and will most likely go there later tonight. The girls take up space and spend virtually nothing. Guys come because of the girls and many of them too spend very little. Compared to the club next door, which was lining middle-class Brazilians out in the street paying cover and drinks the last time I was here, Balcony bar makes chicken feed. Unless someone is making money directly off the GDPs, which is illegal, I can think of no reason to want them anywhere near your business.

Help mongers are not cheap, if they were they wouldn't be hanging out at Help they would be at Balcony today.

When Help closes they will follow the pink and buy the red bulls and whiskies.

[KellySlater]

In August, the club next to Balcony was not a middle-class Brasilian club anymore - it was a boite.

Dolce Vida

Last Friday Night there was a line to get in around 10:30 that reached Ave Atlatica and wrapped around again. At least 150 people in line. Many hot regular brazilain 20 somethings.

[The Watcher]

Compared to the club next door, which was lining middle-class Brazilians out in the street paying cover and drinks the last time I was here, Balcony bar makes chicken feed.

In August, the club next to Balcony was not a middle-class Brasilian club anymore - it was a boite.

[Perkele]

What if GDPs and gringoes will loot Mud Bug, next to Copacabana Palace? Lots of space, not nearly as big as Help but somewhat bigger than Balcony. Also its already very western style.... Only but is that the owners do not encourage such business... Mud Bug is packed with brasilians anyway... But if gringoes go there, GDPs will follow.

[Exec Talent]

Just had an interesting discussion with someone about Balcony and the GDP clientele. They seemed to think just because the place had a lot of people around that it was a good business. Not the business I would want. I go there and will most likely go there later tonight. The girls take up space and spend virtually nothing. Guys come because of the girls and many of them too spend very little. Compared to the club next door, which was lining middle-class Brazilians out in the street paying cover and drinks the last time I was here, Balcony bar makes chicken feed. Unless someone is making money directly off the GDPs, which is illegal, I can think of no reason to want them anywhere near your business.

[Sperto]

I'm curios to see what the Copa-scene will look after Help closes.

Frankly, I don't expect much differences. Balcony will be the winner. MP will get some of the cake. Prado Junior will also get a bite.

It's not like it's an army of Help-girls that get employed. They'll propably just spread out:
- The lazy spoilt ones will continue trying their luck in Copa. After a couple of years they'll understand that they have passed the data de validade and disappears.
- The clever and good-looking GPs enters a a new market with brazilian customers or start working at a terma or Centro casa.
- The desperate GPs start running after old gringos in Copa. Get me pregnant and marry me!
- The poor coke-GPs will do their tricks on the pista and fade away quickly.
- The hardworking GPs gets down to VM to do some real honest work.
- The smart GPs have money saved and opens up a small shop etc.
- The GPs who lost their hope will return to the Norteast/interior or try to marry a poor guy in a favela.

Most propably will more Balcony-style places open where gringos will fell comfortable and attract the Copa GPs.

[Bimbo Boy]

So far as it is sure Help will close, better sooner than later, especially I am curious about where the girls will move.... Balcony and MP are too small for all the GDP that in january were inside Help.

Possibilities :
* Help opening a venue in Villa Mimosa ?
* A samba school where garotas could meet turistas ?
* Some spots in Lapa that are already packed with prostitutes at night ? (av Gomes Freire, av Augusto Severo, etc)
* Circo voador, also in Lapa ?
* Carioca da Gema and other music venues in Lapa that could turn into meat markets ?

[JohnnyBraz]

So far as it is sure Help will close, better sooner than later, especially I am curious about where the girls will move.... Balcony and MP are too small for all the GDP that in january were inside Help.

Btw could we expect that the apts around Help will become a bit cheaper now ? Cause for example me, now I would prefer an apt between MC and L'Uomo or close to a metro station instead walking distance from Help.

Balconey will always be packed, I think the rest will spread out through all the restraunts along the beach front. I think that the action will be alot earlier in the night. Peak time around 9pm. It will be very interesting to see. Apartments will be the same prices. If not more expensive round help. It's Brazil we are talking about after all.

[Firecrew]

Anyone ever rent from this woman? Rita Codanda

I'm still looking for a place to stay on my last night 12-30-09 I depart on the 31th late. (News Years) This woman has a nice apt but I'm not sure if It's legit. I'm very disappointed to hear HELP is closing. I have an apt near HELP rented for most of my trip and was looking forward to checking it out.

[Bravo]

Btw could we expect that the apts around Help will become a bit cheaper now ? Cause for example me, now I would prefer an apt between MC and L'Uomo or close to a metro station instead walking distance from Help.

True to brasilian form, they will raise the price of the apartments because less people are staying there. Exact opposite of the American mindset of (Less demand = lower prices).

[Sperto]

Btw could we expect that the apts around Help will become a bit cheaper now ? Cause for example me, now I would prefer an apt between MC and L'Uomo or close to a metro station instead walking distance from Help.

In one way it would be logic that it would become cheaper/less attractive as most gringos might want to rent apartments down at Blacony/Prado Junior. In another way not, now the Help area becomes more attractive to the brazilian tourists as there is no Help disturbing the neighborhood.

The majority of the tourists renting apartments in Copa ain't gringos but brazilian tourists (except at the agencies run by gringos, who live on overcharging gringos).

[Eros74]

So far as it is sure Help will close, better sooner than later, especially I am curious about where the girls will move.... Balcony and MP are too small for all the GDP that in january were inside Help.

Btw could we expect that the apts around Help will become a bit cheaper now ? Cause for example me, now I would prefer an apt between MC and L'Uomo or close to a metro station instead walking distance from Help.

[Rio Bob]

I expect to see much of the places we enjoy going away. If they can take out Help, any of the others can go too.

Help was a big target, took over almost one whole block on Ave. Atlantica in Copacabana, it was out in the open and in your face along with the crowds of Terraco Atlantico. This is why Help had to go IMHO because it was the sign of sex tourism for everybody to see. It defined Copacabana as a sex tourist destination. Go to any regular tourist site and ask where to stay in Rio, they will tell you don't stay in Copa because there are nothing but prostitutes there. They want to get rid of that reputation now.

All the other places like the termas, like barbarellas are smaller venues tucked away on side streets that are not out in the open. I have never seen any regular tourist site complain about 4x4 or Luomo or Barbarellas or any casa downtown or VM because no one can see them, they are neatly tucked away and will probably survive for that reason.

I for one will miss Help and agree with everybody that Help isn't as good today as it was 10 years ago. I particularly enjoyed the music and the central location it provided for girls to come from all over Brazil to go to especially on Spring Break to make a few bucks. Maybe they'll still come but take over another club or congregate in the various cafes along Ave. Atlantica like they did years ago before Help was there.