The 24 Hour Day

The 24 Hour Day

The 24-Hour Day

People keep asking me when the best time is to go to the baths. The problem is that there is no clear-cut answer; there are different times when different things happen, with different crowds.

Right now, let me guide you on a 24-hour day in an average bathhouse.

8 AM to 12 PM.

8 a.m. is typically when a staff change takes place. Because the baths operate 24/7, a crew works around the clock. One team works from 8 AM to 4 PM. The second group works from 4 PM to midnight. Then there is the overnight shift, which runs from midnight to 8 a.m. The ones with the most seniority generally work the day shift. With the exception of the lunch rush, 8 to 4 is a non-peak period at the baths. That allows staff to do the most bathhouse cleaning, as there are fewer customers during that 8-hour period. So, in addition to the cashier, there are three cleaners working during this time. They are responsible for tasks such as mopping the floors, dusting the furniture, and cleaning the toilets. But you probably want to know what the crowd is like from 8 to 4, not what the cleaning staff does.

While the majority of customers had already departed earlier that morning, many men are still sleeping off the night before. You can hear them snoring in their drunken stupor, sleeping off a drug-induced session, or simply napping after multiple sex sessions. The cashier repeatedly announces on the PA system that a customer needs to check out or renew because they have exceeded their limit. It is always fascinating to see the cast of characters emerge from their rooms to hit the showers and start a brand new day.

However, you will also see a handful of guys intent on getting laid as they cruise up and down the hallways. The previous night, even after the bars closed, they continued their search for sex at the baths. They seize this final opportunity to find action, yet the cycle of failure persists. However, there is a refusal to give up, continuing to look until the early hours of the morning. It is an intense desire to hook up with someone, anyone, before they have to return home.

Ironically, this is the time I like going to the baths the most. For the reasons I mentioned above, it is quiet, not crowded, and you get to see some fascinating individuals.

12 PM to 4 PM.

In a previous chapter, I wrote about the lunch crowd known as “The Gay Bathhouse Lunch Special.” This rush generally starts around 11:30 AM and usually concludes by 1:30 PM. By 2:00 PM, the group consists of a mixture of house husbands, both gay and straight, as well as guys who are either taking the day off or taking a break from work. College and university students join the mix by dropping in between their classes. You’ll also find guys from the previous night who are simply hanging out and observing what comes through the door. Couples are also coming in together, having prearranged a hookup through the web. During this time, a diverse group of men enter and exit, creating a bustling atmosphere. But it can also be dead as a doornail, so it varies.

4 PM to 8 PM.

As a crew changeover takes place, the new shift begins. The PM staff takes over for the AM staff. The PM crew is responsible for working until midnight. Some bathhouses prefer to have teams do the same shifts for regularity and consistency. However, other gay saunas prefer to rotate staff from AM to PM week after week. But let’s get back to 4 PM, also known as the after-work crowd. These men (who are gay, married, or closeted) finish work for the day and drop by the baths for a quickie. You also see university students drop in after class. The goal is to get in and out as soon as possible. Men engage in sexual activities, take a shower, and then depart. This entire process takes only 30 minutes! Around 7 PM, the crowd disperses, with only a few men choosing to persevere, regardless of whether they were able to get off.

8 PM to Midnight.

During this time, this period can be dead. The reason? Guys are either at the bars or on the internet seeking a hookup. The baths are their last resort. So the hallways are pretty empty. Bathhouse owners are aware of this lull, so many hold special events starting at 7:30 PM. The goal is to entice the after-work crowd to stay while getting other guys to drop by. Events could include:

Big-name porn stars are making a personal appearance.

Students receive a 50% discount on college nights.

There is even a lights-out special.

Without these types of special events, the baths become a deserted place. But things start picking up at around 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM. By that time, most guys have either left the bars or exhausted online apps. Things get busy around midnight, and rooms start to fill up. It’s also when many homeless men arrive, searching for a place to crash. Management dislikes customers spending the entire night, as they lose money. The more guys check in and out, the more money they make. If a person stays for the full 8 hours, the bathhouse loses out on revenue. That is why, at around 11 PM, the management puts the music on FULL BLAST. The intention is to prevent anyone from falling asleep, as it would be a waste of an 8-hour room from a profit perspective. The objective is to turn that 8-hour room into a continuous source of income. But homeless guys have nowhere else to go. They put up with it because it is either sleeping with loud music or sleeping outdoors on the streets—what a choice.

Midnight to 4 AM.

This period is when the baths are the busiest. However, this is only the case on specific days: Sunday to Wednesday tends to attract an average number of guys, as the workday is only nine hours away. However, Thursday, Friday, and particularly Saturday are teeming with men. As the song goes, It’s raining men! Guys have struck out at clubs, and the online apps are no help. The baths are their last resort. This high level of sexual activity can present a challenge.

On the one hand, it’s wonderful to see so much gorgeous flesh on display. But then it becomes a buyer’s market for guys to pick and choose. Guys only judge you based on your looks. Therefore, if you’ve hit the genetics lottery, you’re at your peak. Not only are you desired, but you can also get what you want. If your looks are just average, you might as well stay home. You are invisible, and the rejection hurts. Given the abundance of guys who rate a ten, how can you compete if your rating is only a six? You can’t. That’s why this situation is absolutely soul-destroying. While it is busy now, it will become even more active once the bars close, as the guys are eager to continue their party ways. The baths are the only place to go that is still open. The more guys there are, the more rejection you will face.

Bathhouses get even more packed with twinks fueled by drugs and liquor, ready to continue their PnP activities. In between all this sex, a gossip machine is in operation, with one twink telling another twink what a certain twink has done. Twinks share the gossip with one another. It’s fascinating to watch as all these twinks engage in gossip about who they are sleeping with. However, this gossiping only happens between hookups when guys are taking a break.

4 AM to 8 AM.

By this point, the scene has calmed down, with everyone exhausted from the drugs, alcohol, and constant sexual activity. However, there are still men roaming the hallways, desperate for sex after failed attempts. The day begins anew once 8 a.m. arrives.

We talked about Monday through Friday. How about the weekends? Well, Saturday is just like any typical day. But after midnight, it is jam-packed with men looking to hook up. And Sunday? Same thing. However, Sunday afternoons are something special. It is the one time the word continuity comes in—regulars arrive at the same time every Sunday. Think of afternoon tea with friends. That is the only way I can describe it. It’s not about sex, but rather the interaction and community of people you meet every weekend. Yes, it is superficial—both the sex and the relationships you form at the baths. But if you keep that in mind, you will also enjoy Sunday afternoon. It is also the time most married men show up. Read my first book, Bathhouse Blues, to find out why.

Therefore, the optimal time to get lucky is after midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. But remember, you’ll be competing against guys who are an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10.

What is the best time to experience terrific social interaction? Sunday afternoons. So, see you in the baths.