There are a lot of things that sets Mr. Egg’s Pattaya bar apart from other go-go bars, but perhaps its boldest signature is the Rum Runner music.
Owner Phil Ross, aka Mr. Egg, says the Rum Runner music is the foundation of the Soi Buakhao go-go bar, with playlists built on decades of DJ experience shaping the bar’s identity.
Unlike the pounding hip-hop remixes heard in most Pattaya go-gos, Rum Runner’s soundtrack leans on classic rock, soft rock, 80s pop and disco — carefully programmed to keep both the dancers and customers engaged.
Ross explained in a recent video how carefully curated playlists, rather than booming hip-hop remixes, drive the atmosphere.
“It’s all about the beats per minute,” Ross said, noting that most songs in his rotation fall between 110 and 140 BPM, the sweet spot for dancing and drinking.
A DJ’s Background Shapes the Rum Runner Music
Ross began programming music when he was still in school in the 1970s, inspired by family, radio and his first encounters with DJs.
That early hobby grew into a career behind decks, on radio and later in go-go bars. “I can’t fix a car or put up a shelf,” he said, “but if it’s wiring up speakers or choosing music, I know that.”
That experience is reflected nightly at Rum Runner. Unlike most Pattaya go-gos, where DJs lean on fast remixes and hip-hop, the Rum Runner music aims is to build an energy arc through the evening. Songs are sequenced by tempo so the pace subtly increases as the night wears on.
Different by Design
Ross admits the choice is not always popular with the dancers.
“The girls moan they don’t like the music,” he said, but insists the consistent rhythm allows clever, talented and creative girls to adapt, whether the beat is 110 or 140.
He pointed to research showing patrons drink more in bars where BPM is kept in the right range, “people will drink more because it’s a better atmosphere.”
The goal is not nostalgia, but recognition. Guests frequently comment they haven’t heard certain tracks in years. For Ross, that is confirmation the Rum Runner music formula works. “It means I’ve given them a memory and made the bar a bit different,” he said.
Rum Runner Hits Highs During Low Season
Rum Runner opened earlier this year on the southern end of Soi Buakhao and quickly drew notice for its relaxed vibe, low prices and afternoon hours. Ross emphasized from the start that he wanted the Rum Runner music to not be deafening.
“We’ve got the music at a sensible level so you can talk to the staff and your friends,” Ross said.
The Rum Runner music playlists are not static. Ross started with 400 songs before opening and continues to evolve. Some songs rotate in and out to keep things fresh. Customer requests are considered, though hip-hop and slow ballads are typically rejected.
“And if a song doesn’t sound right on the system, it gets dropped,” he explained. “We keep whittling them down until the playlist works.”
Every day, Ross adds new ideas discovered while walking with YouTube Music, downloading tracks that match his bar’s tempo and style. “We’re always mixing it up,” he said.
That adaptability was tested in Rum Runner’s first week when both the billing and music computers crashed. With his playlists saved in the cloud, Ross quickly recovered, another sign of how central music is to his concept.
Building a Niche
By choosing Rum Runner music outside the mainstream of Pattaya’s go-go circuit, the bar has created a niche. The steady beats, familiar but not overplayed tracks and volume kept at a level for conversation have given the bar its identity.
“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Ross said when Rum Runner opened, “but we are trying to do a go-go bar really well.” Music, more than any other feature, defines that effort.
