It's not oppression, it's a profession.

[Guest S****r]

I don't want to detract from the intensely personal aspect of being an escort, but with the slogan being bandied about that escorting is not a profession, but is an oppression, I thought I would share with you, my friends, aspects of the work of escorting that you might not have thought about.

 

Independent escorts are self-employed sole proprietors of their own small business. As such, the work we do (as opposed to the "pleasure" we do when we are spending time with YOU) includes, but is not limited to, the following:

 

1. researching the market

2. selecting and analyzing a target market

3. researching the competition

4. differentiation

5. branding

6. determining sales methods and techniques

7. setting and implementing advertising strategies

8. writing and placing ads

9. building and maintaining a website

10. maintaining a blog

11. using social media

12. photo shoots

13. networking with clients

14. attending events

15. answering emails, texts, PMs and phone calls

16. booking appointments

17. maintaining client info (preferred clients, bad dates, time-wasters, client preferences)

18. networking with peers

19. workplace maintenance (cleaning, decorating, laundry, regular maintenance, etc.)

20. purchasing supplies (lingerie, condoms, toys, candles, linens (sheets, towels, etc.), books, wine, beer, bottled water)

21. self-maintenance (hair, makeup, waxing, manicures, pedicures, facials, STI testing)

22. continued education and research (STIs and health information, sex techniques, massage, tantric touch, workshops, conferences, media, legal issues, new products and more)

23. gathering music and creating playlists

24. tracking income and expenses

 

All of this, of course, is unpaid time. Some of it even costs (workshops, advertising, supplies, etc) Therefore, the price that you pay for the time you have booked is stretched to cover all the time spent on these activities also, which are all necessary for us to provide the most pleasant and exciting encounter that we can for you.

 

Please understand that these are in no way complaints. This is written merely to inform others of the perhaps more business aspect of being an escort of which you may not be aware. I hope you find it interesting and informative.

 

Summer,

engaged in a successful profession,

so she doesn't have to live in oppression

[Guest]

Hello, Summer.

 

I love this thread!

 

I have experienced a level of freedom in escorting I have not experienced in any other job. The freedom to make my own choices, the freedom to work when I want and many other freedoms. Yes there's responsibilities involved with this business but it is far from oppression in my opinion. I actually enjoy the creative process involved with this job. When I do work "overtime" it's with things I actually love to do.

 

I think people forget that escorting is a job because it is so social, escorts are so approachable and it is generally a very welcoming environment. I think when this happens we are doing something right. What I mean by that is people feel comfortable and enjoy themselves around us; so they may not even think of the other things involved with our job. If the other things mesh together, for example ads, websites, ect, this is a wonderful thing. Sometimes these little things are the most difficult to do. We are the one's that make these things look easy and we should be proud of that. I have gained many interpersonal skills from escorting and I feel like I can apply these skills to any other job.

 

What you mentioned in your thread are the thankless parts of our job and I thank you for pointing them out. I think each escort needs to pat themselves on the back for running their business in the way that works for them.

 

XoXo

From a liberal business owner.

 

[CristyCurves 169032]

Thank you. You've included it all, and for those reasons I charge what I do. But I do feel that a lot of this is not taken into account by many men when they value our rates. I believe some men think "oh she is just having sex", or "playing for an hour", how hard is that?

Above all of the business there is also the physical strength and stamina needed along with the emotional where with all one needs to maintain.

Staying in a profession that many frown upon and deem immoral, one that many feel is for those who are less than, is itself a challenge, even when you like/love what you do.

Quite honestly all these points = priceless. But yet we price it, so to those you wrote this for please appreciate this thread and those who choose this profession and offer of themselves. Remember many of us do choose:)

[Guest S****r]

1. Above all of the business there is also the physical strength and stamina needed along with the emotional wherewithall one needs to maintain.

2. Staying in a profession that many frown upon and deem immoral, one that many feel is for those who are less than, is itself a challenge, even when you like/love what you do.

 

Oh, yes, those are two very good points, too, Cristy, which, as you say, you can't put a price on. Thanks for adding them!

[jafo105 39057]

There is also the expenses associated with travel to other cities when on tour.

 

No one has mentioned the cost of private medical and dental insurance. Lets not forget about a private pension plan. I hope that most of you ladies have these things covered? It is not easy living on just CPP alone.

 

I am glad Cristy mentioned the physical and emotional costs. I am amazed at how well many of you ladies stay sane with some of the nonsense you have to deal with from society and some less than gentlemanly clients.

 

I am pleased to see that some of you track your income and expenses. I am sure that Stats Canada and Revenue Canada appreciate your efforts. ;)

[IsaMassage 54318]

Summer Love Your Post.. the only thing I have to add with this .. is that this not Only applies to Independent SPs... I myself.. if your were to "brand me" with the rules of Independent SPs or MAs.. people would not put me in that category because of the fact that I work out of a Spa... But if you were to look at a person / professional like Me... I do all the same as any independent lady will do.. and I am not the only one many of us MAs have chosen to work out of a commercial "establishment" simply because we feel safer... or for many other reasons.. Many of us MAs working out of a spa.. take care of our individuality, clients and business like many others do... I devote my time to anything to do to my profession.. when I am not in school.. because this is to me very important and as serious as any other conventional Job I could be doing... and I treated with the same responsibility... I cannot speak for SPs/ escorts that work for an agency as I have never been part of one... like I said love the post but I think it goes further than just the independent SPs...

Cheers

[Guest S****r]

My apologies. I was equating independent with self-employed, and not thinking of people in your position. I am not really clear on how things work in your circle. But work is work and should certainly be recognized as such. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to how it works in your position. :-)

[Regent 35404]

I've had some people (non-SPs) look at my hourly rate with jealousy, the underlying assumption being that it's basically the same as a regular job with an employer, and I'm making my hourly rate x 40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year.

 

I wish!

 

But even if the market was big enough and I had the energy and emotional capacity to do so, it still doesn't take into account admin and marketing time, expenses for space and equipment, no paid sick days or vacation time, and the fact that no one is paying me for the time it takes to get ready for a session and then clean up afterwards.

 

This is the most fun I've ever had running a business, but it's definitely a business with many layers and lots of investment.

[cinelli 22184]

the underlying assumption...I'm making my hourly rate x 40 hours a week x 52 weeks a year

 

There's a guy who keeps bringing that up every few months. He has it all calculated...and he always goes on about how if SPs charged less they would make more through higher volume.

I argued with him but it was pointless, he had no clue about operating expenses, capital investment, downtime, plant maintenance etc.

 

I figure an SP actually makes less than half her hourly rate, per hour. There is at least an hour of maintenance/prep for every hour of earning revenue.

[Mutau 2516]

As in every small business operation, it is very important to have a reliable and sector-smart tax accountant to back you up. The person must be able to use your expenses outlaid to offset the income generated.

 

A business is a business: it is the bottom line that one looks at. Having fun of course is the icing on the cake.

 

Cheers to our lovely business ladies. May their profits flourish!

[Guest S****r]

A business is a business: it is the bottom line that one looks at. Having fun of course is the icing on the cake.

from Mutau

the friendly lion

 

Yes!

Like my favourite quote (well, one of them anyway!)

 

The happiest people in the world are those who learn to do two things in life.

1. Figure out what it is they LOVE to do.

and then

2. Figure out a way to get people to pay them to do it!

 

Pharrell Williams should add THAT to his song.

 

Summer,

Exiting stage left, clapping, dancing, and singing "Clap along if you know what happiness is to you....."

 

Thanks, Mutau!

from the Hungry Lion

;-)

[Guest **sh****he***ac***th]

I fully support any of the ladies' rights to exercise their freedom of choice in their professions be it as an SP, MA or dancer. It is a business and is run as such which entails all the necessary things that come with it. Reading media reports of what the federal government plans to do as to rewriting the current legislation has it that a gun is being held to the heads of some if not all the people in the industry and that they are considering the Nordic approach going after the clients. I would never want to see any lady being exploited into the industry and any lady who chooses to be in it and runs it like in a good business fashion has my support. For this reason I do very much like CERB and the ladies hereon.

[Gabriella Laurence 301887]

A business is a business: it is the bottom line that one looks at. Having fun of course is the icing on the cake.

 

Mutau, my dear Lion, :)

 

I have to disagree with you on this one ;)

For me, personally, my first priority is to enjoy myself with the special gentlemen I agree to see; the icing on the cake is the income I generate from spending time with my awesome patrons! :)