Radames

True, they can run their business any way they see fit, but the topic here is how to get repeat customers. So, no hard feelings either way, but it's about what gets us to come back. And, of course, repeat customers are extra valuable because they make income more secure and less variable, plus there is much less hassle and waste of time explaining and negotiating. Finally, repeat customers are likely to spread the good word.
 
Obviously, I like my massage to take approximately the time booked but I don't obsess over it if it turns out a little shorter. But I do get pissed off (quietly and to myself) if it's outrageously short. I usually go for 90-minute appointments, and have noticed that the guys I repeatedly go to are pretty good at timing. But my boy Jake rules wrt this. He is so nice, smart, so much fun, it's like hanging out with a close bud. He'll suggest jumping in the shower together, then usually asks me to sit on the edge of the bed while he gets behind and massages my neck. Priceless, a very nice wind down, a total opposite of that wham-bam-now-you-are-done-get-out approach. That is not just fair (I paid for 90 minutes, I should get 90 minutes) and respectful, it's smart on his part. Every time I hug him good bye I already look forward to the next time because the vibe is so good. I've had several other masseurs offer additional neck or other massage noticing that the time wasn't up. Always appreciated even if I usually turn it down and prefer a little chat as I put on my clothes.
 
Masseurs who schedule hourly appointments back to back are idiots in my books. That's sacrificing long term for the short term. It's greedy and myopic, and hardly entices anyone to come back, and that's just stupid form the business standpoint. My worse experience was with that Luka in Manhattan, who basically rushes you out as he scrambles to prepare the room for the next customer, so he basically wants you in and out of his building, not just his apartment, in less than an hour. It's like you are being processed on an assembly line, or how to spend $160 an hour and feel like crap in the end. Thank God he doesn't do 90-minute appointments, at least that saved me some money. Another dude in Chicago was doing outcalls and once he came to my place for an hour appointment. He was in and out of the door in like 50 minutes. Needless to say, I refused to see him again (yes, he texted and offered, who wouldn't want to make $150 in 50 minutes?) and then his ad disappeared. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who didn't like the approach.
 
This business is really good if you like doing it and are able to deal with people but it's NOT for everyone. If someone thinks it's quick and easy money requiring no skill or effort, it shows. And if it shows, you can't get a permanent customer base, so you are forced to travel and incur additional costs, hoping to find enough clients to put through your production line. Good luck with that!
 
One more thing I would add, and this is something that I realized gradually over time. I really like it when my masseur gets naked right away, when that kind of goes without saying. If I am going to lie there naked, let's be on a level playing field. Plus, if they don't get naked they tend to be warm, especially given that they work, while I may get really cold because I am naked and inactive. Them being naked gives them a better sense of the temperature in the room. I don't have automatic expectations about anything sensual, I like to leave that to the chemistry, but it seems that many don't do this for fear of setting wrong expectations, which I find unfortunate. But then that makes me appreciate even more those who do it plus are good masseurs.

Saw him this week for massage. Was ok, wouldn't repeat.

Thanks for the warning @Mo Mason. Yes these 3 guys are using the same profiles.

https://rent.men/GABRYELE
https://rent.men/XXLGeorge
 
Him and these two guys are so eerily similar that I'm starting to think they're all the same person. All in Chicago right now, usually online and available at the same time, and their photos, stats, hashtags, and style of writing in the "about me" sections are very similar.

I am sure Callas lovers will love this newly discovered clip of Callas (no sound unfortunately) of the famous Norma in Trieste (Italy) in 1953.
Previously this clip circulated with the top of the images cut (no heads) and everybody thought it was filmed like this.
Not true, it was filmed correctly! You can watch also a young Franco Corelli.
 
There are more previously unpublished clips at the fabulous Exhibition in Paris!!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvatPyI_so0

That must have been a bittersweet moment. A combination of elation and sadness indeed. Well I was a bit older and will never forget that day either.
 
Indeed I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. It was announced on the radio and I felt a chill come over my body. Still I knew that somehow she would live forever! In fact I would bet that she is revered more now than at any other time.
 
If there ever was a true musician on the level of the greatest artists who ever lived it was she. That is something that is quite rare among singers, many of whom have a voice, but can barely read music and know little about music theory and composition. Callas did not have "a voice" in the traditional sense and probably because of that compensated for the lack of a classically beautiful voice in other ways. Plus she instinctively new how to dramatize what she sang to make it believable. Where others might exaggerate the drama to get a certain point across, with Callas it was never an exaggeration, but exactly how a person in such a situation would react in real life. Again that is something that is rare for singers to accomplish. Yet Callas knew that the great composers provided the framework. It was all there in the score. She trusted them and used the bare notes that they provided, be they a simple phrase or the most complex of coloratura passages, to bring the music magically to life.
 
I can think of so many examples, but right now the thought of the word "delitto" (crime) and how she sings it in Lady Macheth's aria "La luce langue" from Verdi's Macbeth sends shivers down my spine. Yes one simple solitary word! Amazing!!! Truly amazing! Even beyond amazing!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJfY7aUAN14

I love and adore the one and only La Divina! Listening to her records I can feel the exact essence of the role she portrays. Each infection each unique phrasing each note conveys a message only she can do. If it were not for Maria, I would not have appreciated and understood opera like I do now! Thank you Maria! You will always be alive in our hearts.
Her Berlin Lucia, La Scala Norma 1955, Cologne Sonnambula, London Traviata , Dallas Medea and her recordings of Tosca, Puritani are a treasure!

I have the BJR recordings of Macbeth, Bolena as well as Berlin Lucia, and Soprano Assoluta.
I love the pirated recordings of her live performances in Ballo, Cologne Sonnambula, as well as the Mexico performances of Lucia, Puritani, Traviata. She does sound much better in the live performances as she herself said she is not as comfortable in the recording studio.
I listen to her and I can feel like she is talking to me and telling me her story, the hurt and the sorrow of the aria. Her Norma and Lucia still moves me to tears when I listen to them.

I have the BJR recordings of Macbeth, Bolena as well as Berlin Lucia, and Soprano Assoluta.
I love the pirated recordings of her live performances in Ballo, Cologne Sonnambula, as well as the Mexico performances of Lucia, Puritani, Traviata. She does sound much better in the live performances as she herself said she is not as comfortable in the recording studio.
I listen to her and I can feel like she is talking to me and telling me her story, the hurt and the sorrow of the aria. Her Norma and Lucia still moves me to tears when I listen to them.

Ah! BJR! The hallmark of a true Callas fan and someone who knows where the action all originated when it comes to the best recordings of her live performances!

Absolutely! I have her BMJ records from Macbeth and Anna Bolena and I never tire of hearing them. Thank you!

I love and adore the one and only La Divina! Listening to her records I can feel the exact essence of the role she portrays. Each infection each unique phrasing each note conveys a message only she can do. If it were not for Maria, I would not have appreciated and understood opera like I do now! Thank you Maria! You will always be alive in our hearts.
Her Berlin Lucia, La Scala Norma 1955, Cologne Sonnambula, London Traviata , Dallas Medea and her recordings of Tosca, Puritani are a treasure!

I love and adore the one and only La Divina! Listening to her records I can feel the exact essence of the role she portrays. Each infection each unique phrasing each note conveys a message only she can do. If it were not for Maria, I would not have appreciated and understood opera like I do now! Thank you Maria! You will always be alive in our hearts.
Her Berlin Lucia, La Scala Norma 1955, Cologne Sonnambula, London Traviata , Dallas Medea and her recordings of Tosca, Puritani are a treasure!

Ten miles outside of Washington. An easy metro ride (well....) into town.

Pics are accurate. Actually looks better than his pics in my opinion.

As the person who started this thread more than a year ago, I decided to take a look at what's been posted. Tons. And lots of it good. As for me? Well, one of the reasons I've not been on here for a long time is that I met someone from Seeking Arrangements. And we've been in a "relationship" since late summer of 2016. I had quite a few good experiences and quite a few bad ones (including some really clueless guys). Then in last summer of last year, I came upon a 25 year old guy on the site. He's 4.5 hours from Manhattan. He's 25, putting himself through college at a very good school, teaches gymnastics, and has his own training business/gym. He's very self-sufficient, has been on his own since he was 19. Comes from a solid middle class family who live upstate. He called himself an "alpha with a heart." Loves older men, can't relate to young people his age. And he does physique competitions. We texted for a couple days, I thought it had promise so we agreed to meet halfway at a hotel. Because of his limited schedule he said he'd have to leave in the middle of the night to get back for a client appointment at 6 am ....
 
So we met. It was non-stop talking for 3 hours as we instantly got along. He was very masculine, very alpha. At one point, he said "get over here" and he got on top of me and we stated making out and fooling around. We went to dinner and then settled in to watch a movie in bed. He was obviously very tired (he seems to be going 24/7) and at one point he fell asleep. I let him sleep. I thought it was clear that we had made a connection and that I would be interested in an arrangement with this guy. I was sound asleep and then around 3:30 I felt movement. I figured he got up to leave. I was half asleep when -- not saying a word -- as he was leaving he leaned over me and kissed me on the forehead. I thought this is a keeper.
 
We spent several weeks back and forth texting -- he unsure if he had the time to do this but wanting to -- but I felt there was something good here. So we eventually settled on a week to go to my lake house. We discussed money and we were all set. By the end of the first day, it was clear something was going on. I wanted to say something, he sensed it and said go ahead. I told him it was crazy but I really liked him and it would be a real fantasy to date. He said "why do you think it's a fantasy ...."
 
It's 7 months later, and we're still together. We realized that week we had a real connection and decided we should be together. No money has ever exchanged hands. I've tried helping him out from time to time but I usually have to be some money in his jacket pocket or something. He really doesn't want it but I know he could use it. He's very drived, goal oriented, ambitious ... we haven't had a cross word or argument. Our only real conflict is that because he's so busy we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like.
 
I wake up each day thinking this is too good to be true but then I get a text in the morning saying "good morning sweetie, have a great day, love you ..." and I realize that it is really happening. He's basically a younger, way hotter, more masculine version of me ....
 
So I'd have to call Seeking Arrangements a success for me. I didn't find what I was seeking there (something uncomplicated) but I think I've found something much better. I have no idea how long this will last but I'm very happy for right now.

Tristan Baldwin moves to the top of my list. Unforgettable sensuous spine tingling kisses!!
Met him for the first time and this won't be the last!

Tristan Baldwin moves to the top of my list. Unforgettable sensuous spine tingling kisses!!
Met him for the first time and this won't be the last!

He is true to his pics, C- massage skills, super friendly. And available for more.

Pics are accurate. Actually looks better than his pics in my opinion.

Good experience. Massage therapeutic/interactive. Scale 1-10, probably 8.

you won't regret it. he exceeded my expectations. can't wait for him to come back to my side of town.

you won't regret it. he exceeded my expectations. can't wait for him to come back to my side of town.

Tristan Baldwin moves to the top of my list. Unforgettable sensuous spine tingling kisses!!
Met him for the first time and this won't be the last!

Tristan Baldwin moves to the top of my list. Unforgettable sensuous spine tingling kisses!!
Met him for the first time and this won't be the last!