Typical

There is an old saying, that I don’t fully support but understand directionally, that “The customer is always right”. Arguing with, or in front of, potential customers is a mistake every single time. No one owes you business and controversy sends people away, especially in NYC, where there are hundreds of alternatives  
If you provide good service that is value for money, you will get repeat clients and referrals and all will be well. If you imagine you provide $400 service but it’s subpar, you will sit in your studio alone creating new ad content to hopefully gin up business. The standoffish “you are picking on me” attitude isn’t going to help you at all in this town. Nobody cares about your business challenges. 

One of your biggest problems here is that a well known contributor to this forum indicates you accepted a deposit, didn’t take the appointment, and blocked him. Your response was uninspiring asking him to jump through hoops and prove he sent a deposit. I think he made a mistake by sending a deposit (never, ever, ever send a deposit!), but was that resolved?  If not, why would anyone make an appointment with you?  

There is an old saying, that I don’t fully support but understand directionally, that “The customer is always right”. Arguing with, or in front of, potential customers is a mistake every single time. No one owes you business and controversy sends people away, especially in NYC, where there are hundreds of alternatives  
If you provide good service that is value for money, you will get repeat clients and referrals and all will be well. If you imagine you provide $400 service but it’s subpar, you will sit in your studio alone creating new ad content to hopefully gin up business. The standoffish “you are picking on me” attitude isn’t going to help you at all in this town. Nobody cares about your business challenges. 

One of your biggest problems here is that a well known contributor to this forum indicates you accepted a deposit, didn’t take the appointment, and blocked him. Your response was uninspiring asking him to jump through hoops and prove he sent a deposit. I think he made a mistake by sending a deposit (never, ever, ever send a deposit!), but was that resolved?  If not, why would anyone make an appointment with you?  

This really isn’t designed to be an advertising forum. I know that people do it and I’m unaware of any rules against, but the act invites a certain amount of ridicule. The more over the top ridiculousness of the sales pitch, the more ridicule it will unleash. If you think your business is singled out in this regard, let me introduce you to Yelp and Reddit. 
The deposit thing has been discussed ad nauseam. Probably 95% of deposit requests are linked to a scam attempt: I’ve never heard of one that wasn’t. That’s just an unfortunate reality. When you ask for a deposit you alienate a majority of potential customers. It’s not wise to send deposits with the current proliferation of fraud. Doing so is downright naive. 
Without deposits you will have some no shows. It’s the cost of doing business. Restaurants have to throw out unsold food. Retail establishments absorb theft. Hair salons try to fill no show slots with walk ins and sometimes can’t. The list goes on. It’s too bad, but, again, it’s realty.
It’s a competitive market. You have to operate within the boundaries of the marketplace. Deposit requests are currently well outside those boundaries. 

There is an old saying, that I don’t fully support but understand directionally, that “The customer is always right”. Arguing with, or in front of, potential customers is a mistake every single time. No one owes you business and controversy sends people away, especially in NYC, where there are hundreds of alternatives  
If you provide good service that is value for money, you will get repeat clients and referrals and all will be well. If you imagine you provide $400 service but it’s subpar, you will sit in your studio alone creating new ad content to hopefully gin up business. The standoffish “you are picking on me” attitude isn’t going to help you at all in this town. Nobody cares about your business challenges. 

One of your biggest problems here is that a well known contributor to this forum indicates you accepted a deposit, didn’t take the appointment, and blocked him. Your response was uninspiring asking him to jump through hoops and prove he sent a deposit. I think he made a mistake by sending a deposit (never, ever, ever send a deposit!), but was that resolved?  If not, why would anyone make an appointment with you?  

This really isn’t designed to be an advertising forum. I know that people do it and I’m unaware of any rules against, but the act invites a certain amount of ridicule. The more over the top ridiculousness of the sales pitch, the more ridicule it will unleash. If you think your business is singled out in this regard, let me introduce you to Yelp and Reddit. 
The deposit thing has been discussed ad nauseam. Probably 95% of deposit requests are linked to a scam attempt: I’ve never heard of one that wasn’t. That’s just an unfortunate reality. When you ask for a deposit you alienate a majority of potential customers. It’s not wise to send deposits with the current proliferation of fraud. Doing so is downright naive. 
Without deposits you will have some no shows. It’s the cost of doing business. Restaurants have to throw out unsold food. Retail establishments absorb theft. Hair salons try to fill no show slots with walk ins and sometimes can’t. The list goes on. It’s too bad, but, again, it’s realty.
It’s a competitive market. You have to operate within the boundaries of the marketplace. Deposit requests are currently well outside those boundaries. 

This really isn’t designed to be an advertising forum. I know that people do it and I’m unaware of any rules against, but the act invites a certain amount of ridicule. The more over the top ridiculousness of the sales pitch, the more ridicule it will unleash. If you think your business is singled out in this regard, let me introduce you to Yelp and Reddit. 
The deposit thing has been discussed ad nauseam. Probably 95% of deposit requests are linked to a scam attempt: I’ve never heard of one that wasn’t. That’s just an unfortunate reality. When you ask for a deposit you alienate a majority of potential customers. It’s not wise to send deposits with the current proliferation of fraud. Doing so is downright naive. 
Without deposits you will have some no shows. It’s the cost of doing business. Restaurants have to throw out unsold food. Retail establishments absorb theft. Hair salons try to fill no show slots with walk ins and sometimes can’t. The list goes on. It’s too bad, but, again, it’s realty.
It’s a competitive market. You have to operate within the boundaries of the marketplace. Deposit requests are currently well outside those boundaries. 

He was ostensibly (okay, obviously) promoting himself on this site about a week ago as an over the moon “client”, got called out, and pulled down the post. His RM “reviews” indicate fantasy rates of $1k per hour or more. 

I would proceed with great caution. 

I saw the new space about a week ago as they were moving in. Decorating was in progress. I think this will be the best Hush space so far. There is now a full bathroom within the suite, FWIW.

Of course it’s a scam. Deposit = Scam. 

If this person pictured has ever been within 500 miles of Palm Springs, or if he even exists, I’ll eat my television. They aren’t going to use a troll photo to get you to send $50.

Of course it’s a scam. Deposit = Scam. 

If this person pictured has ever been within 500 miles of Palm Springs, or if he even exists, I’ll eat my television. They aren’t going to use a troll photo to get you to send $50.

He was ostensibly (okay, obviously) promoting himself on this site about a week ago as an over the moon “client”, got called out, and pulled down the post. His RM “reviews” indicate fantasy rates of $1k per hour or more. 

I would proceed with great caution. 

I once gave a large “tip” after a massage went way beyond what was expected and the masseur seemed offended. He handed all the excess back to me and said rather coldly “I don’t do that for money.”
So I just firmly believe people outside the room should withhold comment and do what works best for them and the people they see. I see people who charge $200 and I pay $200, even though things may go well beyond standard service. But I see them multiple times a month and we have a nice relationship., such as it is. 
I’m no Adonis just getting it because. I’m pushing 60. But I am a regular. I show up on time and clean. I don’t push for anything the masseur doesn’t want to give and understand some days will be different from others. We always laugh a lot. There is never any drama. And I’m generally flexible on time - I don’t demand 6pm on Friday. I cheerfully take a slot that might otherwise be empty for them. I also don’t want to be thought of as a rich guy throwing money around just because I can to get exactly what I want. That’s offensive  
It works me and the folks I see and nothing regarding payment needs to be justified to anyone else. So tip away. I would never discourage that. But understand that there may be some other things just as important or perhaps more important in the transaction and don’t judge what other people do. 

This guy’s ad, from the photos, to the text, to the strange pricing, all say to me loud and clear: HE’S NUTS!
I would be startled to hear that anyone had a satisfactory encounter with him from what I see. I’m surprised someone hasn’t been hurt. I’m relatively adventurous, but it wouldn’t occur to me to get in a room alone with him.

I personally don’t find on demand paid sex interesting. I’ve only done it twice and both times were unsatisfactory to me even though both guys were exactly my physical type. A massage gets us to the same room together generally unclothed, so the big logistics hurdles are over. Then if two consenting adults want to go for it, it’s more exciting than an explicit sex transaction, at least for me. 
 
If a masseur who has not committed to sex decides he actually wants to have sex with me, that’s a lot more fun in my book. 

This guy’s ad, from the photos, to the text, to the strange pricing, all say to me loud and clear: HE’S NUTS!
I would be startled to hear that anyone had a satisfactory encounter with him from what I see. I’m surprised someone hasn’t been hurt. I’m relatively adventurous, but it wouldn’t occur to me to get in a room alone with him.

You, sir, were punked!  LOL. 

$500 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
(Unless you were inquiring at the Four Seasons Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat Spa with a day pass and lunch included, something was lost in translation.). 

You, sir, were punked!  LOL. 

$500 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
(Unless you were inquiring at the Four Seasons Grand Hotel du Cap-Ferrat Spa with a day pass and lunch included, something was lost in translation.). 

If I decide to identify as a tree, will that make me a tree? Mmm okay... 
A masseur is supposed to give massages. A prostitute is a sex worker. You know exactly what I mean. 

I once gave a large “tip” after a massage went way beyond what was expected and the masseur seemed offended. He handed all the excess back to me and said rather coldly “I don’t do that for money.”
So I just firmly believe people outside the room should withhold comment and do what works best for them and the people they see. I see people who charge $200 and I pay $200, even though things may go well beyond standard service. But I see them multiple times a month and we have a nice relationship., such as it is. 
I’m no Adonis just getting it because. I’m pushing 60. But I am a regular. I show up on time and clean. I don’t push for anything the masseur doesn’t want to give and understand some days will be different from others. We always laugh a lot. There is never any drama. And I’m generally flexible on time - I don’t demand 6pm on Friday. I cheerfully take a slot that might otherwise be empty for them. I also don’t want to be thought of as a rich guy throwing money around just because I can to get exactly what I want. That’s offensive  
It works me and the folks I see and nothing regarding payment needs to be justified to anyone else. So tip away. I would never discourage that. But understand that there may be some other things just as important or perhaps more important in the transaction and don’t judge what other people do. 

Take it easy. Book (think) ahead with known therapists. Yes, most anyone who wants a deposit is a scam. We all know that by now. 
Are there any gay spas in Boston?  I don’t know of any. 

Masseurs provide their photos because they are marketing their services and handsome fellas in general get more clients and can charge higher rates. The “equity” of the situation is that the client is PAYING, and generally they are paying multiples of the amount they could hire an unseen random person in a random storefront down the street. It shouldn’t matter what the client looks like. If a client does appear in a Grim Reaper outfit, the masseur can bolt the door! 
I think I have been asked once out of hundreds of appointments over the years for a photo. I simply ignored the request and the appointment proceeded just fine without another mention. In NYC it doesn’t seem to be a thing because there are plenty of options and most clients would move to next. But, as you say, people can do whatever they wish with photos or tipping or whatever, but a picture request of a client is, as a practical matter, pointless, unless a therapist is screening. Okay then; I’ll send a photo if I get a discount. 😅

Take it easy. Book (think) ahead with known therapists. Yes, most anyone who wants a deposit is a scam. We all know that by now. 
Are there any gay spas in Boston?  I don’t know of any. 

Take it easy. Book (think) ahead with known therapists. Yes, most anyone who wants a deposit is a scam. We all know that by now. 
Are there any gay spas in Boston?  I don’t know of any. 

Masseurs provide their photos because they are marketing their services and handsome fellas in general get more clients and can charge higher rates. The “equity” of the situation is that the client is PAYING, and generally they are paying multiples of the amount they could hire an unseen random person in a random storefront down the street. It shouldn’t matter what the client looks like. If a client does appear in a Grim Reaper outfit, the masseur can bolt the door! 
I think I have been asked once out of hundreds of appointments over the years for a photo. I simply ignored the request and the appointment proceeded just fine without another mention. In NYC it doesn’t seem to be a thing because there are plenty of options and most clients would move to next. But, as you say, people can do whatever they wish with photos or tipping or whatever, but a picture request of a client is, as a practical matter, pointless, unless a therapist is screening. Okay then; I’ll send a photo if I get a discount. 😅

Masseurs provide their photos because they are marketing their services and handsome fellas in general get more clients and can charge higher rates. The “equity” of the situation is that the client is PAYING, and generally they are paying multiples of the amount they could hire an unseen random person in a random storefront down the street. It shouldn’t matter what the client looks like. If a client does appear in a Grim Reaper outfit, the masseur can bolt the door! 
I think I have been asked once out of hundreds of appointments over the years for a photo. I simply ignored the request and the appointment proceeded just fine without another mention. In NYC it doesn’t seem to be a thing because there are plenty of options and most clients would move to next. But, as you say, people can do whatever they wish with photos or tipping or whatever, but a picture request of a client is, as a practical matter, pointless, unless a therapist is screening. Okay then; I’ll send a photo if I get a discount. 😅