JB_Studio38

One thing that’s worth noting: over the past few years in the states, RentMen has pretty much become the monopoly site to be on. The only other sites to “shop” are either A4A, hookup apps or some of the very underground sites like “escort alligator”. I will have to say, fortunately I get far less “my other guy for $100” stories. Most of that though, tends to be from the A4A brigade. I think I’m going to take the step and remove myself from that platform, because it’s simply not making me hardly any money nowadays. I get the hits and exposure, but over the last couple years it’s really gone downhill. Not to mention they won’t allow rates and their mobile version barely allows any advertising or suggestion of being a professional.

What I would want to know is: how are the rent boys faring? It’s one thing to say somebody can get ‘em cheaper in another country, but what’s the situation like for them? Remember here in America: clients expect us to host, and have nobody else in the house/hotel, etc etc. All that costs money. On top of that: clients want to be protected from stds, this and that virus, etc. I can do clients for $100: but I’ll need to be setting 3-6 times the amount to make up for it. Do I really want to be seeing 3-6 times the amount of clients? Do YOU want to see someone who has to see 3-6 times the amount of clients? And let’s just face it: people out here probably aren’t really buying s*x like they may do in some other countries. many profiles on Grindr and Adam are about how such and such doesn’t pay and that said person should go and get a “job” (when reality it’s more of a projection of how much of a cheap ass and tight wad they actually are even if money wasn’t involved). That’s why I said awhile back: I rather ask $250-500/hr-couple hrs and be okay, than to do half that and still not be able to fill in enough clients to make it worthwhile.

Or Mexico… But then again, 100-200 likely goes further than here. Like hotels in even mediocre cities are running in that range.

It seems more popular in the larger cities. Hard to find that in some markets. My biggest pet peeve annoyance in the biz and just hookups in general: it’s often a problem that someone can’t host. Either they are married/partnered or live with family/roommates. I also feel clients often times assume we can host them at any hour at short or unexpected notice. I have heard of providers who refuse to host clients at all, they’re usually out the game after a year or 2. In some cities, probably most cities: if you can’t host, that cuts you out of like 50-75% of business. In Kansas City and other “closeted” towns, the numbers can be worse. More like 90%. It would be nice if I could use a hotel for a few hours in my local city, because when I’m here I am not hosting short notice. But many hotels: they’re too cheap to hire housekeeping after 2 or 3 p.m. So any sort of “check in” is billed as an entire night. My solution has just been to have clients book and send a deposit, and the days I get a room: that’s reserved as a day to host and be available.

You mean escorts should be able to see the ratings of clients… But then again, you do have a point. Escorts can see ratings of other escorts as well.

What country is that?

I think that is more of the issue than the actual transaction. Falling for more than 1 guy at a time can be a bit much.

Absolutely not. I beg to differ. And as an update: he did make due on his end after I reasserted that THERE WAS an expectation to get paid for the session. He told me he wanted to go with X amount and was going to send the deposit, and I would be meeting him in the city location he was at. That never happened. He psyched me up all afternoon and then ghosted me over the weekend, until I reached back out to him and find out what happened. By that time he was, “already home”. So then: why the F*CK did you make like we were going to be meeting? Complete waste of my time! the communication I posted was only a snippet…it wasn’t everything. There was some other stuff leading up to that, which included some explicit questions. I will admit: I have been that flake “client” (not technically but figuratively) this past weekend. I had agreed to do something Saturday with someone that had been planned a month ago. I was all for it, up until the day of. I hated to cancel, but I felt I would have to “kill” myself in order to do it, so I manned up and gave the person a detailed reason as to why I could not attend. I seen him read my messages, but no response. So it’s nice to see the other end of how people would handle someone who flakes. Each time, I see they cut me off and don’t bother. The message to me always shows I guess I wasn’t that important to them anyway, and maybe God showed me a reason to flake 🤷🏾‍♂️ This is #1 irony pet peeve lol! Sometimes I joke: if I want a client today, I need to engage in something else that will be very inconvenient to break away from. That’s when I’ll get a request lol. I can literally be sitting in a hotel room free all day long, or even 2 days long: bed made, dick out, horny as a rock. Then the moment it’s time to check out, someone asks to meet. That’s why I stopped doing that and have cut down on the same day bookings without deposits. I have also made a disclaimer that I’m not always available for same day bookings, unless they really hit me up like first thing in the morning for LATER in the day. Like last night, I had this beautiful middle eastern guy hire me (I will say: it seems the clients are getting younger as I’m getting older 😆). He hit me up at like 4:30 in the morning. I was sleep but that gave me enough time to schedule him later in the evening when I arrived to his city. Hmm…well, sorta but not really. Moving to a different city can fortunately change the whole game. Often just visiting a different city, never fails to get things chugging along again. The less competition, the better in most places. And competition isn’t always in the form of other escorts, but of what the general gay scene is. 2 cities that come to mind are Milwaukee and St. Louis: Both can often go from $0 to $1,000 and back to $0 week by week. But because they are both very White and very Black…you’re either hot to some or, just another “one of them”. The dichotomy is: a force to be reckoned with. A city where I’m able to stand out without having to indirectly compete with “demographics” would be great. If Hawaii and Alaska weren’t so far out, I’d of moved there. May have to settle for Maine or Key West instead.

Well it’s the pictures of cases that seem to be causing so much alarm. We as gays are very attuned to our appearance and stigma. Sometimes not being deadly and not leaving scars doesn’t mean that you won’t be out of work, looking ill, or unable to have sex for 2-3 maybe even a whole month. However, being a sex worker still isn’t really much more of a factor than it would be for anyone else active in the MSM community. It’s not like, you’re less likely to get it if you don’t exchange money for it. And it’s not like I’m having clients round the clock either. If you take a typical single, gay, attractive, under 60 (because I know many sex parties and orgies are usually the guys in their 40s and 50s) who’s living in the city and has their face plastered on every hookup app: I can guarantee you that the amount of miscellaneous sex partners they have, would put an escort to SHAME.

Well that is true…because as I said above, it’s all about those boundaries (which I say for lack of better word). I don’t like the word boundaries in hookup situations because it sounds like a power game…which I’m not trying to do. But I say boundaries in terms of “I want to accommodate you, but I can’t simply accommodate you on YOUR terms. You have to be willing to FIND OUT what I can and can’t accommodate, and then work and adjust to that. If a dude wants to be stubborn and pigheaded and only want to do things his way, it’s not going to work. I think that’s the most annoying part of living in one of the cities I’m in regularly. So many of the clients didn’t want to give me any options, when I could see them: they didn’t want to. When they hit me up, it was always super short notice “are you available NOW” types. When I would be like, yes I can meet at such and such time, they would say it’s too late or not respond. Then I would end up having to drop them as a client. So now I had to find a new city to live because a whole city of clients couldn’t be bothered to show much consideration for my time and schedule. Which they think is, sitting around in bed waiting for them Day and night.

Hmm…meh 🫤 I mean, it is what it is. I don’t think it’s much point in resurfacing a situation with someone that never received proper closure. At the end of the day: sorry that it happened regardless, but who knows what the actual reason could have been. Of course, it sounds like a different time. We weren't dating, we were just fucking. But at the same time, that’s the whole point I’m addressing. It doesn’t have to be dating to get respect. I’m “just fucking” people all the time, but it doesn’t mean I can’t set some level of boundaries. And that includes: no private calls, no appointments without exchanging numbers, no (new or me having to host) appointments without deposits. And not too much showing up at the last minute without informing me. I understand that sounds like being an insufferable bitch 😆 But it’s really not. It’s simply that I’ve done all that in the past, on more than 1 occasion, and concluded that settling for those situations don’t lead to healthy boundaries. I already have to settle with A LOT of shit already, but I do have my limits. I used to f**k a (bi-discreet) married guy years ago. I still used to come over to his place, know where he worked, and had his number. All basic things to ensure either of us wouldn’t be untraceable had we been missing lol. We just made it work.

Not really because as far as I know: it’s not a “sex workers” disease any more than it’s a “gay” disease. I feel if someone leaves or reduces biz because of whatever the latest virus in circulation comes up: then they should hold the same standards to hookup apps or other gay spaces as well. But as far as I know: people are still frequenting those platforms as well.

I hear what you’re saying, but here’s the thing: y’all were fuck buddies. Meaning you guys had a regular thing going and probably had a bit of a conditioning that it was okay to hookup on short notice. In quote: “if I happened to be home when he called and he asked to come over within the half hour, my answer was never no. Why would it be when he was so damned hot?” I’ll tell you why (in fact I’m think you said it): because the very last time we met I returned his call via *69. He answered but seemed angry that I had found out where he worked by returning his call, and even though he came over that afternoon and we had fun I never saw him again. See the disrespect? He was all fine and dandy long as he had the say in when to connect. Once you attempted the terms, suddenly it wasn’t okay…and he cut the connection. That’s why you should have said no. That’s why I say no. It can’t be just all about them just because it’s a paid session. It has to be a mutual thing. Idk why some people don’t get it. I understand sex can be spontaneous. That’s not the problem. In fact, with this client mentioned, I gave him a same day/last minute apppintment the 1st time we met. The problem comes when I give a person 1 chance to do something unplanned: then they do it again, and again. And have no respect for my time if I can’t do it in that moment. And when I try to schedule them any later/sooner than NOW, they can’t do it. Well too bad. Should of planned better. Why is it suddenly my problem that they horny 14 months after the last time we met, but you can’t host and/or travel and can’t meet past 3 pm? It’s that type of stuff, I just don’t get. I want things to go smoothly, and have a good time and enjoy: but I can’t do it if I’m being stressed and pressured by people to do things that are simply inconvenient. I’m not a huge planner myself, I get it. But at least allude to the provider (without making no show bookings) that you intend to see them in the future. Idk why it’s so hard to say: “hey Jarrod, I can’t book you now but I am eyeing your ad and will be in contact with you one of these days. It might not be much notice, but I will shoot you a text the day before/morning of if I think I can swing it. Hope to meet soon!” Then that alone will help avoid unnecessary false starts or “ignorant” surprises.

It’s ridiculous. Some days it’s nothing but people jumping at the idea of an appointment, but non actually going thru with anything. I’m especially tired of these last minute, can’t host MoFos who have to meet by 3 p.m. That’s why I know guys who are working regular gigs aren’t seeing many clients because, if you can’t see clients before 5 p.m. in many areas: you pretty much won’t even get anything at all. It seems like the evening business men at the hotel crowd is non existent in many markets. All it is, are just guys who have 1 hour to sneak away, and they never know or plan ahead: Fortunently, some people learn to get it. I had to lecture 1 client multiple times: I don’t care if you live 1 block from me: You can’t just hit me up out the blue, when you feel like coming over and then only give me 45 minutes beforehand. EVERY TIME. Send deposit, and arrange a day or 2 ahead. Last week I was in a different area and had no problem doing that. (Most) Escorts are not stores. We are individual people just like family and friends who have lives too. Some of these people either have no common sense, or do it out of spite. It’s one or the other. Would they be ready if I just called them up and asked to come over? I already know the answer: never. So don’t EVER expect me to lol.

You’re correct, and I’ll clarify: I generally do state that it means I’m available TODAY, not necessarily “now”. However, if someone sees “available now” it’s no reason to be redundant and ask if I’m available. That is ignorant. At least have common sense to form an actual conversation that doesn’t start with asking if I’m available. Like, “hey it’s so and so and we met last year, I see you’re available and I can be as well. Can we arrange to meet again?” All this sloppy lazy shit lately in certain cities, I’m so fed up with. I’m cancelling my line and switching to just a number with bare minimum texts or call features to it. No point in paying all this money a month just to have my time wasted on the weekly 😤

Lol, that gave me a laugh. I have to admit many of my pictures aren’t smiling. Why? Because photographers often make us NOT smile lol. It can tend to look cheesy and tacky. Don’t ask me why, but even if you look at certain model shoots, you will OFTEN (but not always) find someone Not smiling. Example: I don’t smile in all of my pics because it can be hard to strike that balance of “sexy smirk/smile” without looking like a weirdo lol.

And notice also: even though it’s $1,500 a night, if it’s split between 25 people: that’s only $60 a night. With 40 people, that’s only $37.50 a night. Much less than the $150, 200, $400 a night places many cities have gotten to. Just get everyone to put in their share before the time and everything turn out great.

I think I need to make the step too. Even previously met clients are turning out to be assholes and time wasters. Like just today: a client I met last year in June contacts me asking if I have availability today (sometimes I wonder if they do that to be ignorant because it said I’m “available now”). I was available, but I ask if he can host. He’s like, no I can’t host this time. I tell him what I need in order to confirm hosting sessions. Then he’s like, oh I can’t do it today. Can I do it Monday. I’m like, yea I can. No response I reply back again, it’ll just need to be confirmed the day before because it’s a holiday. Then he’s like, oh I can’t do that day I forgot it was a holiday. All the while not offering any alternative. It’s that type of stupidity I can’t be bothered with. I gave him a brief lecture and put a report under his number. Why the fuck someone ask me for a session today, if he can’t do it today? Then they aren’t flexible, ask on the day of out the blue after having not contacted me in over a year, and then can’t be bothered to follow the most basic instructions. If they can’t host, then they need to be willing to work around what that person requires to be allowed into their space. You don’t just assume you can barge into my space after not having spoken to me in a year. Fool. Some of these people are idiots.

On the other spectrum of this, is the G***r app (I have to bleep out the name because I despise it that much, despite being on there and now only using it to network “potential” clients (because let’s face it, I feel that app has affected the market to a degree, and I’ve stopped using it to find decent men anymore because most on there just want a free escort). But yeah, the ones who usually only have 1 or 2 pics and ESPECIALLY faceless pics (even if they send a face pic privately) are 99% flakes. So I would imagine it would be better to meet those who give an ample window of themselves. At the same time, it sometimes starts to feel like it’s gone beyond trying to get clients, and more towards who has the best picture port. Like an x rated version of model mayhem (which I recently got banned from after years on the platform for uploading nudes).

One thing I’ve noticed in many guys ads lately, especially the ones who seem to pop up out of nowhere: it’s often there’s only no more than 10 pictures in the ad. RentMen does allow like 50 in the main ad and I think 100 between private and public. It has me wondering because I knew someone couple years ago (who hired me) state something like, “maybe you have too many pictures, and people are seeing everything they need and are less likely to be serious” (even though I don’t particularly buy that philosophy, as it sounds a bit assuming). Plus, I often see some of the longest term providers who have a multiple portfolio of pics across their site. But it is making me consider though. Why are some guys using only 8-10 pictures? Some even aren’t showing nudes. However, something about it gives me a idea that those types have “flake potential”. When I read up on clients being stood up, I am curious to know whether anybody has seen any correlation in the amount of pics one may have over the other. Does fewer pic usually result in flake, or does more pics? Is there a sweet spot? I personally put out only 20-25 pictures at a time. Since I have the portfolio to share. But I’m now thinking of dropping that number a bit…wondering if I’m just doing “too much”. It becomes a point where, am I actually needing to advertise this much, considering most clients only ever send 1 or 2 pics (if any) of themselves? Maybe the RentMen market is just becoming too much of an overload on potential clients 😞 That’s why I was amazed the Craigslist 1 picture in erotic section years ago, was the best thing because I would get so many hits off just 1 picture.

I think the idea of a “regional” meetup that’s centered around the idea of the gathering in Coachella valley could also be a good way to get more involved. In the Midwest, there’s even a few locations. Eureka Springs, Arkansas could serve as a nice spot with a “outdoor/hiking” theme to it. I’ve also suggested the idea of renting Reunion homes or “cabins” (which in some areas, a cabin is basically a reunion home in the woods) versus fussing with separate accommodations: however that probably won’t be the best fit if there’s more than 12-20 people attending. That said: Part of what makes the PS event work is the expanse of hotels and resorts, restaurants, nightlife and climate. It’s also small enough to be close to everything. Having the option to move around is good. I recall last year I was at a nude campground in Dade City for a few days. Though you really didn’t need to leave the campground for anything, I think everyone had a bit “cabin feverish” by the end of it all because unless you drove, you were pretty much stuck in that space (nothing was in walking distance outside of the park). But it also made for the opportunity to stay focused on the event, because we didn’t have outside distractions. Speaking of which: here’s a good example of reunion home I had in mind:

Well after arguing for almost an hour or so and me having to escalate the situation: I finally got him to agree to pay half of what was “probably” going to happen. I think one thing that should be added to our list of “wish I would have known” is, “must have prior debt collection experience”. Because these mother foers be almost adamant that they don’t owe anything. Like, they just ordered a whole entree+appetizers and never came by to pay for it. And funny thing is, since he seen me before (over a year ago) he claims he never read my profile. Which includes very pertinent info to book the session. It’s good that he understood why there was an expectation, but I just don’t be having time for the BS. If I’m going to leave my number up on any of these sites, I’m just going to have to send one text explaining everything and what to do, and see who follows thru. I’ve already done it like 2-3 times today. A professional written response with simple instructions: many don’t reply. For all I know, they’re probably contacting everybody. Half the time they don’t even offer any details or info off the top. Like this message: That says absolutely nothing. I have no idea a name, city (I advertise in more than 1). And once again that word: “probably”. Travel to me where??? You don’t even know where I am at, nor do I know where he is at 🤦🏽‍♂️ Then they wonder why they get a pre-written template response. I had to send those out like 3 times today, and they don’t bother to respond. If they can’t even get the first step handled, how can I trust and believe they can get any further than that?

Right. And they definitely do slip thru. Case in point: This guy said he was going to let me know a day, and send the deposit. And nothing. Nothing until after the fact when I ASKED. This is why I don’t even want to do deposits to “confirm” because confirm may never happen, and time/hopes/desires still gets wasted.

Thats not always the case. There’s times when I have had clients follow thru when it’s been asked for. At least the genuine ones. I think the only leverage I do have, is to pretty much ask that they make an initial startup to set up the visit. Which I detail on my website, but for some reason people don’t read. If they read, they would know what to do. Even with doing just “deposits”, it’s not worth the “wait and see” if they don’t send it after spending x amount of time going over/discussing the visit.

Though this can apply to different scenarios, I specifically speak of situations where you and the client discussed a booking, they said they would pay you an amount (even a deposit if mentioned), but then for whatever reason that only him and God knows: the booking falls thru. They may not have “confirmed” in their eyes, but to you: you expected to have a session go thru. Even though there was no actual booking that took place, it still seems like it was expected to happen. What’s the best course of action to take? And this is not just someone who “flaked”: I’m talking about someone you either met before (risk destroying the return biz) or someone you talked to throughout the day: and they pull a ghost technique. Or, they cancel and suggest meeting next day (or you may say you’re aren’t available today but can be tomorrow, and they agree), only to go radio silent and not respond. This seems to be far too common lately on the Rent Man. Where is the integrity?