JB_Studio38

No because that’ll be the precise moment that someone contacts me, asking for a massage…at the last minute 😏 But that’s a good line. Maybe I can use that every time someone asks if I’m available “now”.

I told the same person yesterday, I’d rather wait on standby until he’s done doing whatever. Better that, than to have to stop what I’m doing and “try” to arrive on time for someone who contacted me out the blue. I’m starting to wonder: how often do clients actually find someone available at the last minute? And how often is that person breaking plans or “always available” to take on a visit? It’s just not healthy. I stopped working that way long time ago. Occasionally I’ll post up and take something short notice when I’m traveling, but even that doesn’t always work. It takes a conscious effort to arrange a session. If a client can plan a dinner, plan a trip, plan whatever else they have going on…surely they can figure out how to plan time with someone of the same sex for a massage. And if someone can be social at a dinner, they can be social and say, “this was fun, but I need to excuse myself this evening. I have company coming over that I booked WITH AMPLE NOTICE and coordinated a MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TIME WITH”. I shouldn’t have to carry the burden of people who feel they have “more important” plans than I do. That…is the right way to get on to the wrong start. Hell…I did it with my group of friends at a nightclub a couple Saturday’s ago. I hated having to pull apart from the circle, but I had a repeat client who booked in advance. (last time he tried to book last minute, and he didn’t get lucky). After a couple of hours with them, I had to be on my way. So if that’s hard for a client to do, how hard does one think it is for me to do?

That’s understandable, but sometimes it not so much that I’m not available (in many cases I am), but I’m not really being given enough time to coordinate it. Like in the above example, client contacts me right on the middle of dinner. Not to mention, the hotel where he was, is 50 minutes to an hour away from me. Contacting me at 7:30 and being given a 10 pm time isn’t unrealistic..when contacting the day of. If that time was too late for that person, then I feel they shoulda contacted me earlier. it’s impossible for me to just “be ready” 24/7. Even “available now” on RentMasseur is for a maximum of 6 hours. And some would be hard pressed to believe: most times I put available now, I can be waiting around for 6 hours straight and nobody contacts. Therefore, I rarely even put available now much now, as that usually translates to just a waste of a day sitting around doing nothing.

It’s hard to accurately gauge this without being able to see rates posted though…

This is something I’m grappling with, as I’m in between on whether I want to keep advertising on RentMasseur. It just seems that with bookings from the site, people often text me without any opportunity to arrange a session. Just in the past 24 hours, I’ve had 2 people reach out to arrange a visit. I was unable to take either one because the 1st one was at a hotel and contacted me around 7:30. The typical “are you in…(insert city)” reply (I have an auto-response to deal with such vague inquiries, but it very often an indicator of someone who’s not going to be reliable). When I said I’d be available at 10, he says it would be too late, but would try me back tomorrow. Tomorrow is here and he never followed back up 🤦🏽‍♂️ It seems like the clients from RentMasseur just have no idea how to book a session with someone online. I don’t know if they come into it like they’re going into a store or barber salon or what. But it just grates my nerves. It’s almost a weekly basis I’m having to explain to a client from RentMasseur that, you can’t just text me an hour before you want a session and expect me to just be “available”. Why can’t they get it into their heads? Do people just expect massage guys to have or be at a studio round the clock? I hear people say, “oh I don’t know when my meetings or time will be free”. But if they’re too busy to meet, how am I supposed to help? And there’s only 4-5 guys advertising on the site in this city as it is. I get tired of people expecting me to drop everything and accommodate, when I’ve had no sort of idea of when to be expected to take a booking. I can literally be quiet with no bookings for 2, 3 days…and then someone will reach out asking to meet without any notice. And most times I end up not being able to take it because after so long, I actually do have to do something with my life. Or is this more to do with this thread, that seems to be the overall issue with taking bookings in this area.

I’m curious but perhaps it’s both lol, but the problem with that now is: one can’t do that because it’ll say “travel dates overlapping” or something to that degree. And so it won’t update. it’s just quite annoying because how are we suppose to plan a trip in advance, without any sort of pre-booking? In addition, I usually only travel for the purpose of doing client appointments. I’m not there on business, or a convention, or conference, etc. etc like most clients are. So, before I plan a trip somewhere, I need to make sure it’s going to be worth my time and my money. So I don’t waste my time, and my money. I have no idea if that’s possible until I post and advertise, and gauge the productivity of the area.

I know I might sound like a rookie just posting this. Especially considering I've been touring and traveling for years. However, I"m finding a new challenge lately, especially considering RentMen is different than the older Rentboy and Men4rent sites in how they allow us to post travels. Not necessarily in a "bad", just different. The biggest problem is: many clients see my ad in a city, and just assume I am there already before I actually arrive. And RentMen is so primitive that, if I have a travel city set for 10/15/2021...it'll move my entire ad to the city at 5 pm on 10/14/2021. Meanwhile, I may still be in the city I was in before the change. If I forget to check it, I may lose business and guys may think I'm in the next city over. The other issue is, because I'm forced to have dates to advertise in a location...I often estimate when I think I may be ready to arrive. And this is a big problem because I get clients complaining like, "you kept pushing the dates back". They may see I have arriving Friday on my ad, but I actually may not be getting in until Sunday by the time the week progresses. It can be hard to explain and convey the logistics behind it all, but theoretically, my travel dates are merely a "desired" time frame, with an optimistic proximity to those dates. Not an actual itinerary. When my finances, transportation, and serious client list all look good to go, then I'll make the trip. I appreciate guys being eager and expecting me to come to a city, but some like @BuffaloKyleare relatively patient and treat it like a family member aspiring to visit...whereas others seem to imply I'm inconveniencing them in some way, just because I move my travel dates back a couple days or couple of weeks.

Lol wait…I’m definitely not a “Midwestern”. I’m just an expat to the area. But I can definitely see the truth in that. However, my affinity for long drives actually started in Florida (it’s an oft common sight: people moving to Florida from Illinois/Michigan/New York, only to find themselves moving back after the 1st hurricane 😆 ) Then in Denver, it was either drive 8 hours or fly. I didn’t like flying because by the time I woke up to catch a flight, got stressed with the logistics of parking, shuttling, checking bags, TSA, lining up to the gate, turbulence, and then waiting for my bag plus figuring out transportation…that’s usually a whole day that I coulda been driving instead. But you pretty much gave a good reason as to why it’s good to be in a good hub, although I’m just not particularly crazy about the cities within short driving distance of Atlanta. Last time I was in Charlotte and Raleigh, I wasn’t thrilled with the clientele I was coming across. There’s almost the same vibe of “maybe they will, maybe they won’t” I have come across in the Midwest 🤦🏽‍♂️

My point exactly. Now I will say from personal experience: SOME of those dick-less pics may be stolen from Instagram accounts, and being used by someone else completely different. However, I have decided for now to keep some of my videos up, for that reason partly. However I understand clients have to be members to see those videos (although even certified Rentmen clients can be flakes and phonies too). However I'm considering deleting all and leaving just like 2 or 3. Afterall, what's the point of having my just forfans account? And also @Epigonos I wanted to add too: that's the problem also. There's no incentive by the site to really post nudes. We aren't getting credits to our ads or payment based on the number of guys look at our private gallery. So, even though it may not be "fun", at the end of the day... there's not much in it for us to be sharing these pictures. And going forward, my next photo shoots are going to include less nudity and more just general fitness photos.

Thanks for contributing. I can see your point about having a confirmed session, and in which case I suppose I can redefine that to more of "must be booking (as in, in the process of) booking a session. That means, far along enough in the interview process, like having basic info like rates, location and availability. It's really no different than how it is nowadays. The gay hookup culture has been overtaken by hookup apps: and no hookup app out there allows private pics in public. So...if anything me having privates out openly is a privilege to others, not their right to see. I know that technically, we "should" want to be able to post pics nude. Without a site being dictated by any sort of censoring laws and such. BUT... That doesn't mean I have to do it, if i don't want to. On top of that, I'm not even in a market that's very open minded. Majority of the escorts in smaller markets don't even have avatar nude pics. So, it's already being marketed to a fairly conservative base to begin with. As I understand it: you're in Los Angeles. You're used to seeing anything and everything under the sun....but it doesn't have to be that way everywhere. As for paying deposit: again, people can go on and on about it. I just know the feeling all too well. At the same time, I'll have to figure out ways to make it agreeable in the long run.

Twitter occasionally sends me notices that I violated something…and I have to agree to take it down before reinstating my profile. Exactly why I have my JFF

Yeah Seattle is a bit isolated in the big scheme of things, but you can drive to more than Portland or Vancouver lol. Boise Idaho, despite being geographically obscure, has a select scene of hiring going on. San Francisco/NorCal is a good LONG day and a half away lol, but closer than it is from Denver or Kansas City for sure lol. I used to live in Texas and even though Dallas Houston and San Antonio and Austin were all within orbit, I just couldn’t get it to work out on a regular basis. Houston sometimes would be slow, and the Dallas to San Antonio route felt more like a demolition derby once you got into Austin. Not to mention, the biggest issue is often people thinking that you’re in or available to come to a city TODAY. It’s just not realistic. They see the ad, and think I’m there today. No. Put a conscious effort to request a booking and give me some dates to work with. That’s really the only times it ever worked out with me going between D.H.S. lol. I’m surprised you found Atlanta to be the sweet spot though. I know it’s a major hub, but I never found it to be to my level of busy out there. It’s almost like a Los Angeles of the South to me (whereas Miami is the Las Vegas of the south lol). But being you went out there for an alternate career and were able to use escort as an accessory, I could see being able to post there for awhile and build up a base. But not the case when just traveling and visiting there.

Good assessment of Santa Fe. I was imagining the same things. However, when it comes to Gay social life: there does seem to be a handful of guys on the apps. I usually don’t have time to meet anyone off clock when I’m there. Should also mention: despite the overall wealth, Santa Fe has a seedy side that’s a bit unsettling for such a small town. I remember one year I had to bunk up at a motel 6 because I arrived so late, and the client wouldn’t come see me (went to him instead). I also got bummed that after 10 p.m., the city virtually goes to sleep…except the shady characters on the street.

One thing to bear in mind in 2021, and I tell every client who asks me this: There is no “best city” anymore. I really don’t even go to the same city back to back at all these days. I’ll go to a city, and then not go for 3, 6, even 12 months. It’s almost imperative to switch it up. Cities everywhere are seeing more providers than what it used to be in 2008-2010 when I started out. Things aren’t as Novel as it used to be, however it doesn’t mean you can’t still make it or have a good time. It’s just that, you can’t go to the same city over and over expect it to be great everytime. Pretty much the only thing really keeping me afloat in Kansas City and Saint Louis are 2 or 3 select clients who I’ve become “friends” with who also are like “biz partners”. Without that…I woulda abandoned ship 🛳 long ago.

Wonder no more… Denver actually has WAY MORE escorts than it used to have. However, if you notice “few”, it’s for good reason: the market can’t support it. Once again, another state that once you get outside of Denver, there’s little to no opportunity to make money. Very conservative North and East of Denver (just farms and ranches or college types), a lot of poverty south of Denver, and mostly just Uber-wealthy seasonals and “visiting the mountains with family” types to the west. There’s potential in Denver, but it’s nothing like it used to be. After a couple of weeks or months, it’s easy to have run thru the entirety of the market. And the clients there have gotten to be a bit more rude over the years.

lol funny because I’ve been to all 3 many times over the years, and lived in Nashville. Santa Fe is small. And like I mentioned earlier, it’s a city that has a very specific culture (green Chile and Adobe Pueblo style EVERYTHING). But Santa Fe also has a fair amount of chain restaurants and it’s really a cute town. Fora week. But it’s just as a Black Gay man…is that something that’s going to be sustainable over the long run? Probably not. Even Albuquerque, which has a bit more Black presence, is still small. Phoenix, I really wish it had more to offer, but it’s just…not with the program some days. I even talked to a popular escort who lives there and he agreed the biz sucks there (though he said he gets 1 to 2 clients a day sometimes, but may get no one for a week). It’s also become very saturated, and is pushing at becoming Las Vegas level. Though, Phoenix is still better than Las Vegas to me at least. Nashville is also very small. In fact Missouri almost reminds me of Tennessee: once you get outside of the 2 main cities, forget it. And Knoxville and the mountains to the east are similar to Branson and Springfield: nice but overall conservative and still not much in the way of money making potential because they simply aren’t big Gay vacation destinations like Palm Springs and Santa Fe.

I’m definitely down for this idea. Issue is: few (non) have actually offered it though without my asking. Though I have proposed the idea on the forum previously (and even put it into practice). Some were flustered that I even suggested the idea that in order to engage a chat, I’d need a deposit. While I’m still requiring deposits for certain bookings, I’ve eased up a bit. BUT, that easing up often comes with BSers that coulda been weeded out with the deposits. Just like a client I was dealing with last weekend: I asked for deposit to confirm, he wouldn’t respond. Sure enough…he flaked. And then when I tried to hold him accountable, he became a bitch about it. Just completely inconsiderate and rude. And it’s people like that, which is the reason why I’m cutting back. At the end of the day, I really don’t need to advertise nude pics to get bookings. It’s just not necessary. I was doing it because I like the sauciness of it, and I wanted clients to know and have an extra reason to make that step. But now, I feel it’s been so abused that I can’t go back. I’ve even written notes on both of my ads explaining why this is the case. They’ll understand.

Granted: this post isn’t an advertisement. It’s not meant to enhance business prospects (after all, life isn’t all about saying things to please and appease others, is it?). It’s simply meant to allow others to see things from a different perspective and point of view. Hopefully one that is: if others continue to abuse the courtesy and aren’t considerate to my time: then it’s going to force me to cut back considerably on free samples and nude pics.

Not saying your verbose, I just like that cool swirly eyes emoji…it should be changed to “OMG” or WOW. But yeah damn, that’s crazy!! I never knew you could get triple vaccines like that. Idk if I would go to that level, but certainly seems interesting. I only got the 1 Johnson and Johnson. Plus the flu and TDap (not long ago, people on the forum were attacking me because I was saying getting vaccinated should be a personal decision). I wasn’t trying to play anti-vaxx, I was just giving an opinion on the COVID vaccine at its early stages. But…my doctor talked me into getting 3 vaccines in one day, and then the COVID vaccine a few weeks later. I was fine, but the COVID vaccine did make me run hot the next morning. As to the original topic: I understand your concerns. And you have every right to ask, but like @Shawn Monroe said, you can’t technically put the blame on the provider moreso than yourself. Even though I don’t think you’d be “at fault” like he put it (not dissing him by any means lol)…I think the fault probably would lie with the effectiveness of the vaccines moreso, and your decision to see them “often”, knowing their risk and ineligibility, whether you frequented the golf resort frequented by unvaccinated Trump supporters or a sex worker who probably is on Prep or HIV antivirals and been vaccinated (because there is a correlation that HIV drugs do lessen the risk or COVID transmission).

Re: the Gypsy life, it is hard. I live a mix of the Gypsy life and home life. Somewhat a hybrid. I’ll be gone sometimes a week, to upwards of a couple months. But the travel life is hard on the “soul” after a few weeks. With traveling, it’s hard to get things “done”. All I can do when traveling is: see clients, shop, watch TV at the hotel, and gym. Meanwhile; there’s plants at home needing maintenance, mail to be opened and packages waiting for delivery. Friends I need to catch up with. I’ve mastered being able to maintain a good diet and exercise routine when traveling, but the constant going out to eat can do a number on my digestive system lol. But that’s why some days I’ll get a air bnb or hotel with a kitchen, so I get a few meals from a grocery store that usually WON’T make me sick.

I have to confess: I’ve never worked or been to New York City before lol. This is from a guy who’s been to all 48 main states except Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. And New York State and the general northeast is still a bit uncharted to me (though I’m excited to try Buffalo this month). What is shitty about Brooklyn? From a base observation: it seems like it was once maybe a “thuggish” area of NYC (based on hip hop lyrics lol), but seems to have become the next Manhattan now?

Good historical notation! And I’ll just play Devil’s advocate: I understand there a certain amount of inquiry or potential time waste involved when dealing with merchants. Even now, I try not to waste business’s time, but I may walk away from a business I inquired about. It’s a hard (yet conveniently easy) world out here for customers: there’s choices and options on every corner, money is unpredictable, there’s fear, there’s reluctance, you want the best service for your money…it’s hard out there. But: we as sex workers give out SOOOOO much free info beforehand. We shouldn’t be made to feel like we have to high pressure sell a client into keeping an appointment that HE reached out to arrange. We’re not going around calling them, they’re calling us. Which means: by the time they reach out to us, they should have done enough research to feel content with following thru (except lack of rates and DETAILED rate structure in our ads, which are the biggest threat to the client/escort initiation right now): eliminating any doubts. Problem is: many of these guys don’t take the time to read our ads and get the necessary info. They look at pictures, and then click the number. As if it’s supposed to be that simple.

Actually not. Because I’ve not done that for the duration of the past year, and MoFos still come with the constant bull shit. I’ve been pushed to a level where I have no choice but to cut back. Why am I going to sit here and argue with a client who seems to actually believe that we didn’t have any plans or intent to meet (referring to the ones who fail to show up on the day requested), while he gets to still have free access to my photos? Absolutely not. I refuse. It defeats the purpose of being a sex worker. I might as well just be posting on Adam4Adam with the sea of dicks and asses. (And as a matter of fact, I advertise as a pro there, but I long ago stopped posting nude pics publicly. It’s all private now and I only unlock if I see they’re serious) I’m tired of catering to people who have no respect or consideration for the content I put out. If they aren’t booking appointments, then they aren’t entitled to free samples.

So true… And because of that I feel it’s time draw away from, yet also imitate apps like Grindr: no you don’t get full nudes laid out. You have to ask and request. But instead of just handing them out freely, I’ll only be doing that for clients with confirmed appointments.

Yah but your attorney and accountant isn’t showing you nude pictures of themselves though, are they? I can do all of that, without necessarily giving away free material in the process. That’s what I feel like I’m doing. Today was the straw that broke the 🐫 back. To see this sorry excuse for a RentMen client (who I’ve actually met before but way back in December because he’s been too much of a prick to follow thru) have the audacity to send me a photo of a wad of money after he NO SHOWED for the idk how many attempted times, when I told him I wasn’t going to be accepting anymore bookings from him. After he lied about being free all day, and then telling me he’d call on his “lunch break” (and never did, just like the day before and then with another excuse). And then another client, having the audacity to gaslight me into believing we never had an appointment…when I sat there and specifically contacted him repeatedly last Sunday, and he didn’t respond the night before when I asked him to confirm nor the whole day Sunday?? (Also lied and said he would be free all day, and wasn’t). This is after he reached out to me, and seemed eager to see me when I came to town. I have no other options. The only way to level up with these guys, is to start cutting back. They don’t appreciate it, so I’m not motivated to keep sharing my talent and art for some ass wipe who can’t even keep a simple word.