How Do Y'all Afford Hiring These Days?

[Lotus-eater]

5 hours ago, Monarchy79 said:

This is a great forum topic, as many have noted that despite  their increases in salary and resources, they are now more conservative with hiring as the rates have exceeded father than the rates of actual inflation. 

When the rates of a product or service has far exceeded the availability of resources of the customer base, this usually indicates  some form of price gouging. 

The current rates are exploitative and soon,  this hiring bubble will burst, as these services aren’t “essential” to most. 

Relative prices are constantly changing, so a price change above the overall inflation rate is not a reliable indicator of price gouging (anymore than price increases below the inflation rate indicate predatory pricing, which consumers rarely complain about).

Higher rates aren't surprising with a sustained period of low unemployment and higher stock prices (which evidence suggests increases relative demand and decreases relative supply) combined with strong post-pandemic demand for in-person recreation. 

[+ DrownedBoy]

I've always budgeted, but I keep to the strict 300/500 1/2 hour rate limits that I always do, with exceptions made for bodybuilders. Only the individual can make this decision, and there's enough providers around me who charge within my limit. It's their prerogative to charge 350; it's my prerogative to ghost them when they do or make a 2 hour counteroffer.

Inflation is bad. My wage has most definitely not kept up. A lot of financial shops are laying people off, and I won't get into the federal workforce. There will most certainly be fewer hires - this is an expensive hobby that requires an upper-middle-class salary to engage in regularly. And a lot of those upper-middle-class professionals are losing their jobs.

There will always be people willing to piss their money away for outrageous fees, but not enough to accommodate all providers. This is especially true since I see the uptick in new providers.

If we continue on this economic path, "normal" providers will have to accept fewer customers, or keep their rates at a level people buy at. Nothing anyone says will change supply and demand. 

[sky]

Hiring is definitely expensive these days.  If I stick with my regular @Keenan then I know I can afford the time with him.  In fact in return for some sessions I've done some photo and video sessions with him and have helped him with costs for his ads.  

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Never forget that hiring someone to spend time with is a financial privilege.

Like luxury goods, you have to have the means to partake... Or go into debt trying to look the part, I suppose.

If you live somewhere that the cost of living is higher, a higher rate is just part of doing business.

If you're lucky enough to lock in a lower rate with a longtime escort, count your blessings.

Edited March 23 by BenjaminNicholas

[LaffingBear]

One of the most important things I had to learn was to differentiate between ability to afford, and determination of worth.  Thankfully, I was lucky enough to never be in a situation that I couldn't somehow find the funds.  The decision became whether it was high enough priority to spend the funds, perhaps forgo some other non-essential.   

25 minutes ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

Never forget that hiring someone to spend time with is a financial privilege.

I wholehearted agree with this statement.   I can't relate to even considering hiring if it means struggling to pay the basics.  Early on, I'd have to choose between hiring and a home improvement project or maybe a weekend getaway.   Eventually, when funds weren't an issue, I had to consider other forms of affordability. 

Afford triggers multiple interpretations for me.  I know the intent here is to have the financial means.  Something I learned about myself: I couldn't afford to make a rash decision that resulted in an unsatisfactory session.  Kudos and a bit of envy to the guys who could spend $300 on an unsatisfactory session and shrug it off!  I couldn't, and would feel like I wasted money unnecessarily.   "Damn! Now I'd really rather I'd have put new blinds in the den. What a crotch-thinking fool!" 🥴

[JayinHKNYC]

On 3/22/2025 at 8:02 AM, Pensant said:

That is true. High-end restaurants are packed. If you enjoyed the asset boom over the past decade, you’ve done well.

The wealthy can afford $950 per ticket for Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway 

[+ JamesB]

Like any market, it all comes down to a numbers game. There are plenty of people making good money right now, with significant disposable income for entertainment and luxury services. The key question is how many of them are actually interested in this particular hobby and how that demand compares to the number of providers available to meet it.

While it’s clear that the number of providers has increased substantially in recent times, I have no way to determine, or even guess, whether the number of potential clients is growing at the same rate. Ultimately, the invisible hand of the economy will dictate the balance, either pushing providers to maintain or lower their rates or compelling clients to pay more for the service.

[Monarchy79]

Another issue is that although the pricing has increase, there’s a surge in unskilled, and overall bad providers. There are many forums where people are addressing getting scammed, catfished, And having mediocre experiences. 
 

it’s just like the price of a car increasing, but the trim is rusting and the performance is shotty….

…. And please feel free to poke fun at me on this analogy, but it’s actually true and a major topic regarding inflation with luxury goods…. The Chanel Bag. 
The Chanel Bag has went from costing $1300 in the early 90s to $10,000 recently. 
People are now buying vintage as the hard ware is now of a lower quality, the leather peels and the bag doesn’t maintain its lustre. 
 

I have no problem with price increases on anything that is on par with the current state of the economy, but to inflate pricing of goods and services without having at least the quality match is just not right. 
 

 

Edited March 25 by Monarchy79

[+ DrownedBoy]

22 hours ago, JayinHKNYC said:

The wealthy can afford $950 per ticket for Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway 

Waste of money.

However, I'd definitely pay 950 for a threesome with those two😁

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 3/23/2025 at 12:51 PM, DrownedBoy said:

this is an expensive hobby that requires an upper-middle-class salary to engage in regularly.

You've inspired me to think about creating a not-for-profit foundation to fund prostitutes for the masses.  What better way to relieve the suffering of the shrinking middle class than to provide them with subsidized universal sex care.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 3/22/2025 at 3:00 PM, Alabastrine said:

It's also more difficult to move money around without being noticed if you have shared accounts.

🙈

 If you can tell a group of strangers you're wanting to hire a man, but you can't tell your partner, then that's an entirely different can of worms besides affordability.

[Archangel]

2 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

You've inspired me to think about creating a not-for-profit foundation to fund prostitutes for the masses.  What better way to relieve the suffering of the shrinking middle class than to provide them with subsidized universal sex care.

Panem et…fornicationem? 🤔 

[+ sniper]

What a 40ish provider in Vegas told me was a lot of the kids today who previously would have gone into escorting now just do OnlyFans because it's easier, so the amount of money it takes to get someone in person has gone up.

[TyrEngineer]

Given the state of global affairs I can't imagine the demand has gone up, unless for some reason this is replacing some other even more expensive hobby for enough people.

I would think fees are based on region. The outliers are less interested in making business but will engage for the right price. I think they hear stories about someone making $500 an hour and figure they deserve that as well. Idk about you but most providers I've met think pretty highly of themselves.

[Archangel]

4 hours ago, TyrEngineer said:

Idk about you but most providers I've met think pretty highly of themselves.

They sure do! I’m still waiting to learn from any of them how they keep so busy all the time but never seem to have enough to make ends meet…

[sky]

So as far as affordability, those providers working on the streets typically will charge less than online.  Also a lot more instanteous.  Yes it comes with risks for both.  My regular was telling me rather than wait around for calls at times when things slow down he will go out on the streets and get two or three clients in an evening.  Albeit they are a lot shorter and more of the to the point type appointments but they are also cheaper than the typical appointments.  The hard part for providers that are working out on the streets though as I have learned is advertising, they have to "dress" the part to attract and be seductive leaving little to the imagination.

[+ sniper]

5 hours ago, TyrEngineer said:

Given the state of global affairs I can't imagine the demand has gone up, unless for some reason this is replacing some other even more expensive hobby for enough people.

I would think fees are based on region. The outliers are less interested in making business but will engage for the right price. I think they hear stories about someone making $500 an hour and figure they deserve that as well. Idk about you but most providers I've met think pretty highly of themselves.

Yes it's not that demand has gone up, it's that supply has gone down.

[Archangel]

9 minutes ago, sniper said:

Yes it's not that demand has gone up, it's that supply has gone down.

Might I qualify that just a tad? The quality supply. 

[pubic_assistance]

39 minutes ago, sky said:

...as far as affordability, those providers working on the streets typically will charge less than online. 

Working the streets ? Is that still a thing ? I haven't seen a street hustler since the early 90s.

[maninsoma]

22 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Working the streets ? Is that still a thing ? I haven't seen a street hustler since the early 90s.

It's definitely a thing in Las Vegas, at least for female sex workers.  I was surprised by the not so subtle comments and looks I got walking around the Strip area.

[pubic_assistance]

I've seen women standing outside a massage parlor inviting men for a "massage"  wink*wink 😜..but haven't seen an actual "street walker" for decades !

[+ KensingtonHomo]

Just now, pubic_assistance said:

I've seen women standing outside a massage parlor inviting men for a "massage"  wink*wink 😜..but haven't seen an actual "street walker" for decades !

Yeah... I used to see girls and some boys on the West Side or Near Houston but probably not since the late 90s. 

[pubic_assistance]

2 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

not since the late 90s

Exactly.

Santa Monica Blvd in LA or in NYC West Side Meatpacking district down to Christopher street piers in the 90s. I think this disappeared even Times Square by then. I've only seen pictures from the 70s and 80s.

 

[GTMike]

7 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

Yeah... I used to see girls and some boys on the West Side or Near Houston but probably not since the late 90s. 

I was surprised to learn about a sort of street hustling in the 2015 - 2017 timeframe.

I've been told by a member of one of those "traveling wolf packs", as they are labeled here, that sometimes when in a touristy city if haven't secured appointments, they will hang out around heavily trafficked shopping store/shops/gym area's during the day and the bar scene's at night.

They make themselves accessible/easy to talk to, being open and responsive to people flirting. They see what happens and where things go.

On one hand they're not "walking the streets" per se swinging their ass making suggestive cat calls.

They intentionally act like dumb drunk straight frat dudes as a way to turn cheap quick tricks.

The person told me one time a member of the group did get too drunk, a tourist was way more drunk and loud and it all became too obvious to the point where police got involved.

That led ultimately to a couple in the pack being charged with solicitation.

[Keenan]

8 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

Working the streets ? Is that still a thing ? I haven't seen a street hustler since the early 90s.

It's still a thing, not a prevalent as was in the past but depending on the city you can still find it.  Less with male escorts though.  My guess is the Internet like everything else killed it in many ways.

Keenan