How often is extra 💵 being given for “nearby” travel meets

[JB_Studio38]

**This is easier to understand on sites with clear rates listed (RentMasseur) versus RentMen and sites without rates listed**

I had this discussion elsewhere online (more escort run), and the general consensus was that it’s okay and even encouraged to add an extra $100/$200 if a provider is traveling an hour or 2 outside of their area, to do an outcall in a different city.

However, I have been traveling for quite some time (mainly because my current city isn’t profitable, and I have to travel in order to make any real money) and the usual protocol is: client sees ad in their city, sees the rate and wants to books. And there’s always an assumption by many that when they see our ad, we are either there/planning to be there/available that same day etc etc. I’ve discussed it before, why that isn’t always the case for every provider. Specifically for me because, how can I be in all those places at once? Here’s an example below of how RM displays it (dates omitted for this example)

As you can see, there’s a current location followed by a list of travel cities.

People will often ask, “are you in xxx city or when are you coming to xxx city”. Some of those areas may be within the same metro and only a 20-30 minute drive. Others may be in the 2-4 hour range.

I like to try and incorporate a 90 minute/2 hour minimum. However most times, if I try to convey that I have an added fee to go to the city, the person may say “well don’t come all the way here just for me”. Or will say, “when you’re in town let me know”. And it’s like ummm 🤨 How is this supposed to happen if I don’t have anybody to go to the city for? 

I tell people who hit me up all the time in other cities, I can’t just show up and go to a city with nothing on schedule. I have to have somebody to go for. In some cities, I can go and expect 2-3 clients or more to show up. However that may not happen all in a day (and usually does not). I may have to stay for a few days.

But in other areas, I may can only spare a day there, maybe even go and stay overnight. But then there’s extra hotel cost associated. Clients seem to often think we are going to a city, posting up and having guys coming and going and raking in money. I’m here to break it: That’s more of a myth and speculation than how it actually goes. The only sure fire way to ensure fair rate, is for each individual client to give the amount plus some for travel/hotel. Even if it’s $50/$100.

I’m noticing many clients aren’t paying extra for travel and, I’m starting to feel that’s not fair in every situation. If I’m traveling 2+ hours to get to their location, even if it’s a city I’m passing thru/open to visit: wouldn’t it seem fair to have an extra courtesy added to it? Or does it come off greedy? I don’t think it’s greedy. Some people have to better consider the effort it takes to go to these “nearby travel cities”.
 

But it seems hard to convey to clients that our “rate” is money for the session, not necessarily covering for extra commutes. Many times they may only want to book an hour, which may be up to $350/400 for many. That’s a decent amount of money to pocket, but if hotel/gas/etc is not being covered: the amount pocketed can end up being much less than that.

I think it’s just time to start adding an extra amount to longer travel if it’s more than an hour away. Some expect same day visits also. I want to consider having an extra $50 courtesy for same day bookings.

This is why I like so much extended/overnight sessions. $1,000+ is easy to cover most all possible incall/outcall expenses incurred. But regardless, it’s becoming harder having to only work with my rate and not getting paid for travel time when I been traveling nearly every other week lately. 

At the same time, I understand a lot of the providers out there tend to work in the metro, and so many ads often push being “available now”. There seems to be an expected default method of working, that I feel doesn’t account for providers like myself who may have to travel for majority of their income/bookings. 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by JB_Studio38

[jeezifonly]

I'm one of those clients who has spent a lifetime of work operating with union contract work schedules, meeting hard deadlines, and massaging massive egos. 

I'm retired now, so why subject myself to this level of torture just to have some fun?

[nomad]

As you chat with the client about meeting up, you bring this up as part of the discussion.  I wouldn't be offended at all by it.  It is not unlike paying travel costs that clients do for a guy to come to them from a different city.  Best to have the discussion and agreement before you undertake the travel involved.  

[Rayphactor]

10 minutes ago, nomad said:

As you chat with the client about meeting up, you bring this up as part of the discussion.  I wouldn't be offended at all by it.  It is not unlike paying travel costs that clients do for a guy to come to them from a different city.  Best to have the discussion and agreement before you undertake the travel involved.  

Agree. If a provider I was interested in said they have travel costs to account for, I would not be offended at all. I totally get the fee is for the time provided, and if he has to travel an hour to get to me, I'd have no problem tipping extra. 

[nomad]

Being in a big city, it might not reflect the reality of those in smaller cities who may be more resistant paying extra for travel to get a guy to visit their city.  But come on, being in a smaller city, I would think you would be eager pay a little extra to get the talent you want to share in the sheets.  😆  Way less expensive than undertaking a trip to a nearby bigger city.  

[Mark_fl]

I guess I'm in the camp that if you list a "near travel" location, it's someplace convenient that you're willing to travel. 

Maybe if you expect extra for the locations you listed as your area, you should make that notation in your ad, or ask for the location before quoting a rate and include your travel time/expense in the quote.

[+ KensingtonHomo]

2 hours ago, Mark_fl said:

I guess I'm in the camp that if you list a "near travel" location, it's someplace convenient that you're willing to travel. 

Maybe if you expect extra for the locations you listed as your area, you should make that notation in your ad, or ask for the location before quoting a rate and include your travel time/expense in the quote.

I agree with this. I do consulting and public speaking, and if the client expects me to travel outside of my city, they cover my travel and lodging expenses. That's part of the contract agreed upon upfront. 

[JB_Studio38]

3 hours ago, Mark_fl said:

I guess I'm in the camp that if you list a "near travel" location, it's someplace convenient that you're willing to travel. 

Maybe if you expect extra for the locations you listed as your area, you should make that notation in your ad, or ask for the location before quoting a rate and include your travel time/expense in the quote.

Here’s the thing: many people don’t even read the full ad to begin with. So even when I do specify certain differences, it doesn’t always get noticed. I had a client today get dismissive over my deposit asking; meanwhile it’s plain and clear in both my RentMasseur ad and website about my deposit requirements.

I’ve also written to RentMasseur stating; despite having several options for massage types; there’s only incall and outcall fee. But “outcall” may only include the local metro area. Not a city in the 4 hour range away, or even other travel cities that are further than that. 

Also as I’ve mentioned; traveling isn’t just a convenient or “fun” thing to do. Even if I’m willing, at times it’s a necessity. Like the closest major city to me, is Kansas City. The area is more ran thru than a GoodWill clothing aisle. It’s been fucked to death. The World Cup hasn’t even brought any new interest in the area. It’s the same people as it was before. 
 

I don’t mind traveling but, I can’t just keep doing it for 1 hour sessions with no extra. And to do these type of trips, I’m often setting aside whole afternoons and evenings at minimum. Usually a 4 hour trip, amounts to 2 days of packing/traveling/staying overnight/and unpacking. Like I visit a client in Wichita occasionally: I usually have to set aside 2 days because it’s too far to go there and come home in the same day. So I usually end up staying there for a night or 2 at least

 

1 hour ago, KensingtonHomo said:

I agree with this. I do consulting and public speaking, and if the client expects me to travel outside of my city, they cover my travel and lodging expenses. That's part of the contract agreed upon upfront. 

 

That sounds great, but I hate to say it but these guys: even though they are paying, lot of them don’t have the inclination to pay much more than what the rate is. They see an outcall price, or see an in-call price and think “that’s it”. 
 

And trust me, I’ve tried to push longer sessions but it doesn’t always get agreed to. So I’m like fuck it. If people don’t want to book me for longer sessions, I’m just going to have to start adding travel/out of town pricing. I’ve raised my rates by $75-$100 since the end of Covid. That has helped cover a bit more of the overheads I incur, but I’m doing travel to some areas that are 5-6-8 hours away and not always getting extra to cover travel.

Sure I can go and take on more clients to build up more funds, but even that takes more money to do. Extra money to host, book a hotel for a couple days etc. Some people may have lower prices and take on more volume but: I’m also not trying to over exert myself in the process. 
 

7 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

I'm one of those clients who has spent a lifetime of work operating with union contract work schedules, meeting hard deadlines, and massaging massive egos. 

I'm retired now, so why subject myself to this level of torture just to have some fun?

What torture do you imply? 

Also you may have been a salaried employee. Maybe not but you had an income that was fairly consistent as it sounds?

So I don’t get the fuss and disagreement about a provider who is offering the convenience of traveling to clients, it’s not designed to be torture. Just recognition that “shipping and handling” does apply to us in the same way any other product would.