Escort Wasteland

[Candyman]

Having moved to Charleston SC. I find it a wasteland finding escorts. Traveling escorts don't even stop here. Is there something about the city makes it so unwelcoming? It's been voted the best place in the USA by Conde nast. Come on give us a try and spend some time and enjoy our Southern Charm

[Decatur Guy]

Just about any city of Charleston's size is an escort wasteland. Palm Springs is the only place I can come up with that small that has a pretty good list.

[+ FreshFluff]

The issue with a small city like that is that everyone knows everyone. It's tough for a married man to sneak out with an escort and not be seen. As for out gay men, I didn't see any male-male couples when I was there.

 

But yeah, it's such a romantic place that it's sad to be alone there.

 

You can always enjoy the food though.

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/58/13/7f/82-queen.jpg

[Browser]

How time changes things

 

The issue with a small city like that is that everyone knows everyone. It's tough for a married man to sneak out with an escort and not be seen. As for out gay men, I didn't see any male-male couples when I was there.

 

But yeah, it's such a romantic place that it's sad to be alone there.

 

You can always enjoy the food though.

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/58/13/7f/82-queen.jpg

 

I lived in Charleston some 50 years ago (my, how fast time flies). At that time (late 60s early 70s) there was a very vibrant gay community. A great gay bar (private club) much like Cheers - you knew everybody and everybody knew you. They had a band every night, quiet places to sit, drink and talk, dance floor, cheap drinks. Lots of out of town visitors on weekends. Lots of home parties and other activities for the community. No hostility from restaurants, politicians, police. What happened? Ten years later, it started to go downhill and now, according to this thread, it is a gay wasteland. Strange, since there are at least two large universities in town - one with a gay fraternity. I guess times change. In many cities now, old gay haunts are no long active. Where are the gay people? Mostly at home on the internet, which has made it easier to meet and plan tryst. But the personal interaction of the old days is lacking. Anyway, Charleston is a great small city and I hope the gay scene improves.

[Steven_Draker]

At that time (late 60s early 70s) there was a very vibrant gay community. A great gay bar (private club) much like Cheers - you knew everybody and everybody knew you. They had a band every night, quiet places to sit, drink and talk, dance floor, cheap drinks. Lots of out of town visitors on weekends. Lots of home parties and other activities for the community.

 

Well, now we have THE INTERNET.

 

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/6d/f2/87/my-internet-cafe.jpg

[BSR]

Just about any city of Charleston's size is an escort wasteland. Palm Springs is the only place I can come up with that small that has a pretty good list.

A search of the Big 3 sites (Rentboy, Men4RentNow, and Rentmen) yielded a whopping ONE Charleston SC escort ad (on M4RN). Uh, the one guy did look pretty hot, if that's any consolation. Rentboy doesn't even have a single listing in the entire state of South Carolina. In contrast, the ten largest US metropolitan statistical areas yielded the following number of Rentboy ads:

 

1. NYC - 490

2. LA - 293

3. Chicago - 106

4. Dallas - 43

5. Houston - 32

6. Philadelphia - 39

7. Washington DC - 78

8. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale - 95 in Miami/58 in Ft. Lauderdale, a lot of those are cross-listings

9. Atlanta - 41

10. Boston - 61

 

Cities of note outside the largest 10:

11. San Francisco - 125

15. Seattle - 25

17. San Diego - 40

18. Tampa - 15

26. Orlando - 40

31. Las Vegas - 67

45. New Orleans - 10

76. Charleston SC - 0

 

and itty-bitty Palm Springs, which is so small it doesn't even rank in the largest 381 US metropolitan statistical areas - 27!

 

Granted, this quick survey is about as un-scientific as un-scientific gets. First of all, I looked up only the number of listings on Rentboy. Rentboy tends to be better for big cities whereas small-city escorts are more likely to advertise in M4RN. Nonetheless, I still thought it was interesting. While population of the greater metropolitan area is certainly a factor, it doesn't guarantee a great escort market. Greater Houston has ~1.8 million more residents than greater San Francisco, but only about 1/4 as many escorts. Obviously, a large gay population makes a big difference. It also helps to be a big tourist destination. Orlando has ~600K fewer residents than Tampa but trounces its I-4 neighbor in the number of escorts listed. Las Vegas is even smaller yet has more listings than both cities combined. Warm weather seems to be a factor as well. Note the difference between San Diego and Seattle. And if you have a sunny climate, a large gay population, and a large number of gay tourists like Palm Springs, my goodness, it's an embarrassment of riches.

[+ azdr0710]

a whopping ONE Charleston SC escort ad (on M4RN). Uh, the one guy did look pretty hot, if that's any consolation.

 

Charleston - "Where the Ashley and the Cooper meet to form the Atlantic Ocean", as the locals say.....

 

http://www.men4rentnow.com/ds/index.asp?cmd=view&id=301485&Login=chazshawn

[devonhunter]

No tea, no shade; however, the few times I have tried to connect with clients in Charleston they have been a colossal pain in the ass, because they've all be completely paranoid that they will be outed for being seen with me. It isn't worth the trouble thus far. Just saying.

[robberbaron4u]

Sweet potato pie and hush my mouth, Mr. Hunter! You may be the sugar in my mint julep any old day!

[Mocha]

A search of the Big 3 sites (Rentboy, Men4RentNow, and Rentmen) yielded a whopping ONE Charleston SC escort ad (on M4RN). Uh, the one guy did look pretty hot, if that's any consolation. Rentboy doesn't even have a single listing in the entire state of South Carolina. In contrast, the ten largest US metropolitan statistical areas yielded the following number of Rentboy ads:

 

1. NYC - 490

2. LA - 293

3. Chicago - 106

4. Dallas - 43

5. Houston - 32

6. Philadelphia - 39

7. Washington DC - 78

8. Miami/Ft. Lauderdale - 95 in Miami/58 in Ft. Lauderdale, a lot of those are cross-listings

9. Atlanta - 41

10. Boston - 61

 

Cities of note outside the largest 10:

11. San Francisco - 125

15. Seattle - 25

17. San Diego - 40

18. Tampa - 15

26. Orlando - 40

31. Las Vegas - 67

45. New Orleans - 10

76. Charleston SC - 0

 

While population of the greater metropolitan area is certainly a factor, it doesn't guarantee a great escort market. Greater Houston has ~1.8 million more residents than greater San Francisco, but only about 1/4 as many escorts. Obviously, a large gay population makes a big difference. It also helps to be a big tourist destination. Orlando has ~600K fewer residents than Tampa but trounces its I-4 neighbor in the number of escorts listed. Las Vegas is even smaller yet has more listings than both cities combined. Warm weather seems to be a factor as well. Note the difference between San Diego and Seattle. And if you have a sunny climate, a large gay population, and a large number of gay tourists like Palm Springs, my goodness, it's an embarrassment of riches.

 

I would also add that region also plays a part. Most of the smaller southern cities will be wastelands for obvious reasons. Different mentalities and lower rates of pay can make even the largest gay Mecca an hourboy's harem. However, I've had okay experiences in Nashville, and North Carolina...almost always travelers though.

 

Gay population does make a difference, and too the TYPES of gay population. Some places have lots of frugal, pretentious gays (Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas), whereas places like DC, Canada, San Fran and LA and NYC are the $100 for cab fare types. Of course, that's all generalizing, but it just goes to show population doesn't mean much.

 

Also, when taking into account where many of the $400 an hour porn star types go, you won't often see charleston sc or charleston West Virginia on the list lol.

[devonhunter]

Sweet potato pie and hush my mouth, Mr. Hunter! You may be the sugar in my mint julep any old day!

 

Who are your people, and where do they summer? ;-)