Three Benjamins

[Reluctant Daddy]

Some of us actually enjoy hooking up.

 

Hooking up doesn't offer me the opportunity be with younger attractive guys I like, or the discretion I prefer.

[+ sync]

Also, there is less bang from the buck, as either my libido has ebbed or my appreciation of the skills of the escort has decreased.

 

That is my feeling of late, and it couldn't have come at a better time considering the direction of the rate points.

[Rudynate]

Does anyone on this thread shop for his own groceries? Have you noticed any change over say the last year in the price of meat? fruit? fresh vegetables? even beer? The average price for a six pack of beer has gone from $5.99 to $8.99! The rent on my modest one bedroom apartment in the suburbs has gone up more than 14% over a period of 3 years. When was the last time you bought lunch in a restaurant and paid less than $15 with tax and tip? How much did you pay for the last pizza you had delivered?

 

The cost of housing in San Francisco is legendary. Food has become absurdly expensive. When I go grocery shopping, I expect it to cost a lot, so the total doesn't usually shock me. But when I make a quick stop for a just a few things and it costs nearly $100.00, that gives me pause.

[beachboy]

I work hard, I volunteer, I save, I do charitable work, I rescue pets, I say my prayers, I wash behind my ears. My selfish treat is this hobby - a hobby I can afford above and beyond doing the "right" things. Every hobby is supposed to be fun, but it should also have protocols, boundaries, and budgets; otherwise, IMO, it just becomes an addiction or a vice. My psychological limit is $300/hr or $1200/night. If the avg market pricing ever goes north of that & my portfolio strategy implodes, I will hang up my sneakers, get into my big boy pants, and consider (gasp) hookups or (double gasp) monogamy.

Monogamy? Now that's just selfish! Restricting that hot Latino bod to just one guy? Noooo. We all need hope!!

[+ glennnn]

Does anyone on this thread shop for his own groceries? Have you noticed any change over say the last year in the price of meat? fruit? fresh vegetables? even beer? The average price for a six pack of beer has gone from $5.99 to $8.99! The rent on my modest one bedroom apartment in the suburbs has gone up more than 14% over a period of 3 years. When was the last time you bought lunch in a restaurant and paid less than $15 with tax and tip? How much did you pay for the last pizza you had delivered?

 

This impacts us all, doesn't it, client and escort alike? It makes it difficult to make our male ends meet, so to speak. The escorts are largely younger and deserve good pay for their work; the clients are largely older and on fixed incomes that necessitate some budgeting of expendable income. I certainly don't blame our escorts for charging what they need to meet their budgets. I liked some of the suggestions here about discounts for repeat business and, unless I cut my pleasure short by only booking one hour, I depend on a healthy discount for the second hour. I guess I just want to encourage some of our escorts to find ways to build volume and repeat clintele in order to increase revenue.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Consider alternative sources besides Rentmen. In my personal experience you can get excellent service at lower rates from Adam and from you local strip club. I do hire now and then premium escorts from RM (Sean Xavier, Isaac Powers, Max Gianni, Singlefordanite, etc.) and believe me, they are not better or hotter than the guys I get from Adam and Rockhard Sundays by 140 to 200 the hour, and they are very generous with their time.

[down_to_business]

I do find it just a little insulting when we are having a good constructive discussion and someone wants to shut it down just because they don't like the topic.

 

There are plenty of topics I don't like that get discussed all the time, I deal with it, but I don't demand they not be discussed.

 

I will add one other simple thing for illustrative purposes only, a hypothetical example... we already have established higher prices do not equate to higher quality based on many of our own personal experiences... but here is why higher rates do not necessarily equate to higher income for escorts...

 

escort I like charges me 200hr.. I hire 4X a month and say tip $25 a visit ... escort grosses $900 a month from me and yes he has to work more hours

same escort tells me his rate is going up to $300hr ... lets say I still like him enough to retain his services... I hire him once a month, no longer tip, and now he earns $300 a month from me but he does work fewer hours

 

So there is a tradeoff. Only the escort can decide what is best for himself, but higher isn't always necessarily better. There is a very very large unserved market now, and some escorts are going to realize this and capitalize on it instead of fighting over the same small shrinking pie of top 10%ers that so many seem to only be interested nowadays.

 

This is NOT for everyone, obviously, the escorts who have established huge followings among those top 10%ers should change nothing... but if your phone isn't ringing near as much as you would like it to, perhaps it is time to consider whether or not you are appealing to the right demographics for yourself. Do you really want to fight for just that 10% of the pie, or do you want to go after the other 90% who are being ignored?

[down_to_business]

I promise to bring flowers & I plan to stuff you with Argentinian chorizo!

 

Intelligence, knows how to budget, the picture in the boots, your kissing thread post, and now this... I think I just developed my first message forum crush... well second if you count Josh Barro, but he doesn't post here and I really like BVB and don't want to piss him off.. so we will call it the first.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I do find it just a little insulting when we are having a good constructive discussion and someone wants to shut it down just because they don't like the topic.

 

There are plenty of topics I don't like that get discussed all the time, I deal with it, but I don't demand they not be discussed.

 

I will add one other simple thing for illustrative purposes only, a hypothetical example... we already have established higher prices do not equate to higher quality based on many of our own personal experiences... but here is why higher rates do not necessarily equate to higher income for escorts...

 

escort I like charges me 200hr.. I hire 4X a month and say tip $25 a visit ... escort grosses $900 a month from me and yes he has to work more hours

same escort tells me his rate is going up to $300hr ... lets say I still like him enough to retain his services... I hire him once a month, no longer tip, and now he earns $300 a month from me but he does work fewer hours

 

So there is a tradeoff. Only the escort can decide what is best for himself, but higher isn't always necessarily better. There is a very very large unserved market now, and some escorts are going to realize this and capitalize on it instead of fighting over the same small shrinking pie of top 10%ers that so many seem to only be interested nowadays.

 

This is NOT for everyone, obviously, the escorts who have established huge followings among those top 10%ers should change nothing... but if your phone isn't ringing near as much as you would like it to, perhaps it is time to consider whether or not you are appealing to the right demographics for yourself. Do you really want to fight for just that 10% of the pie, or do you want to go after the other 90% who are being ignored?

 

I don't really try to understand how it works. I know that as a client I have the tools I need to make it work for me, and my hires seem to be pretty happy with the arrangements, so it is clear it also works for them.

Use all your tools. Research. I mentioned Adam and my local strip club as alternative sources, but you also have this forum. Some of my hires were recommended through PM. Do not fall in the trap and believe that everyone who publishes in Adam is a scammer. There are not more scammers in Adam than in Rentmen. The difference is, if you have the unfortunate experience of hooking up with a fake, you will waste more money in RM than in A4A.

[+ glennnn]

I'm going back to FlyerTalk where we humiliate people for creating more dead horses instead of using the ones we already have.

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry. I don't understand this comment. FlyerTalk?

[+ José Soplanucas]

I do find it just a little insulting when we are having a good constructive discussion and someone wants to shut it down just because they don't like the topic.

 

There are plenty of topics I don't like that get discussed all the time, I deal with it, but I don't demand they not be discussed.?

 

My friend DTB, ignore the assholes. I don't think Millenials feel entitled, but some one here certainly does. Don't engage, just enjoy the conversation.

[Rudynate]

Some of us actually enjoy hooking up. It's different from hiring, but not necessarily better or worse. Different strokes.

 

Daddies are the hookup world's best-kept secret. There's some incredible sex available for free in the 50-plus demographic.

[jawjateck]

I'm a value guy; yall know that. It's pretty easy to look at an ad/pics, the pricing structure, and make a value assessment. That's why I ignore most ads, but the number that matters most to me is my annual budget. Yep, I track my expenses and do not exceed a certain dollar amount in a calendar year.

 

And the good news for me is that the year is over 50% complete, but I've only spent 1/3 of my budget.

[+ glennnn]

I guess I'm a sucker too as I charge only 200

But prices have surged overtime on everything not just escorting (its on food, gas basically everything is being inflated

 

Some clients are willing to pay 200 as their maximum, others are willing to worship a muscular guy for 400 or 500 bucks. If the escorts keeps getting customers at that rate theirs no need to lower it. Plus other factors decide the rate, whether it be location, attractiveness, muscularness (is that even a word lol)

 

Im still currently trying to find the right rate for me, I want every client the chance to be able to afford me if they wanted too, plus I'm not a clock watcher in general so spending extra time doesn't bother me. Sometimes lower prices help you get more business but if your good looking enough where you can get clients at 400/500 an hour more power to you (plus a little side jealously haha )

 

One of the goals of marketing is to maximize the price of the product. Another is to maximize sales of the product. Nirvana is the perfect balance between these two opposing forces. I think you are learning quickly and doing a good job. If you have some repeat customers you feel comfortable with, do a little market research about how to increase your sales and your rates. Perhaps you could offer them some extra time or services as a thank you. Try running a promotion: pay for and book three sessions in advance and get 15% off, or a free hour. It all depends on your marketing goal. A full calendar @ $200/hour is probably better than an empty one @ $300. I think you are cute as hell, and were you in my area, I would gladly sample your services for $250/hr, especially if the second hour was discounted. Hope some of this helps and offers encouragement.

[down_to_business]

I don't really try to understand how it works. I know that as a client I have the tools I need to make it work for me, and my hires seem to be pretty happy with the arrangements, so it is clear it also works for them.

Use all your tools. Research. I mentioned Adam and my local strip club as alternative sources, but you also have this forum. Some of my hires were recommended through PM. Do not fall in the trap and believe that everyone who publishes in Adam is a scammer. There are not more scammers in Adam than in Rentmen. The difference is, if you have the unfortunate experience of hooking up with a fake, you will waste more money in RM than in A4A.

 

I had not tried A4A before.. thanks.. I will give it a spin. I have had luck with cl and backpage in past (although I am less likely to use now than before and definitely would only meet in public from it).

[Rudynate]

I'm a value guy; yall know that. It's pretty easy to look at an ad/pics, the pricing structure, and make a value assessment. That's why I ignore most ads, but the number that matters most to me is my annual budget. Yep, I track my expenses and do not exceed a certain dollar amount in a calendar year.

 

And the good news for me is that the year is over 50% complete, but I've only spent 1/3 of my budget.

 

I'm glad you posted this. I have started to look for value-priced guys myself. Even RM has quite a few guys with attractive, value rates.

[+ glennnn]

[uSER=12155]@Dominiking[/uSER]

 

When the calendar is full (sales goals are met) keep your rates stable. If bookings decline, put on the special (don't forget advertising it) until sales recover. If the first half of August is weak, and you are getting nervous about your budget, contact your clients with an end of summer, August 25 to August 30 only, 2 hours for 1 sale. Do you do massage, too? If not, learn it. How about facials? (We daddies are vain) Spruce up your in call space with some paint and new linens when you can afford it. (If it needs it)

[MikeBiDude]

Daddies are the hookup world's best-kept secret. There's some incredible sex available for free in the 50-plus demographic.

So true...a little age and confidence and it's fun!! (Shhhhh- still a secret)

[+ Keith30309]

I understand the economic theory behind the discounting of rates but, to be honest, I'm not sure it makes allot of difference to me. If I don't want to see someone then knocking $25 off isn't going to make me want to see him any more. (And, honestly, it strikes me a little bit as commoditization of escort services - the opposite of how I perceive it. It's the differentiators that a guy brings to the table that hook me.)

 

That said, I do have a psychological barrier around that $300 level and above because I perceive it to be significantly above the average in my area. I need to really, really want to see someone to go there. It's less about the absolute number than it is the number relative to others.

[LivingnLA]

Some interesting posts and y'all are forcing me to wake up my inner branding & marketing executive. It's been years. I'm semi-retired for a reason!

 

Part of me agrees with @Keith30309 and another part of me sees where @glennnn is coming from in their posts.

 

[uSER=12155]@Dominiking[/uSER], it boils down to this fundamental question: What is your brand and who is your customer?

 

Branding is all about the total presentation and its perceived value. If your personal brand is about being the "Apple" or "BMW" of escorting, then discounting is not recommended as it negatively impacts brand perception for your services. That doesn't mean you can't do a promotion here or there, Apple does education discounts for college students and schools. Along with various limited holiday promotions. BMW does a promotion here or there usually tied to specific holidays.

 

It's a complicated topic. I don't feel able to adequately convey decades of expertise in a concise form. Lol.

 

For me, since I view $300 to be the top-end of the price spectrum, those that advertise at such a price point need to be the "Apple" or "BMW" of their particular service niche. That means everything about their customer experience should be very high quality. Think about all the care such large brands put into their advertising, their material quality, their retail spaces. Translate all of that into your business and decide how it will affect your decisions.

 

I know there are escorts who command prices well above $300 an hour, but those are very high-end niches reserved for top 1% clients generally and their expectations are far more luxury/extreme/etc. than more mainstream clients.

[LivingnLA]

Look at it this way, escorting is an intimate professional service. That means many clients will intentionally or unintentionally compare it with a variety of "competitors."

 

Hookup culture is one such competitor for the actual physical acts. There are plenty of pluses & minues.

Professional massage (which I mentioned earlier) will influence pricing perceptions.

Sexual or erotic masseurs will influence pricing too.

What we're charged by other professional services will influence what we view as reasonable too. Dentists, lawyers, psychologists, etc. are all intimate professional services in some ways and frequently have hourly or per project rates that will affect client expectations.

 

As @Keith30309 said above, differentiation is key. As I tried to say above, total customer experience matters. If an escort is branding themselves as perfect for Muscle Worship (MW), for example, then their pricing will scale based on how closely they align with Muscle Worship client expectations. So, a MW escort who hasn't bulked up yet--is just starting out--should not expect to command top tier prices. Unless there are other mitigating factors. Say, this new MW escort has a naturally Dominant energy/personality. That can go a long way toward creating a great MW customer experience even though the "technical features" (physical musculature) aren't top tier.

 

What I just tried to explain there with my MW example is a rough approximation of Apple's strategy. Their physical technology isn't always top tier (fastest processor, most memory, etc.) but they wrap that technology in a branding experience (through physical design, language choice, advertising, etc.) to create the brand perception of an industry leading top tier product in nearly every category they compete in and they've generally been quite successful.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Some interesting posts and y'all are forcing me to wake up my inner branding & marketing executive. It's been years. I'm semi-retired for a reason!

 

Part of me agrees with @Keith30309 and another part of me sees where @glennnn is coming from in their posts.

 

[uSER=12155]@Dominiking[/uSER], it boils down to this fundamental question: What is your brand and who is your customer?

 

Branding is all about the total presentation and its perceived value. If your personal brand is about being the "Apple" or

 

"BMW" of escorting, then discounting is not recommended as it negatively impacts brand perception for your services. That doesn't mean you can't do a promotion here or there, Apple does education discounts for college students and schools. Along with various limited holiday promotions. BMW does a promotion here or there usually tied to specific holidays.

 

It's a complicated topic. I don't feel able to adequately convey decades of expertise in a concise form. Lol.

 

For me, since I view $300 to be the top-end of the price spectrum, those that advertise at such a price point need to be the "Apple" or "BMW" of their particular service niche. That means everything about their customer experience should be very high quality. Think about all the care such large brands put into their advertising, their material quality, their retail spaces. Translate all of that into your business and decide how it will affect your decisions.

 

I know there are escorts who command prices well above $300 an hour, but those are very high-end niches reserved for top 1% clients generally and their expectations are far more luxury/extreme/etc. than more mainstream clients.

 

What is your opinion on special promotions for regulars. It does not have to be a discount, but may be extra time or a free session every 5 meetings, for instance.

Regulars have an added value, they are reliable and possible you truly enjoy your time with most of them, if you know what I mean.

[LivingnLA]

What is your opinion on special promotions for regulars. It does not have to be a discount, but may be extra time or a free session every 5 meetings, for instance.

Regulars have an added value, they are reliable and possible you truly enjoy your time with most of them, if you know what I mean.

 

I absolutely understand where you're coming from and it's quite normal for many brands to give priority, special services, limited promos, early bird sales, and more to regulars. They call them loyalty programs, frequent buyer programs, memberships, and more.

 

I think an escort who has a VIC (Very Important Client) program or something similar could really be on to something if such a program provided a clear differentiation. So, say certain services or features were ONLY available to VICs. That could be very interesting. It would have to make sense and be consistent with the escort's brand and not alienate potential clients. Given the nature of this business, it's a tricky proposition, but could be very compelling.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I had not tried A4A before.. thanks.. I will give it a spin. I have had luck with cl and backpage in past (although I am less likely to use now than before and definitely would only meet in public from it).

CL and BP have very bad press here. I have never tried them, but some forum members do recommend them.

[DonaldTramp]

Some people can lower their prices all they want. I doubt it will make much of a difference. Then there are others who seem very tempting at $300, lose their appeal when

they go above that.