no more new reviews - farewell vicarious living

[mike carey]

The number of reviews is beside the point. What matters is their regularity.

Interesting to read this, Russ. I hadn't thought that this site or the review site would have had such an influence on your client flow. I stand corrected. My advice to everyone, go out and hire Russ; ask him to cook asparagus with dijon mayonnaise for you, but don't offer to drink a dozen egg whites with him.

[Mount N Do]

I know how the 411 and PM process works, that's not the issues. The issues is having someone in the Justice Department open an account, and start posting, asking for info on escort X. If fine to PM someone with a long history, but how do you distinguish from a novice to fake profile.

I may be naive, but to me that would be a stretch. Unless the conversation goes something like "we fucked like bunnies for the full hour and I only paid $200..." no agency has shit to use that info. Personally, I've never discussed the cost/benefit in my review on a PM. And without evidence of an exchange of money, where's the crime?

[bobchitown]

Be careful and use common sense.

 

There are people who've PMed me who I chose to not respond to, typically because they were newbies and had no history here. Others I am certainly more cautious with than in the past.

 

I've noticed recently that a couple of my PMs have gone unanswered - either for similar caution, but some people may also have just moved on from the forum.

[AlanDC]

My thing is this, granted the guys that have done this for awhile and are well known or even the guys who have reviews, they have an advantage over guys like me who have just started or have not had any reviews posted. I understand the legality reasons behind the suspension on the reviews but my question is this, is there not a way to post reviews for us guys that in no way can have any legal ramifications that are impacted by them?

[+ José Soplanucas]

Everyone, do not panic!

We all miss the reviews, there are alternatives but still the reviews were great, this place was better with the reviews, sí señor!

Just be patient and try to survive the drought. Daddy is working on it.

[TruthBTold]

I can also attest to the Russ magnificent. Great body, wonderful sextition, and smart to boot. Has lots of photos on Tumbler and here.

[+ OliverSaks]

As I can't buy television spots, I rely somewhat on appearing on the front page of this website periodically, per the kindness of my satisfied clients, in order to remind people of my continued existence. The number of reviews is beside the point. What matters is their regularity.

How can you be sure that the lack of reviews is the cause of the downturn?

Did you get an uptick in clients when your reviews were front and center?

 

What about time of year? BP going down / new administration fears?

 

It's been a slow start to the year after a very successful previous 6 months, but I don't think that Daddy's announcement was the proximate cause. That's just my experience, and I know your experience could be very different.

[TruthBTold]

Perhaps if people used the Escort Travel section more it might help to bridge the gap until reviews go up. I know it simply is not the same but it might help with manufacturing interest for individuals. I hope it would spur people to look at that section more (myself included).

[rvwnsd]

My thing is this, granted the guys that have done this for awhile and are well known or even the guys who have reviews, they have an advantage over guys like me who have just started or have not had any reviews posted. I understand the legality reasons behind the suspension on the reviews but my question is this, is there not a way to post reviews for us guys that in no way can have any legal ramifications that are impacted by them?

You pose a great question, @AlanDC . That question is addressed in the landing page of the review site, but to paraphrase the operator of the review site is working to modernize it in a way that facilitates less explicit reviews and uses a more streamlined intake process.

[+ Russ]

How can you be sure that the lack of reviews is the cause of the downturn?

Did you get an uptick in clients when your reviews were front and center?

 

Sorry you've been having a slow start too. Of course I have no way of knowing the exact cause. I'm a sample of one and I can't control for any of these other factors. But I can tell you that call volume has always increased for me in the week following a new review. I also live in New York, which I can only assume is a more saturated marketplace than yours, and I don't travel. When I got a new review, I always got a huge spike in views on my ad. It would follow that the increase in calls stemmed directly from that.

 

Or it could have been the weather. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[mike carey]

Well, @Russ I look again at your profile when you have a review posted, and I also look when someone here says you have posted new pics or you make a comment in the forum, but I have the option for people to see that I have viewed their profile turned off. I could turn it on when I look at a profile I like, but that feels a bit stalky. Hope your advertising goes well!

[TopTierTop]

Your vicarious living? How about my actual living?

Preach!

My issue, though, is not related to a slow down in clients due to lack of posted reviews. My issue is that I am newer to this forum, so while I have many very happy clients, by only looking at Daddys one might wonder why I have so many fewer reviews than someone else, not realizing that is because he has been involved since long before this issue with the reviews.

 

I just compensate for the lack of new reviews by being very active on this forum. That has been very enjoyable and beneficial for me.

[+ OliverSaks]

Sorry you've been having a slow start too. Of course I have no way of knowing the exact cause. I'm a sample of one and I can't control for any of these other factors. But I can tell you that call volume has always increased for me in the week following a new review. I also live in New York, which I can only assume is a more saturated marketplace than yours, and I don't travel. When I got a new review, I always got a huge spike in views on my ad. It would follow that the increase in calls stemmed directly from that.

 

Or it could have been the weather. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I'm curious why you don't travel.

Many of the most successful escorts on the forum travel quite a bit. Travel has been quite a lovely way to meet new people (especially forum lovelies)

 

A quick bus/train/plane can put you in a less saturated market with little effort and without substantial costs.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I'm curious why you don't travel.

Many of the most successful escorts on the forum travel quite a bit. Travel has been quite a lovely way to meet new people (especially forum lovelies)

 

A quick bus/train/plane can put you in a less saturated market with little effort and without substantial costs.

 

A lot of guys do not travel at less they have a multiple days contract secured. I wish more guys travel. I want Osiris Blade and Mike Maverik in DC right now.

[+ Russ]

I'm curious why you don't travel.

Many of the most successful escorts on the forum travel quite a bit. Travel has been quite a lovely way to meet new people (especially forum lovelies)

 

A quick bus/train/plane can put you in a less saturated market with little effort and without substantial costs.

 

For reasons too baroque to explain attractively in the context of this forum, the benefits do not outweigh the costs for me, unfortunately. I don't want to be put in a position where I have to install a revolving door in my hotel room just to break even. I don't want to take a train just to pull a train. I'd love to meet more people, but for right now the only place to see me is in New York—which I hear isn't really such a charmless place to visit anyway, even without the promise of my company.

[MikeyGMin]

I don't want to take a train just to pull a train.

Literaly made me laugh out loud! One of the funnier things I've read on this board recently. Just the right amount of wit and snark. Keep 'em up!

[Larstrup]

I want Mike Maverik in DC right now.

Answer your front door right now

[+ José Soplanucas]

Answer your front door right now

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I'm curious why you don't travel.

Many of the most successful escorts on the forum travel quite a bit. Travel has been quite a lovely way to meet new people (especially forum lovelies)

 

A quick bus/train/plane can put you in a less saturated market with little effort and without substantial costs.

 

Russ gave a great response to this.

 

I've been successful in this industry and have never once independently traveled. It's just not worth the risk to me, for a wide variety of reasons. There are a ton of clients out there who will travel to you, or fly you where they want you.

[rvwnsd]

Russ gave a great response to this.

 

I've been successful in this industry and have never once independently traveled. It's just not worth the risk to me, for a wide variety of reasons. There are a ton of clients out there who will travel to you, or fly you where they want you.

@Benjamin_Nicholas and @Russ, you are right - I would rather travel to an escort's location than try to plan a playdate when he travels to mine. I've found that travelling to an escort's city lets me see him in a more relaxed way. No rushing around and trying to juggle appointments. When I have seen a travelling guy he is usually taking a vacation or visiting family, so his escorting appointments are bonuses tacked onto a personal trip.

[+ OliverSaks]

I guess I didn't consider where I live and where you all live...

 

I don't feel like it is that much of a hassle, personally, to take an 80$ round trip train / bus and spend a couple/3 hundred dollars for a couple of nights in a decent hotel (Chicago).

 

Vacation plus new clients is a chill sum.

[+ OliverSaks]

Russ gave a great response to this.

 

I've been successful in this industry and have never once independently traveled. It's just not worth the risk to me, for a wide variety of reasons. There are a ton of clients out there who will travel to you, or fly you where they want you.

What risks do you mean?

[mike carey]

I have several reasons for wanting to visit New York. Also, it's one of the world's great cities.

[rvwnsd]

I guess I didn't consider where I live and where you all live...

 

I don't feel like it is that much of a hassle, personally, to take an 80$ round trip train / bus and spend a couple/3 hundred dollars for a couple of nights in a decent hotel (Chicago).

 

Vacation plus new clients is a chill sum.

Here's the thing - you are viewing the trip as a vacation coupled with business. Other guys look at trips solely as business ventures. Escorts are not the only ones who struggle with this. In previous threads many clients have expressed reservations about travelling to see an escort, as they feel it increases the cost of the playdate. For me, a trip to see an escort is also an opportunity to take a little trip.

[amigomonty]

So many great comments! I enjoy when a new member escort takes a moment to introduce themselves in the Deli. Making sure there are signature links to your ad and reviews is always a good idea. Big Ric, and several other professionals certainly caught my eye and my brain by their well chosen remarks and presence. The comments and presence of other pros who are combative, negative etcetera saved many of us money...

 

I think even a short travel trip and ad in escort travels section of the forum provides little risk money wise and provides another point of exposure. Russ, there is a thread in the gallery for really big guys and for red heads. How about posting some of your photos in either thread or both? I do like your photos