Has A4A really been underperforming lately?

[Mocha]

I know its a redundant statement/question as it is touted as a free hookup site. And the fact that they have pretty much censored any kind of sexual questionnaire. Though it was doing okay and I've been keeping it every month, and having used it in different cities.

 

For a minute I was getting some steady use out of it earlier this and last year. Lately, hardly anyone. It's been all RM. Does anyone find it makes a difference whether to post or not post rates on there? Maybe thinking of cutting out the rate part again as anything over $150 seems like too much, of course that leaves things open to interpretation. I know some people never respond to messages there but post their number like a regular ad and leave it at that.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I always check the PROs section in Adam looking for newbies. The prices I pay are in the range between 120 and 200 per hour. As a client I like it a lot because these guys grandfather me when they move up to RM and raise their fees.

I have noticed RM is becoming more and more popular and prevalent. Rentboy DC used to have records of 60 guys, Rentmen in those times would hardly get to 40. Right now, DC Rentmen seems to be always above 160 advertisers. Since Adam cancelled the "escort" category, the number of advertisers have dropped significantly.

Please, be aware I am talking only about DC, I have no idea whether we can project these numbers beyond the DMV area.

[+ not2rowdy]

...be aware I am talking only about DC, I have no idea whether we can project these numbers beyond the DMV area.

 

I don’t track A4A but here’s the general trend in Vegas the past year. 6/16 > 6/17

 

Numbers can be highly variable. Especially for BP and CL depending on time of day stats are gathered. Stats typically drawn mid-week in the morning. Also keep in mind that for BP and CL the same person may post multiple ads throughout the day.

 

Rentmen: Increase 98 to 161 (Low 92 / High 161)

M4RN: Decrease 48/41* to 42/33* (Low 35/26* / High 57/39*)

*those with contact info

 

MasseurFinder (Heal): Decrease 36 to 26 (Low 23 / High 36)

MasseurFinder (Relax): Decrease 53 to 45 (Low 36 / High 53)

MassageM4M: Decrease 39 to 31 (Low 28 / High 43)

SexyMasseur: Steady 14 to 16 (Low 13 / High 18)

Rentmasseur: Steady 26 to 27 (Low 17 / High 32)

 

Backpage: Steady 19 to 21 (Low 13 / High 35)

 

Craigslist M4M

- Platonic: Steady 13 to 13 (Low 2 / High 24)

- Romance: Steady 3 to 3 (Low 1 / High 6)

- M seek M: Steady 120 to 106 (Low 87 / High 175)

- Casual: Steady 754 to 751 (Low 542 / High 886)

- Therapeutic (Male): Steady 10 to 12 (Low 5 High 15)

 

Edit: added disclaimer

Disclaimer: There is no guarantee this info is, or will remain, accurate. Exercise due diligence prior to making any time or financial commitments.

[ChristianCronin]

A4A for me has been literally dead for five months so I already cancelled my renewal. It wasn't like that for me a year ago, so it's definitely strange. I've found that there are an inordinate number of crazies on that site, too.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I am all for everyone moving to RM, if they carry their Adam prices. Having the competition of the lower rates in profusion in the same website could be very beneficial for clients.

[+ oldNbusted]

I must confess I never took any of the ads on A4A seriously until I started reading this forum.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I must confess I never took any of the ads on A4A seriously until I started reading this forum.

 

It is changing as we pointed out above, but it used to be a great resource, and it is not yet completely dead.

 

I liked the newbies there because they had no pretensions. RM is full of very young guys, with very little experience, who pretend to charge like a pro, experienced pstar. Not in Adam. It is not everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy training guys in their beginnings, it was the perfect resource.

[+ oldNbusted]

RM is full of very young guys, with very little experience, who pretend to charge like a pro, experienced pstar.

 

If only he had been able to perform, it would have been fine!

[+ José Soplanucas]

If only he had been able to perform, it would have been fine!

 

Well, you have to take the risk of failure when you are researching that section of the market. But when you find a keeper, it is like finding gold.

[rvwnsd]

A4A for me has been literally dead for five months so I already cancelled my renewal. It wasn't like that for me a year ago, so it's definitely strange. I've found that there are an inordinate number of crazies on that site, too.

My guess is you are not getting business from A4A because there are crazies on both sides of the equation. The bona fide clients got fed up and don't use A4A anymore, leaving you (one of the few non-crazies) with a bunch of crazy people.

[Mocha]

@not2rowdy, next time I'm in Vegas I might need your expertise to deal a hand...You know your statistics haha...

 

[uSER=15773]@Boy w/ the Phoenix Tattoo[/uSER] , don't give up entirely. There's probably still some hope. But they used to be $10 a month versus $30. Honestly they operated better at $10 than $30. But I'm there with you, if I hadn't had years of good memories from Adam I would have dropped them. So for me, there's still a bit of nostalgia that keeps me loyal to their overall bullshit.

 

@ChristianCronin , tell me about it. I've had my fair share...but after awhile (not suggesting that someone put up with it to reap benefits), I learned to weed out the crazies from a far. Making sure they have a decent sounding screeename, avoiding those with any negativity in their ads (amazing how people hit me up, but then say derogatory comments about escorts in their profile), getting their real name (and age since many lie about that) and making sure they aren't partying all helps to avoid drama on that site.

 

@latbear4blk, I think those numbers can roughly apply anywhere. I was in D.C. before the rentboy shutdown, and yeah I always wondered why there weren't more providers. Well I'll be damned. There is much more now. And as a result, D.C. Has slowly but steadily lost attraction for a place to work out of now.

 

Then again, here in not so sunny Orlando, Florida...its the same scene. Before I came here, I'd seen nearly $2,000 the prior weekend. It's been two weeks plus and I've only seen 2 clients. One in Orlando, one in Tampa. They were great, but the volume here is terrible. That's how I know for a fact it's not my problem. It's the area. Came down here to consider making a relocation here, but it's a red flag if I have to take the money I earned elsewhere to pay for a place, but not actually getting enough money from the place where I want to be.

 

So at this point, I'm not sold on moving back to Florida right now. Just going to continue traveling and "make my own decision"...

[rvwnsd]

[uSER=7220]...Making sure they have a decent sounding screeename, avoiding those with any negativity in their ads (amazing how people hit me up, but then say derogatory comments about escorts in their profile), getting their real name (and age since many lie about that) and making sure they aren't partying all helps to avoid drama on that site....[/uSER]

[uSER=7220]

 

@Mocha, I find this interesting because I do the same things with potential dates on A4A as well as escorts. It amazes me how negative some people are in ads. On some of these ads, most of the text is about what they don't like. If that;s what a date will be like, then no thank you.[/user]

[Mocha]

[uSER=7220]

 

@Mocha, I find this interesting because I do the same things with potential dates on A4A as well as escorts. It amazes me how negative some people are in ads. On some of these ads, most of the text is about what they don't like. If that;s what a date will be like, then no thank you.[/user]

 

Yeah, many are jaded. That's why when people disparage and barrage me for being negative, well...that's the by-productive of the environment I'm exposed to. Gay people want equality, but the bashing is mostly coming from within. Unfortunently I don't do drugs to make me feel happier, so I have to talk about it on here over a glass of Pinot Grigio or Bourbon spice. On the rocks. With a splash of fresh squeezed Orange juice please.

[+ not2rowdy]

@not2rowdy, next time I'm in Vegas I might need your expertise to deal a hand...You know your statistics haha...

 

Unfortunately I have no stats IRT percentage, let alone which, ads are legit.

 

I probably should have put my disclaimer in my original post - oh, that’s right, I CAN edit my own posts. Done.

[Jay DC]

I'm a client and I find A4A helpful in only a few cities (Palm Springs, Phoenix). For some reason, I find A4A hopeless in DC, New York and most other large cities. I gave up on Craigslist and M4RN a long time ago, don't think I have even looked at either site in a year or more. Never once have used BP.

 

This means RM has evolved into my almost exclusive resource to find new professional friends. It's not a perfect site (I hate that the "Available/Online Now"search returns guys who will be travelling to DC, but who are not actually in DC -- sometimes 1/3 to 1/2 of the those listed as "available now" are not actually even in my city.). But it is my "go to" site. Much different than a few years ago when I looked at several sites before extending any invitations. Doing the research is part of the appeal for me, so I miss a variety of sites to check out, but RM far out preforms the other sites for responsiveness and professionalism.

 

For non-pro cruising, I really only use scruff which, for me, has worked well although I am surprised how many men are only looking for long term relationships. When I'm online at midnight, I'm not looking for a fiancee. I wish scruff had a professional section, but I don't see that happening.

 

I don't know if this is helpful to my professional friends, but it is how my research has changed dramatically over the past few years.

[rvwnsd]

Yeah, many are jaded. That's why when people disparage and barrage me for being negative, well...that's the by-productive of the environment I'm exposed to. ....

Right, but I've seen your ads and they aren't negative.

[Mocha]

I'm a client and I find A4A helpful in only a few cities (Palm Springs, Phoenix). For some reason, I find A4A hopeless in DC, New York and most other large cities. I gave up on Craigslist and M4RN a long time ago, don't think I have even looked at either site in a year or more. Never once have used BP.

 

I wish scruff had a professional section, but I don't see that happening.

 

I sure wish scruff had a pro section too. But these apps, have us spending too much time hustling and bargaining and waiting around for them to make up their minds. Sending the link of my rentmen profile simplifies things, but they rarely actually follow through.

 

Like I was trying to say last week, most those guys on the apps are cheap and not trying to spend no money anyway. I may be an escort, but when I meet guys in my personal life, I'm trying to find something to do or go before we have sex. And if I seen a client that day/week, I'm willing to treat. Or they treat me. I want to be seen out with the man I'm about to hookup with. It's basic respect. I did it the other day. The guy was too hot to take straight to the room and fuck. I wanted him to show me, and me to show him...that I'm not afraid to be seen out in public and/or spend money to have an enjoyable time. And that I also don't need to only do it with a client either. I looooove going out with my clients, but sometimes I wamt to be the older daddy of the situation sometimes myself lol.

 

But, based on what @Jay DC said, I believe we are living in an era where similar to the 1990s/2000s, one escort site godfathers and monopolizes the escort industry. I think it's good because less money needs to be spent across different sites. But people shouldn't become too dependent on rentmen, instead remember there's still other sites that exist.

[Mocha]

Follow up:

 

So this whole a4a conundrum had me thinking. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm not doing something right. Maybe I need to just, go for what I want. But with a little bit of "push", I've gotten to see some immediate changes to where I seen my first client from the site and a number of leads since quite awhile.

 

Let me just break it down like this, and this may or may not be new to everybody. It's just goes back to how my life is in real life with gay guys: not a lot of people speak to me first. I don't even know how often people speak to other people outside their circle first either. So, what I started doing is seeing who looked at me and initiating some form of contact first. It's worked, but of course you're going to have those who don't go all the way.

 

So now, I'm definitely going to be taking a more proactive approach to a4a. I still like it personally because it gives me an oppurtunity to see what the client appears to be before meeting. But at the same time, it takes being aggressive and making the first move...something I'm used to doing anyway. It's not something I would have time to do all the time, but maybe occasionally look thru it while I'm on to see who checked in. I personally still prefer the client to make the initial contact, but a place like a4a and scruff and all in that genre, people just browse almost not really looking to make a move or expect a certain person to be into them. It's bullshit, but it's reality.

 

And it's a way of doing it that's not annoying or soliciting. I really don't say anything at all, but just a simple smile or acknowledgement because people want to be acknowledged and spoke to first I guess. Of course I wouldn't just indiscriminately hit up everyone, have to use some measure of discernment.

[TopTierTop]

I know its a redundant statement/question as it is touted as a free hookup site. And the fact that they have pretty much censored any kind of sexual questionnaire. Though it was doing okay and I've been keeping it every month, and having used it in different cities.

 

For a minute I was getting some steady use out of it earlier this and last year. Lately, hardly anyone. It's been all RM. Does anyone find it makes a difference whether to post or not post rates on there? Maybe thinking of cutting out the rate part again as anything over $150 seems like too much, of course that leaves things open to interpretation. I know some people never respond to messages there but post their number like a regular ad and leave it at that.

I loathe A4A! I used it for one month when I was in Palm Springs for a couple weeks, because I was told it is commonly used by clients out there. It's too much work for too little return. Way too many messages from guys who are either looking for something for free or are looking for providers who are more in the $100-200 an hour range, not the $300-400 range.

[Mocha]

I loathe A4A! I used it for one month when I was in Palm Springs

 

That's all I needed to hear. Using Adam4Adam in Palm Springs. I would have said the same about Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, L.A., Not great. Even D.C. At times isn't great for Adam. However; most places in middle America or sleepy towns in the South or Midwest or even The Southwest other than California tends to be better for Adam.

 

Like I mentioned, some places it's best to just not use Adam4Adam in because it's too much of an Instagram/playground than a place of business. Sure clients may use it, but how many escorts on the site in that particular area? Palm Springs has several pages. For a town that small, that's too many.

 

But at the same time, I can't defend it too much because they're not doing any justice but not allowing stats to be shown and Escort as the pro title. However, rates and nudes can still be posted so they haven't went the men4rent route.

[TopTierTop]

That's all I needed to hear. Using Adam4Adam in Palm Springs. I would have said the same about Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, L.A., Not great. Even D.C. At times isn't great for Adam. However; most places in middle America or sleepy towns in the South or Midwest or even The Southwest other than California tends to be better for Adam.

 

Like I mentioned, some places it's best to just not use Adam4Adam in because it's too much of an Instagram/playground than a place of business. Sure clients may use it, but how many escorts on the site in that particular area? Palm Springs has several pages. For a town that small, that's too many.

 

But at the same time, I can't defend it too much because they're not doing any justice but not allowing stats to be shown and Escort as the pro title. However, rates and nudes can still be posted so they haven't went the men4rent route.

I have never been anywhere in middle America or the South. Hope to get to Florida sometime though. I have only been living in the states for one year, so I have really only been going to the bigger markets. I am sure there are parts of the country where there are far less people on a site like RM.

[Mocha]

I have never been anywhere in middle America or the South. Hope to get to Florida sometime though. I have only been living in the states for one year, so I have really only been going to the bigger markets. I am sure there are parts of the country where there are far less people on a site like RM.

 

I was around when rentmen was just a suckling pup, circa 2008/9-ish. Its a whole different animal now. However...rentmen still hasn't fully reached all the smallest of towns...and those are the places where gay sex is a commodity, not just a pizza (aka, A thought) like some of the bigger cities.

 

As for Florida...I say suit yourself; your results may vary, but buyer beware. I'm here now and have been coming here regularly now over the last couple years. At one point, I left to middle America and did not return to Florida for several years. I can't say how business would be for you, but based on what [uSER=15464]@fallenAngel[/uSER] had stated before, and my own statement...you may or may not find it to your liking.

 

In Florida you can find some good clients...from out of town. But the overall scene here is just a crock of crap. These guys here play more games than the NBA, NHL and NFL combined with the MLB. Both paying and non-paying guys play games. The standing up and flaky uncommital behavior is rampant. I've pretty much resolved to just not let it bother me too much...but that's what happens when a market becomes too saturated.

 

Like I say, things may vary. Most of Florida lies in the perimter of the 25% rule. Which is, a city with more than 25% of African Americans in their demographic tends to be the cities where clients are less likely to hire a black escort due to some past misfortunes with a black escort. Sad but true. I heard it just the other day from a client so it's not something I'm making up. Adam4Adam tends to have a higher amount of Black escorts, further complexifying the issue.

 

However, here in Florida it seems that there is a general distrust between clients and all escorts regardless of race.