Few Reviews, Sparse Comment

[msclelovr]

I thought I'd start a separate thread after I read Conway's post of August 23 in the thread on The Other Site's Finance:

"Honestly, one thing that I am seeing is that many high quality escorts don't want reviews, even positive ones, posted about them. Many have a good book of regulars that they see and they don't want the headache of having to deal with the attention from the masses (the sometimes indecisive masses)that a very good review brings.

I had a great experience with a really delightful escort who has been reviewed well, but in a very limited way both here and on Daddy's site. When I asked if he'd like a review, he declined stating that he liked the current arrangement that he had with a few generous clients and didn't want to grow beyond that market.

One would think that the current economy would be driving more and more hot young guys to consider escorting as a way of supporting themselves. From my view, it doesn't seem to be happening."

Here are my observations:

1. I live in London but my experience is very similar. I've dated some very goodlooking muscled young guys in the last couple of years. Yet when I offered to write a glowing (but accurate) review and potentially boosting their business, they have all declined.

2. The net makes it easy for guys to do this work and supplement their income but few see it as a 'job'. The result is that often they are flaky when it comes to making and keeping arrangements.

For evidence, I can tell you about two guys. Both are extremely unreliable but when I get them into bed, they do all they can to please me.

One is a 25year old blond musclegod/total-bottom I see every 2 or 3 months; he's only online for an hour or so every 10-12 days. When he needs to make some cash, he texts me and asks if I'd like a date. I'm one of 3 or 4 'regulars' that help him finance his studies.

The second guy is a gym-trainer who lives with his girlfriend; he defines himself as 'straight/bi'. I've been seeing him for about 5 years now, and he messages me every few months when he has an 'urge'. The urge in his case is twofold: to get his butt pumped, and for me to finish by giving him a mouthful of hot cum to swallow. He requests a modest amount of cash.

3. This economic crisis or recession has certainly brought more new guys to 'work' this year. Many advertise on Craigslist and ask £70-80 ($120-140) for a session, while the more professional guys on the main sites advertise from £100-150 ($165-250). Once I enquire about their services, and they've checked into what I like to do (and I often supply a photo so they know I'm a fit but middle-aged guy), they often instantly offer a date at £100 ($165). I don't have to bargain or negotiate. Such is the competition in the London marketplace.

4. There are lots of new guys working. Some are English, lots are Brazilian and a few are East European. This is a generalisation but in my direct experience it's true: the English, by-and-large, are sensible about pricing and polite; the East Europeans are sensible too and most interested in finding 'regulars' to support them; and the Brazilians display 'attitude', feel a high price reflects their status, see themselves as 'male beauties' and show little interest in developing a regular clientele.

[JKane]

I've run into trouble twice now giving a guy I'd been seeing regularly a review. The most recent had even started advertising on Rentboy--with his face picture--but somehow a review on here was just too much... even though he'd needed the money and gotten a couple extra clients in the week or so the review was up. Don't get it.

[TotallyOz]

I think many don't understand the review process and that when they no longer advertise that the reviews are taken down. For someone working, I do not see any downfalls unless it is a bad review.

There are those that do not want a review on this site. Rick Monroe has actively told clients not to post a review on this site as he thinks it is a sham. I am sure there are those escorts that were around during the Hooboy days that feel the same.

Younger guys don't seem to know how to advertise their services very well. I reviewed one escort on this site and he put up an ad. He then called a month later and told me to take his ad off the site as he was not getting work from it and it was not worth the money. I asked him, "what money?" We don't charge escorts for the site or the ads. He responded that "oh, sorry I thought this was Rentboy."

Many don't know the differences between the sites.

IMHO, a good escort that wants work would have their name out there as much as possible and make some money from every resource. That being said, it is clear that an escort will get more calls from Rentboy that they do from here. We just haven't risen to that level yet, but we are working on it.

[JKane]

On the other hand, I'd think a call somebody who found them here would lead to actually being hired a higher percentage of the time.

[Guest FourAces]

Younger guys don't seem to know how to advertise their services very well.

Escorts today look at the profession as a quick dollar instead of a longer term way to earn a decent income. They don't seem to have the foresight to be able to understand how to market their services.

Many also do not seem to understand the benefit of creating long term client relationships either.

[Guest chillmaster01]

I think many don't understand the review process and that when they no longer advertise that the reviews are taken down. For someone working, I do not see any downfalls unless it is a bad review.

There are those that do not want a review on this site. Rick Monroe has actively told clients not to post a review on this site as he thinks it is a sham. I am sure there are those escorts that were around during the Hooboy days that feel the same.

Younger guys don't seem to know how to advertise their services very well. I reviewed one escort on this site and he put up an ad. He then called a month later and told me to take his ad off the site as he was not getting work from it and it was not worth the money. I asked him, "what money?" We don't charge escorts for the site or the ads. He responded that "oh, sorry I thought this was Rentboy."

Many don't know the differences between the sites.

IMHO, a good escort that wants work would have their name out there as much as possible and make some money from every resource. That being said, it is clear that an escort will get more calls from Rentboy that they do from here. We just haven't risen to that level yet, but we are working on it.

I think from what I know from escorts I have spoken with is that there is some misconceptions:

1. Many of the current escorts are not into this for the long term and don't want something that is going to be out there forever. There is so many escorts profiles and reviews on this site that have been out of business for greater than 3-7 years. They dont know they can get them taken down. They think this only puts them out there for life.

2. Use of this site is almost useless if looking for an escort as profiles are out of date old and not of any value. While if you see a Rentboy Ad you can come here to check if any reviews. This site should eliminiate any accounts that are inactive for greater than 12 months.

I just think they see no value and dont want the risk versus the benefits

[Guest epigonos]

I have been hiring escorts now for nearly seven year. As I see it there are basically four different types of escorts out there selling their services. The numbers occupying each category shifts from time to time depending on the economy.

Category 1: A group that is usually relatively young, relatively uneducated and relatively unskilled. These guys are most often seeking, what they see as, an easy way to make a buck. Some members of this group are also feeding a drug habit. Personally I have no interest what-so-ever in the guys in this group

Category 2: A group that is relatively young and using escorting, as a means, to support their education costs. Many of the guys comprising this group are well educated and really seem to enjoy escorting. Thus far the few guys in this group that I have played with have been great.

Category 3: A group of guys of varying ages who are using escorting to augment their income from a job or career that they really love BUT that doesn’t, at least right now, provide them with a supporting income. This groups is made up of a large numbers of would be actors, professional bodybuilders, etc. At least one of the guys I know in this category is an absolutely outstanding escort. I just wish I could convince him to think of escorting as a full time career – he would make a multitude of clients happy and himself a fortune.

Category 4: A group of guys, most often over the age of thirty, who are intelligent, well educated and have been successful in some other career. Somehow, someway these guys managed to segue into escorting and absolutely fell in love with it. They know exactly who they are, what they are and what they are doing – they don’t play games. In my book these guys are the truly great escorts.

[TotallyOz]

2. Use of this site is almost useless if looking for an escort as profiles are out of date old and not of any value. While if you see a Rentboy Ad you can come here to check if any reviews. This site should eliminate any accounts that are inactive for greater than 12 months.

We agree with you. We have weeded out many who have not logged in or answered to e-mails. The new version of the site will really allow us to do this automatically and easily. It will be a great improvement. Initially, we will give all escorts a "grace period" to log in and update their profile. We will then start to inactivate those that don't. This does not apply to reviews but to those escorts who post profiles and then just never update. Some move on and some change e-mails. I know I hate to be in a new city and see a pic and try to e-mail and get a bounce.

[RodHagen]

[Category 4: A group of guys, most often over the age of thirty, who are intelligent, well educated and have been successful in some other career. Somehow, someway these guys managed to segue into escorting and absolutely fell in love with it. They know exactly who they are, what they are and what they are doing – they don’t play games. In my book these guys are the truly great escorts.

Boy o boy am I a happy Man in category 4.

[AdamSmith]

Personally I have no interest what-so-ever in the guys in this group

It was not a choice between,

But of...

W. Stevens

[Guest epigonos]

Rod, I can say, from personal experience, that you are, most definitely, an outstanding example of the escorts who make up Category 4. You and others like you bring CREDIT to the PROFESSION.

[BigK]

There are those that do not want a review on this site. Rick Monroe has actively told clients not to post a review on this site as he thinks it is a sham. I am sure there are those escorts that were around during the Hooboy days that feel the same.

Rick Monroe really needs to get his head out of his ass. Also foot out of his mouth.

[Guest StuCotts]

Rick Monroe really needs to get his head out of his ass. Also foot out of his mouth.

To my recollection, Rick is one of daddy's forums' staunchest supporters and relentless posters, to the point where I can remember wondering whether he had some hand in running the site. So, while I don't dismiss the possibility that he lives with his head up his ass, I think that this is a case of willful maliciousness in the name of competition.

[BiBottomBoy]

I think that when Craigslist started turning information over to the cops that a lot of escorts started getting worried about any additional information on them being on the web.

[TotallyOz]

I think that when Craigslist started turning information over to the cops that a lot of escorts started getting worried about any additional information on them being on the web.

It doesn't seem to have affected them all that much. Many listings in every city. Most don't care all that much and may have found ways around it.

I'm old. I remember back to when AOL was the best way to get clients for my "guys" and I would sit in the chat room 24/7. AOL then banned the word escort and my screen name was deleted. Then many started using the word companion.

Escorting is as old as time and seems to evolve no matter what obstacles are thrown at it. The Internet has helped a great deal IMHO.

[BiBottomBoy]

Yep, as long as people have money and want sex escorts will find a way.

[RodHagen]

I'm old. I remember back to when AOL was the best way to get clients for my "guys" and I would sit in the chat room 24/7. AOL then banned the word escort and my screen name was deleted. Then many started using the word companion.

I must need a walker and reading glasses too because I remember those days as well. That's how I got started. I'd be at work all day, logged in and insta messaging. The secretaries faxes would get blocked by a busy signal, and I'd hear, "Oh, he's on the internet. He's ALWAYS on the internet."

[BiBottomBoy]

I can remember being in a hot conversation and then having to disconnect when my phone rang.