Concerning agencies verses independents and my .02. There shouldn’t even be an agencies verses independents debate. There is a time and place for agencies and a time and place for independents. Most all providers either working with or without an agency are self-employed businesswomen. There is a lot more work involved in both running an agency or working independently than many hobbyist realize, or most people for that matter.
In response to they guy who wrote, "There is no reason to involve a middle man (i.e. agency) unless you have to. Why pay for their overhead when you are the one doing the work?" and others who think the same. You totally don't get what it takes to be a self-employed provider either working with an agency or as an independent. A provider working with a good agency isn't just handing over her money for nothing. She is paying for services she'd otherwise have to do herself or employ someone else to do. A good agency provides a safe clean environment to work. There is a lot of time and money that goes into maintaining a location. There is the rent, utilities, cable TV, furnishings, refreshments, sheets, towels, and laundry, cleaning supplies, phones, etc. and keeping the apartment in good order. A good agency screens calls, verifies new clients, and schedules appointments. If you think that's not work worth being paid for then why do companies (other than escort agencies) pay secretaries and receptionist to handle calls and administrative work? A good agency handles all the advertising and promotions. That's time and money there too. Do you think if you had a business you could just open your door and clients would show up without any advertising? A good agency does not impose a schedule on its providers. Either the provider sets her own schedule or calls on and off when she feels like it.
I see nothing wrong with a provider choosing to do all the work herself. If she wants to maintain her own web site, arrange for photos shoots, answer her own calls, keep up a location, pay all the overhead associated with running a business, etc. then that is her choice. Some people like to do everything themselves and there is nothing wrong with that. Some people employ accounts to do their taxes, maids to clean their house, mechanics to fix their cars, travel agents to arrange their vacations, and so on and so on, and some people do all those things themselves. But don't tell me the only real work a provider does is give sessions. The work doesn't begin and end with the session.
I have a lot of respect for providers who do all the work themselves. There is more work involved with seeing clients than the session it self. And personally I don't think providers who work totally independently should have to feel they have to give discounts because they've eliminated the middleman. If anything I think they should charge more because they have more work to do. Saying to an independent that she should give you a lower rate for her services just because she doesn't have a middle man is just plan insulting and stupid. If she doesn't have a middleman than she has more work and expenses.
I also have a lot of respect for providers who choose to utilize the services of an agency. If a self-employed provider chooses to pay someone to handle some of her work and take care of some of her expenses then that is her choice. At the end of her day after paying agency fees the money in her pocket is all profit. But before you go thinking the agency gets to pocket the money they collected in fees think again. The agency now has to pay bills, advertising, buy supplies, etc. What the agency collects isn't all profit.
Not all agencies are bad and not all independents are good. Enjoy your hobby. Have fun. Live with the illusion that providers either independent or with an agency aren't self-employed businesswomen. And what was one of the main reasons you preferred independents? Because it eliminated the middleman so you could get a better price? So, ladies (especially independents) take note one of the main reasons these guys are giving for preferring independents is so they can get your services cheaper. Rather or not you choose to discount your rates is your choice. If you discount your rates be sure it benefits you and your business.
That's all for now.
