Biz is WAY down for all but the top 5% of girls. Hobby spending is the ultimate form of discretionary spending, and most guys are squeezed. Gas prices, heating oil, taxes, food, and travel have increased exponentially. Add to that fact that  provider SUPPLY is UP as  more Secretaries, and students are becoming providers. That's  making biz that much more difficult for most of the veteran providers. This downturn will be exacerbated by Summer vacation when most hobbyists slow way down, and gas prices, and taxes continue to climb. Don't expect a turnaround this year, or even early next year--- It won't happen!

Ladies  are having little choice but to get creative with marketing, specials, discounts, or extra time to stay "business as usual".

For obvious reasons Vegas seems to be one of the very few recession proof hobby markets. Most every other area is experiencing a sharp drop in business activity.












-- Modified on 6/7/2008 7:03:22 AM

Dark times call for dark measures

In the spirit of "When it's brown, flush it down. When it's yellow, let it mellow"

"Save a tree, find a girlfriend"

...By cultivation of relationships between providers and their return guests.  An open line of communication and mutual respect can set the stage for fluctuation or time increments/packages not on the table for the unknown client.

I think that with the onslaught of non-pros, infrequent pros, students & women looking for supplemental income those who have an interest in variety will always have an alternative to the median-rated ($250-300) provider.
There will always be providers who choose volume over selectivity or alternative income and the rates will fluctuate to price points acceptable to various clients' needs.

Is the business going to be the free-for-all it was two years ago for every single provider? No.
But an "average", savvy, flexible provider or one who doesn't rely upon the business as her sole source of income  isn't going to notice much of a difference at all.

My $.02 and KK, stop being so pessimistic! Let's go to the movies!

-- Modified on 6/6/2008 5:33:09 PM

...whether you are a provider or a hobbyist     .......yes we are in a recession, but, however I would like to chop the balls off of the Morgan Stanley analyst who said yes we will have $150/barrel oil by the 4th of July....Voila! we are at $140 in a flash!

However it has not effected how often I hobby.  It costs me $80 to fill my tank now vs. $60 a couple of months ago. I fill my tank about three to four times a month.  I can brew my own coffee instead of going to the coffee shop, eat out (food, not women) once or twice less often a month and more than make up for the extra money I am spending on gas.  It is always a matter of priorities.

Economists use an objective criteria to determine a recession for a a good reason. We aren't in one. The economy is growing, slowly, but it is growing. People have an emotional response to $4+ a gallon gasoline and for some its a serious problem, but overall driving is down a couple of percent. Most of the equity losses have shaken out of the housing market and following the decline in value homes are beginning to sell again. The unemployment report MAY be troubling but most of this years graduating college class has hit the job market and may account for part of the bump. Even if that increase reflects a large jump in previously employed workers, 5.5% is low as a historical measure. It is about the number that used to be considered full employment. Oil prices are riding emotion more than real demand supply numbers, when things settle down they will correct.

    The factors driving this are more election year hype, the desire of the media to treat everything as a crisis, and our own emotional response to uncertainty. I don't doubt that hobbying is down in most markets because discretionary spending has tightened up across the board.

    Will the direct cost of hobbying decrease? Perhaps. Some ladies will offer inducements, others will make do with fewer appointments, and as always some will not see any difference.

    The point is that the days ahead are only as dark as one decides to paint them.

-J

1) I think that there will a few women who charge top dollar who will always get that amount.  Nothing will change in that area.

2) There will be some women who have been in the biz for a longer period of time, and this was their time to "jump to the top tier" in terms of rates.   The economy is hurting that jump now, and they are pissed about it.   They will try to get top dollar, but will simply fail and have to lower rates.

3) There are some women who are charging above the median price in an area.  They are going to be hurt because nothing makes them have a compelling reason to visit, so the extra money will not be spent.   If these women lower their prices to the median price then business will improve but they cannot believe that it would be right.

4) There are some women who are at the median price right now (whatever that is in their area), and they will continue to do OK.  They may have specials to increase new business, and give hidden discounts to some men, which will increase their business.

5) There are woman who charge less than the median price.  These women will probably increase in business simply because men who would have engaged a median price woman will not engage this woman.

Look, to people who say that if you as a woman discount your rates you are cheapening yourself..   That is just garbage.  A woman is worth what she thinks she is, and the amount of money that she charges for an hour of her time is not a reflection of her personally.   I have known many women who publically have admitted to discounting (one of them has posted on this thread), and even more who discount after a visit or two.  It is just plain good business, which after all this transaction is.

I am plainly sick and tired of women and men who think that a woman discounting is cheapening herself.   That is garbage!