Many of our top providers are ready to hold bake sales. Two dates a week is considered getting to be a better than average week.  Do the math--it is not enough to live on after they deduct expenses.

keeping a bevy of beauty's in the black. Even when one is caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

It would be interesting if you would share a listing of the top providers that you claim are doing so poorly in their session frequency that they are ready to hold a bake sale.

environment.   Median household income is down about 10% (in absolute terms) from 2007 while prices have been increasing.  This has the effect of lowering disposable income for hobbyists.  The weak economy also has the effect of encouraging more women to become providers as a means of supplementing income.   Less demand + greater supply = lower price

...you'd think prices would go down. Rare to find a good provider for less than $300 and a pretty run-of-the-mill sensual massage is $160.

I can't speak for escorts but I agree with you on the price for sexy massage.  I haven't been at this too long but when I started 140-150 was a pretty standard rate for a well reviewed, experienced, massage provider, with SKILLS.  Higher prices indicated a different level of service and all it took was a look at the woman's reviews to figure out what that might include.  Now 160/hr seems to be the norm with a few exceptions.  I've had sessions at 160 where the bra and panties stayed on the entire session.  Really?

There is an economic concept known as the clearing wage.  It can be described as the point at which a provider of services is unwilling to work.  Back when we had a good economy (increasingly hard to remember) the National clearing wage was estimated at $7.50/hour compared to the then minimum wage of $7.15/hour.  That is to say if (on average) you offered a minimum wage job, you'd have no takers.

can you get me a date with Mary Ann?

One also must take into account the business knowledge of some of the providers. If the provider (or any small business owner) does not understand the economics involved and remains priced over the current market she will continue to lose business. Some will drive demand with short term "specials" others will not and will see a downturn in activity.  At the lower end Massage pricing the Clearing Wage will have more effect. I would think the upper end $300/400 an hour girls will be well above any Clearing Wage affect and much more likely to offer creative marketing to keep the door opening.

Ginger would be easy and has a very open menu. Please understand we've been on this island a long time so TheProfessor will be saving Mary Ann for himself.

have been around for about a year and a half and one of the first massage girls I went to was basically VIP for 180. She worked with a another girl at their building that was 160. By the summer the 160 girl raised to 180. Their menu was very similar. Last fall the 180 girl left and was replaced by a 220 girl. The other girl remained at her 180 until this summer and is now 200. She is not doing any more than she did last year when she was 160 but I guess you just have to keep up with your competition that happens to be right next door.
  Last year most girls I noticed were 140 but but the really really sensual ones were diy. Now a new crop came in and started there prices at 150-160 and some who started at that price are now 180-200 and still do the same things they did at 150-160. They just know they can get it so they raise it. You just have to start comparing prices with the girls. Its all in reviews if you keep up with them

As others have noted there are many variables in the economics of hobby prices and spending. And I occur with others that prices are trending upward.  My budget is pretty well a fixed amount. So for me rising prices simply means that I have my own decisions to make. I either hobby less frequently or move more toward the FBSM market.

can be insulated from ways lower ends cannot.   I know at least one provider that is in the process of raising her donation.   While the higher ends can attract business, they will lose appointments from guys that might take a trip up the price scale once or twice a year.

Except me, right?

This has been a very enlightening thread

Rates are going up but for most of the population, disposable income is steady or down.  If a provider is seeing this affect her business, I think there are better options than holding bake sales to try and increase business.

-e

-- Modified on 9/19/2014 5:40:55 PM

I've heard rumors there was a TER community boycot in hopes of forcing the providers to lower rates.  Sad to say but it either stays pretty much status quo or she's out of a job and you're out of a provider if there is hope to make things less expensive... let's face it, city life and hobbies and even going out to a very nice restaurant is relatively... well, expensive!  $200 for a nice bottle of wine and there is a market out there and that bottle of wine is either going to make purchase in the economy or it wont.  

I just have a thing about those shorts!

hose referenced with a rate above those giving limited services are giving services that are more than what others are offering or comfortable offering.  

Just striking out, more timing than anything else  Two ladies wanting to provide, but should have reversed dates as one is coming while other is going.