Noticed reading around that some girls have assistants.

Are they really there just to help out with scheduling etc. or is there something else at work?

I haven't really thought of anything suspect with the arrangement, BUT I have a problem with girls being "pimped" or "trafficked". I don't want to be a cynic but at the same time I'd also not necessarily like to be naive...  

so why do providers have assistants? I guess I just don't get the point. PM if that's better.

I'm sure there is some sort of financial arrangement, but their main purpose is to handle the behind-the-scenes chores of setting up appointments.  They are the contact person, they do the screening, it just leaves the provider to do what she does best, provide the fun for the guys, and not worry about the details of the set-up.

Swim

the details needed for screening, advertising, getting hotel rooms, etc.

for a variety of reasons:

1.  Screening new clients takes a lot longer than you probably realize.  Sometimes you have to go back and forth through multiple emails with a client just to get the screening info, then you have to contact references, look up info, etc.  It can take a while.  

2.  Placing ads can also be time consuming.  If a girl travels, where she advertises may vary by region, and she may have to put up multiple ads on the same site (each regional board on TER, for example).  Again, it takes time -- sometimes just waiting for each picture to upload on Eros takes a FOREVER.  

3.  Some guys are not so nice, and having an assistant do the "dirty work" of asking for personal info, or telling a client that he is not a good fit, is a nice buffer to have.   It can spare a provider from unpleasant tirades or insults -- assistants definitely have to have a thick skin (many are retired providers who have long since learned how to disregard the assholes).

4.  Some guys like to be pen-pals before or after the appointment, and yet most of us do not have time to email our many clients as if they are old friends.   An assistant again acts as a buffer to prevent overly-needy clients from monopolizing our time.

I'm sure there are other reasons to use an assistant, but these are the ones that I know I can see that they would be a real benefit.

So that leaves almost no time to do screening etc. I have an assistant, she is fabulous and I couldn't thank her enough for all her help.