To earn a good reputation.  When I first started escorting 4 years ago in San Diego I was scared, tired of working for nothing, desperate to get my girl through college, and just live a fair and decent lifestyle.  I built a little free geocities ad, and bought a spot at SDExotics for 100.00 a month.  I was asking for $$ an hour (because I thought my age made me less valuable) and immediately started getting calls.  Within about a week I got a review on TER and my phone went off the hook.  After a couple of months, and more reviews, I started getting comments from clients that I was not charging enough.  That they were sceptical about me because of my low fee.  I didn't understand that right away, but my phone was so busy, that I raised my rate to 2.5 just to see what happened.  Calls did not slow down at all.  But, San Diego has a huge base of visiting affluent clientele as well as local abundance year round.  I still could not begin to keep up with all of the requests and because of my back ground in business and management eventually raised my rate to the benchmark of $$$.  But, keeping my rates lower for multiple hour hour dates as I find it more efficient for body, mind and soul.  In the beginning I was so hungry to meet goals I never thought I could, (I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was afraid I might die before getting my girl through school).  I did take risks I learned later were not worth it when I got busted.  This further taught me how to insist on higher end clients, vs volume.  My diagnosis was early and I ended up being very lucky but took a non traditional route to treatment that has worked for me so far.  I am only mentioning this to say that ladies who are first coming out have numerous reasons for it.  It is not always about drugs, and pimps.  It is not that hard to build a good reputation in a very short time if you are sincere and suited for this arena.  If you are goal driven vs vice driven.  The only reason I knew how to even approach this is because in the 80's I worked for a very good agency in Phoenix but did not last long because I was drug driven then.  It didn't take long for that agency to know that I was full of crap to put it lightly.  I cleaned up, worked very hard for many years, but a series of events like, downsizing, divorce and the economy came down on me with a force I never believed could ever happen.  I struggled as an "honest" woman for 5 years after my downsizing before re-entering this arena.  I have posted on CL as well as backpage when the drought of summer came along, and I have met a few very nice people, however the culling is a bit challenging.  My main reason for saying all of this is to give the girls who are starting out with good goal driven intentions in mind a word of encouragement.  Those ladies who have tried very hard to do their best, who are approaching this without shame and coersion of a pimp, funky boyfriend or drugs.  There are a few there and I have got their back.  When I bought my ad at SDExotics, I thought it appeared to be a very classy site, but it was riddled with LE.  Their photos are NOT verified, and I pulled my business from them when I discovered they didn't care who they catered to.  A new girl with one favorable review can build a good repution in no time, once the heat of summmer leaves this area.  I had to leave town 3 times this summer to get by.  No biggie, I had a nice time, got out of the heat and expanded my horizons and learned new things at museums, ate at new places.  Being forced to go new places is a good thing.  As far as competition goes, I have to say that ladies from Phoenix have been awe inspiring when it comes to referring safe clients, helping me meet clients in Phoenix and one thing I can say that in times in need they can keep each other alive.  I cannot say the same for some of the local Phoenix guys.  They were pretty welcoming until one did not get a particular request that I do not provide during a session, which was not all his fault as there was a feature on my profile that was not supposed to be there.  Even though not one of my reviews reflected that, he was expecting it and very dissapointed when that one offering was not honored.  Since that time, I have not had any approach from the same frequent posters who were very warm prior to the PM's that I am sure occurred after my meeting that one local, over posting shiller.  Yes, they can affect our business.  Very much and it has been a campaign to promote lowering of fees and offering more for less.  For that reason, I am reluctant to attend many of the mixers that happen.  Terrikares, OhMya, AZCandy, Ms. Manae to name a few have been great ladies, and it is very doubtful that a new lady here or there is going to hurt anyone that has worked to build a good safe reputation.  Were it not for each other, we would be much blinder.  When the visitors stop coming to AZ in the summer, it is very hard to cover your needs without compromising.  It seems that when that happens, all of the creeps come out of the woodwork, as well as a much larger degree of calls from LE who also know how dry it gets.  I will close by saying, everyone should earn thier place wherever it might be.  But the local women have been much more helpful and warm towards me here than the Good Ole boys club has.  Don't get me wrong, I have met some great guys in Phoenix, but they haven't been the all knowing shot callers here on the Phoenix board.  I find it interesting that the same holds true for many of the overposting people in SD.  The ones who want more for less, are usually the ones who are going to be the least supportive of your best efforts.  I hope this message is read by any struggling ladies who are posting on CL or Backpage, and helps you to learn and do your best to meet your goals, meet good people who appreciate you and don't expect you to compromise for them just because they have some fat "handle".  Take care of yourself and move forth with concious intention.

-- Modified on 10/11/2006 1:28:38 PM

If anybody ever tries that kind of barter, they are sleaze ball scum, and they should be run out of Dodge... And, ladies, if this happens to you, please let us (all) know who it is.

WITH LOVE AND SINCERITY,

Sheika Fatima

No AzHacker, your posting was worded in present tense  & not past as you claim now. I am going to ask you again, please leave my name out of your discussion threads.