By definition, you are one if your choice and service  caters more the courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele,  Nowadays, the term VIP, Elite or Upscale is more appropriate.

a Courtesan is sophisticated, mannerly and well read, an entertaining conversationalist.

She presents herself in an elegant and glamorous  manner.

She is a seductress. A temptress. Extremely sensual, playful, favoring a slow approach. She kisses you delicately, gradually building up to hungrily. Her touch sends electric shocks and chills through you.

She is skilled at both sensual and therapeutic massage. Perhaps Tantra Yoga.

She is a romantic, and provides a romantic setting and environment. The place where you meet is an oasis of calm, a retreat from the outside world.

You feel as though she is making love to you, not "servicing" you.

Her approach draws passion and intensity from you. You feel as though you are making love to her in return.

She lavishes you with attention beyond the sexual, makes you feel interesting and charming.
She takes a genuine interest in things about you, which she recalls easily, to hold further conversations with you in the future.

She becomes your confidant, if you wish. But she is not at all invasive.

Her approach to your time together leaves you intoxicated by her, has you counting the days til your next opportunity to enjoy her delightful company

Time is not spent with her by the hour. She is an experience to be savored. At least an entire afternoon or evening is required to fully enjoy the experience she provides.

The art of being a Courtesan is highly developed in Europe (though it is in decline there), India and Asia. But it seems rare in the US. Not to say that there are not many providers who approach their business in this way and provide a very high level experience.

I am blessed to have known several Courtesans over the years. They each have left their mark on me, they each own a piece of me. I am blessed to know one such lady even now.

it doesnt mean anything.

The word Courtesan connotes, to me, a lady with culture, sexual prowess, and a lot of time to indulge in both. I would not expect to see a lady advertise as such without at least dinner dates and overnights on her menu.

and what separates the truly great from the rest.

I have met a few who were capable of reading a client quickly and accurately - and giving him what he wanted, needed rather than a one-size-fits-all take it or leave it.

One provider spent time the day before our appt in a long IM exchange so that she would have a sense of who I was and what I liked - and not in a sexual way. She was able to extrapolate from that and it resulted in 2 of the best hours I have spent in living memory, and not just in a sexual way.

A courtesan makes me believe the fantasy for a while and leaves me fulfilled, not hungry. A courtesan gives me great conversation, stimulates thought, challenges my intellect and physically satisfies me, not in any particular order and often mixing several together.

Few providers are courtesans because they are unable to subjugate their own egos for the time we are together, preferring to play the part of a wife instead of the part of a lover.

A courtesan is so many things, and those who could never be one are likely to be the ones who sneer at the concept. Kudos to you for broaching the subject - I wish you success if being one is your goal.

It's a shame that some have not experienced something similar to it . . .

Men have to realize that even those of us who like to be considered artists and loving in our craft sometimes have to alter it for someone who is not interested in that type of date.

I, for one, like to do different things with clients. One client reads to me and I talk to him about topics ranging anywhere from cultural anthropology, science, arts and more.  Now, these are the types of clients who usually spend more time with me. Therefore, it lends to a more courtesan-type scenario. If I have time, I enjoy conversation, the art of seduction, a full-body rub and to make love (not have animalistic sex) and take my time.  However, there are times when being extremely agressive and playful are exactly what he enjoys. Each person is different in what they like or want from me. Some men say they want the exotic & romatinc experience, but then they direct me to go straight toward getting them off immediately with my mouth. So, with that said, it's truly up to the gentleman when choosing his date and looking for those unique qualities in a woman. A lot of men want to have unbridled s_ _ with me and nothing more (which I can give), but I'd rather be intimate and passionate any day.

For me, the encounter is all about the man. If he wishes to please me then great, but truly it's not that important. I just want to please him.

There are some of us who don't have extremely high donations but still cater to a man's needs, promoting sensuality, ambiance, tranquility, passion, arts and intelligence. I don't particulary care to talk about what others are doing on the boards or anything regarding the hobby when I am with a client. I like to take him out of his realm and turn his time with me into a fantasy come true. Yes! There are some who have become friends and we are more "real" with each other, but I still try to create a very seductive atmosphere.

Remember guys, women play off of what they think men want, so gentlemen need to communicate their needs to us. We might think we know what they want when -- in actuality -- it's not always correct. I am pretty darn intuitive but I'm not a mind reader. Even the courtesans of years past knew ahead of time what her client's needs were and they were given information by their ladies in waiting, their own mothers, the courts, the den mothers in Asian society, etc.

Hugs,
Ciara

-- Modified on 6/5/2009 8:38:34 AM

An "ecdysiast" by any other name........... ;-)

ecdysiast:  

H.L. Mencken's invented proper word for "strip-tease artist," 1940, from Gk. ekdysis "a stripping or casting off" (used scientifically with ref. to serpents shedding skin or crustacea molting), from ekdyein "to put off" (contrasted with endyo "to put on"), from ex- + dyo "sink, plunge, enter."

It was about money and status.
Courtesan existed before the time of modernization when most society in the world was stratified. Only way for a poor or middle class woman to climb up the ladder was to depend a man with power through using her sexuality. Working girls who were able to blend in with elites were considered courtesans back then.

Nowadays, the line between social classes is blurred.  Less and less people are born with wealth and status. We don't need to latch on one wealthy man in order to maintain a social status because there is no such thing as social stratification anymore and women are as successful as men.

Now it's all about money only.
If there is one, money is the only thing that distinguishes people. Our world is consist of economic classes. You are either low income bracket or high income bracket. Therefore, being a good business women makes a modern courtesan, making money is the only way for us to climb up the modern socioeconomic ladder. Being a good business woman in this context means the best customer service. Hence, what guys described above (i.e. make him feel like king...) satisfy definition of courtesan. If you are good at what you do and making ton of money, therefore differentiate yourself from majority of women, broke 90% of the time, you are basically a contemporary courtesan.  

Never met a Courtesan I didn't like

I agree with all of the posters above.   But I view the word Courtesan as an adjective, not a noun.  To me a Courtesan (noun) is an ideal, a role model, or a standard.  I think all providers have some Courtesan-like traits, and more than a few come close to the ideal.  I think many true Courtesans in the world are under the radar for  most of us.  Courtesan, to me implies sex, really good sex as a pre-requisite.  But being a sexual athlete is not enough to call yourself a Courtesan.  A true Courtesan would be an elite professional, not necessarily the most expensive, attractive, or exclusive, but one who demonstrates ideal characteristics that make her successful, respected and admired not only by her clientele but also her colleagues, peers, friends and all who know her.