I know it is the oldest profession. However, I am interested in how the hobby has changed over the past 10 years or so from both the provider and client point of view.  

I have only been in the hobby for a year. However, 10 years ago I had a dreadful hobby experience that kept me out for 10 years and it went something like this.

I used an agency since I was a newbie and knew nothing of how to contact independent ladies. I did not realize that the agency fee (at least in my experience in those days) only covered the cost of getting a provider to show up at your hotel. The fee was equal to what most ladies charge for a half hour visit today (for those who do half hour visits - which BTW I think are a waste of time). The agency tells me tips are not necesary but appreciated. So like a fool, I think well 20% would be a good tip, much like dining out and I expect full service for the agency fee plus the 20%

The young lady arrives as described and I give her the fee plus the 20%. She looks at me and says, "what do you want to do take a walk and hold hands?" I am very confused and she proceeds to tell me her menu of options. None of which is covered by my 20% tip.

I explain I am a newbie with no other cash on hand, and in those days I did not travel with an ATM card just a company credit card for expenses. I supose she feels sorry for me and tells me to take off my pants and starts with a HJ. She gets me to the brink and as I begin to unload she gets up and walks out the door, leaving it wide open. There I am on the bed naked still in mid stream and she is history. The experience lasted no more than 10 minutes and that was it for me until 10 years later.

Any other war stories from back in the day?

Now you can know in advance what to expect in terms of fee and service, and boy does that make a difference.

When I first hobbied, I encountered upsell all the time.  In fact I remember the first gal I saw told me that all I got for her fee was a HJ (Which I was happy to get.) and to even touch her body would cost X dollars more.

I took to carrying around all kinds of extra cash after that, not the best way to go into these encounters.

sounds like a major hassle

who would they complain to, never mind listen. I doubt they would call the better business bureau or LE. Review boards were around but the road less traveled for most.

Yep, the agency had the upper hand for years but not so any more

Kisses Haley

Imagine if a Hispanic 50 year old housekeeper walked in while you were in midstream naked on the bed!!!! LOL!!!!

How long has TER been a live site??? Curious..

In large cities, there were weekly tabloid newsprint papers like Screw with lots of ads.  Alternative newspaper weeklies like the Boston Phoenix had Adult Section inserts with ads (still does). These papers also had small classified personal ads: W looking for M; M looking for W; etc.. Those were supposed to be mostly non-professionals ("DWF seeks SWM for relationship") but a few suggestive ones would sneak in. They used to be fun to read.

There used to be enough pay phones to make the 1st and 2nd calls. Now, pay phones are scarce, the numbers are blocked (can't be caller IDed) and they can't take incoming calls. Have a cell phone or find another hobby.

There were also ads in those magazines found in strip joints. Vivid and Night Moves were mags around Tampa. Probably still out there.

I've been in the hobby for some time and providers in my area never pulled a stunt like that!  

Ten years ago I was already playing with providers that advertise on the net.  But even when I used to use the yellow pages, the ladies in my area would not do that.

Well 10 years ago there was a huge difference to me. LOL we used to use a landline for our calls. Didnt have to answer emails and the donations have definitely changed. It was very common for the gents to bring gifts of wine and/or lingere', flowers etc. Overnights and evenings out were very common.
10 yeas ago there were a lot fewer providers too!
I dont really have any war stories but I do have some great memories of what I call "the good ole days"
Dont get me wrong I still have A LOT of fun but the hobby has definitely changed.
Hugs and kisses
TL

I had ads in a few! LOL
Hugs and kisses
TL

Having been in the hobby in NYC and through the world for over a quarter of a century, I have seen changes up and down (forgive the pun), based upon economic boom and bust, and changes in political sensitivities. The circumstances vary depending upon the local, but what follows is my view of the history of the Hobby in NYC. When I started, it was escorts through agencies, varying in price and quality.  Al Goldstein's Screw magazine was the major source of information.  Before my involvement (the 1970s), there where very high end massage parlors, often with Roman theme, that represented the locus of action. Then we had a number of review magazines such as Action(this is NYC in the 80s and 90s) that would serve to direct the hobbyist to houses, brothels essentially, where one would have a choice of ladies; as I recall the prices were quite reasonable, and I met many nice ladies, although the ambience would vary from luxurious, to utilatarian, to downright squalor.  I think the rise in real estate prices led to the virtual demise of the brothal in NY by the late 1990s.

 With the economic boom, we saw the rise of the high end escort, the $2000 an hour and up variety, which priced everyone but the Wall Street traders out of the market (I took a breather myself during that era). Of course, that ended abruptly, and now we enter the era of the independent provider, which due in part to boards like this, and the ability on the internet for providers to share information, and hobbiest to likewise share, leads to a relatively happy median, and probably a much less exploitive and much more congenial environment for both provider and hobbyist.  I am sure that with either a change in the economy or a change in the political wind, we will see a new variation, for good or for bad.