I have been thinking of having a special but I am concerned that I will attract the wrong kind of clientèle.
Can anyone give me some input on this subject?
I used to have specials only under another name because I thought the TER police were going to insist that I had to lower my rate forever.
I have met some really hot young guys from specials on CL. Too bad CL has been taken over by LE task force.
on CL you can just disappear the ad whenever you want.
Any suggestions?
Depends on how much you lower your rate. Never hobbied in Houston but 350 roses seems a bit high. If you offer a 300 special for a limited time (during certain days or time of day) then you should be OK. If you offer a 200 special, then you will become a bottom feeder which, IMHO, is below your style and class.
You may want to post this on the Provider Board. Good luck. You can PM if you like.
a specific time or day or activity like Russian Greek maybe a free 30 minutes for everyone before 5:oo on monday. it should not be just about your clients benefit. If I book an all night can I have dinner and or breakfast too.
I have recently dropped my rate to $200-250 and I assure you: your assessment that she would become a "bottom feeder" is incorrect.
Who has been most attracted to my rate? TER members with an awareness of who I am, my consistency & quality as a provider who appreciate the gesture. Though screening has become more stringent, attentiveness and diligence has ensured that my clientele has remained a collection of consummate gentlemen & 90% white collar professional, family men.
Post-holiday, pre-taxes is a colorful season for providers; I hear & see many complaints regarding the slowness and lack of new business.
I think as a provider rate fluctuation is similar to the review process: you may receive comments that you don't particularly care for, but you have to serve yourself & your purpose in the manner that you see fit. In this instance it means resisting the "hobby analysts" who decide that one numeric value is the standard for upscale providers and clients.
I'm not encouraging you to have a fire sale-but approaching specials & fluctuation with a no-nonsense, market-sensitive approach & maintaining your level of service will get you through periods such as these.
Wouldn't it be fabulous if all good providers could simply slap an ad on Eros with a $300+ rate and consistently be inundated with calls? Unfortunately, for most of us this isn't the case 100% of the time. This business is sink or swim to the max and I think its important to be malleable and learn not to apply our peers brush strokes to our personal operation.
Untangle self-esteem & "hobbyist perception" from your chosen rate and find an appropriate price-point which suits you, keeps you relevant and most importantly keeps you attaining your fiscal goals during slow market periods.
Good luck!
-- Modified on 1/12/2008 10:09:42 AM
...and very astute and sound logic. those who judge a provider's worth, quality, service, intelligence or selectivity based on her rates or where she places an ad are truly ignorant, and it only serves to benefit a good provider to bypass such clients.
a girl's rates are based on many factors: avg. cost of living in the particular region, competition, her popularity and her own personal financial goals, to name a few. because i am not in this business out of any financial need, and it's more of a kink/desire/calling if you will, i keep my rates low enough so that i can be a feasible option for a hardworking blue collar guy once a month. i would personally feel guilty and dirty charging the kind of rates that many of the ladies in my area do (and from speaking with some of their ex-clients i can tell you most are not providing 1/10 of the quality of service that i do). many times when a good provider has lower rates, men will assume that she's a high volume provider and making it up in numbers. in my case it's just the opposite.
this is one of those things that a girl must decide for herself, and if you are confident in yourself and the quality of your services, no wise hobbyist will look down upon you because of a temporary rate decrease.
Ally, A couple of points if I may:
1) Your web site shows your rate at 300 not 200 or 250
2) The bottom feeder reference was for the lady whose rate went from 350 to 200 for her special.
1) My website remains static because there is no point in changing my website with the frequency that I change my rate per market trends; my advertisements differ weekly & daily. I assure you, my rate fluctuates with great frequency and I have discussed this topic several times on my primary region board, Boston.
2) My rate has fluctuated from 200-350 and back over the course of my 1.5 years in the business-and I assure you: "bottom feeder" has in no time been applicable to me or those that have I have elected to let see me at lower rates. It is largely a misconception that the $200 price point radically changes your clientele. In my opinion the price point that radically changes your market is >$400.
I wasn't nitpicking your post or your opinion: I was encouraging Shilo to do whatever she feels comfortable or necessary to keep her busy WITHOUT the pressure of hobbyists or her peers encouraging her to keep a static rate for appearances sake.
I like all different kinds of men but some of my favorite guys are the guys that have to save up to see me. Give me your ordinary blue collar dude any day of the week! A special here and there gets me these sweeties all that more often, and they're so appreciative....
Than you ladies who submitted SINCERE advice.
This is not here for a cat fight.
I have met my ATF from a special that I had but it does make me more accessible to men who have issues- and I don't mean financial ones.
I have had some unsavory types when I had a special in the past so just want to be careful.
This isn't about blue collar bashing.
I just want to meet guys who will appreciate the consideration and not try to just take advantage of my generosity.
-- Modified on 1/12/2008 11:15:14 AM
My opinions of you and about you were never mentioned and I never implied that you were bashing anyone. I like to offer specials from time to time, it has almost always enabled me to meet with some great guys who couldn't otherwise afford my rates. I truly meant no ofense.
I see you modified your post. I am sorry if you felt what I said was insincere. I stated my opinion without bashing anyone, including you.
-- Modified on 1/12/2008 11:33:39 AM
In my experience, setting my rates the way I see fit works for me. I offer a VIP program to ESTABLISHED clients because I work off mostly referrals from them. I have found that offering a low rate up fromt attracts anybody, and I have no desire in seeing "just anybody."
Do what best suits YOUR needs and schedule, not what anyoone ele thinks you should do. It is your "time" so charge as you see appropriate.
XOXO
Your rates, looks, your choice of hotel does nothing in terms of determining who might walk through your door. Creeps come in all colors and packages including guys who have money to burn. By day they are mild mannered executives or bus drivers and even thieves and hustlers... You don't really know until you see them and that's where they often show their true colors...
You are correct greatrush...none of the things you mentioned can determine the kind of client that walks through your door. Screening, references, and referrals are what do that.
I know everything I need to know "before" I let the person walk through that door. I do agree that there are just as many jerks with money as there are without, which is why my screening process is the way it is.
In the event that any of the information they provided has been falsified, the contract between us is void and you know what that means....no refunds!!!
blue collar = ok
low class/cheap = not ok
I shouldn't believe everything I hear. Especially when it didn't come from the source.
Have you considered adding value instead of reducing price. If you have a list of existing clients advice them that you are running 90 minute special for your 1 hour price (or discount multiple hour appointments). Perhaps start by offering this added value offer only on your slowest days of the week (day time or weekend days).
If you consider yourself a low volume high quality provider lowing your price may be wrong idea. You may loose existing clients (who believe there may be a quality reduction) you count on not to mention attracting new clients that will expect lower prices from you in the future.
You could also "add value" by adding service that you have not offered before (only you know what would be best in the area). Be creative!