Curious? How have the economy and layoffs affected our playground?
Layoffs in the DC area ? I'm seeing more supercars ( Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc) than ever before. Eggs might be expensive but a lot of people are still making a lot of money....
I've said this a few times. Even the regular gals have noticed that biz has been off for the last few months.
I just tell them when a client complains about their 401k balances, that it translates to fewer hobbying $$$. Yeah, there's a few fancy cars in the DMV, but it is NOT the norm. Here's a tid bit: MOST BMW's and Benz' in the area? Most are LEASED. A friend who works at a Benz dealer and also a colleague who worked at a BMW locally both said the said thing. ~70% of these cars are leased. The few that are bought outright are the really super elite fancy upper end models where you can't get within 50 feet of them before a dealer employee shoos you away. If you're lucky enough to have a pension, then I guess this hasn't hurt you; if anything, the gals probably appreciate you more as many others have to scale back their hobbying.I believe the increase in service rates is one of the reasons guys are looking for more reasonable providers. Frankly, I believe there are better providers ( both in appearance and performance) in the 300 range versus some VIP providers in the range of 500 and beyond who cannot even compete with them. I have been out of hobbying for a while and recently started again. Honestly, there are much better choices in service than VIPs. I will avoid it unless they offer more reasonable prices.
The US is suffering major inflation. Home interest rates have risen 10 times in last year, refinancing your home is done that biz is gone! We are oil dependent. When gas prices rise so does the cost of living. Fuel “touches” you life a min of 6X for all your needs. In food a farmer needs diesel to plow , plant , harvest, deliver to distribution ctr, then to your store, You go drive to get it That all adds up to end users like companions & providers! Hotel rooms are up 35% so of a lady gets a nice room in Tyson’s / DC charges $600 only has one appt pays for room gas & meal for the day she will net $350 not bad if she lives in the area , if she flew in and used an Uber she lost money that day . for us in the hobby , fuel , cost , higher rates , all our bills are up so to shell out $500-$600 an hour 1-2 times a month can become $10,000 a year! So now we have to be MORE selective and stick to regulars we know are REAL or providers who have reviews etc. 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Well said!
You're so right. For providers, the cost of running their business has increased quite a bit in the past few years. Like any business, they'll pass much of that cost to customers. Fair enough. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking about the overhead providers have to worry about. Travel and hotel are obvious but photos, advertising, website, clothes, makeup, healthcare... I'm sure the list goes on. On top of that, each provider determines their own business model. Higher cost often equals fewer clients (low volume). Fewer clients equals less exposure which equals less risk (both LE risk and personal safety risk) and less hassle of screening and probably other up-side benefits. But if the client base is too small, maybe the provider begins to think this business isn't worth it. I believe (with zero evidence) this is the case with many new/VIP providers. They get into the business thinking they'll make a ton of money on just a few clients. They invest upfront for web development, high-quality photos, etc, and charge $900-1000 or more an hour. Some of them likely learn the clientele just isn't there at that price point and the math just doesn't add up for them. Seems to me the providers who have a track record and have boosted prices a little (into the $400 or in some cases $500 range) will have found the sweet spot. Maybe some clients on a fixed income or pension or whatever will reduce their frequency, but there are probably enough clients who have also seen wage increases to cover the difference.I love being inspired(and turned on) by the stories of my clients who are out there dominating in any economic climate. There is profit in problems. Feminine energy and high standards inspire these types of men to take more action and succeed further in any economy.
My business is consistent and steady. While this sounds privileged, I've worked hard to put myself in this position. I haven't done anything heroic that anyone else couldn't do. Consistent action and a solid plan works over time.
are insane these days, everything is going up, even our ads prices increased. We all have to adjust. 
Grateful for clients who recognize our financial needs and understand that adjusting our rates is essential to continue providing them with the best service. Their support is appreciated.
Yes! So thankful for generous/caring gentlemen.