How did you choose your escort name?

[Xander]

I just did a short write-up on a strategy I'm using to market my roommate and I was curious as to everyone else here chose their escort name. Did anyone do something like this?

 

http://www.xander-escort.com/blog/choosing-an-escort-name32/

 

This is the first blogpost of a short series detailing some finer points and strategies I will be using to market my roommate as an escort. The first topic we will cover is choosing a name.

 

I find that most escorts (like myself) didn't think too much about the name they chose when they decided to start escorting. Is this a bad thing? In my mind, I think so. If I could go back to the beginning of my escort career and change my name, I'd do so in a heartbeat.

 

Why, you ask?

 

Research shows us that names of friends are more likely to be trusted in the anonymous exchange of money (source here). First hand experience (and some non peer-reveiewed research) shows us that the average age of clients is somewhere between the 40's-50's. What we are trying to do is choose a name (first and last) that was popular during the year of our "average client". If you are marketing yourself to Asians, your "average client" is an Asian. If you're marketing toward a white crowd, your "average client" is a caucasian.

 

What we do next is mozy on over to the Social Security Administration's website (ssa.gov) and do a search for popular baby names in the late 1960's to early 1970's. We then pull this data into Excel by first and last name, and filter based on ethnicity, gender, and frequency.

 

I did this exact method with my roommate and had a list of about 100 first names, and 100 last names to choose from. Our result? "James Kennedy".

 

There are a few problems with this approach, and there are a few ways in which we could complicate the process, but overall I think this is a good way to choose an escort name and definitley beats choosing something that 'just sounds good'.

 

 

 

How did you choose your escort name?

[wayout]

Excellent question. Perhaps expand this, if i may suggest, to ask clients if it really matters to them. Perhaps it does subconsciously but for me it really doesn't matter and doesn't factor into my decision to hire or not. That is assuming it is not some bizarre or offensive name.

[Xander]

Excellent question. Perhaps expand this, if i may suggest, to ask clients if it really matters to them. Perhaps it does subconsciously but for me it really doesn't matter and doesn't factor into my decision to hire or not. That is assuming it is not some bizarre or offensive name.

 

Good point - but data collection is a bit rough in this industry... I can only extrapolate based on other research.

 

Speaking of research, I'm thinking about contacting Rentboy and propositioning them to access to some of their data in exchange for the results. I'd really like look at the frequency of contact by region and see if there are trends (hot spots during certain times of the year) that I can pick up year after year. If I apply the right models, I would be able to see that there is a statistically significant influx of clients contacting escorts in this city during this time of the year, year after year. Maybe there is a conference going on? Maybe a popular weekend for gays to go on vacation in this location? Tons of application, and sifting through all of the possibilities within the data would be hard ... but I think worth it.

[MiamiLooker]

I did this exact method with my roommate and had a list of about 100 first names, and 100 last names to choose from. Our result? "James Kennedy".

 

That’s funny. I’ve always associated the name, James (as well as Charles), as that of a serial killer.

[seeker630]

Good point - but data collection is a bit rough in this industry... I can only extrapolate based on other research.

 

Speaking of research, I'm thinking about contacting Rentboy and propositioning them to access to some of their data in exchange for the results. I'd really like look at the frequency of contact by region and see if there are trends (hot spots during certain times of the year) that I can pick up year after year. If I apply the right models, I would be able to see that there is a statistically significant influx of clients contacting escorts in this city during this time of the year, year after year. Maybe there is a conference going on? Maybe a popular weekend for gays to go on vacation in this location? Tons of application, and sifting through all of the possibilities within the data would be hard ... but I think worth it.

 

This would be interesting, but I doubt rentboy would go for it. What would be in it for them? And I expect they regard that information as proprietary - they might not want escorts knowing their overall 'success' rates.

 

No harm is asking, of course, but I think you need to be prepared to show value to THEM.

[Xander]

This would be interesting, but I doubt rentboy would go for it. What would be in it for them? And I expect they regard that information as proprietary - they might not want escorts knowing their overall 'success' rates.

 

No harm is asking, of course, but I think you need to be prepared to show value to THEM.

 

 

This is true. Adding value to their customers would give them a competitive advantage that others wouldn't have. Especially if access to the data was reliant on a subscription fee to Rentboy ... and it was tracked live. With M4RN going down the drain, this is a fine time for Rentboy to declare its eternal dominance in the US market.

[MiamiLooker]

This is true. Adding value to their customers would give them a competitive advantage that others wouldn't have. Especially if access to the data was reliant on a subscription fee to Rentboy ... and it was tracked live. With M4RN going down the drain, this is a fine time for Rentboy to declare its eternal dominance in the US market.

 

Just curious what useful data Rentboy would have? I thought most clients contact the escort directly, primarily either by phone, text or email. If so, how would Rentboy have this data?

[Xander]

Just curious what useful data Rentboy would have? I thought most clients contact the escort directly, primarily either by phone, text or email. If so, how would Rentboy have this data?

 

Phone data would not be available, correct.

 

Emails are frequently sent through the Rentboy site. All of the data SHOULD be there -- they have a "statistics" tab for escorts to see how many times their profile has been viewed every hour for the last 24 hours. I would find it hard to believe that they delete this data at the end of every 24 hour session. If they do ... well ... sucks to be me.

[Xander]

The official verdict is in

 

This sort of data takes a long time to collect by our IT department and I can guarantee that with the amount of work they have on their plates, that they will not want to invest any effort into this request. Especially because Rentboy has in business for over 15 years and have had many changes in software and other programs that could keep track of the data you are seeking. We are only a team of 13 people, 3 of which are our IT department and when you factor in the amount of daily projects we already work on, not to mention the tens of thousands of escorts and corporate advertisers we deal with on an international level, we are way too booked to help you with your project. People are so surprised when they come into our Rentboy office and find that it is so quiet and everyone is working away at their desks. They seem to have this image that we have half naked guys milling about and we’re all standing by waiting to answer customer service calls. It is so far from the truth. LOL. Anyways, thanks for idea. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time to make this into fruition.

 

I hope you are doing well and making lots of money!!

 

Best,

 

Clint G. Calero

[ted]

As generally a repeat hirer, what typically works best for me is to use your real first name or nickname and choose a last name however your want. Although, not at all important for the one time hire, as I get to know a guy and have more "social" interaction with them its more difficult to switch from Jack to Will or whatever his name really is and to know if you should switch. Particularly if you plan to travel(especially internationally) with clients as they will almost certainly have to know your name.

[Kevin Slater]

what typically works best for me is to use your real first name or nickname and choose a last name however your want.

 

That defeats a lot of the reason for having a stage name. Within a second of answering a call from an unknown number, I determine whether it's pertaining to my escorting or perhaps refinancing my mortgage, depending on which name they ask for. It also helps me place folk when I bump into them out of context, again by which name they refer to me.

 

"Kevin Slater"

[rguer]

From the current issue of The New Yorker:

 

[Xander]

That defeats a lot of the reason for having a stage name. Within a second of answering a call from an unknown number, I determine whether it's pertaining to my escorting or perhaps refinancing my mortgage, depending on which name they ask for. It also helps me place folk when I bump into them out of context, again by which name they refer to me.

 

"Kevin Slater"

 

Same. My real name is a deviation of my escort name (whoops, just gave it away!) ... i've had a few times where I've mistaken non-client calls for client calls and I've been able to brush it off as my casual nickname to them. I've also called my mother back and left her a voicemail as "Xander" asking her to call me back when convenient for her (lol). . . Getting out of that one was ... interesting

[SteveEscort]

That defeats a lot of the reason for having a stage name. Within a second of answering a call from an unknown number, I determine whether it's pertaining to my escorting or perhaps refinancing my mortgage, depending on which name they ask for. It also helps me place folk when I bump into them out of context, again by which name they refer to me.

 

"Kevin Slater"

 

I have a completely different phone for escorting so I know which calls relate to what and I never make work calls on my personal phone. In all the years I have worked I have never told a single client my real name and I have never slipped up with it. We're two different people anyway. Steve does some stuff sexually that I would never do with a regular partner. I am confident and astute as Steve but have the usual day to day problems like anyone in my other life.

 

I came up with my name because I wanted it to be a common name that clients could put in their phone and not arouse suspicion with wives or partners.

 

I was recently in a supermarket and bumped into a client, our trolllies collided and he said "Oh hello Steve" and then introduced me to his wife, a smart woman, who shook my hand. I went from my normal, just doing my shopping persona, to being Steve and talking about rugby with her. Very bizarre. I hate rugby but it's part of my Steve personality with my football kit and sports tops lololol

[Steven_Draker]

Xander, if you do a search in the M-F, you'll find a similar thread from several years ago when many escorts contributed at the time of the thread.

 

Alternatively the Urban dictionary says that a porn name is your middle name + the name of the street you grew up on.

 

My middle name is Christopher and I grew up on Glendale Avenue. Therefore, my porn name is "Christopher Glendale".

 

or if you run out of ideas check the Porn Star Name Generator http://gangstaname.com/names/porn

[unsub2O17]

I'm afraid that I'm outside your specified age range (I am 66), but I don't need any data base to tell me that every other man in my age group was either "Mike" or "John".

[Rod Hagen]

From the current issue of The New Yorker:

 

 

Saw that when I downloaded the new issue Sunday night and, like EVERYONE, I read the cartoons first. Isn't that a great toon for the New Yorker?

[+ Cash4Trash]

What gets to me are the names escorts choose that don't match their ethnicity.

"Angus McAdoo - Hot Hung Italian"

[Xander]

I'm afraid that I'm outside your specified age range (I am 66), but I don't need any data base to tell me that every other man in my age group was either "Mike" or "John".

 

#1 first name of people born in 1970 is actually Michael We couldn't choose that one because that was, ah -- his real name. Hah!

[SteveEscort]

As generally a repeat hirer, what typically works best for me is to use your real first name or nickname and choose a last name however your want.

 

Typically in the UK second names are never used by male or female escorts. It seems to be an American thing.

 

Having been in this industry for coming up to 13 years I heard of many escorts who have fallen foul to stalkers, had family told of their career etc. I would never recommend that any escort used their real first name. Fair enough if after a few appointments it may be appropriate to reveal who you are but for an escorts own security our clientele should respect that we need a level of anonymity in this work. There's lots of great clients out there and equally lots of not great clients out there too.

[+ purplekow]

If you are trying to use a name that triggers sensual thoughts in potential clients and you have the age demographic, you should consider not the most popular names but the names of the men who were powerful and sexy at the time you target demographic was young and impressionable. Robert Conrad was an actor I found sexy in my teens and I might be attracted to an escort of that name. It would help of course if he bore a passing resemblance. At the least the hairy chest and the muscular shoulders and of course the tight tight tight tight pants with a taut ass

[Michael Wayne]

Well when I started (a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away) I used my real middle name cause it was masculine and unusual: WAYNE. After my first retirement for my comeback I chose a name no one else was using: TODD. Then I sort of had a name chosen for me. I did some magazines and they thought I was the perfect all american kid boy next door so they called me : ALAN. I did alot of personal apearances, dancing and nationwide traveling in the escort biz as ALAN. Then I retired again and entered my kept boy with a sugar daddy phase which was fun. So, now, in my current time in the business I have decided (since 2007) to be myself and to use my real first name: MIKE. MIKEY sounds younger and cuter. I can joke about the life ceral kid and let's face it: "MIKEY likes it," is a great ad campaign! The unforseen problem has been that most new clients cannot differentiate between Mickey (the mouse in orlando) and Mikey (the stud in central florida) lol! Anyway that is how I chose my names. http://www.rentmen.com/mikeyusatop

[Atlantagaguy]

Xander did your roommate get into the business? what did he decide on his name?

[Bart van de Hogelanden]

My client name is my real first name and the name of the street where i grew up.

[Mariner45]

My client name is my real first name and the name of the street where i grew up.

 

That's actually brilliant. If I were an escort my name would me Robbie Madison. Hey that works!