Has the Sequester affected business this month?

[MalcomXpark]

 

I would like to know if the Sequester (automatic cuts in the Federal Govt's budget) has affected business?

[nate_sf]

Hi MalcolmXpark, welcome to the forum!

 

Hard to tell if the various budget things going on are impacting business, since there are other things going on with most people's finances this time of year that can also impact business such as:

 

- Having to pay income taxes/not sure what income tax liability will be = maybe not hiring

- Getting income tax refund = maybe hiring

 

I have at least one client who got in touch when he got his refund and said he wanted to book an appointment since he had some extra cash. He already got his refund, and I haven't even filed yet!

 

I could guess that the expiration of the payroll tax holiday at the first of the year may have had some impact on people's discretionary spending. I have a day job and I know I noticed it in my first paycheck of the year, it was enough to notice the difference.

 

Beyond that, can't tell. I suppose this conversation could get political and would then get moved to the politics forum, so I'll limit my comments just to these household budget thoughts.

[Michael Wayne]

I believe more and more potential clients are switching to the hook up sites (see my thread in the lounge) The big danger there is for the ones who TRULY need discretion then every free hook up is a REAL risk.......they may in fact get it for free but there is no promise (or guarantee) of discretion

[rickp]

No, haven't noticed any difference at all. If anything business is getting progressively better from year to year.

[MalcomXpark]

I'm sure DC and Virginia will be affected at least temporarily by sequestration, the economy of the area depends heavily on the Federal Government.

[JoeyBryant]

I believe more and more potential clients are switching to the hook up sites (see my thread in the lounge) The big danger there is for the ones who TRULY need discretion then every free hook up is a REAL risk.......they may in fact get it for free but there is no promise (or guarantee) of discretion

 

Has anyone looked at their local craigslist's casual encounters section in their area recently? I have gone thru and seen a number of guys 40-55 (the most common age range of hobbyist) posting in this section seeking out encounters. Even moreso, these are guys visiting and staying in hotels. They are simply by-passing the escort ads and going straight to craigslist in some cases.

[down_to_business]

In an economy like this, there is enhanced sensitivity to prices. The people that work traditional jobs (not independent contractors) are seeing less each month in their paychecks due to the return of the increased withholdings from their payroll processed paychecks and having to spend more of that smaller "pie" on things like groceries and gasoline.

 

Couple this with the hassles of hiring, the fear of law enforcement, the countless providers who show up looking nothing like their pictures or not providing the services they promised-- and soon you realize that hiring an escort is as much work as picking up someone at a bar. You are also correct that all the free ads on the internet (i.e. craigslist) and the apps like Grindr has made hooking up so easy that some may not want to bother with hiring at all. I for one prefer to have "fun" when I am horny, not schedule sex one week from today at 4PM. I mean jeez, I might have acid reflux next Thursday at 4PM.

 

Yes the affluent (and there are plenty of them)can afford to keep hiring as is, but that prospective regular client base is shrinking and there are more providers fighting for it. It also means that you should not only appreciate, but absolutely cherish your regulars-- it is almost always easier and more profitable to keep your existing customers than spend the time, effort, and resources trying to replace them.

[bigvalboy]

In an economy like this, there is enhanced sensitivity to prices. The people that work traditional jobs (not independent contractors) are seeing less each month in their paychecks due to the return of the increased withholdings from their payroll processed paychecks and having to spend more of that smaller "pie" on things like groceries and gasoline.

 

Couple this with the hassles of hiring, the fear of law enforcement, the countless providers who show up looking nothing like their pictures or not providing the services they promised-- and soon you realize that hiring an escort is as much work as picking up someone at a bar. You are also correct that all the free ads on the Internet (i.e. craigslist) and the apps like Grindr has made hooking up so easy that some may not want to bother with hiring at all. I for one prefer to have "fun" when I am horny, not schedule sex one week from today at 4PM. I mean jeez, I might have acid reflux next Thursday at 4PM.

 

Yes the affluent (and there are plenty of them)can afford to keep hiring as is, but that prospective regular client base is shrinking and there are more providers fighting for it. It also means that you should not only appreciate, but absolutely cherish your regulars-- it is almost always easier and more profitable to keep your existing customers than spend the time, effort, and resources trying to replace them.

 

 

Exactly...D2B has summed it up beautifully. More and more of my long time friends who hire have retreated from the scene. Many have found more 'bang for their buck' in masseurs, or many are and have been successful at finding that younger partner for a long-term relationship. Most of those finds were never escorts, but rather just regular guys who sought out, wanted and enjoy the company of older men.

 

As D2B said you often realize that hiring is a lot of work and I am often not in the mood when the time comes for the appointment, where as masseurs are usually more 'spur of the moment'. Almost everyone I talk to regarding their hiring have turned to apps like Grindr and have found great satisfaction on sites like CL and backpage. It is not necessarily for me, but you can't deny that the core of clients are shrinking. As 'babyboomers' age and just move on. I think many of the 40 something generation is looking else where.

[JoeyBryant]

It also means that you should not only appreciate, but absolutely cherish your regulars-- it is almost always easier and more profitable to keep your existing customers than spend the time, effort, and resources trying to replace them.

 

I think many of us appreciate and cherish our regulars. However, there's only a certain extent to where regulars can continue providing a profit. Sometimes, I find it easier to just relocate and start fresh with a new set of clients who may eventually becoming new regulars. I've found regulars by going to other states who are from other states and we meet in other states. I know for a fact that this job is different than other lines of work where 'keeping regulars is cheaper than getting new clients' principle. Sure I can stay put and spend nothing on advertising and see my regulars once every few weeks/months/however long it takes while the bills continue to come in faster than they can whip out their wallets. Or I can spend $200 on advertising elsewhere and meet 10 clients for $200 from that advertising.

 

I had 1 regular who I'm pretty sure has probably moved on, because I had mentioned that during our last session, I would be asking a (set amount) extra to my rate. Well, thing was...in the beginning we started off with very vanilla kind of stuff. Then it started transitioning into full on BF experience kind of stuff. Not to mention the rate I was being given just wasn't enough because he wasn't seeing me all THAT often.

[down_to_business]

...I had 1 regular who I'm pretty sure has probably moved on, because I had mentioned that during our last session, I would be asking a (set amount) extra to my rate. Well, thing was...in the beginning we started off with very vanilla kind of stuff. Then it started transitioning into full on BF experience kind of stuff. Not to mention the rate I was being given just wasn't enough because he wasn't seeing me all THAT often.

 

Joey- that is really a tough call. I see your point on this issue as well but I myself would move on the same situation. I enjoy the company of some of the guys I have met and will always hire my favorite(s) before looking to try something new. The ones I have really established good and long-term working relationships with, I am actually able to put the fact that its a business transaction out of my head. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to discuss money at all with them. If one of those guys suddenly told me that the next time I see them my rates would be going up, this would be the last time I saw them because for me, it would be a slap in the face or wake-up-call that our "relationship" is nothing to them except a business transaction. Deep down I know thats the case anyways, but the last thing I want is to be reminded of that with such a direct slap back to reality.

 

I am also not a fan of the concept that rates should be determined by the "vanilla" or "bfe" nature of the appointment. I think it would be natural that as these business relationships occur repeatedly, the nature of the interactions would change. For example, I might not want to kiss someone who I just met but after a meeting or two I might feel very comfortable kissing them. I can also see how a client's idea of a changing nature of a relationship is one sided. For your perspective it may always be a business transaction, there are no emotions or feelings in it for you, and therefore its uncomfortable for you when your client seems to change right in front of you. in this case, I agree that for you, moving around and getting new clients in new places is probably the best way to operate.

 

Anyways its a personal decision and there are no right or wrong answers to any of it. You are right to operate your business as you see fit.

 

As to the specific effects of sequester on the biz, any time less money is available in someones pocket (i.e. layoffs, unpaid furloughs, reduced benefits) there is going to be even more price sensitivity and less money available to spend on anything other than necessities. Add to it, increased hassles of airport travel (if the sequester leads to layoffs at TSA and reductions in air traffic controllers etc.), there is another chance that your business will be affected negatively.

[Kevin Slater]

The people that work traditional jobs (not independent contractors) are seeing less each month in their paychecks due to the return of the increased withholdings from their payroll processed paycheck

 

Independent contractors see the exact same increase in their taxes as well.

 

Kevin Slater

[down_to_business]

Independent contractors see the exact same increase in their taxes as well.

 

Kevin Slater

 

Not to be argumentative, but while taxes do increase for all who pay taxes, independent contractors often do not have the deductions from their checks on a paycheck by paycheck basis because they are not compensated through a payroll process - they are compensated as vendor payments without witholdings and deductions removed. I agree they do/will owe the higher taxes as well, but I was purposefully making the distinction as they will owe the increased money at the end of the year and not per pay period like an employee would.

[Kevin Slater]

I agree they do/will owe the higher taxes as well, but I was purposefully making the distinction as they will owe the increased money at the end of the year and not per pay period like an employee would.

 

Independent contractors pay taxes in quarterly installments, but yes, they are not deducted bi-weekly. In any case, they have to budget for that as well.

 

Kevin Slater

[JoeyBryant]

Joey- that is really a tough call. I see your point on this issue as well but I myself would move on the same situation. I enjoy the company of some of the guys I have met and will always hire my favorite(s) before looking to try something new. The ones I have really established good and long-term working relationships with, I am actually able to put the fact that its a business transaction out of my head. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to discuss money at all with them. If one of those guys suddenly told me that the next time I see them my rates would be going up, this would be the last time I saw them because for me, it would be a slap in the face or wake-up-call that our "relationship" is nothing to them except a business transaction. Deep down I know thats the case anyways, but the last thing I want is to be reminded of that with such a direct slap back to reality.

 

I am also not a fan of the concept that rates should be determined by the "vanilla" or "bfe" nature of the appointment. I think it would be natural that as these business relationships occur repeatedly, the nature of the interactions would change. For example, I might not want to kiss someone who I just met but after a meeting or two I might feel very comfortable kissing them. I can also see how a client's idea of a changing nature of a relationship is one sided. For your perspective it may always be a business transaction, there are no emotions or feelings in it for you, and therefore its uncomfortable for you when your client seems to change right in front of you.

 

Well now I'm not saying that there's always not going to be feelings or emotions in it for me though. I would hate for someone to feel as though my asking for an extra amount would lead them to think differently. But you know, it is what it is. I understand for some that is true. But for me and my own well-being and sanity, if I feel I'm offering a service too cheaply eventually that may keel over into the performance of the appointment eventually and it ends up being a damned if I do, damned if I don't decision. But, I blame myself for advertising on the certain site which promoted cheaper rates. However, I can also pick and choose as to whether I will continue to accept the rate temporarily or long term.

 

It's not entirely about being just a business transaction. It's more of, okay...you've (referring to client) began to see me less often than before. It's not like I'm being seen 2 times a week or even weekly. So for the discounted rate you're already getting...which deep down inside I don't feel is fair to other clients for me to continue seeing you for this amount, you're simply not seeing me enough for it to be of much benefit. And I'd be hard-pressed to find out he's paying another guy more money...which is non of my business, but if I feel like that's a possibility I can withdraw as needed or ask for a rate I'm comfortable accepting. If that's worth them losing a regular, it's worth me losing a regular too.

 

In the end, if I'm not being paid enough...I won't be able to sustain myself, supplies and accomodations will become lackluster and they'll either move on anyway or I'll move on (quicker than they) to where I can keep up on things. Most everything else out there that becomes better (or not)...gets a price hike. I've gotten better. But I'm not just some product on a shelf. I'm the guy hired to give them something others won't, so no other product on a shelf has crap on me. If the client really had the emotional connection rather than the business one that is being spoken of that we don't possess...they'd understand an extra $20-50 or maybe a little tip every now and again would be of great assistance. I have to change things up to keep things interesting for them, change it up by surprising me with a little extra money once in awhile.