Is it really possible for an entire market to die?

[Mocha]

By die, I am not referring to passing on. But rather, to end up in a place where you no longer get clients booking In your area. I'm almost certain it's nothing with my marketing, as I tour and have clients Steadily. But soon as I return to Austin, non of my ads receive calls, or if I do there's no follow through. Had about 10 clients email, Only 2 showed up. I used to have regulars here, but now I only have 3 consistent regulars...but they call so sporadically that it's impossible to count on the income.

 

Sometimes I wonder, even if most of the local clients aren't hiring, where are the visiting clients? I have not even been called out to a hotel in this area at all this year (albeit ive been away probably 70% of the year thus far) And the last time I did, it was from a client I'd seen before. So far I'm at day 11 without any successful appointments from my paid ads.

 

I've also noticed ads in the area have been thinning out as well, the only exception are guys who have been consistently advertising. On a couple occasions I've spoken to guys who said business was good for them, only to see them vacate the area after a short time. Just trying to figure out the driving forces behind it. Whether an Escort is destined to have a certain # of clients to target in a given area, or if outside factors cause clients to stop hiring.

[+ purplekow]

i would think that a small market could indeed dry up. Even if you are the only game in town, sooner or later people would rather play solitaire than play the same old game with the same old partner. Remember the Gin Game with Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy?

i would think, LA NYC DC SF and just about any other city in which you find a significant gay population would have both a constant influx of new clients into the pool and visitors aplenty and as a result could not see them drying out for a well reviewed and accommodating escort.

[Guy Fawkes]

In my opinion it just reflects the state that economy is in. The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment by Jim Clifton is Chairman and CEO of Gallup is telling (he says more like 44%). I believe that discretionary income is a record low in spite of what the US Government says.

[maninsoma]

I agree that a small market like Austin seems better suited for a time-limited escort career. Even when I click with someone, it's rare that I hire the same guy more than a few times since part of the thrill of hiring is experiencing someone new. I also wonder if there isn't steady competition from college guys escorting discreetly (Craigslist or Backpage ads, Adam4adam, etc).

[jimboivyo]

one persons inability to book doesn't mean the market is dead

 

austin has always been good for the white, blond/blue frat boy look. it's the UT fantasy. it sells

[sincitymix]

The Big Lie: 5.6% Unemployment[/url] by Jim Clifton is Chairman and CEO of Gallup is telling (he says more like 44%). I believe that discretionary income is a record low in spite of what the US Government says.

 

I agree with you 1001% Daddy. The company I work for was bought out by another company. They made us all reapply and rehire back for our same positions at much, much lower rates. They said it was fair due to the national average of the positions. I spoke to one of the HR managers, who I am close friends with, she pretty much said technically yes, but with the market flooded with people looking for work, they can offer super low wages and get the positions filled.

Ah well. I still have a job, but my hiring will be more sporadic now.

[JakeNYC]

Yeah, but even I have the white blond-haired, blue-eyed "UT" look going on, live in NYC and haven't gotten an inquiries in a week. I think it's best to not put all of your eggs in one basket no matter where you are. There are numerous variables that influence the market----it's like any other business. I've noticed that when there is consistently crummy weather for a week or two in October-November and February-March, I won't get any calls. Then when there's a heat wave my phone is off the hook. Economists have long studied how variables like weather can influence commercial behavior. There are usually many confounding variables involved.

 

It often seems like the market is gone sometimes for weeks (even here in NYC) and then wham, out of nowhere you get an overnight. My most successful times can usually be explained, however, by the the Pareto principle: 80% of business coming from 20% of clients. I think if that 20% base is reliable, then theoretically you should be able to be successful wherever you want to live. Maybe just focus on being who you are instead of cultivating a generic look, because you only really care about cultivating relationships with the 20% anyway. People with serious money are not looking for generic and dull. I think here in NYC, the guys who are far more successful than me all have some unique look and they don't even bother trying to fit the mean.

 

I think Dallas/Fort Worth is where you want to be if you want to stay in TX. It's very affordable, nice weather and there is an overabundance of rich, closeted men. And if you're more of a country boy, you can live in an outer ring suburb. Plus it's easy to fly from there to California, Chicago or NYC for a weekend, make your coins and spend them in TX where they go further. So in short, I suggest: 1) Moving to a large metropolis. 2) Cultivating a unique look that is genuinely you. 3) Seeking a secondary means of income if you do not already have one. 4) Focusing relationship building and constant follow-up with your 20% most important clients.

[Mocha]

I've taken all the replies into consideration, especially jake NYCs which describes very accurately. It's just almost surreal to hear that one can go without any inquiries in a week, especially in a large market like NYC. It almost illudes that the work can be ultra niche at times. But then, when an individual looks at the numbers, it appears that there is a lot of market because if you count how many clients you met in a month or 2-3 months.

 

I'm also not too concerned with measuring up to the ken doll image. I have legions of pornos that don't depict that look, and some of the newer current fantasies involve middle eastern and sub-Saharan men. Not to mention the guys who are more than happy to meet, but the money part is the issue.

 

I have tapped into the adam, backpage markets as well which do help...but adam is a real crapshoot. That's where most of the flakes and un-responsive appointments derive from. Backpage is more reliable, and Craigslist I'll post on there occasionally to catch the guys who may have looked at the main sites a few times, didn't see/afford anyone and moved on. Sometimes it works.

 

The economy question I wouldn't rule out. At the same time, it still seems I'm doing better than prior years during traveling. However, it's not Everywhere and some markets like dallas/ftw used to be good, but went to shit. Places without high seasons/seasonal residents or a REGULAR influx of clients from wealthier parts of the country don't seem to work as well.

[Rudynate]

i would think that a small market could indeed dry up. Even if you are the only game in town, sooner or later people would rather play solitaire than play the same old game with the same old partner. Remember the Gin Game with Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy?

i would think, LA NYC DC SF and just about any other city in which you find a significant gay population would have both a constant influx of new clients into the pool and visitors aplenty and as a result could not see them drying out for a well reviewed and accommodating escort.

 

 

Exactly. Here in San Francisco, there's quite a choice, but I'm bored with them all.

[Gar1eth]

I like 'newness'. But if I could really find someone I liked and whom I thought liked me for more than just my wallet. That's probably more likely to happen where there are more escorts-right? If there are enough around, there should be someone for everyone, right. So I'd love to live in SF, LA.or NYC if it would help me find a regular.

 

Gman