Dying Race ???

[Amy Alison]

I just wonder … are the independent escorts a dying race in Ireland?

I usually did quite well in my business but I couldn’t help noticing how lately I seem to be doing less and less well.

My overheads for a week are a minimum 1000 Euro. Accommodation, advertising, food, cigarettes (yes, I do have a vice), transport, call credit, work supplies. This is the lowest amount in which I am not personal cheering up shopping items and since I no longer have my personal apartment, that minimum cost is reduced by not paying an extra rent and utilities.

After a week of work, I was put in the strange position of seeing that despite a few appointments I had, I still don’t have enough money to cover up my overheads !

I was able to live, eat and smoke before I was escorting, just by simply having a job, so obviously there is something seriously wrong here if I am escorting and I only seem to be doing the same things as before.

This morning, I was thinking about the expenses the agency girls have. Are they less? I should say so. Considerably less. As far as I know accommodation is paid for. Or if it’s not, at least by sharing with 1 / 2 more escorts it becomes very cheap. Phone calls are organised by someone else, that means you are not loosing precious calls while you happen to have another appointment. So, the potential for seeing more people is there. Ok, the fees may be a little more expensive, but seeing you are not alone, you can work longer hours. I am not working these days past 9 pm, because I am simply too afraid to, while if I would be with someone else, I can probably see people easily past midnight.

In these circumstances, are the independent escorts a dying breed in Ireland?
After a while, would there be just have agency escorts (declared agency or pretending to be indos agencies) that would be able to go trough the current bad? And perhaps a few resident escorts that will just stay put in one place, because it is cheaper, escorting occasionally just to pay the bills or perhaps escorting part time as they will try to get an actual job too?

In this situation, one can’t help to wonder if I would be better off working for an agency instead of being 100% independent and spoiling clients with privacy, discretion, nice friendly chats and no bangs on the door when the time is out.

I do think it’s a sad day indeed if I am contemplating the idea of loosing my independent status in favour of giving to someone else half of my earnings.

WHAT THE FECK HAPPEN HERE GUYS, WHERE DID WE GO WRONG ???

[aml]

I just wonder … are the independent escorts a dying race in Ireland?

I usually did quite well in my business but I couldn’t help noticing how lately I seem to be doing less and less well.

My overheads for a week are a minimum 1000 Euro. Accommodation, advertising, food, cigarettes (yes, I do have a vice), transport, call credit, work supplies. This is the lowest amount in which I am not personal cheering up shopping items and since I no longer have my personal apartment, that minimum cost is reduced by not paying an extra rent and utilities.

After a week of work, I was put in the strange position of seeing that despite a few appointments I had, I still don’t have enough money to cover up my overheads !

I was able to live, eat and smoke before I was escorting, just by simply having a job, so obviously there is something seriously wrong here if I am escorting and I only seem to be doing the same things as before.

This morning, I was thinking about the expenses the agency girls have. Are they less? I should say so. Considerably less. As far as I know accommodation is paid for. Or if it’s not, at least by sharing with 1 / 2 more escorts it becomes very cheap. Phone calls are organised by someone else, that means you are not loosing precious calls while you happen to have another appointment. So, the potential for seeing more people is there. Ok, the fees may be a little more expensive, but seeing you are not alone, you can work longer hours. I am not working these days past 9 pm, because I am simply too afraid to, while if I would be with someone else, I can probably see people easily past midnight.

In these circumstances, are the independent escorts a dying breed in Ireland?
After a while, would there be just have agency escorts (declared agency or pretending to be indos agencies) that would be able to go trough the current bad? And perhaps a few resident escorts that will just stay put in one place, because it is cheaper, escorting occasionally just to pay the bills or perhaps escorting part time as they will try to get an actual job too?

In this situation, one can’t help to wonder if I would be better off working for an agency instead of being 100% independent and spoiling clients with privacy, discretion, nice friendly chats and no bangs on the door when the time is out.

I do think it’s a sad day indeed if I am contemplating the idea of loosing my independent status in favour of giving to someone else half of my earnings.

WHAT THE FECK HAPPEN HERE GUYS, WHERE DID WE GO WRONG ???

I don't think agencies have advantages over independants,i believe it has more to do with ppl having less money in their pockets.In ideal world the majority of ladies would be independant.

[El Gordo]

Sadly, I think that you are probably right about independent escorts being a dying breed. Many have recently retired or left Ireland. I know some others who are contemplating it. I don't know if agency escorts are making more money. Their agencies clearly are, but I'm not sure whether the ladies themselves are. Their income is probably more predictable than an independent's, because their overheads are much smaller and the break even point is lower. But it seems like a fairly awful way to live, without real control on who you see, and with the agency always spying on you to make sure you don't see anyone without giving them their cut.

I wish I had a solution to this problem, but I don't, and I don't know if there is one.

[warmcome]

i hear ya, Amy. i'm living on a much smaller income now
from all the cutbacks, and my investments are back a great deal.
i'd say you know the solution to this dilemma, deep down and i hope
you find it. x

[anon361]

We are all in the same boat, uncertain whats around the corner, it's easy to think the grass is greener over the hill but it generally isn't, we all just have to grin and bear it and try work through as best we can with whatever we have until eventually collectively we make things better..

[Morpheus]

It would be a sad day indeed if all the indendant girls leave Ireland. As always Karin, you've assessed the situation well. I do believe this is largely due to the economic downturn - an overall decrease in business across the board in all professions.

Agencies do have the advantage in this situation. I've often wondered why a few of the independant girls (say about 5-10 or so) don't get together and hire a secretary/receptionist. You could also buy supplies in bulk. It won't cut down on your other expenses but will probably improve business by maximizing bookings.

Of course most clients would perceive this set up as an 'agency'. However, I'd be far more happy to see ladies working for an agency that they run themselves, than the usual type of agency which runs the girls working for them.

To date I have only seen independant escorts by choice (or so I believe), so I do think independants still have a share of the business. Only time will tell whether this will still be a viable business for escorts?

[mellors]

Hi Amy,
Just to re-assure you, you have done nothing wrong. Like many,many other businesses in this country, the days of making good profits are over. Anyone in business will be facing the same sort of problems as yourself ( although slightly different !). At the moment its if you can make a living,covering bills overheads etc then you're doing the best you can. Obviously has a knock on effect because people don't have the disposable income they once had, or if they have, they are being more cautious as nobody knows whats down the line. Easy for me to say I know but I would try everyway you can to keep your independence.

[akasomeoneelse]

Your overheads are €1000 per week? Holy Christ. I have never earned half of that and I am able to afford two cars and two bikes. You really should look at your costs and sort them out because it sounds like you are already working for other people if you know what I mean. Stay in a cheaper part a cheaper part of town maybe? There are some cracker places on the outskirts of towns that are busy and more discreet that city centres imo. I wish you the best of luck with whatever option you choose.

[JAMESCORK]

Your overheads are €1000 per week? Holy Christ. I have never earned half of that and I am able to afford two cars and two bikes. You really should look at your costs and sort them out because it sounds like you are already working for other people if you know what I mean. Stay in a cheaper part a cheaper part of town maybe? There are some cracker places on the outskirts of towns that are busy and more discreet that city centres imo. I wish you the best of luck with whatever option you choose.

Steady on bud... for touring ladies accomodation alone can be in or around 500-600 quid... A weeks ad. here is 100 quid... that doesnt leave a lot left for Bingo bud....

[Sam Spade]

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what line of business you are in, business is down profits are down (if non existent), while overheads are up.

Last year was bad, this year is terrible.
I can only hope that the future will improve, although personally I won't hold my breath.

Are you doing anything wrong! I don't think so, it's just the current economic climate and the lack of money around at this time.
All we can do is to cut our costs as far as possible and hope business improves in the future.