work differences: london

14 Responses to “work differences: london”

1. Aspasia on June 3rd, 2009

   We see the same thing in the US — more girls who often charge lower-end rates (instead of mid-range rates) due to the recent economy. Established girls aren’t feeling the pinch as much as the newbies.

   Yeah, tell me about it! **pinched** But with school almost over, I can concentrate on more advertising and getting my name out there, etc. The phone thing and not having names is something that would definitely unnerve me. Although the “namelessness” more than the phone thing, which I can get over.

2. Amanda Brooks on June 4th, 2009

   Aspasia,

   So far, other than flakiness, my UK Internet clients all been just as sane and safe as US clients. In fact, they’re better-trained in one way and pay up front without being asked.

   Advertising is manadatory here due to the amount of girls. The US is catching up but the US’s emphasis still seems to be on personality — which is really to the girl’s advantage. Here looks are generally more ephasized than anything else (my impression) and so many of the girls seem interchangable (or everyone is using the same set of stock photos!).

   The phone issue is certainly a personality quirk. I’ve known plenty of US girls who loathe email and are great on the phone. You and I prefer the written word — not surprising given our personalities.

   I have noticed that higher-end escorts who seem established don’t post phone numbers. For a mid-range touring girl like me — phone is essential.

   XX

3. Alexa on June 4th, 2009

   Incredibly interesting comparison, Amanda.

   I hadn’t even thought about the inhibition of screening capabilities that might exist in the absence of criminalization. You have to wonder how much of a hit you’d take for continuing on with your original screeing tactics if decriminalization were to occur here.

   Keep up the great reporting and stay safe.

4. Amanda Brooks on June 4th, 2009

   Alexa,

   Some screening is recommended for hotel calls — full name so one can check with the front desk and verify the caller is indeed a guest.

   But since it’s been this way in the UK for a while, things have probably hit their natural levels. It would take a while in the US for girls to get over screening. And frankly, screening is still a good thing because it’s a safety net.

   Try convincing guys of that.

   On the other hand, since a girl won’t get arrested, none of her information will ever be subject to a search warrant (unlike the US).

   Good clients here might not give all their information, but they still do a personality-screen by emailing in advance, talking and letting the girl know what they’re like as a person. There is safety in that. Course, I’ve already learned that doesn’t mean they won’t no-call no-show — in which case I’d love to have their full information to submit to a bad-client list.

   XX

5. Thais on June 6th, 2009

   I can relate to the lack of screening…

   In Canada, people who are willing to give the full info required by US escorts are a tiny minority. Most are okay with a board handle and references, or in lieu of board handle, just references, and a contact number – and very understanding about it. But any real info? Nope. Not happening.

6. Amanda Brooks on June 6th, 2009

   Thais,

   I can see that happening in decriminalized countries. Are there still the issues with problem clients? Or because it’s more likely she’ll report a real problem to the authorities means they’re more likely to behave? (Not counting street workers who I know still face danger in Canada.)

   XX

7. Thais on June 6th, 2009

   Amanda,

   I don’t know how well and if the reporting to authorities really works. I have not heard of such cases. Because we really have legalization and not decrim, a lot of women seem to be wary of dealing with police unless a serious physical assault took place.

   I know the Black Lists are well spread, both at the escort and street level (handle, the name he gave, contact number, details of communication that took place, address if went to a residence for the former; car model and plate number for the latter). And that the reference system seems to be the best safety model at the moment.

8. Amanda Brooks on June 6th, 2009

   Thais,

   Still a shame that girls feel that can’t really go to the authorities. As a legal business, that should be a given right. Discussion for another day.

   The reference system….yes. That still works. Harder for a traveler to completely tap into though. Good for locally established girls.

   XX

9. Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » links for 2009-06-09 on June 9th, 2009

   [...] work differences: london – After Hours| random discourse from a retired escort "One of the nicest things about this system is that it allows for easier networking. Girls aren’t so paranoid about meeting each other. Organizations can form to help sex workers without having their hands tied for fear of being charged with felonies. I’ll point out one of the big benefits of this: it reduces harm just by freely allowing community to happen." (tags: world sexwork sexworkersrights law economics uk work) [...]

10. Brian on July 3rd, 2009

    Regarding male escort in London. In reality there are only a few professional independent male escorts out there. London/UK seems to have more scam websites for male hopefuls, who are promissed business through advertising, but I doubt they get any return on their investment.

    The concept of male escort, although not new, it is still in developing stages at least in the UK. The trend in London is growing, but ultimately most of the business goes to just a few male escorts who have the right marketing power.

11. Amanda Brooks on July 4th, 2009

    Brian,

    Compared to the US, there are still way more professional male escorts (for women) in the UK. And of course those who know how to market themselves are going to get the attention! Naturally! Though the scam sites for newbie male escorts is deplorable. Scam sites for female escorts operate a bit differently.

    The US is starting to catch up with a new crop of male escorts — but the lag here is about women, not the men. That lag exists in both cultures. Time and media attention will change that.

    XX

12. RunSilent on February 8th, 2010

    On wash cloths …

    I know you’re long-gone from Britain now, but I had to pop up with this. I learned it when I lived in Britain (for 4 years), a while ago.

    My local friends explained to me that they regarded their “flannels” as strictly personal items, as personal as a tooth brush they said (or — I’ll add — perhaps as personal as Linus’s security blanket). You don’t share your flannel any more than you would share your tooth brush; and you take your own flannel with you while traveling just as you would take your own tooth brush. Clean person A’s flannel, and then let person B use it? Unthinkable!

    Obviously, you no longer need to know where to buy them in Britain (fortunately for me, because I don’t remember buying or replacing my wash cloths — or towels — while I was there!). But I thought you might find this unexpected-by-Americans British viewpoint interesting, even now.

    RSRD

13. Amanda Brooks on February 9th, 2010

    RSRD,

    Yet somehow towels aren’t personal and it’s okay for a hotel to offer bath towels? Aren’t flannels exactly the same thing, but smaller? Cultural differences strike again. I’d still just prefer if flannels were offered at all hotels worldwide.

    I did find flannels in a drugstore and I bought one for me but no way could I buy enough for clients.

    XX

14. RunSilent on February 9th, 2010

    Yeah, go figure.