Is there a difference between a "manager" and a "pimp"?

I had a provider friend who is based in Miami spend the day with me on a layover she had on her way to to Vegas. We went to lunch and were discussing old times and the business. She, like me, started out working for a loose network of madams in large cities across the US. We were gossiping about providers and madams we both know, and I asked her if she had ever worked for J.T., a guy who had a well-known upscale escort service in Hollywood in the late 90's. She didn't know him but had heard of him. "How do you know him?", she asked me. "Oh, well I worked for him briefly when I lived in Hollywood". "Oh", she said, "So you worked for a pimp".
Me: "Whaaaat? NO, I would NEVER work for a pimp!!"
Sherry: "Well, what would you call him?"
Me: "Well, I guess I would call him a manager, for want of a better term."
Sherry: "Did he take half your money, like the madams do?"
Me: "Well, yeah."
Sherry: "Didn't he have other girls working for him?"
Me: "Well, yes, usually between 8 or 10 at any given time."
Sherry: "Well then-he's a PIMP!"
Me:

So what do you think, did I once have a PIMP?!?

Management usually collects a fee, anywhere between 15-25%, which is in exchange for an agreed upon set of obligations on the managers part, including producing more business.

Pimping collects all your money, on top of that you're his bitch. So it depends on which category your situation fell. into.

Btw, half is ridiculous.

If he was all about that 'gangsta' bullshit, if he called his girls hoes and bitches, if he drove his girls to outcalls, if he had a myspace page and bragged about how he was taking all that $$$ from (insert any ghetto-speak reference to clients here), if he carried a gun to make sure no (insert same ghetto-speak slang term from above) got away with any of 'his' cash, if he ever hid in an an adjacent room, if he ever advocated his girls take $$$ from a guy without providing the expected services, if he puts up ads with fake pics and tries to mask the phone numbers in some lame attempt to hide from search engines, then he was a pimp.
If his worst crime was having a difference of opinion about the rights of some holier-than-thou you-know-whats to impose their moral bullshit on society with laws against prostitution, and he legitmately tried to help his girls provide a service in return for a fair compensation, then he was a manager.

yes

I don't think there's a hard and fast line.

To me, the issue is control - if the provider has it, he's a manager. If he has it, he's a pimp. Obviously, if he takes all the money and slaps the provider around when she doesn't do as he says, he's a pimp... but what about the "manager" who controls the client list, and doesn't "allow" the provider to see clients when he doesn't get his cut?

From my POV, the difference lies in coercion or manipulation. A manager doesn't coerce a girl into working. A pimp does. If you had the option to leave whenever you wanted without bullshit guilt trips and threats, then he was probably just a manager, but only you can answer that.

Then again, what the fuck do I know about it? I've never been on that side of the business, so its all guesses coming from here.

Very true, the issue is control. With pimping though it cannot be mistaken. Its absolute, and unmistakable. From one hand to another. Most chicks who I've met who have pimps don't keep a dime on them, unless they've asked for permission to go to the store. If the agreed upon terms is ' I don't get my %, you get no more calls ' that's business baby.

Control is a LARGE part of it. If he "controls" the girl or she feels like she can't walk away from him, or find another "manager", he is a pimp.

I think it also depends on what HE brings to the party. If he runs the ads, does screening, providers some level of protection, and for that service he receives a "Reasonable" fee, 25% or so - he's a manager.

BUt if all he does is collect 50% or more of the $, he's a pimp.

Also, if he has sex with the lady without paying her fee - he's a pimp.

Well, he never abused any of the girls who worked for him that I ever heard of. No cash-n-dash or manipulation either. Had no control issues. His service had a very good reputation. Never fucked any of his girls as far as I knew because one of the girls who worked for him was also his GF.
As far as keeping half, it's standard for madams too. On top of that, when you book a week working with a madam, you have to pay your own airfare plus give her "rent" since you're staying at one of her apartments(kind of like working at the Bunny Ranch), plus madams will "fine" girls for any infractions. I know of a D.C. madam that was notorious for this. She would "fine" a girl if she came for a visit to the incall apartment and there were fingerprints on the bathroom mirror, dirty dishes in the sink, or if the bed was unmade. The "fine" was always $50, and at the end of the stay, she would "deduct" all the fines from the girls share. Sometimes it would add up to hundreds.

No I don't think you ever worked for a pimp, he sounds like a manager.

And no suprise here .. I agree w/ LD, LS & EW. I've got to start getting to threads before these 3. Now I have nothing to add :-(

Then she was a money grubbing hussy. Why pay someone for something you're too lazy to do yourself?

keeping half is standard? damn!

For all the ladies reading this, I'll make you all a deal. I will create custom webpages for you, update them anytime you want, advertise for you, book your appointments, check out the clients' references, take current photos, and evaluate your services (wink, wink), and I will only take 30%.

If you want to take me up on it, pm me and we can talk.

In my younger days, I once saw a pimp hit a girl in the back of the head with one of her own heels as she was walking away. Guess she got smart.

I just had to chime in on this one.

Since I am a male provider and know a whole bunch of girls throughout the state, I have seen a lot of things and have a different perspective.

PIMP: a MAN that "strong arms" his girls. Usually gets ALL of their money and then he takes care of them. Will resort to violence if necessary. His girls usually don't have a mind enough on their own. I hate to say it, but some girls need a man to keep there shit together for them. I never wish that upon anyone though.

An Agency Owner: Someone that pays for advertising, incalls (maybe or maybe not), handles screening (maybe or maybe not) and books calls. Takes a percentage of the cut or a set amount. They deserve it. They also may have their own clientèle and relationship with the client. They also may pay for photo shoots and perhaps even outfits starting out. They might even find them a driver if they need one. They also handle a sense of security whether or not they are close by or not. They might get $50 to $100, sometimes as much as $150 depending on what the rate was in the first place.

Then there is referral service or "secretary" or even assistant which is different too.

Because I know the biz inside and out, girls trust me and know that I know the marketing side of this biz inside out. Independent providers all over the state have begged me to start an agency of my own just so I can refer them biz. Other girls have begged me to handle all of their advertising and ads because I know how to sell and have a way with words. They've offered me me $20 a appt or a 20% cut. I've declined.

I'm way too sweet and nice to ever be a pimp. And the thought of working with a bunch of girls everyday about horrifies me. Could you imagine what type of headache that could become?

I make a damn decent living just doing what I do by myself. I've told them all I didn't really want the added extra "responsibility".

But who knows, perhaps one day I'll step up the game and do it for the girls, if it puts some extra money in my pocket, kewl.

Gina the owner of P411 is my hero though in this biz.

And not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but I've had wonderful free sex with a WHOLE bunch of providers around Texas. And I didn't even try, they fucked me because they wanted to and have come back for more. Being a redhead with a beautiful cock, great skills, heteroflexible, not afraid to suck a cock or get fucked from behind and admit it, or do everything that they do, it sure doesn't hurt either. The more free you are with your sexuality guys, the more women might actually DIG you.

And to all the guys out there that think "you should never see a girl with an agency, or a girl with a pimp" there are some good agency girls out there, there is no harm in those girls letting someone else sift through the bullshit. Those girls need a good foot in the door anyway.

No difference to me.....he's still a PIMP