Thoughts on social/public-time only dates.

Is there are market? Like every other conceivable niche the answer is yes. How big? Who knows. Worth the trouble? Who knows.

Afterall wasn't the orgin of the term "professional escort" someone that is compensated to accompany another to events where having a date is socially expected?

My biggest concern or piece of advice would be to figure out how avoid misunderstanding about what is on the menu. Afterall just about every ad ends with some kind of disclaimer about how the fee is for time and companionship only...wink, wink...

I suspect your clientele would skew much older. Are you comfortable with that?

And as far as the discount for future (full) services...selectively offer it as a courtesy if you want but I'd caution against it as an integral part of the offering. Keep the "balance sheet" clean. at the end of the date neither party has any obligation to the other (including some future discount).

offer guys to shave you Originally Posted by seductivesarah

Eeeeeew. Haha. I know I shouldn't "eew" at peoples' fetishes, but... EEEW! LOL.

This might be received most positively by executives traveling to Dallas on business, extroverts who enjoy socializing a lot, and the well-to-do (who are probably more comfortable with the idea of paying for all sorts of personal services). Originally Posted by Chevalier

The first category is the bulk of my current clientele. So, yay?

I've had requests for "just coffee with some compensation" sorts of dates before, and most of them have been from individuals for whom my current rates are over their usual limits but who have found me intriguing, or who don't want to invest that much time and money without reassurance that we're going to get along and he'll find me attractive. Both are understandable perspectives, and likely ones I'd share if the tables were turned. I've always declined because if I have the free time to schedule, I want to reserve that for a traditional date. It would be nice to meet some of those folks while the opportunity presents itself.

My biggest concern or piece of advice would be to figure out how avoid misunderstanding about what is on the menu. ...

I suspect your clientele would skew much older. Are you comfortable with that? Originally Posted by atlcomedy

I'm fairly certain the first would be easy to handle -- "public time only" doesn't let the imagination run too wild. As far as my clientele skewing toward the upper end of the bell curve, I'm not sure why it would (any more than it does already...) but if so, not an issue. Old farts need love too.

There's a very refined young lady I had the pleasure to meet in the past who demanded a "free" public date/meeting before she would consider seeing you BCD. Her interest was in that initial chemistry to see if going BCD was of interest to both parties to be able to enjoy fully. Yea, she was that into it personally. And for her it worked. Well, for me too a couple of times. LOL!

There's a very refined young lady I had the pleasure to meet in the past who demanded a "free" public date/meeting before she would consider seeing you BCD. Originally Posted by Charlie_Harper

Yes, one or 2 gals near where I live insist on that as well ... well at least that is what their ads and websites say.

I would quite enjoy a social with Camille & Lauren. There is nothing like a great conversationist that can feed my mental imagery..

The first category is the bulk of my current clientele. So, yay? Originally Posted by Carrie Hillcrest

Yeah, as I typed that I was thinking it sounded like your typical client, or maybe the typical HDH client in general.

who don't want to invest that much time and money without reassurance that we're going to get along and he'll find me attractive. Originally Posted by Carrie Hillcrest

Those type of compatibility screening dates fit into the more familiar pattern of public dates connected to BCD. That might make applying part of the fee to a later regular date more appropriate, although I've always thought doing that was most logical when viewed from the lady's perspective, where she's the one trying to make sure she'd enjoy time with him. Successful date = indirect discount on the next date, which may make sense for her because it means: (a) she enjoyed the public date (compared to the guy she turns down); and (b) she has a future income stream. Whereas if the guy is doing the compatibility screening, he pays less (because of the future indirect benefit) if he enjoyed the public date than if he didn't.

Being able to apply the public date fee to a future private date may not be very important from a financial perspective. It depends on the amount of the fee and the guy's situation. $60 or $100 may not be as big a deal as $250; for your target market, $250 may not be a big deal either. It may be more important from a psychological perspective, which might suggest an ad hoc approach -- don't advertise it but offer it in an email after the date. Then you would have a better sense of whether you want to see him again and also of whether that is something important to him.

Old farts need love too. Originally Posted by Carrie Hillcrest

Yes, we do!

I guess my answer is going to be a lot like Chev's...it depends.

If I needed a companion for an event, and that companionship was to be "no BCD time"...then I would still certainly expect to front a fee for the time spent.

OTOH, if I were just doing a "I want to meet you" event...where I was buying her a few drinks, or maybe a nice dinner, and she charged me for such an event?...I'd probably pass.

I don't mind helping a lady out who's having some financial woes...and have done so several times...with no "tit for tat", so to speak. But it is my gift to them...they have not earned it...and I am not paying for anything...and frankly, they don't owe me anything.

I'll pay someone to wash my clothes. I'll pay someone to cook for me. I'll pay someone for P4P. I'll pay someone to give me a massage. I might even pay someone to drive me somewhere (albeit, I love to be the driver). But I doubt I'll pay someone to eat dinner or have a drink with me. That's what my friends (or friends to be) are for.

I'll echo RK's comments.

I would quite enjoy a social with Camille & Lauren. There is nothing like a great conversationist that can feed my mental imagery.. Originally Posted by Roark

I once was a beard for a gay guy at his business associate's wedding. He had an arrangement with a female friend but she cancelled last minute. We had a really good time and he compensated me with my regular evening rate. That's it for my experience.
Unfortunatly, we are usually dancing without a net if this biz is what we depend on to pay the bills and suddenly you are out of commission. Can't exactly sign up for unemployment!! Hope it all resolves itself for you soon, Carrie.

I've had a few gentlemen request social dates specifically without BCD time, and its worked well for me. However, its never been something I offered on a regular basis. In my experience, it was requested because he was in town on business and wanted a dinner companion or someone to go have an evening on the town with. For that, I received $75/hr and had a great time. I can't really seen multiple clients just paying for social time, but then again, they know they can get a BCD and social engagement all rolled into one day with me.

Feel better darling! Being down with an injury is certainly no fun.

But I doubt I'll pay someone to eat dinner or have a drink with me. That's what my friends (or friends to be) are for. Originally Posted by Rudyard K

You hear that friends of Rudyards? Ya'lls job is to eat and drink with RK so he don't have to drink alone!

You hear that friends of Rudyards? Ya'lls job is to eat and drink with RK so he don't have to drink alone!

Originally Posted by WTF

Alright! Twist my arm. Who is buying?

Alright! Twist my arm. Who is buying? Originally Posted by pjorourke

I think it's your turn.

Well Carrie as Charles said, over the years there have been several ladies in Ohio who did this. Unfortunately, I don't think any of them are still in the biz. If I run across any though, I'll PM you the names.

Some may disagree but I think this is more likely to appeal to older guys like me. And, for me, it would only appeal when I'm traveling. Therefore, the idea of a credit wouldn't work because who knows when I'd be back in the same place again or when we'd be in the same area at the same time?