An Introduction to Sex Work

[Guest lydiahardwood]

Hey guys.

I've decided to share some content every week covering hot topics in the industry, specifically designed to help newbies get the most out of their sex work career. As you guys are the true experts, I think it'd be great if you guys could also add your tips so we can make these threads as helpful as possible.

So, first topic: An introduction to sex work.

If you're looking into getting into the sex industry, I don't blame you for showing interest! It’s an awesome industry with great earning potential. I’m going to be mainly covering escorting in this thread, but it wouldn’t be fair to talk about sex work without mentioning the many other avenues there are out there. So, let’s begin with… 

Different types of sex work

Escorts
AKA full service sex worker, girlfriend experience, companion. This area of work is normally the one that springs to mind when people hear the term “sex worker”.
Cam Girls
We’ve all heard of OnlyFans. And if not, you’ve probably been living out the COVID pandemic under a rock (talk about social distancing, right?). But cam girls were around waaay before OF made its appearance, on the likes of Chaturbate, iCams and more. 
Sugar Babies
If you think sugaring is where a rich guy pays for all your stuff and expects nothing in return then I’m afraid you’re wrong. A lot of hard work goes into being a sugar baby. Arrangements differ from relationship to relationship, but be prepared to be texted and called and go for IRL dates with your sugar daddy/mommy. 
Pornstars
This is a “does what it says on the tin” kinda thing. This is different from camming as porn is pre-recorded whereas cam shows tend to be live (more often than not).
Strippers
AKA exotic dancers, lap dancers. Usually work in strip clubs or are available for hire for a special event, typically bachelor/ette parties. 
Phone Sex Operators
These sex workers provide sensual conversation over the phone or by text. 
Dom/Dommes
Ahh, there’s nothing like some good old-fashioned BDSM. Clients will often come to these sex workers to fulfill a fantasy of being chained up, whipped, humiliated and so on. Doms or Dominatrixes don’t always offer full service.
Others
Of course there are other types of sex work; erotic writers, foot pic sellers, underwear sellers etc., but the above are the most popular ones. 

What exactly is an escort?
So, back to our main reason for writing this post: escorting. An escort is a companion who you can pay to spend time with. What happens within that time is between two consenting adults (I don’t have to spell out exactly why people hire an escort, right? Use your initiative here, guys).

A common misconception about escorts is that they wander the streets, hanging around on street corners, waiting for punters to pull up while their pimp lurks in the background. While this may have had an element of truth about it in the past, it’s the 21st century now. And the internet has generally made things much easier, and safer, for our community.

The majority of escorts can now be found online, most commonly on sex work dedicated websites or Twitter.

Independent vs Agency
What’s the difference? An independent escort is someone who works for themselves. This means they set their own pricing, do their own marketing, sort their own venues… they’re basically self employed. An independent escort is unlikely to rent out a flat long term. Instead, they are likely to work from hotels or go to a destination of a Client’s choosing (see here for more info on incalls/outcalls). 

The benefits of working as an independent escort:

• You get to keep 100% of your profit
• You get to choose where you work from
• No dealing with a manager or colleagues
• You can choose what times you work
• You choose where you advertise
• You manage your own security and screening of Clients

The downsides of working as an independent escort:

• It’s more hard work and can take up a lot of your time, because you have to do more yourself
• Have to build up your own client base 
• Initial set up can be costly (website, advertising fees, toys etc.)
• It can get lonely

If an escort works for an agency, it could mean that they’re on the books for a third party company that sources Clients for them. This means that they’ll simply give you a call when they have a booking for you. They also often provide a driver too, who sometimes also acts as your security. Then there are venues that allow escorts to work from there and they take a cut of the money (many people would refer to this as a brothel, but I prefer the term “parlour” or “spa”). 

The benefits of working for an agency:

• You’ll have a driver (if doing outcalls) or security if it’s at an incall location (at least, you should do!)
• Agencies tend to have an existing client base, so bookings are likely
• They’ll take care of the advertising for you

The downsides of working for an agency:

• You have to give them a cut of what you make
• You may have to abide by a rota
• You have less control over where you’re advertised/how your Clients are screened/how much you charge etc.

 

Incall vs Outcall
What is an incall?
An incall is when a Client visits you in a location of your choice. This could be a hotel room, a room/flat/house you’ve rented or a spa/parlour that you work at. 

The benefits of incalls:

• You get to choose a location you feel safe at
• You can check the Client is who they say they are at the door - no nasty surprises
• Married or uneasy Clients tend to like this option more as it’s less “risky” for them

The downsides of incalls:

• Some Clients don’t feel comfortable going to an unfamiliar place
• Some hotels can get suspicious (this may occasionally happen, but is less likely to occur  if you are discreet, see less clientele and work “normal” hours)
• It can be expensive to rent out a room or hotel, especially if you don’t fill your day with appointments

What is an outcall?
An outcall is where you go to a location of the Client’s choice. This is often their own homes but could also be a hotel. 

The benefits of outcalls:

• It’s often the cheapest option as you do not incur any cost to host the client
• If working for an agency, you’ll likely get a driver/security

The downsides of outcalls:

• Less security as you are in an unfamiliar location
• Potentially recording equipment (be vigilant, always - more tips in our staying safe section)
• If no driver is offered, you may need to pay for your own transport

I hope this gives an insight into the different types of sex work. Guys, if I've missed anything, or got anything a bit wrong, please comment on this thread so it can be improved! 🙂

Big love,

Lydia ❤️🙂