In the field of full service, full contact sex work, you have several options available to you in terms of how you’d like to operate, and which option you choose may depend largely on your lifestyle, personality and personal preferences. If you’ve chosen escorting as your gig, you generally have two choices available to you: you can choose to be freelance and independent, or you opt to be represented by a third party, known as an agency. This article is about some of the things you might expect (and things to look out for) when working for an agency.

There are those who swear up and down that agency escorting is simply “pimping” and that it is exploitative in nature. The unfortunate truth is that, in the realm of socially tabooed and legal grey-zone employment, there will often be shady and unscrupulous agencies who are only interested in making a buck without caring for your welfare, and will take advantage of the peripheral position of escorting in order to treat their workers unfairly. However, there are still many other potential employers out there who can offer you fair pay, fair hours, and will represent you with respect. Do your homework and find the agency that is right for you.

How does an agency work? Here’s what to expect…

Independent escorts set their own rates, make their own appointments, accomodations and travel arrangements, and keep everything they earn. There is a lot of control and freedom in that, which is why so many prefer to operate that way. However, independent escorting can be a lot of work and responsibility. Answering so many phone calls, responding to deluges of emails, having to deal with indecisive potential clients over the phone, deadbeats, no-shows, serial-callers, time wasters. Independents also need to keep track of how well their choice of advertising space is paying off, and do the math to make sure that they’re making a satisfactoy profit after paying for ads, incall space, transportation, and are entirely responsible for their own security.

For many people, this is just too much to worry about. If you are in school full time, or already have a full-time job, have a family to take care of, or simply don’t deal well with self-promotion and and entrepreneurial stuff, an agency might be good for you. For a certain price, an agency will be responsible for attracting clients for you and booking your calls, arranging transportation, and acting as a third party security presence who knows exactly where you are and who you are with (a major deterrent to potential security risks).

An agency will book appointments for you according to a set schedule. Usually, agency escorts decide on their schedule week to week. Your schedule consists of the time slots, or shifts, during the week that you agree to make yourself available and ready for appointments. Many escorts can decide to schedule as little or as much as they want, and set their own hours and capacity of appointments per shift, though this depends on the flexibility offered by the agency. Some agencies will allow you to book on for as little as one day a week, for as little as a couple of hours per shift. Others might demand a minimum, such as three days a week at a minimum of six hours per shift. Some might allow you to impose a limit on how many clients you see per shift, others might insist that you take any and all calls that they book for you until your shift is done. Decide for yourself what you are most comfortable with and shop around until you find an arrangement that works for you.

One of the nice things about the agency arrangement is that you can easily compartmentalize your escorting job from the rest of your world, if discretion is what you desire. Someone else is taking care of all the business details: the calls and emails are being fielded by someone else, they are the ones negotiating the prices and assuring potential clients how fabulous you are, and you know ahead of time which hours in the week are devoted to work. They take care of the website, arrange for your photos, cover the advertising, provide transportation to and from appointments. All you have to do is show up and do your thang!

Agency fees

How much does an agency take? How much do you take home? Of course, it all depends on the agency and, as previously mentioned, some are more fair than others. Also, different agencies might collect their fees in different ways. Some might have a pay-per-shift situation, where the escort pays a fee (80$, for example) at the beginning of the shift, and then only pays the agency a modest tarif for each appointment s/he receives (say, 30$ per call). However, more frequently the agency simply claims a percentage on the basic rate quoted to the client. When interviewing with and agency, make sure you understand how the cut works, and what the bottom line is for you. How much goes into your pocket? Are there any extra fees, such as pick-up and drop-off fees for the driver, fees for towel service and bed sheets if you’re working an in-call, etc.?
It’s also not unheard of for an agency to lower everyone’s fees by having everyone take turns on office duty, booking and keeping track of the calls and transportation. It’s not a bad idea, but unless you’re part of a very responsible and tight-knit co-op situation that you trust, I don’t recommend it. With so many people rotating on and off the phones, it can become very disorganized, and it can easily degrade into a situation of finger-pointing and shoulder-shrugging when your schedule gets messed up or your call goes wrong.

Things to be wary of, and things you may want to avoid…

Agencies who’s owners insist on “auditioning” you or “trying you out”. If your employment with them is on the condition of having you perform service with anyone (the owner, the owner’s friends, a client) without being payed fairly for it on the premise that they need to check you out first, then forget it. It’s exploitative and innappropriate. Some agencies might ask you to disrobe in private to make sure that they have an accurate idea of your dimensions, tattoos, any major scarring, etc., but even this kind of treatment seems unnecessary to me and would cause warning flags to go up in my mind (especially if the self-styled inspector is male).
Ask about the clientele and where your calls usually take place. Generally it’s a good sign if your agency discriminates a little (if they tend to avoid sending you to really bad neighbourhoods, if they avoid most motels, if they turn down obviously drunk clients). Ask them about their black-listing practices (keeping a list of clients who they will no longer book with), about what kind of behaviour gets them on the black-list, and if you as an escort are allowed your own list of people you’ve decided not to see. Ask them what their back-up plan is in case of emergencies, if they have a call-in/call-out routine with safe code words etc. If they fumble about to give you an answer or they seem bemused or indifferent that you’re even asking about any of these issues, then they should live pretty low on your list of top agencies.

You may wish to avoid 24 hour agencies. It’s very difficult for an agency to keep it up (no pun intended) for 20 to 24 hours a day without getting disorganized. In my experience, drivers fall asleep, the bookers get tired and confused, people are always working overtime and way past their shifts. And the creepier calls, the drunk frat-boys and jerky business men and the up-to-no-goods, they all tend to make up the bulk of the calls after 1:00 or 2:00 am for some reason, perhaps because it’s after last call and they find themselves at loose ends.
Ask a prospective agency how far they expect you to go, in terms of health and safe service. A good agency will respect your limits, as long as you cover the basics. There are many agencies who might pressure you beyond your limits (anal sex, oral without condoms) in an effort to stay competitive in the market. If their expectations are in line with what your comfort zone, then it may work out. But if it sounds like their policies and expectations don’t back you up on your right to protect yourself and stay healthy, then find another agency.

Things you should NOT put up with

This will all sound really common sense, yet sometimes it needs to be said. Sometimes we accept the stigma of whoring and pimping and it leads us to believe that all the negative stereotypes are par for the course. But here are some things that you don’t have to put up with:

Obsessive fees and penalties: Although it’s perfectly reasonable to give escorts incentive to be on time, dress appropriately, and generally act responsibly, it’s entirely unreasonable for an agency to jump on you every time you’re five minutes late or some other minor infraction. If you suspect your agency is fee-happy just so they can make an extra buck off of you, you’re probably right.

Bookers/owners talking disparageingly about the girls, or breaking them up into “classes”: if you overhear an agency owner, booker, or receptionist talking disrespectfully about you or the other escorts over the phone to potential clients, or if they break you up overtly into categories of class and quality, it’s a bad sign. It doesn’t foster a respectful atmosphere, and it’s not good or fair representation. (I remember one day, many years ago, listening to an employer talk to a potential client over the phone about the prices: “Well my friend, the price depends completely on what kind of girl you’d like…..I have some real beautiful young ladies here, and I have some real rough-looking raccoons!” Yeah, I knew I was in the wrong place.)

Agencies who occasionally try to get you to work for free or for less money as a “favour”: oh, the reasons they might come up with are many. It’s for a friend, it’s someone’s birthday, it’s a longtime regular client…..no, forget that. Business is business.

Agencies who send you to places where there is more than one client: unless you were already told about it (like when the call is booked as a threesome) and the situation has been assessed as a safe one, you should leave the call immediately and your agency should back you up on that action. Some agencies will cater to stage parties…..while my feeling is that these are best avoided generally speaking, at the very least you should insist that at least one other escort will attend, and that whoever you are partnered up with will stay sober and responsible. In any case, if multiple clients were agreed-upon for the call, then you should be making more money for it.

Agencies who want a cut of your tips: anything your client gives you above and beyond the quoted price, and any extra charges for special services (such as threesomes, role-play, special costumes & fetish, etc.) should be yours. You’re the one doing the extra work, the agency shouldn’t ask you for a cut of that.
Agencies who make you work when you’re ill: a bit of a sniffle is one thing, but if they insist that you see clients even when you’re very ill or when you’re having some *ahem* plumbing issues (bladder or urinary tract infections, yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or vaginal/vulvar pain for any reason), then they are demonstrating disrespect for both you and the clients.

Agencies who knowingly and consistently send you into situations that go beyond your limits: The occasional slip-up happens, we’re all human. It might happen sometimes that the client wasn’t specific about what s/he wanted, or that the booker wasn’t aware that this particular client has a drug problem, or they could have sworn that you were okay with serviceing female clients, stag parties, role play, anal sex. But if this seems to be a habit with your agency, with them consistently sending you into situations that they (should) know you’re not comfortable with, and you’re dreading every shift because you never know what kind of crazy call you’ll end up with next, then find another agency. One that won’t lower itself, or you, by always mismatching your clients’ desires against your limits and comfort levels. Also, this kind of inconsiderate booking could be a symptom of larger problem: a booker who doesn’t care where they send you. Such an agency might also knowingly send you to clients who are filthy and unhygenic, who are known to be rough or rude, who are known to haggle or short-change you, or who are potentially abusive and unsafe.

Abusive agencies: and of course, it should go without saying, that no one at an agency should ever yell at you, threaten you (directly or indirectly), blackmail you, force you to work, put you in danger either knowingly or by negligence, or hurt you. If an agency pulls this kind of stuff with you, you can report them to the police, if you’re comfortable doing so. Check to see if there’s a special officer or unit that might deal sensitively with your situation.

If you live in a town where there’s not a lot of choice available to you, and the above-mentioned points are impossible to avoid, then I would suggest you investigate being an independent escort instead.

What is expected of you? Be a good escort…..

If you have chosen representation with an agency, keep in mind that you are also representing the agency. Your conduct affects the agency’s image, as well as that of the other escorts working there. So, be meticulous about your hygiene, dress well and dress appropriately (do not go out to calls dressed in nothing but a lime-green ass-hugging hoochie dress and pvc platform sandals). Ask your agency what clothing range is appropriate to them. Be polite, warm, and diplomatic with clients (“Before we get cozy, I’ll just give the office a ring to let them know I found my way here, and while I’m at it maybe we can take care of business…” as opposed to “Hey, okay, so do you have 250$? You have to pay up-front. Oh sh*t! I almost forgot to call the office so they can get the clock started on us…” Also, depending on the laws of your land (I’m taking Canada in general as an example here) your agency may be taking great legal risk for you. As a third party representing you and taking care of your bookings for a fee, your agency’s position is precarious and the law could slap them hard for procuring and living off of avails of prostitution, so try not to do anything that would draw unfriendly, unnecessary, negative attention to them, such as getting drunk and making a scene, flashing the money around when your driver picks you up, talking business details loudly and carelessly, or getting needlessly confrontational or aggressive with clients.

Be advised that, unless your agency specifies otherwise, the fees quoted to clients when booking the calls are all-inclusive. This means that, inclusive in the fee, most generic sexual activities, from conversation to getting naked to blow jobs to intercourse, are expected. It’s a fairly universal a no-no these days to try upselling and squeezing extra money out of a client for these things once you get to a call. The only time you might expect to negotiate for extras is when the client changes his or her mind once you arrive and suddenly wants a special service that would, according to the agency’s policy, merit an extra charge (such as threesomes, role-play, certain fetish and high-maintenance fantasy requests), and even then your agency might have a standard rate for these extras. And generally speaking, it’s not kosher to explicitly ask for tips or charge an extra fee for specific sexual acts. If you’re disinclined to provide anal play or facials, don’t offer it as an upsell. If, on the other hand, your client pleads with you to provide these services and voluntarily produces more bills from their pocket as incentive, and you’ve decided it’s worth it, then everyone’s happy and you didn’t have to Mary-Kay yourself to anyone.

Don’t be over-obvious about your business when you go to hotels…be professional, polite, and above all be discrete. Your client may be throwing the big money around and getting a high off of asking you to do outrageous, sexy, party-animal tricks for his entertainment, but try not to give the hotel any grief by being obnoxiously loud or running up and down the halls naked.

Be sober for your calls. Some clients will invite you to relax and have a few drinks with them, but know your limits and don’t get wasted. Stay in control.

Be on time for your driver to pick you up, and be on time when you are leaving the call. These things are very important so that everyone can stay on schedule. You might be in a large city with a limited number of drivers on staff. If you are very late out of a call, it might mean that your driver won’t be on time to pick up another escort. He may have to pass the pick-up on to someone else (losing him some money) or the other escort has to wait around or take a cab. Also, exiting a call very late may cause your agency to worry about your safety (please, don’t do that to them!) Time is money, so stay on schedule!

This is a team effort, so don’t gossip about other escorts to your clients. Even if what you want to say is true, even if the client is starts it and is goading you on, it’s in poor taste and it’s bad business. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. On the other hand, if you have nice things to say about your co-workers, promote them by all means. The favour will likely be returned one day.

Avoid telling your clients the less enchanting details of your life, even if they ask. They think they want to know, but they really don’t. You are a fantasy to them, your job is to maintain that fantasy. Leave your man troubles, your money troubles, your family troubles, your physical and mental health troubles at home.

And please be respectful to your agency and avoid poaching clients. It may be tempting to see a client a couple of times and then try to make some extra money by giving them your personal contact info and seeing them independently on the side, but there are some ethical considerations here. Consider that your agency is the one who paid for the advertising, the photos, and the website which attracted this client to you. And consider that they are the ones who sit on the phones all the time, dealing with the losers and the dead-beats until they finally find you a decent call like this. Respectful, ethical agencies aren’t raking in a whole lot of money, and they really don’t deserve to have clients who they worked hard to attract stolen away like that. Also, keep in mind that any client who is so adamant about seeing you privately on the side may turn out to be trouble. They might just be separating you from the safety of the pack, where they can negotiate to pay you less, where they feel free to book you and cancel on you and break promises whenever they like, or worse, where they feel they can get closer to your life and real identity in order to act possessive, manipulate, harass, blackmail, or otherwise abuse you.

Choices

Although they may seem obscured by the secretive, tip-toeing nature of the industry, you do have a lot of choices in terms of finding arrangements among escort agencies that will work for you (that is, if you live in a major city like Toronto). Then again, the range of options you have might depend on which town, city, or country you live and work in. But just know that ultimately, you do have freedom of choice, and you should never, ever let yourself be in the position of feeling like a slave….not to your agency, not to the industry, not to anyone. If, after looking around, asking around, and going for many many interviews you’ve exhausted the possibilities and you still haven’t found an agency who’s policies and arrangements seem fair to you, then perhaps you might consider compromising and exploring the possibility of forming a co-op with other escorts who will share the bills, or you may be better off taking the plunge and going independent.
When you do find a good agency who will represent you well, watch your back, and keep you in bookings, then you can carry on with the sexy business of reducing clients to supple-kneed puddles of contented sighs, and earn yourself a lovely living.