Working Name: Barbara.

Which sex work field are you in/were you in? For how long have you been in this field?

I've been a sex worker off and on since I was 18 years old -- 20 years now. I am currently an escort, but I have worked as a stripper, a peep show girl, a masseuse, a phone sex girl, I've worked in a massage parlor, I've worked for agencies, and I now work as an independent.

What is your preferred job title?

Adult Service Provider (ASP)... but call girl works. Hell, you can call me anything... I answer to all of it.

How did you decide which type of sex work was right for you?

Trial and error. I started out working in a peep show, then I worked as a stripper, then I did phone sex, then I worked as a masseuse (topless), then I went to work in a massage parlor... from there I started working as an independent, though I've worked for agencies here and there. I just kept trying new things, until finally I ended up here. But I do love what I do. I wish now that I'd had the benefit of research before I got into the business... other women to talk to, to learn from. I had to learn everything the hard way, though I did have a woman who "turned me out" or showed me the ropes when I was first getting started. But there's so much more that I learned on my own, again, through trial and error. It would have been so nice to start out where I am now, instead of taking so many years to get to this point.

How did you find your job?

Initially, I found the massage parlor through a newspaper advertisement. The manager of the place took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew. This kind of "mentoring," or "turning out" is common amongst those of us who've been doing this a while. These days I guess people find their way via the Internet.

Briefly describe your working environment:

I work from home, though I'm thinking of renting a separate apartment just for incalls, mostly because I'm afraid of the police. They could seize my home, if I were busted here. My home is cozy and filled with antiques, candlelight... but my main working environment is my office. I spend more time on my computer by far than I ever do in bed. I live on the computer. I'm constantly answering emails, working on marketing, that kind of thing. So the Internet really is my working environment.

How do most clients find you and/or book an appointment with you?

I advertise exclusively online, and also get business from review boards. I also blog at escortblogs.net and punterlink. I do get hits on my website from my blogs as well. I use free and paid advertising. Probably the best advertising resource for me is the eros guide. The ads are expensive, but worth it. I have my name and face on every escort advertising source I can find. This makes me pretty high profile, which is a greater risk for dealing with the police. This makes me nervous. But it's done now, and to go back and try to undo it would be pretty difficult. So I'm very careful and screen my clients to the best of my ability.

Tell us a bit about what your job involves.

As I mentioned above, the majority of my time is spent on the computer. Answering emails, setting up appointments, screening clients, marketing myself, that kind of thing. I usually take one appointment per day, so that involves cleaning up the house, getting everything ready, lighting candles and incense, making myself look as good as possible, etc. It means you have to be a people person. It also means that you have to be able to separate your own personal sexuality and self from your working self, compartmentalize the whole thing. If you can't do that, you can't do this job and not go crazy or get hooked on drugs or something.

What is an 'average' appointment/session/call for you?

My average appointment is two hours long, and generally involves lots of conversation, a massage, and sex (often several times). I have learned to become a "five minute expert" on almost any subject; which is to say, I can talk intelligently about almost anything for at least five minutes. Then I have to change the subject. :) But you have to be able to talk to people about their work, their hobbies, their lives. Sex is only part of what I do. Most of my clients are looking for a connection on an emotional and mental level, aside from just the purely physical.

What's your weirdest client/session/call/request?

Weirdest request: guy who wanted me to wear WAY too much makeup, to the point that I had racoon eyes and lipstick on the outside of my mouth, going around onto my cheeks... I looked like a clown and was trying not to laugh and he kept going on about how beautiful I looked. I had a friend who had a client who wanted his penis strapped into a jar of live bees. There's a lot of strange requests out there. I could go on for days.

What do you charge/get paid?

I charge $275 for one hour, $350 for 90 minutes, $425 for 2hrs, $550 for 3 hrs... $1500 for overnights, etc.

What do you like most about your job?

Spending time with the clients, talking with them, cuddling after sex... connecting with other escorts and people in the industry.

What do you like least?

Being afraid of the police. The fact that I have no voice, no power. Society's judgements.

What would you like people to know about your work?

The truth is that this is a very difficult job. It's not for everyone. You have to have nerves of steel, and very clear personal boundaries. You have to be smart and savvy. Mostly, as I mentioned above, you have to be able to separate yourself from your work. Not take things personally. Like your clients, enjoy their company, but don't get emotionally involved. If you're just doing it for the money, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. If you're just doing it for the sex, you're definitely doing it for the wrong reasons. Yes, the money is good... but you EARN it! You have to at once be strong and hard as nails, and yet soft and maintain your innocence.

If you could go back in time, and tell yourself one thing just as you were getting started in sex work, what would it be?

It's okay to kiss them. It's okay to like them. It's okay to have orgasms and feel pleasure with what you do... but don't date them outside of work!