Escort services losing out to social media

The longstanding tradition of male escort services in Jamaica, yes right here in Jamaica! has been successful in as far as profits by the operators and satisfied customers over the years are concerned, me included so I declare interest (smile) but like nearly every other facet of life social media has either reduced, changed, amended or eradicated some elements that were once accepted. Quietly men have been providing such services and satisfaction for other men for decades locally and persons who you’d least expect are in the business as one such episode was brought out in media though showed as an extortion matter yet those in the know are aware or matters otherwise. Hint Hint, of a certain public persona. Anyway I ran into an old general in the business at Pavillion Mall recently; been a while since I went there and we sat by the benches near the Digicel store eastwards infront the Jewellery store nearing that infamous entrance/exit zone, you may ask why I am so specific as that exact area prior to social media and such was a hunting/meeting space for men as well coincidentally in years gone by for the so called “walk-foot” populations who cannot afford more private facilities or a car for ease of transport so it was a bit funny to me although I never mentioned it in my conversation with the elder.

I decided to share some of this publicly as sometimes there is an impression out there unfortunately created and facilitated by some so called LGBT activists and NGOs that real life does not exist here in as far as some socio economic classes are concerned or it is only the middling classes or above that can live or navigate the minefield of same gender sexual pleasure when they themselves have no real world experience and also buy into the stereotypes that more masculine men are somehow all anti-gay or homophobes; when what it may amount to is effemophobia or the fear of the feminine.

I inquired if the business was still on and he said yes but with a drop in his voice and expression which prompted my next comment and query “dat nuh sound so good, something wrong?” (that does not sound good, is something wrong?) I asked to which he said that the business is not as safe as it used to be anymore, the prospects are becoming more demanding in terms of rates and prices, customers are not prepared to pay the contributions and the prospects and not literally standing up to it; meaning erectile dysfunction challenges with men who are supposed to not have such issues. He complained that issues he never had in previous years have surfaced and with the perception that it is open market for marijuana use the fellas are using with what appears to be side effects of the latter dysfunction problems.

He does not have a website as since the blockade policy taken by the Golding administration to the Jamaican audience there has been a turndown in business since so other methods have had to be used in the meantime.

He continued that a few persons have complained that second and third go rounds seem virtually impossible or are hard to accomplish as prospects cannot get it up or rise to the occasion as is demanded by some eager and regular clients. It has been proven that misuse or abuse of marijuana especially of some species of the herb can lead to issues of poor blood circulation and such having an impact of blood pressure hence erection to the male member via blood flow of course. HIV testing seems to be another issue as some of the prospects refuse to do so for purposes of record keeping and such as there are persons who may request negative persons believe it or not.

That incident of an orgy gone bad recently also came up which I did not know he was aware of but silly me as the organiser of that event is also in the business per say but from a different angle hence the mention of an orgy.

See: Orgies intruders and safety

His disappointment was more pronounced however when it came to the subject of the imposition of social media on his efforts as he says some prospects have since left the fold and are on their own literally playing the field for hook-ups and such via all kinds of groups public and private and via influentials around. The party scene is a dead zone for such hook-ups these days he says as the patrons are younger and are not that demographic really for such service which is true from long time ago but there may be a few leads there. He may be right in terms of social media’s impact and loss of prospects as my own experience some months ago attest where I was added to a private Facebook group, I shared my X-rated blog therein only to be hit with a private message some minutes later from a few of the guys as members quite openly with two going as far as sharing personal details, photos (nudes/erections) and even expectations for compensation.

Bolder and more outgoing are the brothers becoming that they do not need a middle man anymore it seems and hence the operators are complaining. Another operator of a popular site has echoed similar sentiments and also claimed the fees demanded by persons who are models are jumping like crazy. The elder statesman made it known that a popular name in the business may fold his outfit soon as he fears he is wasting his time in terms of possible profits but for the fun of it he may continue for the pleasurable benefits. Some escort outfits I am aware of provide some converge such as shelter for out of towners, some coverage for health services including HIV testing and STI monitoring but of course this is of course subject to the fees charged and withdrawals for costs etc. It is a business like any other business I would imagine.

Apart from networking with friends or the proverbial grapevine with some cruising social media affords more obvious ease at finding prospects at ones fingertips but what about safety I asked the gentleman as we watched persons passing by including other old party patrons from back in my time as an active DJ, He answered that he checks out backgrounds all the time before adding persons to his roster as independents while looking physically attractive can be something otherwise. That public persona so called extortion matter came up again and we laughed that the so called victim of all persons ought to have checked and known better as the alleged miscreant is well known in escort and hook-up circles, it is said his reputation precedes him.

I encouraged him to try and get into some of the groups out there which he says he already does but the prospects refuse when approached to have him or his outfit act as intermediary they want the gains for themselves he thought out loud but one cannot force a man I replied. Let us see if there may be a settling of sorts with the use of social media for hook-ups versus face to face links or an online profile. I get the feeling that some of these characters though are not really gay and are into the business via some sort of introduction (substitutional sex perhaps via jail or prison) or an old perception that more affluent gay men are prepared to spend big for certain types of guys which can lead to all kinds of issues chief among them this chronic entitlement problem otherwise seen as extortion.

Happy hunting folks and be ye careful, still too many bad reports are had of hook-ups gone ugly.

Peace and tolerance

H