NYC clients: would you see a masseur just outside the city?

[Simon Suraci]

So…many of you at various points have expressed interest in seeing me in NYC. I’ll frame this question to clients as it pertains to me and my business approach, but it’s a question relevant to hiring any provider visiting NYC, especially those offering massage in addition to, or instead of escort services.

We might apply some of the ideas in this thread to other expensive cities like Miami,  San Francisco, or others, but NYC is its own unique animal. This thread will focus specifically on New York City.

Would you consider traveling outside the boroughs to see a traveling provider that interests you?

My gut tells me no, that very few New Yorkers are willing to travel miles away to see a masseur or escort. Particularly for those of you in Manhattan, I assume you wouldn’t even want to leave the island to visit Brooklyn, Queens, or the Bronx. Heck, even going to one neighborhood in Manhattan vs another might be too much of an inconvenience for you. The city is teeming with good options, for massages and for sex, so I personally can’t blame any client for not considering traveling that far. Perhaps you might for a famous porn star you’ve followed for years, or someone really special to you, but probably not some guy you heard was good, but maybe only checks some of your boxes. You would see him if it were convenient and a good price, but not if he were further than a few subway stops away or charging a higher price. Am I wrong?

Why I ask this question is multifold:

1) I can spend the same amount of time circuiting mid size cities and make a higher profit margin. It’s very expensive staying in NYC. To net something comparable on a per-day or per-week basis, I concluded that I would necessarily have to raise my rates on a “per city” basis i.e. only when visiting NYC or another large, expensive metro. I don’t like that. I don’t want to do that.

I sure as hell know I can’t compete with the local talent at the same or higher rates as they are charging. My services have value, but not any moreso than your best guys available in the boroughs. It just doesn’t make sense to put in the same or higher level of effort for a net income less than what I can earn elsewhere.

2) Clients hate when providers change their rates by city. Am I wrong? At best, it causes confusion. At worst, it puts clients off. I can’t display different rates on my ads because it confuses clients viewing me in other cities. So the only option is to “surprise” clients with a higher quote when they inquire about the expensive city I am visiting. Clients would feel frustrated that what I advertise doesn’t match what I quote. The worst is having to answer the “Rates?” question text not knowing which city a client is inquiring about and teasing out that info before answering. So yeah…all around I really do NOT want to raise rates by city. I’d rather be consistent. I want to offer a solid value proposition wherever I am.

3) My business model is to drive. To do my work in a professional manner, I bring lots of equipment and supplies I can’t take on a plane. Escorting is different. You can get away with a carry on bag containing a few essentials. Massage requires a lot more “stuff”. I can’t imagine parking somewhere in NYC, unloading everything, and getting it to my rental unit or hotel room very efficiently or safely. Plus city parking is an extra cost on top of pricey accommodations. I don’t want to change how I deliver my services to fit the city. It lowers the client experience.

4) NYC is expensive. Any way you look at it, different types of accommodation, different locations within the city, it’s all expensive. Anywhere in NYC is more than double or triple per night what I typically pay for AirBnBs in mid size cities, plus the parking. I either have to eat that extra cost (which is less motivating for me to visit) or charge more to offset my costs (which is less motivating for clients to hire me).

5) I mostly do incalls on the road. This way, I can see more clients per day. It takes lots of extra time and some extra hard cost to do outcalls. I can do fewer outcalls per day, which eats into my gross earnings and therefore my profitability. I still have to pay for accommodations regardless of how many or few outcalls I agree to fulfill. I could charge a higher outcall fee, I suppose, but it can’t be grossly out of proportion, and whatever that is would net me lower than the same time spent on incalls. I have to sleep somewhere at night. So I figure I should get something decent and arrange it to best suit my service delivery model and take as many incalls as possible.

Do New Yorkers mostly want outcall service, or incall? How likely are you to book one or the other? How important is this aspect to your hiring decisions?

6) Say hypothetically demand for my services in NYC is high. Great! What a blessing. With increased demand, you might think I can just work more per day to offset the costs. Not really. I already work to capacity on these trips, meaning I allow just enough time for sleep, short rest and meal breaks, cleaning time, getting ready in the morning, etc. Optimism aside, I actually can’t work any more than I already do.

Figure a full slate of 5-6 clients a day with a sample schedule of: (2) 120 min appointments, (2) 90 min appointments, (2) 60 min appointments, and at least 30 mins between each client. It varies of course, but that sample is 11.5 hrs of time a day should clients theoretically all book exactly 30 min gaps apart (which never happens). Assuming all of those are incalls and everyone shows up on time, by the end of the day, I have worked something between 12-16 hours and I’m exhausted. I can’t do any more. Emotionally I am drained, physically I am tired, and sexually I need to recharge. So…the answer isn’t to simply “work more” to recoup the extra costs of offering services in an expensive city like NYC.

___________________

All of the above points lead me to consider offering services outside the city. So far, I haven’t seen the point, but I want to know what clients actually think. Assuming I found suitable accommodations, I wouldn’t have to raise prices or eat the costs of big city rentals and I could still make myself reasonably available to the NYC market. One forum member suggested I stay near his area north of New York City proper, closer to Connecticut. Costs would be relatively lower and I could operate practically much the same way I do in other cities. I imagine some alternate locations outside the boroughs may be comparable, such as areas of New Jersey. Long Island I assume is too expensive, but I haven’t really checked. Maybe.

My big question is: should I even bother?

Realistically, would New Yorkers consider seeing a traveling provider close to - but outside of - the city proper?

What are your limits? Blocks away? Neighborhoods away? Subway stops away? Within your borough? In a different borough? Cities near NYC? Minutes or hours of driving / rideshare? Outcall to your place only?

Economic incentives and my own assumptions lead me to avoid places like NYC. I’m wondering if I am missing something. I appreciate all of you in and near the NYC metro area who have expressed interest in me in the past (you know who you are). Rest assured, you’re still on my list to reach out when the time comes, and I would love to make a NYC trip at some point. I’m just trying to make business sense of it. 

[pubic_assistance]

53 minutes ago, Simon Suraci said:

I would love to make a NYC trip at some point. I’m just trying to make business sense of it. 

If you can line up enough business meeting clients at THEIR place, you should stay in Jersey City. There are cheap hotel options around Journal Square. It's a quick PATH train ( 15 minutes ) to Manhattan (Greenwich Village) or 25 minute to midtown Manhattan.

Edited 4 hours ago by pubic_assistance
spelling

[marylander1940]

Location, location, location

Manhattan (and specially Midtown) rule!

[pubic_assistance]

3 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

Location, location, location

Manhattan (and specially Midtown) rule!

Correct. but that's assuming all his customers want him to host.

I think the majority of people prefer to have an escort come to them.

I personally can't host...so I'm not speaking about personal choices....but I would certainly want the convenience to host if I could.

[marylander1940]

6 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Correct. but that's assuming all his customers want him to host.

I think the majority of people prefer to have an escort come to them.

I personally can't host...so I'm not speaking about personal choices....but I would certainly want the convenience to host if I could.

Not in NYC!

[pubic_assistance]

1 minute ago, marylander1940 said:

Not in NYC!

No ? Why is that ? 🤔

I find my NEED to travel quite an inconvenience.

[mike carey]

I'm not sure that @Simon Suraci is looking for people, especially those outside the five boroughs to tell him what does and doesn't work, and what he can and can't do in New York (so I have just disqualified myself, as I should anyway), but rather for New Yorkers to tell him what they would and wouldn't do, and specifically if they'd take the Metro-North or Path train a few stops to see someone, or to see him. For those who haven't, perhaps go back and read the situation he posed in his OP rather than simply launch into a boiler-plate 'what works in the big city' response to the thread.

[+ KensingtonHomo]

I live in Brooklyn but have and will travel to NYC for a provider I really like. I can also host but usually that’s for me and my husband to get massages. That’s another angle to consider @Simon Suraci. If you’re traveling and willing to come to people’s homes, I think there are lots of couples who want to have in home massages. 

[Simon Suraci]

3 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

I live in Brooklyn but have and will travel to NYC for a provider I really like. I can also host but usually that’s for me and my husband to get massages. That’s another angle to consider @Simon Suraci. If you’re traveling and willing to come to people’s homes, I think there are lots of couples who want to have in home massages. 

Thanks. Good to know. I would definitely travel for couples massages. Doubling up on the fee for back to back service makes outcalls worthwhile. Couples oftentimes feel much more comfortable in their own homes or likewise at their accommodations when they are traveling. I enjoy giving couples massages.

[Simon Suraci]

25 minutes ago, mike carey said:

…New Yorkers to tell him what they would and wouldn't do, and specifically if they'd take the Metro-North or Path train a few stops to see someone, or to see him.

Or any mode of transportation, really. I realize many New Yorkers do not own cars, but some do, and others prefer rideshares or taxis over trains. 

Reminder to all: this thread is not necessarily about whether you would travel to see me, specifically. I spin the question from my perspective as an example, to give it stakes. I realize I am not a fit for everyone in terms of type or service offerings, and that’s fine. I’m wondering more generally about how New Yorkers think about traveling providers that interest them and what dynamics are at play in their decision making. You could swap me out with anyone that interests you posing the same question.

Clients hiring for massage is of particular interest to me, but some of the same issues apply to escort only services too.

[ApexNomad]

As a New Yorker, I can say we value convenience and are usually open to traveling a bit for the right experience, especially if it means better rates or accommodations. But honestly, it really depends on the client. Some will do a short drive or subway ride, while others want to stay within the city limits for ease.

That said, I don’t think anyone in the boroughs is gonna trek out to Long Island unless they already live there! Areas in New Jersey (especially those accessible by PATH) could definitely attract clients looking for something a bit different.

If a client wants to see you, they’ll see you and make it happen.

Best of luck to you!!

[Simon Suraci]

1 hour ago, pubic_assistance said:

If you can line up enough business meeting clients at THEIR place, you should stay in Jersey City. There are cheap hotel options around Journal Square. It's a quick PATH train ( 15 minutes ) to Manhattan (Greenwich Village) or 25 minute to midtown Manhattan.

I was wondering about the outcall massage via train situation. I’m so used to driving with my equipment, parking nearby to my clients, and setting up that way. I imagine I would have to take trains to do a lot of the outcalls in NYC because driving and parking would be impractical in most areas of the city. Just assumptions on my part.

Lugging a table around on a train. Doesn’t sound fun, especially when they’re crowded. I at least strap the table to a skateboard so I can push it rather than put all that pressure on my back slung over the shoulders walking several blocks at a time. For stairs only buildings, I just have to suck it up.

[Simon Suraci]

10 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

Would you like to limit replies in this thread to those who have IP addresses from NYC?

 

Anyone can participate. Opinions from people who have knowledge of NYC or live there will be more relevant. I was trying to set up a more focused, productive discussion since NYC is unlike so many other US cities. The mentality and cultural norms I believe are unique.

The transportation infrastructure in NYC is different from most of the country. Sense of space, distance, and time are also different. For example, people in San Diego wouldn’t dream of driving 30 mins north to see me outside of central neighborhoods, whereas people in Ft Worth wouldn’t think twice about driving 30 mins to an hour in traffic to see me in Dallas. Each place has its own norms.

Since other cities will have their own quirks regarding travel distances, convenience and the like, I figured it would be best to keep the discussion more specific to NYC.

[ShortCutie7]

I don’t speak for others, but for me, as a New Yorker, location is SUPREMELY important.  I quite literally chose my first escort because his location was the most convenient one for me to stop at on my way to work.  As others have said, if you plan on hosting, your best bet is in or very close to midtown.  Honestly, I think guys would pay more for convenience. If you plan on doing outcalls, transportation accessibility is imperative, so better to stay somewhere very accessible like Jersey City or Astoria than somewhere like South Brooklyn or Long Island.

[pubic_assistance]

27 minutes ago, Simon Suraci said:

I was wondering about the outcall massage via train situation.

Most New Yorkers don't own a car and are accustomed to the subway or PATH. Those who think they are too good for public transportation will take an Uber.

Nobody will travel to the Bronx. Few will travel to Brooklyn. Some will travel to Brooklyn. You are always better off in Jersey City which is considered the safer choice when it comes to out of town travel. Easy to reach by PATH train (which is also considered safer than subway travel at night )

[pubic_assistance]

39 minutes ago, Simon Suraci said:

driving and parking would be impractical in most areas of the city. Just assumptions on my part.

Most parking garages are $40 to $50 anhour...one minute over and you're paying double that. Yeah...completely impractical to drive in NYC.

[Simon Suraci]

5 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Most parking garages are $40 to $50 anhour...one minute over and you're paying double that. Yeah...completely impractical to drive in NYC.

Crazy. Some cities that’s the price for an entire day. San Diego downtown is close to that range (for a day, not an hour).

[+ KensingtonHomo]

32 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Nobody will travel to the Bronx. Few will travel to Brooklyn. Some will travel to Brooklyn. You are always better off in Jersey City which is considered the safer choice when it comes to out of town travel. Easy to reach by PATH train (which is also considered safer than subway travel at night )

I disagree. I’m not going to Jersey for anything. I’d go to the Bronx first and I live in Brooklyn. 

[ShortCutie7]

20 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

I disagree. I’m not going to Jersey for anything. I’d go to the Bronx first and I live in Brooklyn. 

As a Brooklynite who works in Manhattan and has had to travel to both Jersey and the Bronx, Jersey is SHOCKINGLY easy (like to the extent that I was angry how much faster the commute is between NJ and Manhattan than Brooklyn and Manhattan).