Experiences of pros who offer accompaniment services?

nurturingman

[Edit: Originally titled “Experiences of pros who offer (non-sexual) escort/companion services?”]

I've noticed a lot of pros in their profiles offer such services as "I'll be your date / be your plus-one at an event / hold your hand in an uncomfortable social setting" or what-have-you. These seem more like non-sexual escort and companion services than cuddle services— not that there’s anything wrong with that. My concern is that I would never want to lie about who I am and why I'm at an event (not a party crasher, here). Would I say "I'm an emotional support human"? Seriously, how does it work for you and your clients?

P.S. I don't intend to judge anyone offering these services; I'm just curious to "try them on for size" vicariously through listening to the experiences of pros who offer them.

CuddleWho

FWIW I would be be very careful about using the term “escort” in this context. It really is almost always used as a euphemism for “prostitute.”

Catloaf

I don't offer this type of service, but I will chime in and say that the use of the terms 'escort' and 'companion' should not permeate into the cuddling world when talking about a cuddler who offers to go to social events etc. So as a side note, pros, please do not call yourselves either of these words if you take yourselves and your business seriously. They are terms used almost exclusively by sexual hobbyists and SWs; 'companion' typically denoting that a provider is discreet, high-end and sex with them will happen organically rather than on-demand (despite what you may read or hear in various circles). Even if we stick the non-sexual label on it, it's going to be misconstrued to the average person who reads this thread title. Guilt by association unfortunately.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!

nurturingman

Since there are only so many words one can read in a headline, how would you suggest I title this discussion if I don’t use the words escort and companion?

Catloaf

That's a tough one. I'd say platonic friendship services, or even accompaniment.

elpaso87

I agree with the above comments. Is there really something as a non-sexual escort? lol A prostitute is somebody who has sex for money with nothing else involved. An escort is somebody who goes to events with the person and are sexually intimate. I could be way off, but those are my assumptions.

There is a website where you pay to be somebody's friend for an hour, a day, etc.

I think this website should just stick to cuddling. I think anything else should be forbidden. There are websites to hire friends, etc.

nurturingman

@elpaso87 Non-sexual escorts do exist. They may be hired for purposes of appearance (so you don’t look lonely or available) and security (not as a bodyguard, but so you don’t look like an easy target). They may be hired simply to be a person’s plus-one or they may help a person navigate unfamiliar cultures and settings; they may be interpreters who escort you to events, introduce you to people, and interpret all of your conversations.

I didn’t know about https://rentafriend.com until I did a Google search, but that is an example of a non-sexual escort service.

I’m curious what other pros think: should professional cuddlers offer escort and companionship services? If so, how do you make it work?

elpaso87

@nurturingman Renting a friend and renting an escort isn't the same thing. Normally, being an escort involves some sort of non-platonic services. Companionship is just another way of offering an escort service.

Like others said, don't use the word escort and companionship on here., but those two things normally mean two totally different things.

Rezz

I offer this service in addition to cuddling.

Some of my clients find cuddling too intimate and touch to be too personal but enjoy my companionship and wish to take me to social events for work, friends / family. They are sometimes new to the city and know few people or struggle with anxiety in large groups. I hold these clients to the same platonic expectations as those I do cuddle with.

I don't elude to the service I'm providing out of respect for my clients privacy and comfort. When introduced I'm a friend. If prodded as to how we met, we met online.

@elpaso87

Is there really Something as a non-sexual escort?

Yes there is.
How can two people crawl into a bed and hold each other for hours without sex? This site is a testament that it is possible and entirely more common than many would think. Same concept applies to being a platonic escort.

elpaso87

@envie

I'm confused. Are you saying all pro cuddlers are escorts? I would imagine the vast majority of pro cuddlers wouldn't want to be referred to as escorts.

There is a huge difference between hiring a pro cuddler and an escort. I wouldn't group them together.

Rezz

@elpaso87

Did I say cuddlers are escorts?
No. Not even close.

However being a cuddler who also offers platonic companionship I am by definition an platonic escort.

elpaso87

@Envie

You're confusing because you said "Yes there is. How can two people crawl into a bed and hold each other for hours without sex?"

There are many definitions for an escort, but an escort also means "a woman paid by the hour, not the act, but usually for sex." An escort is normally just a nicer way to say you're a prostitute.

Either way, please don't use the word escort or companion on here because it's not an appropriate word to use. If you're comfortable telling you're friends and family that you're an escort, then that's fine. But saying a woman is an escort normally implies something else.

nurturingman

When introduced I'm a friend. If prodded as to how we met, we met online.

Thank you for your answer, @Envie , and thanks for citing that dictionary definition of escort.

elpaso87

@nurturingman

Please don't use the word escort of this website. It's disrespectful to the women on here. At your own risk, type the word escort in Google Images. Then you will know why that word shouldn't be used on here.

Rezz

@elpaso87

You said

Is there really something as a non-sexual escort?

I said yes there is. I'm not the only cuddler here who also attends event without cuddling OR sex involved. I'm not a sex worker.

My comparison to cuddling and being an escort was simple.

Cuddling -
Two people can crawl into a bed and cuddle, no sex, for pay. Totally acceptable here.

Companion ( escort to events / public settings ) -
Bob does not like to cuddle, he lost his wife to cancer last year. The idea of cuddling to him is not comfortable, yet. Bob instead books me at my public session discounted rate to go to his workplace barbecue so he's not alone. He wants platonic companionship and someone to tear up some damn barbecue with. This is somehow considered taboo here by your own words.
How? Why?

One involves a way more intimate setting with physical touch, the other has no touch, in a public setting involving messy food and probably antacid in the near future.

A prostitute is somebody who has sex for money with nothing else involved. An escort is somebody who goes to events with the person and are sexually intimate. I could be way off, but those are my assumptions.

You are way off. If I'm accompanying someone to an event, I'm escorting them there. I'm not their girlfriend, date or sex worker. I'm being paid for my time to be a companion. The same ethics, rules and boundaries apply to my social setting bookings as they do in private cuddling settings.

Yes there is a certain connotation with the word escort for being sex work, but when I'm defining it very clearly and outlining what it means in the obvious context I'm using it, it should not invoke an argument.

nurturingman

@elpaso87 Please take a breather. You’ve made your point several times. This is a group discussion, not a debate between two people.

elpaso87

@Envie

I am not way off. One definition of an escort is "a woman paid by the hour, not the act, but usually for sex."

If you're fine telling you're friends and family that you're an escort, then that's fine. Please don't use that word on here.

elpaso87

@nurturingman

I can promise you that over 95% of woman on here who offer friendship services don't want to be referred to as escorts. Please stop using that word.

elpaso87

Please reread the post by @Catloaf:

"I don't offer this type of service, but I will chime in and say that the use of the terms 'escort' and 'companion' should not permeate into the cuddling world when talking about a cuddler who offers to go to social events etc. So as a side note, pros, please do not call yourselves either of these words if you take yourselves and your business seriously. They are terms used almost exclusively by sexual hobbyists and SWs; 'companion' typically denoting that a provider is discreet, high-end and sex with them will happen organically rather than on-demand (despite what you may read or hear in various circles). Even if we stick the non-sexual label on it, it's going to be misconstrued to the average person who reads this thread title. Guilt by association unfortunately.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk!"

Rezz

@elpaso87

Perfect. You can just choose to ignore me and Webster's definition. ✌️

I will escort myself back to unpacking now.

@nurturingman

I think offering these services is a great way to offer yourself to others in a comforting way and to help build your karma at the same time . I do suggest posting lower rates for public companionship if this is something you're considering as a pro. Bonuses usually include free food, fun events and sometimes making amazing friends in a non conventional way. ☺️

elpaso87

@Envie

I didn't ignore your definition. All I am saying is there are multiple definitions of the word. One definition is "a woman paid by the hour, not the act, but usually for sex."

So you're comfortable telling your friends and family that you're an escort?

Also, look up the word "escort" on Google Image and tell me what you see. All I am going to say is that the images are EXTREMELY NSFW.

Sideon

@elpaso87 - step away from this thread. You made your statements, now you have mine. Proceed at your own risk.

elpaso87

@Sideon

Why are you calling me out and not everybody else?

It's also interesting that @Envie previously stated this:
"The site is not advertising to seedy demographics. Those who are using the site as a sugar baby or escort service are doing so because have gotten away with it"

https://www.cuddlecomfort.com/forum/discussion/comment/104573#Comment_104573

Sideon

@elpaso87 - because @Envie is correct, and you're antagonizing. If you want to take it up with me in DM, do so, but you're done on this thread.

elpaso87

@Sideon So it's fine calling cuddlers who offer friendship services "escorts"?

Sideon

Dude.

pmvines

How many hairs can one split before they turn bald

@pmvines You may find your answer in this thread

Sideon

Carry on, @nurturingman and @Envie and @Catloaf , et al.

Sheena123

I used to have a cheaper option available for booking me as a friend to events but I prefer to mention it by mouth instead. So I can charge whatever amount I want depending on what it is. If it’s something I will really really enjoy, I won’t charge a whole lot. If someone wants me to tag along to an event that I know I’m not accustomed to, I may charge more.

I’ve had a huge array of events that cuddlers took me to.

Kayaking
Billiards
Karaoke
Gun range
Restaurants
Theatre
Trail walks
Ice cream

So many different fun things to do that people just want a friend to partake in it with. Good times. Definitely something I’m glad I offer and so many cuddlers enjoy it 🌸🌸

nurturingman

Thanks for sharing how it has worked for you, @Sheena123 !