I also don't agree with the definition of "non-sexual escort". An escort is an escort. A non-sexual anything is not an escort. I had this argument on another thread some years back. You simply cannot compare pro cuddling to escorting, at all. Not in overlap of terminology, and not in terms of practise either. Not only is it a huge faux pas in this community, but it's intellectually dishonest if you have had any experience as one, or know someone who is. It is an entirely, entirely different climate.
Non-sexual escorts as it were, are incredibly rare, if not unheard of. Sexual escorts do get booked for non-sexual services, sure. You'd be pressed to find an escort who self identifies with this non-sexual label though. But someone on rent-a-friend or whatever is not even a non-sexual escort. They're just someone selling friendship.
I appreciate everyone’s point of view on words, but please let’s not get caught up in semantics. My question isn’t about words, but about activities. Whatever anyone wants to call these activities, I’m simply asking pros who do them what their experience has been.
I had this argument on another thread some years back
Yeah I've seen this come up multiple times on this forum. It's a really bizarre argument. Practically speaking, escort pretty much always means prostitute, regardless of the fact that maybe it kind of meant something else in some other time and place. It's like, yeah, maybe "pussy" technically still means cat, but you just can't loudly and publicly announce that you're going to go home and "pet your pussy" without a lot of jeers, because practically speaking that meaning is way, way less prominent in the minds of 99% of people today
I was going to suggest “activity partner,” but really everything sounds a bit dirty when money is changing hands, doesn’t it?
NOT AT ALL implying that there is anything wrong with hiring someone to accompany you to an activity or event, just that all the available words sound like they’re accompanied by a winky-face emoji 😉
That said, I vote with @elpaso87 and @Catloaf. The platonic escort ship sailed a long time ago. Outside of the context of cotillion, that word means something else now.
@CuddleWho In this discussion we’ve all heard “don’t say escort” loud and clear.
I’d really like to hear from pros who spend time with clients accompanying them to events and engaging in non-sexual activities other than cuddling.
Thanks for steering the topic back to the intent, @nurturingman - I'm not interested in further flame wars and dissecting or approving or not-approving the various connotations and various meanings of the word "escort".
Speaking as a long-time reader here of posted experiences on the various threads, there are many cuddle stories and instances where pro and client have coffee, share a meal together, watch a movie, take a walk, or sit in a park... all prior to or after a cuddle, or even in lieu of a cuddle. The client and pro get to dictate how they spend their time together, platonically.
My apologies, @nurturingman man for stoking the fire. I understand that the topic has been covered ad nauseum, but I do think the discussion is relevant to those future readers of this thread considering offering these services. The lingo one uses can definitely serve as a dog whistle. Sometimes words are having conversations that one is not aware of.
That said, I have been compensated for attending concerts, music festivals, corporate events, dinners, and conferences in a platonic capacity. I have also served as a platonic travel companion and party guest as well as doing things like giving tours of a city (popular during long airport layovers) cooking special meals and holiday decorating. I have turned down offers to do other types of things that I dislike or am lousy at: beach days, skiing, nature hikes, bike riding, etc.
I have typically been paid by the event rather than by the hour, as the latter feels a bit crass to me and I abhor watching the clock. At times I have been paid more when I could bring friends to an event or party.
Sometimes I have been compensated with access to another event or space rather than with cash (tickets to a VIP event at SXSW comes to mind, access to a limo or very special hotel room etc. that was no longer needed after an event.)
I don’t advertise these services on my cuddle profile for a number of reasons, some of which overlap with the concerns you addressed. I don’t worry about interacting with someone's friends/family—I would typically employ a conversational strategy akin to what @Envie described. If someone asked me to use another back story, I would, but then I enjoy the intrigue of an alternate identity. In my experience, people rarely care who you are and don’t ask too many detailed questions. The less you say, the better. A good strategy is to turn their question into another question, e.g. “Oh, we met online. How do you know Brian?”
I do, however, live in a relatively small city and am active in the arts community. It would be extremely awkward for a client, I think, if we bumped into someone I know at a party or event that they might have future interactions with. For this reason and others, I prefer not to do such things with locals in the city where I live.
@BellaSera Thank you for that answer! I was thinking of the same thing, turning the conversation around to the person asking me about myself— though I’d probably find that difficult because I love to talk about myself. 😂 Seriously, though, thank you so much for sharing your experience as a pro who has engaged in these platonic activities with clients. I especially appreciate hearing from you here since you do not advertise these services in your profile.