I've heard over and over again that an escort makes her best money when she's starting out. This doesn't seem to be true in practice from my own experience and from what i've read from other members on this site. 

Can some of the more well-established girls let me know what they think?  Do you build your client base gradually like every other business or is it all downhill after the first 9 months? 

Uh-oh, that doesn't bode well for us Cece - and I've been thinking the same thing, but some of the other girls I've been in touch with have confirmed that things started out slowly for them too.
So I'm patient for now.

Things seem to be different at the moment. When I first put myself on adultwork about 18 months ago (after a while in the local paper, and before that at an agency, very briefly), I had non stop new clients straight away and for quite a while afterwards, then things steadied out. I expected to get a similar new girl rush when I got my own website and started linking it to the directories, but things have started really slowly. Also I've been exchanging emails with a girl who's just very recently started on adultwork and she's finding it really slow as well. I can't help wondering if it's something to do with the economic climate.

I wonder if it's a bit of both. You do get a rush at first, but then by the time the new girl effect wears off you have your regulars to compensate. I think that in your case, as things are starting slowly, you'll make your best money later when you've accumulated a nice bunch of regulars.

Since writing the above, I've just read Anika Mae's post saying she started slowly even before the credit crunch, so who knows? Maybe it's different for everyone.

For various reasons, this is actually my second working persona - Amy first appeared only in December last year and I really didn't want to go on Adultwork as I hated the overall look of the site, all the bareback ads and so on (I think Evie said something similar on another thread). However, I had just decided to go full-time and pack in my day job so while I was waiting for my personal site to be finished, I put up a profile - I got the usual flurry as the 'New Member Alert' went out, and also a few good jobs through the reverse booking system, but all in all, Adultwork is not a particularly busy source of work for me and many more clients find me through my website. Having said that, it does often feature highly in my site traffic, so I may well be selling it a bit short!

I can honestly say that I get comparatively busier as every month goes by; this isn't the most prosperous time of year for any of us, but I still often have a full diary, and not just regular clients - I see lots of new clients too. I think there is possibly a brief dip when the 'novelty' of being new wears off and the regular custom hasn't quite fully built up, but I can't say I noticed it, perhaps because I don't have much local competition and I am under no illusions as to how much that helps me. I value my good reputation and work hard at it; I keep my advertising timely and relevant, maintain myself, my home and my service and go out of my way to be consistant - I am not afraid to turn bookings down and often do if I know I am not up to it.

To answer the OP, I think the 'rumour' is both true and untrue, and depends entirely on your approach to your business. It is definitely not true in my case, but for ladies who just want to make a lot of money quickly and do not need to think of escorting as a long-term proposition, there are certainly ways of doing just that and then packing it all in just as quickly (and hopefully before you burn out in the process).

perhaps because I don't have much local competition and I am under no illusions as to how much that helps me.

thats another thing as well...On the website I am on in this city...there is 176 escorts on that same site. Not to say everyone of them is competition to me as everyone has thier tastes...but still, its alot! The good news is I am always on the 1st 1 or 2 pages of every website so Im not hard to find. But still. It makes a difference between 40 escorts, and 176!

I guess it depends on the population.  In my city of 3 million or so there are certainly hundreds, if not a few thousand escorts around.  Not all of them are of the same caliber, but still 140 doesn't sound so bad.

I don't even think about London in that way or it would rain on my parade! And to add my thoughts, I agree the start up has been gradual and is increasing with time- I believe reputation is important, and good service too x


 ttfn

I started slowly and it has built steadily.  This month has been my best month yet, and had the best week ever - over 20 jobs - double my usual week.  It must be men escaping the Christmas shopping - long may it continue.  80-90% of my work comes from AW - with the rest from my web page. 

It has also boomed since I put my phone number on it.  Well worth the ?1 a day.

I definatly do better now than when I first started out. As I have gained more experience I have learned to give a better service,which brings me more repeat business