what draws you to an agency?
Ok ladies-if you were thinking of working for an agency for bachelor parties, what would make you want to work for a company?
I have a talent agency in the Detroit-Metro area, and while I've always hired girls I have personally known from either friends or clubs, I'm looking to hire some more women probably soon.
Have you had good responses advertising in local newspapers?
Thanks :)
Re: what draws you to an agency?
As someone who's worked for agencies, along with starting my own, there are many reasons why I'd work or never work for someone. I'm talking hypothetical since I'll never work for an agency again. Just a few examples of these:
1) One agency asked for a deposit before they'd hire me. Nope, not paying money to an agency upfront. They claimed it was so I wouldn't back out. Yeah right.
2) They pay fair. When I started out, I found a scam agency. Not only didn't they pay me for a party I had to give the scam artist 25% of my tips, and pay the guy a 'bouncer" fee. Oh and did I mention that guys grabbed me and he did nothing? I did two parties and made $80 for the night. I vowed never to work for a scam artist again. The agency was in Chicago called Nightlife Entertainment. They are probably long gone.
3) They are dancing and NOT escort. I'd never work for an agency that also does escorts. I have no problem with someone doing escort. However, I am a dancer, not a hooker.
As for why dancers wanted to work for me, the simple answer is I was fair. I paid them a generous rate and told them not to turn tricks (I made them sign papers stating they would be clean). All I asked is they did a show or told me if they couldn't do one. Those who were a no show were automatically fired, same with bouncers who never showed up (had a bouncer do this too). I hired male and female dancers. The main reason some didn't want to work for me is because being that it was small I couldn't guarantee a show every week.
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Thanks for the honest response. I do think there probably are a lot of "agencies" that are really just people who have no idea what they are doing. Based on what you said, seems like I'm doing ok. If you have been dancing for awhile and have connections you probably don't need an agency, but I think a reputable agency is good for someone who doesn't want to worry about finding the jobs, and taking care of the details. And sorry about your bad experience, never fun to work and not get paid what you were told-I've had that happen more than I care to admit for other industries as well.
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Yeah, I knew many girls (guys too but mostly girls) who didn't want to work for themselves because of the details. I put the ads in the paper, I took care of the other advertising, I did all the booking of parties, hiring people, paying all bills etc. I spent a lot of my own money to start it up. The dancer just showed up, did the party and left. Oh, and I let her keep all her tips. Sounds common, but several agencies wanted me to give them tips I made. I did ask her to tip the bouncer what she felt appropriate. I generally tipped a bouncer around $50 or more a party on top of his fee. Sometimes a bouncer would make several hundred in tips a night on top of his fee. Of course this depended on amount of parties, and the tips at parties.
Re: what draws you to an agency?
1. Steady gigs. So many "agencies" are just set up by someone who thinks she'll dip her toe into the adult biz and hires a bunch of girls WITHOUT having clients, and I end up never getting work. I look for an agency that has been established for a while, so I know I'll be working.
2. An agency that promotes itself aggressively. That does not include just posting in the "adult" section of craigslist! I like agencies that market their girls, pay for advertising in the newspapers, have slick, professional websites, etc.
3. An agency that is fair with the money. Don't gouge me. Don't take a cut of my tips. You should already be getting a booking fee, so don't take my tips.
4. This one is rare--I've not encountered it yet, but I would love an agency that provided this; SECURITY. Shockingly, none of the agencies I have worked with provide a bodyguard at gigs! If you did this for your girls, they would love you forever. At the very least, call before and after and check in with your girls.
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Winged Dinghy
1. Steady gigs. So many "agencies" are just set up by someone who thinks she'll dip her toe into the adult biz and hires a bunch of girls WITHOUT having clients, and I end up never getting work. I look for an agency that has been established for a while, so I know I'll be working.
Understandable. I've been personally shocked with how many people 'run' an agency ... and have no prior experience with adult entertainment! :-O
The problem with established agencies tho' is that they may not necessarily be the best to work for in other ways (see your no. 3). I know of one local agency here in SEQ that is NOT fair to the girls. It is established, has been around forever and so forth ... and takes a percentage of girls tips and is greedy with how much 'commission' (fee) they take from the girls... plus the rates they pay are low ... and they don't necessarily 'look after' the girls.
I've worked for smaller agencies that were not established long because I got treated better (and paid better too). Granted, freelancing is kinda "the norm" where I am situated. Hardly anyone is "exclusive" anymore.
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2. An agency that promotes itself aggressively. That does not include just posting in the "adult" section of craigslist! I like agencies that market their girls, pay for advertising in the newspapers, have slick, professional websites, etc.
In my opinion, the website itself is a good indicator of whether or not I would like to work with the agency or not. Why? A lot of work depends on the website these days. A lot! So if I visited the website "as a customer".. would I feel sleazy visiting it ? Is it pleasing and good layout ? etc.
As for "aggressive advertising" ... not necessarily. A good google ranking is a must tho' ...
Quote:
3. An agency that is fair with the money. Don't gouge me. Don't take a cut of my tips. You should already be getting a booking fee, so don't take my tips.
Quote for truth !!!
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4. This one is rare--I've not encountered it yet, but I would love an agency that provided this; SECURITY. Shockingly, none of the agencies I have worked with provide a bodyguard at gigs! If you did this for your girls, they would love you forever. At the very least, call before and after and check in with your girls.
There is a good reason I know why a lot of agencies here where I am won't do this: you are your own business (self employed). The agency's job is to keep you working (bookings). It is up to you to find/provide security. That is not for the agency to do so for you unless it is written in some sort of agreement. Usually the only time an agency has provided me with a driver / security is when I've worked exclusively for that agency.
Yet at the end of the day it is up to you to find your own security not for the agency to do so. That's why it is rare.
;)
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GoldCoastGirl
There is a good reason I know why a lot of agencies here where I am won't do this: you are your own business (self employed). The agency's job is to keep you working (bookings). It is up to you to find/provide security. That is not for the agency to do so for you unless it is written in some sort of agreement. Usually the only time an agency has provided me with a driver / security is when I've worked exclusively for that agency.
Yet at the end of the day it is up to you to find your own security not for the agency to do so. That's why it is rare.
;)
additionally you must see this from an agencies point of view - if they have 20 dancers on their books and all 20 dancers want drivers; that doubles the amount of contractors they have on their books; which means that they would almost need to hire someone full time to organize their drivers, put this on a scale of an agency with 150 dancers on their books that takes them to needing to organize 300 people on a weekly basis - which would take the company to be bigger then some small chain stores!!
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Winged Dinghy
1. Steady gigs. So many "agencies" are just set up by someone who thinks she'll dip her toe into the adult biz and hires a bunch of girls WITHOUT having clients, and I end up never getting work. I look for an agency that has been established for a while, so I know I'll be working.
One thing I have noticed is those who start agencies without knowing the business don't last long. When I first started my agency I had been dancing for a few years. I had clients and had money to start. At the peak I was booking several parties on Friday and Saturday (and sometimes afternoon and even Sunday parties) However, there's no guarantee there's a party every week. Not even the big agencies can promise this. I knew someone who worked for one of the big agencies here. She wasn't even getting a guaranteed party every week. It's like clubs in that respect, sometimes you can dance an entire shift and make no money.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Winged Dinghy
4. This one is rare--I've not encountered it yet, but I would love an agency that provided this; SECURITY. Shockingly, none of the agencies I have worked with provide a bodyguard at gigs! If you did this for your girls, they would love you forever. At the very least, call before and after and check in with your girls.
When I ran an agency I had bouncers and I was pickier about them than I was about the dancers. I wouldn't hire bouncers who had a criminal record for certain things, such as violent acts. I also requested that they be tall and big. I remember once this little guy (we're talking 5'4 and 100 pounds) applied to be a bouncer. I told him he wasn't quite what I was looking for, and he said he had a friend I could hire too so I could use both for the same parties. Exactly why would I want to hire two small guys? I told them I could pay them half of what I paid bouncers and they didn't like that idea at all. Other bouncers came from clubs I danced at.
Re: what draws you to an agency?
Wow, very helpful information ladies!
I actually provide drivers, didn't know that was rare! I also pay pretty well, so no wonder my girls love me! :P