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Thread: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

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    Default what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    This is a spin off of the "lowering your prices" thread. I didn't want to threadjack but there appears to be a lot of the "what you charge = what you're worth" mentality.

    On one hand I totally get this and in some cases I feel this way. But on the other hand I think it's kind of sad.

    Some people might argue that any job you take on, you have to think about the pay being worth your time, but I feel like it's kind of different because when selling tangible items or working at a desk, what you produce or sell isn't ::you:: We sell our looks, our personalities, our ideas, our sexuality- all of the most intimate aspects of ourselves- and to be honest it kind of saddened me reading that so many women feel like their value can be summed up in dollars and cents on a per minute basis.

    Whether you charge and receive $1.99 a minute or $10.99 a minute for shows (or choose to do them essentially for free in "hopes" of adequate tips a la MFC) really shouldn't have a bearing on what you think you are "worth", I don't feel.

    In the "banking" thread VivianBear said something about not caring about how the money comes, but setting a goal of $3,000 to $5,000 per month, and simply meeting it. I feel like that is a much healthier way to view this business, rather than aligning what we are worth with a per minute price.

    For me, maybe getting it into our heads what income goals we have, then knowing for 100% certain what our boundaries are, and manipulating whatever resources we have to earn that money while staying within those boundaries kind of eliminates that issue/sentiment.

    What if no matter what site you worked on or how much you charged per minute, you did a little bit of math first and decided for yourself (just an example):

    "Ok my boundaries are that I refuse to get topless for less than $10 profit, completely naked for $20 profit, and insert any toys for less than $30 profit." (once again this is just an example lol)

    Naturally if you charge $4.99/minute you would feel comfortable moving at a quicker pace because you'd know on that site your cut is let's say 50%, so it'll take you 4 minutes to reach $10 and go topless, 8 minutes to reach $20 and go nude, and 12 minutes to reach $30 profit and start fucking yourself, respectively. On the exact same site if you charged $1.99/minute sure you'd get more guys but you would still know not to get topless until 10 minutes has passed, nude until 20 minutes has passed, or do toys until 30 minutes.

    Yeah you might get lots of guys who don't stick around that long, but what's it to you? You're still earning money while they come and go and maybe you just take a bit longer introducing yourself, showing off your sexy outfit, teasing them, flirting with them, asking them questions about what they like, etc... You're not plowing away at your pussy for $3.12. The guys who leave in the first 5 minutes when you're just getting into it are the same guys who leave anyway in the first 5 minutes when you're already fucking yourself.

    Doing it this way, no matter what you charge your boundaries are set. If guys stay long enough to see those beautiful breasts of yours, then they see them. If not, you haven't lost a thing.

    If you are better able to reach your goals at a lower price, so what? It doesn't mean you're less of a woman. If it helps you get to your goal faster then it just makes you a successful businesswoman. It's insane to let your bottom line slip because of some perceived value judgment that says you are worth what you charge per minute. By the same token, if you are insecure about your weight, your looks, maybe even your skills and are afraid to push your prices up a little more because you don't "think" you're "worth" that much per minute (I know not many girls on this forum have this problem but I've spoken to girls who feel like they can't charge a lot because of physical issues), that's just as ridiculous.

    Why do sex workers feel like our prices per minute directly reflect our worth? That's totally shitty. That is all.

    ETA: like, saying you charge $5.99/min because you feel you are "worth" that much is ALSO saying you DON'T feel like you're worth $6.99/min or more!
    Last edited by AngelEyezXYZ; 09-11-2010 at 06:21 PM.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Perfectly Said...... I could not agree more with this AngelEyes........
    " Be Positive, Patient, and Productive after all we are all Perfect Pretty Princesses" XOXO
    No Negative Nancy or Drama Queens Please, Thanks xoxo

    "I let my haters be my motivators..Now we can settle this like you got some class or we can get into some gangsta shit."



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    Senior Member Yuki*'s Avatar
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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Price should be based on a number of factors... not because you are or are not "worth" it on a personal level.

    Do you have a good camera?
    Do you have good lighting?
    Outfits, toys, props?
    Shower shows?
    Lesbian, straight shows, anal shows?
    Are you doing some kind of sub/dom show?

    And Finally...

    Are you making how much you want to make?

    Raise and lower based on that, until you find your sweet spot.

    Free time is the most valuable thing we have, try to make your goals the best way you can, your price per minute isn't the big picture.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    interesting...... I dont know how I feel about this yet.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Quote Originally Posted by Zinaida View Post
    ^^^But just think of how many customers there are in the world!!!
    Some people aren't in this industry merely to be making more than a fast food worker, some are in it to make as much as fucking possible. I'm grateful for any money I make but I won't let it turn into contentment.


    This was posted in another thread, but it fits perfect right here....



    (*runs*)

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    Veteran Member Obenta's Avatar
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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    This is a great post.

    (I know you're talking about camming but...)

    I used to charge more as a UTR escort, because I had the "rate = worth" mentality. But my higher rates meant I wasn't as busy. So at the end of the month, I had made enough to live on but I wasn't really doing "well". That's where the "rate = worth" mentality will bite you in the ass.

    I changed my thinking. I set a yearly goal, divided by 12 and that became my monthly goal. Now my rate is lower, I'm busier, and at the end of the month I'm saying "hell yea!" My income tripled (or more) when I got rid of that "rate = worth" hangup.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    "This was posted in another thread, but it fits perfect right here...."


    haha well yes I totally agree with that too! I mean who doesn't want to make as much as possible? I wouldn't be doing this if I couldn't meet my bare minimum goals overall, and I do shoot for more than that, but my bare minimum is much more than I could be making anywhere else for the trivial amount of time and effort I'm willing to put in at this point.

    I think with Zinaida's quote above (along with the "banking" thread) it's important to take into consideration that we ALL have very different goals. I mean Zinaida had a whole thread about how her goal is to earn like $500,000 in 2 years or something grand like that. If that is your goal, then you probably can't afford to charge $1.99/minute EVER because there aren't even enough minutes IN two years to earn that kind of money lol. But on the flip side there are some girls who maybe focus more on other businesses, have other jobs, spend more time doing other things and just want an extra couple hundred per month to play with here and there. And then there is everybody in between...

    Personally for the extremely few hours I'm willing to put into camming right now (about 10-15 per week and this includes being on cam AND all the back-end work), I'm okay with earning $500/week from it. Earning 1k in 10 hours would make me feel like a super hustler, but I'm ok with $500 lol... My bills are super low and my lifestyle isn't extravagant by any means, plus I get money in other ways and I'm in school full-time and have a time-consuming internship. To some other girls who put in 8hrs per day on cam, 5 days per week, spend time promoting the shit out of themselves, record new videos to sell many times weekly, update/design their websites and blogs all the time, etc... they'd be crying if that's all they made (maybe I don't even know to each her own)! But that would be understandable. I'm happy with my rates/earnings right now... my traffic flow is nice, I'm not burning out, and I totally exceed my goal in the time I'm willing to put in for it. If that changes, I'm more than willing to make some adjustments (be it price, structure, different sites, creating new material, updating my look, strengthening my hustle, etc...) until I make at least that bare minimum again.

    All I'm saying is know what you want, know what you're willing to do to get what you want, then do it. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. But whatever you do don't attach your worth as a woman/human being to something as silly as a per minute price, when in reality that's only a small fraction of the bigger picture, which is really "are you getting what you want"? If one of your boundaries *is* that you're simply not willing to reduce your rates below a certain level to meet your goal, then that's totally different than feeling like your minute rate=your worth imo. Like if the only way I could make my weekly goal was by fisting my asshole for 50 cents/minute I would quit camming.

    I do understand there are a million ways of looking at the same situation though but this is just my opinion. Sometimes I tend not to make sense so I hope this is coming off correctly

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Quote Originally Posted by Obenta View Post
    This is a great post.

    (I know you're talking about camming but...)

    I used to charge more as a UTR escort, because I had the "rate = worth" mentality. But my higher rates meant I wasn't as busy. So at the end of the month, I had made enough to live on but I wasn't really doing "well". That's where the "rate = worth" mentality will bite you in the ass.

    I changed my thinking. I set a yearly goal, divided by 12 and that became my monthly goal. Now my rate is lower, I'm busier, and at the end of the month I'm saying "hell yea!" My income tripled (or more) when I got rid of that "rate = worth" hangup.

    oh fuck thats hot, I still have the hangup, but im slowly trying to get over it. but still I rather work smarter not harder so in my posts you will see slight contradictions, only because im confused at the moment.

    Its very easy to get caught up in the hype of shit, and want to keep up with the glamorous girls in the industry.
    BUT
    i hate $1.99 shows a bag of potatoes chips cost more than that....

    but as far as the mathematics you just did, i think thats gonna help me alot.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Heh... I never charge what I think I'm worth because I think I am worth a billion bucks. I charge what I feel my time is worth for that particular service. Where I go to get my eyebrows done it costs me $12 (threading) ... I'm sure the lady doesn't think she's worth $12. That is what she charges for that service. We shouldn't look at it like it's charging what WE're worth but charging what we feel how much THAT service is worth NOT ourselves. PPL look too much into this and it's ridiculous.. it's NOT rocket science.

    I choose to live a pretty lavish lifestyle so on cam and as an escort I charge more than most. DO I get LESS business yes but do I make more than most yes and I refuse to settle for less. As women we are always making excuses for why we are not making what the next girl is making. I see someone making more money than I am .. I don't think "I'm not worth that.. I can't do it like her" ... NOPE! I am beautiful with a body that won't quit, mad marketing skills and lots of energy give me a goal and I'll make it even exceed it. I cannot charge .99 and sit in front of the cam all day just to make my goal of $400. I have a kid I can't do that shit... Kudos to those that can.

    It more a matter of being honest with yourself. Lookswise there are some girls that can charge $5-6 a minute and there are some that can't...

    At the end of the day... If I make anything less than 5-7k a month between camming AND escorting I am not happy. At the same time I refuse to be a slave in this industry and work harder than I KNOW I have to. True financial freedom is making GREAT money without being a slave to your job. Working for anything less than what you feel your services are worth is being a slave/mental abuse. I know better.

    P.S reading this thread some people really do sell themselves short.... but I guess if that's what it takes for you to live and live good then by all means... Good money is not the same for everyone.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    preach

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    I really had to think back to when I started camming in-order to figure out if I charged for the quality of the show or what I thought I was worth. When I started I think I charged $1.99.. I don't really remember. I basically looked at the prices and picked one lol. The first couple of years of my camming career lol I think I charged based on what I thought I was worth. But then as I perfected my personality, shows, appearance, and equipment I slowly began to rise my rates. So my pricing method changed from what I thought I was worth to the service/quality/show I was offering.

    When I was below $2.50, I would get the drive by's and assholes. I seriously couldn't deal with dudes like that. They would instantly turn me off and I would either stop the show or go on a hiatus from camming. Those types of guys seriously made me want to quit camming. I haven't gotten many rude, pushy, demanding dudes after I raised my price above $2.50 and put a disclaimer up saying "I aim to please those who are not pushy, rude, demanding, and or in a rush". If and when I get an asshole/drive by I either stop the show or politely decline doing a show for them.

    Now that I'm basically a Vet and learned a couple of thangs... I charge based on my camera quality, if I have sound or not, lighting, outfits/toys, whether my show is fetish/topless/nudity/pussy shots/toys and I shamelessly tack on my look and body.

    Ah ha that reminds me my rate is at $3.50 right now. I got new lighting and a new camera... so I need to up my rate, change up my profile, and take some new pictures. Ummmm yummy cha ching, cha ching.

    Yuki hit it on the head. More ladies need to consider these things in order to set a perfect/fair price:
    Do you have a good camera?
    Do you have good lighting?
    Outfits, toys, props?
    Shower shows?
    Lesbian, straight shows, anal shows?
    Are you doing some kind of sub/dom show?

    And Finally...

    Are you making how much you want to make?

    Raise and lower based on that, until you find your sweet spot.

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    Do you have a good camera? logitech 9000 (yes)
    Do you have good lighting? (yes)
    Outfits, toys, props? (HELL YEAH, im theatrical)
    Shower shows? ( if thats what you need, you will succeed!, YES)
    Lesbian, straight shows, anal shows? (anal? YES!)
    Are you doing some kind of sub/dom show? ( if thats what you like, we will be alright YES)

    so i think $5 sounds about right...lol

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    lol i love the way you write/put shit ppg... so funny

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    Default Re: what you charge = what you're worth (long)

    I think AngelEyes is just trying to get everyone to see that there is more than one way to look at it....

    Hence her quote
    "I do understand there are a million ways of looking at the same situation though but this is just my opinion."

    There are so many different people, life-styles, mentalities on things and then there is more than enough ways to reach the same exact goal. So as a woman you would know what is really working for you.

    What is selling ourselves short? Some people feel like any woman who sells her body, exploits herself is selling herself short. I have some friends who will look at all our prices and be like "Oh, no I would charge way more than some $5-10/minutes on cam since my nude body will be on the internet for years to come....or I will charge way more than $500/hour for escorting since it can be risky no matter how much safety measure you take. Then there are some women who feel like they will not sell their body for any price. These women may or may not feel we all are selling ourselves short.

    You really have to look at this job like a business and evaluate how much you want your business to make and what is working and what is not working business wise.

    If you have tried to raise your prices higher and you gave enough time for you to make your own decision and for what-ever reason it seems like business does not best suit you at that price then make a change whether it be price wise ( lowering prices) or business supplies wise( better cam, faster internet, etc.)

    Some people Bank at higher prices and some people Bank at lower prices. But also if it is really eating you up inside and messing with your emotional state with what you are charging then I will say you probably are selling yourself short. You should not be feeling miserable at a price you do not want.

    Just really think of it as a business. And like any business unless you hired or have a pro bono "business team" to evaluate your best business moves no one can really tell you what is working and what is not... Just do not put yourself worth on a price cause then that in when you selling yourself short. The price you charge is a business move only. Hopefully calculated and educated business move but none the less business move...

    I hope I am coming across okay....LOL
    " Be Positive, Patient, and Productive after all we are all Perfect Pretty Princesses" XOXO
    No Negative Nancy or Drama Queens Please, Thanks xoxo

    "I let my haters be my motivators..Now we can settle this like you got some class or we can get into some gangsta shit."



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