There was a post on twitter where a review board member wrote a very negative review about an escort because he was appalled that she had the "audacity" to ask him for picture ID before she'd agree to meet him. She's an independent escort and this is common practice for most independents now. We have to protect ourselves, and at the minimum, have proof of who we are meeting!!.....His ignorance and careless disregard for her safety angered me and gave me reason to write this blog....

 With the large agencies now migrating into all the Canadian cities and with some of them having ownership of the largest advertising sites, like the review boards, and Leolist, one might think that this industry is becoming much like the Walmarts, and Costco's, which have pushed out all the mom and pop, independent stores. I believe these agencies are monopolizing this industry much like the Walmarts and Costco's and a symptom of this is creating and encouraging the bad behavior depicted by the client mentioned above......

Of course we've always had agencies here in Halifax, the difference to back then and now, most agencies were privately owned, and not connected to any advertising sites nor review boards...... With the onset of the internet, more and more escorts moved away from the local agencies and began working for themselves, becoming independents....and why not!! Although an agency can offer some protection, and the relief from doing all the advertising, bookings, etc...most who went independent did so to have the freedom to choose their clientele, their working hours, fees, etc...Many of us who experienced agency work were happier to be on our own. Being an independent was popular and celebrated ....But times are changing....It's becoming more complicated, even more dangerous in some ways to be an independent. The agencies that are known now own most of the review boards, and some of the other advertising sites. They charge much less, and don't screen like we have to. They can charge less because they work on volume. Numerous clients per lady, per day. That affords them the ability to offer lower rates. They also don't require the type of screening independents require, nor depositing. If a client doesn't show up for them they have numerous others booked to cover that loss.... On their review boards you'll often hear some members aggressively promoting the idea that any escort who requires screening or deposits isn't safe...I believe that some of the agency owners could be behind these comments and also manipulate reviews. While promoting their own under the guise of being clients, and antagonize, even cause problems for other escorts who speak out against them or their boards. Seldom do you hear of clients berating those of us who screen on social media. This type of discord seems to only be prevalent on the review boards...Which justifies my belief that these boards have an agenda to push agencies over independents .....If the boards were pro escorting for all, wouldn't they buffer the types of insulting comments which try and portray independent escorts as unsafe and a poorer choice compared to agency escorts.....

You really can't compare the needs, or working habits of independent escort and an agency escort. An agency lady follows the protocols of the agency. An independent creates their own. When you choose an agency lady you are getting the services the agency decides she has to offer. When you hire an independent you are receiving the services the lady has chosen to offer.....An agency lady follows the rules the agency decides, an independent makes their own rules....Our fees are also decided based on factors beyond and often other than the amount of clients we wish to see. An agency lady sees as many clients as the agency decides and is paid a percentage of what the agency charges.....

So please understand the vast differences between the two....You can't compare them, nor should you want to. One may work better for you and that is for you to decide.....No one should label one as better or worse. We all deserve support, to be safe, and to be respected for the work we do and the services we provide and no one should want this industry monopolized. Most of us choose this profession so we can have autonomy. To work as we choose, and see who we choose......Thanks for reading.