I just found this old article while researching Body Miracle.
More to it than meets the eye...
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That's the problem with agencies... they've artificially inflated the value of the PSEs... Six years ago, I saw Ryan Conner for $800 and that was the agency rates through the old Adult Star Fantasy - They charged different rates in different cities - Ryan got a minimum of $600 plus a percentage of the "overage" in cities that could justify a higher rate.
Adult Star Fantasies also had a VIP section and you could see some VERY big name pornstars like Lexus Locklear for $5000 to $6000 for a four hour date minimum. But after ASF self-destructed, E2K got big and basically established the $1500/hr benchmark, with the girl getting $900 and the agency getting $600. Keep in mind that whatever laws E2K broke, they didn't f--- with the IRS, so all the girls got 1099's, which meant that they really ended up netting about $650 or so per hour. So a lot of the girls wised up and started booking direct - eliminating the middle man and at the same time the tax paper trail. But greed, ego or both got the better of the newly independent PSE... E2K established what the hobbyist was willing to pay, and apparently that's around the $1500 level, so that's what the PSE is asking.
And say what you want about Robert Holiday when he owned Body Miracle, but he wasn't too greedy... he asked the PSE what minimum she'd be satisfied with, and he tacked on $500. Sophie's and XXXVixxons, both former BM phone girls, undercut Robert and only tacked on $350. But the new owner of BM is taking the E2K route, and they seem to be oblivious to their PSE's credentials... most all of their girls are $1500 or more. Just plain stupid! A friend of mine in the adult industry really enlightened me... he told me that a PSE he knew told him outright that she realized that her value on the East Coast was triple her value in LA... a LOT of the ladies who quote rates of $1500 or more per hour can be had in LA for 1/3 that. So remember, when a PSE quotes you $1500/hr or more... JUST SAY NO!!!!
A girl who books through an agnecy like BM at $1500/hr. gets a maximum of $900. But the agencies aren't stupid and they don't want any problems from the IRS, so they 1099 the girls, which means that the PSEs end up netting about $600 or so (if they're smart enough to pay their income taxes). That's the benchmark I use these days. Granted, if the girl is touring as an independent she incurs more of the costs (hotel, airfare, verification and/or a booking assistant, etc.), and deserves to add something to that rate as compensation. So for most PSEs, I think $700 to $800 is reasonable. But $1K?
Listen, I can see Sars Jay, Kathy Willets or Ava Devine for that and I know that they're going to rock my world, and none of them know how to tell time... there's no such thing as an hour date with Kathy, Sara or Ava (unless you're a complete dick). So why would I be willing to pay more?
I mean, if it was for someone like Brittany Sky or Devon, or a Vivid Girl, of course that's a different story, but why would I pay $1K for either a PSE who's made a total of two videos or a 35 year old PSE who hasn't made a porn vid in six years? Hell, Stevie was available for $750 an hour, and in my opinion she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever known, and great in bed to boot! I don't want this to come across as cruel or cynical, but the facts are the facts.
When I first started out in this hobby I was like a kid in a candy store... girls like Taylor Wayne, Keisha, Tracey Adams, Kelly Jaye, Farrah, et. al. were women I had fantasized about for years, and being the newbie that I was, I paid the agency prices. But now, I've met all of the "girls of my dreams"... hell, I've even dated a few of them; so I just won't pay four figures to meet someone these days. And if you look at my reviews on TER, you'll see that I've only seen two new (to me) PSEs in over a year... Loni Mallory and Ava Devine. These days I'm more than content to see the girls I know will rock my world (like Loni, Ava, Sara, Kathy, Stevie, etc.). I just save my money for when they're going to be in town.
The truth be known, many of the girls, including some of the "big name" PSEs that command that $1500 when they tour, are more than willing to accept $500 - $600 in LA. This isn't speculation on my part; it's a simple fact. But then there are those who let their ego get the better of them... A perfect example is Jodie Moore... very hot, great reviews, and a Private Video contract girl. She was available in LA for $650/hr until she hooked up with Body Miracle... Her looks and performance made her one of the most sought after PSEs out there, so suddenly to book her directly she was asking $1300/hr. DOUBLE what she had been perfectly happy with before.
We've discussed this before... there are many drop-dead gorgeous non- PSE providers out there that provide equal or superior service to many PSEs for 1/5 the price... but the money has NEVER been about the sex; it's ALWAYS been about the fantasy. However, when the fantasy aspect is no longer there, one begins to get "buyer's remorse". So while I might be willing to spend double the price of a "regular" provider for a new PSE, I have a hard time bringing myself to spend too much more than that... Does that make ma a bad person? LOL.
Another hobbyist chimes in:
Also, agencies have been adding a lot of non Porn Stars to their lists. BodyMiracle has Angy and Raya DesMoines amongst others. Sophiesdreamgirls has Kristen Fox amongst others. In the last few years, I haven't had many PSE tumbles, because, quite frankly, the local talent is as energetic and accomodating, and sometimes better looking, than a large portion of the Porn girls working. Add to that the growth of gonzo porn, and the lack of starmaking in the porn industry, and its tough to get worked up to pay the high rates of the newer girls. I mean, really, how much different is there between a [X] and your local pothead stripper girl? There's not a lot of fantasy there left for me. It was one thing when you actually knew who the Vivid girls were, and you tried to hook up with them, but now that not many folks could name any of the current Vivid girls, there isn't a lot of fantasy in hooking up with them.