Professional Companionship / Friendship

[bluetilt]

Not sure if this is the right board.

I saw an ad on gumtree the other day in the skills swap session, where a woman was offering her presence to share time with people on walks, visits to galleries, museums, having coffee or a meal, doing activities, classess, being a +1 at parties etc. She didn’t stipulate a rate but implied it would be discussed privately.

She said she is a good listener and non judgemental, so it seems like she is ‘renting’ her time and ears to lonely people or a NSA friendship of some sort.

Is this a ‘thing’ now? Or has it always been?

I thought it was a good idea and it is something that I see myself doing tbh.

Have you come across something similar?

I’ve also seen an ad years ago about a agency that hires people to attend funerals - apparently some families feel embarassed if there aren’t many people in their loved ones’ funerals. I applied but didn’t get a response, might have another look.

I work full time but just looking into intetesting ways to make extra cash without compromising too much of my time. With something like the above I can pick and choose my avaiability.

I would imagine the ad is a euphemism for being open to having sex for money.

I wouldn't think many people would pay for the services listed, a pay-to-play 'friend.'

Professional mourners is a thing.

I sometimes wonder if professional friends would work for me; I think I'd just not feel it because I'd know they were there for the money.

People do befriending as volunteers for the elderly or cut off.

Could be that it wasn’t the vibe I got

If I had money to pay for companionship I think I would. There were so many times I wanted to go to certain events but my friends were unavailable and I didn’t push myself to go on my own. Other times I go on my own no problem, but feel the lack of having another opinion to discuss a exihibtion / play / movie or even food.

The +1 party is especially interesting to me. I don’t go to many parties, the last wedding I attended was over 5 years ago, I miss it!

I'm pretty sure sex would be available as an extra.

Certainly many years ago ‘walkers’ were a thing. Usually men accompanying single women to a gala dinner type event. Sex was not a part of it though might have happened I guess
So it’s certainly plausible however I’d bet 99% of men would assume sex would be happening at some point! Maybe there are women who’d take you up on it!

Out of curiosity, how can you be pretty sure?

If sex were not available this would be made clear in the ad.

Interesting. I think there is definitely a market for it but it would be difficult to sell and position properly. (People would assume sex or not want to pay for just chat).

I do think "escort" in the older, (not sex) meaning of the word is a need. A companion on your own terms, you don't have to go alone, you get the added "entertainment" of someone to amuse you, enlighten you, share the event with you. If you find navigating taxi's and tube trains daunting you'd have someone to help with that.

It's always been there. I used to offer other services, (tutoring, music lessons, English literature / culture, Art appreciation), to the wives of very rich foreign businessmen. (Suited me at the time for childcare reasons). Really I was a friend for hire. It was great. We'd do a mix of "teaching" and talking. I'd help with problems and listen and tell them stories. I know it was important to them. I was paid well - and I liked them - but wouldn't have had the time to be friends with them if I hadn't been paid, (as I'd have been at work).

Sounds great! Unfortunately I am not from here so I don’t have the language / history knowledge / culture skills to offer something like you did but I’m pretty resourceful when out and about, love exploring and making outings interesting and have zero social anxiety so I do well in any social situation. Also I’m always told I make people feel so much better and lighter when they talk to me, and that I have a nice smile and smile freely, it feels good to them. How to market this?!? Do you mind sending me a pm on how / where you advertised or found your clients?

Thinking about a website or blog but I don’t want to use personal photos / real name, at least not to begin with, etc it is complicated.

And sex is definitely off the table. Escort has a loaded concept attached to it, so does companion I think. Not sure what other term to use if I’m not teaching anything…Well, I could teach my mother tongue I supppose but the interest is very, very low.

Maybe you could market yourself as a "guide" or something, with special knowledge of your city and places worth visiting? I know my parents used something like that in NY (like an area guide who showed them places tourists wouldn't necessarily visit, out in the boroughs).