Often personal and professional time are mixed together.I'm a fairly new member of MERB and I just finished reading this long, very informative and addictive thread. Thank you Lena for starting it. Often in life, there is more to be learned about the person who is asking the question than about the answer itself!.
My first question for the lady's is as follows :
If a regular client that you appreciate and see for 2 hrs dates and 4 hrs dinnerdates regularly asked you if you would consider accompanying him to watch a movie or a show free of charge following one of your regular 4 hrs dinnerdate at regular price, how would you feel?
I'm asking because I respect what SW's do for society and for me in particular and would never want to offend a person I truly appreciate by asking her a freebie either for an intimate date or a social date in a bar or restaurant. That said, I would never pay hundreds of dollars just to have a person to sit next to me during a show knowing full well that nothing will happen except maybe holding hands.
Thank you ladies for taking time to answer this question.
It's easy to take the shortcut and say that watching a movie it's nice and should be a win win for everyone.
But as clients we need to remember that her time to us is professional time. We might think that we are giving "just" personal time.
To your point regarding paying a SP for holding hands, you are free to think the worth of your money for that but again, a SP is giving you this time as a professional time. If you want to make your money worth, you can just book the corresponding service needed.
If you take it to the extreme, just imagine a SP saying yes to all free activities from multiple (yes we are not alone and she is not dedicated to us) clients. Where is her own, real free time?
Having said that I would say if the SP on her own (and not on suggestions from the client) decide to give free time, it's her call and decision. We should not take it for granted.
Also a client asking for such freebies is also putting her in a difficult positions. Even though she appreciates you, she is human and it hurts to push back someone that you can appreciate although it's a professional relationship.
Here was my blunt 2 cents