Merb get together

[Rebaynia]

What part of the planning you're missing is, a portion of the door price for the gentleman guests, turns into donations to attract providers to make an appearance.

This is where if an agency throws the party, their providers profit from the event, and so does the agency.

But providers have busy schedules, and often are not going out just for the sake of going out. They will prioritize a sure paid visit over attending an event for free, even if it will better their business.

Unless in the planning stage, you have prepared a fund for donating to the time of the providers, you might not have any who prioritize the public get-together, over a paid job instead.

Just my POV.

 

[Lunaseraphim]

What part of the planning you're missing is, a portion of the door price for the gentleman guests, turns into donations to attract providers to make an appearance.

This is where if an agency throws the party, their providers profit from the event, and so does the agency.

But providers have busy schedules, and often are not going out just for the sake of going out. They will prioritize a sure paid visit over attending an event for free, even if it will better their business.

Unless in the planning stage, you have prepared a fund for donating to the time of the providers, you might not have any who prioritize the public get-together, over a paid job instead.

Just my POV.

I'd be willing to go to an event like this for free, if I knew there was a chance of getting clients, and if I knew people would behave in respectful ways, but I'm not so sure that the people who would show up would be interested... And it's like you're saying, most providers wouldn't show up if there was no compensation

 

[Rebaynia]

I'd be willing to go to an event like this for free, if I knew there was a chance of getting clients, and if I knew people would behave in respectful ways, but I'm not so sure that the people who would show up would be interested... And it's like you're saying, most providers wouldn't show up if there was no compensation

I said it more as a reality point to the thread and what is being asked to be planned.

I might chose to go to something like this just out of curiosity. But from what I have come to understand of events like this. Part of the cover charge at the door goes twords incentive also for providers to make an appearance, even if it isn't much. It takes time out of their day they would be available for others, with no guarantee of securing further earnings that night.

The providers at these events don't just happen to show up unexpectedly. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. If it is just for exposure, without any compensation, this type of event is likely to just become a sausage fest with maybe 5 providers making an appearance.

 

[LeDodo]

What part of the planning you're missing is, a portion of the door price for the gentleman guests, turns into donations to attract providers to make an appearance.

This is where if an agency throws the party, their providers profit from the event, and so does the agency.

But providers have busy schedules, and often are not going out just for the sake of going out. They will prioritize a sure paid visit over attending an event for free, even if it will better their business.

Unless in the planning stage, you have prepared a fund for donating to the time of the providers, you might not have any who prioritize the public get-together, over a paid job instead.

Just my POV.

Fair point.
I think each type of participants have their own objective:
- Indys get to know new clients
- Agencies get to find clients
- clients get to see IRL providers, get to know them, mingle with other merbists.

The latter maybe being the least interesting for the first 2.

 

[Lunaseraphim]

I said it more as a reality point to the thread and what is being asked to be planned.

I might chose to go to something like this just out of curiosity. But from what I have come to understand of events like this. Part of the cover charge at the door goes twords incentive also for providers to make an appearance, even if it isn't much. It takes time out of their day they would be available for others, with no guarantee of securing further earnings that night.

The providers at these events don't just happen to show up unexpectedly. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. If it is just for exposure, without any compensation, this type of event is likely to just become a sausage fest with maybe 5 providers making an appearance.

I was subtly trying to point out the fact that I don't think any of the gentlemen who would show up at a meeting like this will want to book me... They already would have.

Everything you're saying is accurate. I wouldn't go to a meeting with potential clients unless I knew more providers were coming, which would bring clients who are outside of this group.. which won't happen without compensation

 

[EagerBeaver]

Although attendees did pay a door fee for the Iggy parties, I am not sure if any of that money went to the providers who attended. My recollection is it was around $40-$50.

Also, most of the providers who attended made appearances, meaning they did not "take the night off." I assume they came before, after or between appointments. They stayed long enough to make greetings and be seen, and maybe have one drink. This is what the reality of these events was. Some came early and some came late. In some cases I arrived late or left early and "missed" people as a result, including one lady who was actually looking for me. I had told her I was going to be there and I was, but towards the end of the event at around 11:30 I got very hungry and went to the Boustan down the road at the recommendation of Doc Holliday. And ordered a shawarma. After that I was tired and went back to my hotel room. I heard the next day that the agency SP had shown up looking for me. I felt badly, but I was there for over 3 hours and left towards the end of the event.

Another time when Iggy was inviting MPs I missed an MP lady who came early with her MP and then they left. I heard about her and later booked a meeting with her. She was only there for probably less than a half hour, but I missed her due to seeing an Indy right before the party start time.

 

[911Daddy]

I'd be willing to go to an event like this for free, if I knew there was a chance of getting clients, and if I knew people would behave in respectful ways, but I'm not so sure that the people who would show up would be interested... And it's like you're saying, most providers wouldn't show up if there was no compensation

I would go for sure because it would be a friendly way to meet in real life without expectations
For sure a win-win gathering !!

 

[Lunaseraphim]

I would go for sure because it would be a friendly way to meet in real life without expectations
For sure a win-win gathering !!

It's not win-win for me.

 

[LC18]

I don’t really see the appeal of those for SPs. To be quiet honestly I don’t see the appeal for clients either.

An industry based on discretion and you’re meeting with maybe face out escorts in a bar. Aren’t y’all married?

To circle back to the SP POV (at least mine). There’s nothing to gain from those events. No money, no clients, nothing but wasted time. Luna is right, the men that want to book me, don’t need to go meet me in a bar with a bunch of random dudes to book me and those who are hesitating are probably better not to book. What you would see in a bar isn’t what you’d see in a 1on1 date anyways.

Being active on merb for free (actually I have to pay to be here) is one thing. It gives good visibility and people can see that I have opinions and beliefs

Being active on Twitter is the best, it’s a complete package. Opinions, photos and naughty tweets.

I still encourage you to do it and hope you will have fun and be safe while doing so

 

[urquell]

I was subtly trying to point out the fact that I don't think any of the gentlemen who would show up at a meeting like this will want to book me... They already would have.

Everything you're saying is accurate. I wouldn't go to a meeting with potential clients unless I knew more providers were coming, which would bring clients who are outside of this group.. which won't happen without compensation

There's absolutely no reason for providers to show up unless there is going to be some kind of economic benefit for them. That's why I said initially that this sort of thing isn't done for free. Likewise, while it may have been $40-50 back in the day I think the door charge would probably need to be double that now. Also Luna, sometimes a personal meetings develops some attraction or chemistry that just doesn't show through on a website. I think you might be surprised to find that there would be people who didn't consider you before that might very well consider you after having met you in person. I've seen that happen any number of times. I also don't think you have to worry about being the only provider. If that were the case there would be no get together. If guys are going to pay an entry fee plus whatever else they're going to want to know that there's enough people of interest to know that it will be worth their while to go out and see the crew. They might want to have a decent idea of who's going to be there too, so it's a knife that cuts both ways.

 

[Enjoying life]

I'd be willing to go to an event like this for free, if I knew there was a chance of getting clients, and if I knew people would behave in respectful ways, but I'm not so sure that the people who would show up would be interested... And it's like you're saying, most providers wouldn't show up if there was no compensation

The last one I went to sucked! No friendly providers but that was like 2014! I find providers so nice so far!

 

[EagerBeaver]

There's absolutely no reason for providers to show up unless there is going to be some kind of economic benefit for them. That's why I said initially that this sort of thing isn't done for free. Likewise, while it may have been $40-50 back in the day I think the door charge would probably need to be double that now. Also Luna, sometimes a personal meetings develops some attraction or chemistry that just doesn't show through on a website. I think you might be surprised to find that there would be people who didn't consider you before that might very well consider you after having met you in person. I've seen that happen any number of times. I also don't think you have to worry about being the only provider. If that were the case there would be no get together. If guys are going to pay an entry fee plus whatever else they're going to want to know that there's enough people of interest to know that it will be worth their while to go out and see the crew. They might want to have a decent idea of who's going to be there too, so it's a knife that cuts both ways.

Your logic on the economics of these parties and how they worked is off. Too much analysis of this from the Indy point of view. The Iggy parties of past years were dominated by agencies and MP ladies. The ladies didn't make the call on whether to attend- the agency owner did. They got publicity and free advertising on MERB. I would suggest you go back and read some of the party threads. Let's please stop the revisionist histories and economic analyses.

Due to the success and size of the parties, some indies attended. From what I saw they picked their spots. I can remember one lady (hate to say this but I forgot her name, but she was great- 5'11" black from the Caribbean, I saw her maybe 3-4 times). She wasn't really into parties but came to a couple of the Iggy parties. She didn't stay for the whole of the party. At one of them I persuaded her to come and told her I would be there. I bought her a number of drinks and she ended up getting drunk. This was one of the Lord Berri parties. Anyway my sidekick who came to the party excoriated me for not getting her a taxi or Uber after she left the party on her own. I didn't actually see her leave but because I had gotten her drunk I did feel responsible. I texted her and apologized and the next day we texted and she made it home fine. I think she took the Metro. The other party she came to she didn't stay long, just long enough to be seen. She wasn't comfortable and felt it was a meat parade, which in truth is kind of what it is. But she understood it was good for business to bite the bullet and be seen. The party where I got her drunk she stayed longer because she was mostly sitting with me at the bar. But after she got drunk she actually gave some other guy a grinding lap dance right at the bar. This was kind of out of place with her personality and one reason I got my ass chewed out for not getting her a taxi or uber.

If you are buying drinks and getting someone drunk please keep this in mind.