aczeta76
24-12-2007, 11:50 AM
Hmm... interesting report:)
The Electric New Paper :
BUSINESS, ARTS GRADS TURN SOCIAL ESCORTS
LURED BY EASY MONEY
THEY are all recent graduates from universities here.
By Maureen Koh
24 December 2007
THEY are all recent graduates from universities here.
One of them is even a qualified accountant.
Yet, instead of joining the corporate world like their peers, these four young women are taking the path less trodden: That of a professional companion or social escort, as they are better known.
They are among an increasing number of grads and undergrads choosing such a trade, agency managers say. The agencies reckon they have seen an increase of up to 40 per cent of such girls.
This, despite a booming economy which has seen greater demand and higher starting salaries for graduates. Recent figures from the Manpower Ministry suggest that many companies are feeling the squeeze when looking for fresh hire.
The unemployment rate is at a low 1.7 per cent, a level that was last seen nearly 10 years ago, before the Asian financial crisis.
STARTED AT CONFERENCE
The four women who spoke to The New Paper on Sunday acknowledged that they would not have any problems finding jobs in the current climate.
They met one another when they were engaged as personal companions for visitors of a major international business conference last year.
After that, they decided to work full-time for companies that offer social escort services, lured by what they claimed were monthly earnings of up to $10,000 a month.
The women agreed to speak to us on condition that we identify them by only their professional names.
Elise, 27, draws a monthly salary of $3,200 from her day job as an accountant. At night and on weekends, she is a social escort.
While she does not want her colleagues and family to know her double life, she is secretly proud that she made the cut.
'Come on, be realistic, do you think anyone who wants to be an escort can just apply to be one?' she asked.
'You have to be attractive, well-groomed and intellectually stimulating in a conversation. These are some of the prerequisites, you know.'
On how she learnt about the job, she said: 'I went with my friend to a recruitment interview last year. I was curious to find out what it was like. I wanted to look out for my friend as well.
'Ironically, I landed the job and she didn't.'
Being a social escort means there is always the chance that you may be asked to do more than just put your arm through another's.
Elise claimed she was told at the interview that 'sex is not a must', but should both parties be agreeable, 'the agency has to be informed before the transaction takes place'.
While she admitted that clients have approached her with indecent proposals, she claimed she has rejected all of them.
Elise said: 'I've made it clear to the agency, who tells the clients prior to the bookings. For the more persistent ones, I usually refuse to go to their hotel rooms.'
What attracted Elise to the job was also that the agency was offering twice the market rate for their escorts.
While most others charge between $200 and $250 an hour, Elise's agency, she claimed, charges $500 an hour. Her manager takes a 25 per cent cut off her earnings.
BUYS BRANDED GOODS
Elise flashed her Breitling watch and waved her Hermes Birkin bag at this reporter, before adding: 'I paid for these with my hard-earned money.'
She intends to quit in another two years before she hits 30.
'By then, I would expect to have saved enough money to live comfortably with the man I want to marry,' she said.
'Or who knows, I may end up meeting my Mr Right on the job.'
Elise is not worried her job may be seen in an unfavourable light by 'Mr Right'. She said: 'Please, if that is a concern, then so be it. There'll always be someone else.'
Apart from the pay, the flexibility of the job's working hours attracted business management graduates Virginia and Naomi, both 25.
Being able to call the shots is another plus.
Naomi said: 'You get to choose your hours of work, you can work for yourself or for an agency, you can choose what you will or will not do - you lay down the rules.'
Virginia said a top escort who can dress for the occasion and get on well in assorted company can earn more than $10,000 a month.
This was confirmed by most agency managers we spoke to.
Of the four women who spoke to us, Caimee, 26, was the only one who admitted that sex is on the agenda most times.
The diminutive and soft-spoken woman said: 'Most times, I'd know before taking the assignments if the clients expect 'a full menu'.'
Bookings for her service double or triple during special occasions such as the Christmas period.
The Arts and Social Sciences graduate claimed she had 'stepped into the industry in a moment of desperation' when her boyfriend of three years was saddled with gambling debts.
Caimee said she was told her main duties were to accompany her overseas companions on sightseeing trips and attend cocktails and dinner functions. And the only skill she required was the ability to communicate well.
That was mostly the case until a client - who had specifically asked for her a third time - wanted her to extend her hours.
She ended up having unprotected sex with him. She pocketed an extra $3,800, earning close to $6,000, after cuts by the agency.
But what of the possibility of sexually-transmitted disease, or the possibility of violent clients or sex predators?
Caimee said that that man was an exception. It is protected sex for the rest. She claimed she has not come across nasty cilents; they are usually respectable businessmen and professionals.
The women say they are not ashamed of their job - it's just a way to make a living.
But they are somehow aware that it is not socially or morally accepted. For example, when introducing themselves, they call themselves 'profesional entertainers'.
And then, there is their biggest fear: meeting someone they know, such as family and former schoolmates.
Yet, the temptation of earning a quick buck is too alluring.
Caimee, who was still with her boyfriend previously, said she did think about him. The thought 'flashed briefly but the dollar sign shone even brighter'.
When presented with these women's experiences, psychologist Richard Lim said there are emotional traps that they are unaware of.
He said: 'Right now, they are too blinded by the material gains and pay little heed to the repercussions. But when they are hit by a snag, such as their loved ones finding out about it, or if they are stricken with any sexually transmitted disease, they would find it difficult to cope by then with the feelings of guilt.'
2nd story here The Electric New Paper, Singapore - The Electric New Paper News (http://newpaper.asiaone.com/news/story/0,4136,151458,00.html?)
The Electric New Paper :
BUSINESS, ARTS GRADS TURN SOCIAL ESCORTS
LURED BY EASY MONEY
THEY are all recent graduates from universities here.
By Maureen Koh
24 December 2007
THEY are all recent graduates from universities here.
One of them is even a qualified accountant.
Yet, instead of joining the corporate world like their peers, these four young women are taking the path less trodden: That of a professional companion or social escort, as they are better known.
They are among an increasing number of grads and undergrads choosing such a trade, agency managers say. The agencies reckon they have seen an increase of up to 40 per cent of such girls.
This, despite a booming economy which has seen greater demand and higher starting salaries for graduates. Recent figures from the Manpower Ministry suggest that many companies are feeling the squeeze when looking for fresh hire.
The unemployment rate is at a low 1.7 per cent, a level that was last seen nearly 10 years ago, before the Asian financial crisis.
STARTED AT CONFERENCE
The four women who spoke to The New Paper on Sunday acknowledged that they would not have any problems finding jobs in the current climate.
They met one another when they were engaged as personal companions for visitors of a major international business conference last year.
After that, they decided to work full-time for companies that offer social escort services, lured by what they claimed were monthly earnings of up to $10,000 a month.
The women agreed to speak to us on condition that we identify them by only their professional names.
Elise, 27, draws a monthly salary of $3,200 from her day job as an accountant. At night and on weekends, she is a social escort.
While she does not want her colleagues and family to know her double life, she is secretly proud that she made the cut.
'Come on, be realistic, do you think anyone who wants to be an escort can just apply to be one?' she asked.
'You have to be attractive, well-groomed and intellectually stimulating in a conversation. These are some of the prerequisites, you know.'
On how she learnt about the job, she said: 'I went with my friend to a recruitment interview last year. I was curious to find out what it was like. I wanted to look out for my friend as well.
'Ironically, I landed the job and she didn't.'
Being a social escort means there is always the chance that you may be asked to do more than just put your arm through another's.
Elise claimed she was told at the interview that 'sex is not a must', but should both parties be agreeable, 'the agency has to be informed before the transaction takes place'.
While she admitted that clients have approached her with indecent proposals, she claimed she has rejected all of them.
Elise said: 'I've made it clear to the agency, who tells the clients prior to the bookings. For the more persistent ones, I usually refuse to go to their hotel rooms.'
What attracted Elise to the job was also that the agency was offering twice the market rate for their escorts.
While most others charge between $200 and $250 an hour, Elise's agency, she claimed, charges $500 an hour. Her manager takes a 25 per cent cut off her earnings.
BUYS BRANDED GOODS
Elise flashed her Breitling watch and waved her Hermes Birkin bag at this reporter, before adding: 'I paid for these with my hard-earned money.'
She intends to quit in another two years before she hits 30.
'By then, I would expect to have saved enough money to live comfortably with the man I want to marry,' she said.
'Or who knows, I may end up meeting my Mr Right on the job.'
Elise is not worried her job may be seen in an unfavourable light by 'Mr Right'. She said: 'Please, if that is a concern, then so be it. There'll always be someone else.'
Apart from the pay, the flexibility of the job's working hours attracted business management graduates Virginia and Naomi, both 25.
Being able to call the shots is another plus.
Naomi said: 'You get to choose your hours of work, you can work for yourself or for an agency, you can choose what you will or will not do - you lay down the rules.'
Virginia said a top escort who can dress for the occasion and get on well in assorted company can earn more than $10,000 a month.
This was confirmed by most agency managers we spoke to.
Of the four women who spoke to us, Caimee, 26, was the only one who admitted that sex is on the agenda most times.
The diminutive and soft-spoken woman said: 'Most times, I'd know before taking the assignments if the clients expect 'a full menu'.'
Bookings for her service double or triple during special occasions such as the Christmas period.
The Arts and Social Sciences graduate claimed she had 'stepped into the industry in a moment of desperation' when her boyfriend of three years was saddled with gambling debts.
Caimee said she was told her main duties were to accompany her overseas companions on sightseeing trips and attend cocktails and dinner functions. And the only skill she required was the ability to communicate well.
That was mostly the case until a client - who had specifically asked for her a third time - wanted her to extend her hours.
She ended up having unprotected sex with him. She pocketed an extra $3,800, earning close to $6,000, after cuts by the agency.
But what of the possibility of sexually-transmitted disease, or the possibility of violent clients or sex predators?
Caimee said that that man was an exception. It is protected sex for the rest. She claimed she has not come across nasty cilents; they are usually respectable businessmen and professionals.
The women say they are not ashamed of their job - it's just a way to make a living.
But they are somehow aware that it is not socially or morally accepted. For example, when introducing themselves, they call themselves 'profesional entertainers'.
And then, there is their biggest fear: meeting someone they know, such as family and former schoolmates.
Yet, the temptation of earning a quick buck is too alluring.
Caimee, who was still with her boyfriend previously, said she did think about him. The thought 'flashed briefly but the dollar sign shone even brighter'.
When presented with these women's experiences, psychologist Richard Lim said there are emotional traps that they are unaware of.
He said: 'Right now, they are too blinded by the material gains and pay little heed to the repercussions. But when they are hit by a snag, such as their loved ones finding out about it, or if they are stricken with any sexually transmitted disease, they would find it difficult to cope by then with the feelings of guilt.'
2nd story here The Electric New Paper, Singapore - The Electric New Paper News (http://newpaper.asiaone.com/news/story/0,4136,151458,00.html?)