Desiree Alliance Conference, Here Comes Lusty!

I’m so excited, because I’m going to Vegas! Desiree Alliance is holding its annual conference July 25-30, 2010, with the theme “Working Sex: Power, Practice, and Politics.” I’ve always guiltily loved Vegas, and now I can’t think of a better reason to go there than to spend time with a few hundred other sex workers.

My workshop proposal for the business development track was recently accepted. Here is the description, please email me with any comments or ideas you might have to make it even better:

Working It Down Under: How to Escort Successfully in Australia

Interested in working and holidaying in Australia? In some parts of Australia, sex work is decriminalized. Come to this workshop to learn from a fellow traveler how to take advantage of the rare opportunity to escort legally and safely in this beautiful and friendly country. Topics include: how to apply for visas to Australia; best practice tips for maximizing your fun and funds in brothels, including how to score clients, charge for extras, and keep drama to a minimum; how to work within the law; how to access health care for sex workers; managing your income between countries, including income tax restrictions; dealing with advertising guidelines in print and online publications; analysis of racism and transphobia in the Australian sex industry and what it means for your business; negotiating big-money clients; how to turn your perhaps ordinary accent into $$$; introduction to Australian sex worker organizations and cultural groups; doing self-care and dealing with homesickness when traveling especially while working in the industry. The workshop will focus on full service work in brothels as well as independent GFE escorting. Your questions and experience welcome!

Edited: March 24th, 2010

Advertising Discrimination for Sex Workers

Dear advertisers,

I’ve edited my text from “lips” to “L1PS”, suggested explosions and release instead of orgasms, and implied I offer “erotic services” instead of plain ol’ sex. I have done all this, and more, to meet your needs, the needs of online websites and newspaper companies who gladly take my money to run my sex work advertisements (and who often charge me heaps more than any other category of advertisement) but who don’t respond to my needs for responsible and accurate representation of what I offer and what I don’t offer to prospective clients. Partly this is about following the law, but partly it is about you making a buck. “This is not large commercial brothels, this is individual sex workers being charged several times more than other advertisers. There seems to be no reason for this difference.” says Janelle Fawkes, CEO, Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association. It is discrimination because we are sex workers. Plain and simple.

This is about my safety, people. And that has me hopping mad today. You will hear from me again.

Love,
Lusty Day

Does any other businessperson have the difficulty in reaching appropriate clients that sex workers do? I spend a great deal of time crafting my advertisments, researching escort websites, taking accurate photos and ensuring that my business takes place in a discreet manner to protect my clients, minors, and my business (i.e. in areas of the Internet safeguarded by parental controls, and with appropriate adult content warnings, and accessible via iPhones and other mobile devices so clients can access my photos more discreetly). And yet! All forces seem against me when I attempt to reach clients responsibly. (more…)

Edited: January 11th, 2010