Definition
Reviews boards were created for people, mostly men, to leave written accounts of their experiences with sex workers (usually escorts who advertise their services online, whom they often refer to as providers).  These accounts are descriptive stories on what transpired between them and the person they hired for services. Their stories could be simple notes saying, “I met Krista for drinks and a date and had a wonderful time,” or they could be much more sexually explicit, “Krista provided oral sex without a condom”.

Review boards have different formats for stories. To me, the term “review” was really coined by boards using a rating system. With this system, men are able rate their experiences, services and looks of the provider on a scale of 1 to 10.

Review Pros & Cons
The majority of providers today have reviews on multiple boards about their services with links to their contact information.  Many of these women rely on these reviews in order to make it as sex workers. A provider with great reviews is guaranteed appointments from men in his/her area because of positive comments.

Review boards allow the board members to know which providers gave great service and which ones are scams or rip-offs.

Reviews are not always a positive marketing tool though. The negative things about reviews are:
1.    Unreasonable expectations: If a provider provides a service for one client, and he writes about it, the next client might expect the same thing and the provider may not want to give that service to the next client. That client might then write a negative review of her.
2.    Maliciousness: Some clients who are “hardcore” hobbyists won’t leave good reviews no matter how hard the provider worked to fulfill their requests because of what we call a “God” complex. No woman can meet their expectation, short of 8 positions, the blow job of a lifetime and no condom – of course.
3.    Negative reviews: Negative reviews can kill a provider’s business.
4.    Legal ramifications: Sexually explicit reviews are admissible in court if a provider is prosecuted for solicitation.
5.    Rating systems: One client’s “8” is another client’s “4”. The system is not balanced and there is no standard. It’s based on preferences and appeal, or to use the phrase so often used on the boards: your mileage may vary (YMMV).

Does A Provider Need Reviews?
The answer is NO. The only reason a provider has to have reviews is if he/she wants them. Once a sex worker becomes established in this industry, a lot of them realize that they can survive without reviews. They have to increase their web presence, invest more money in advertising and network a bit more with other providers.

What Happens When A Provider Pulls Reviews?
If a provider finds that being rated like USDA Beef is not such a great thing, she can request removal of reviews on some boards. Then the emotional up and down caused by reviews disappears. They also find the quality of his/her clients increase.  But there are some that find they can’t make it without reviews, so they have to have them reinstated (this is largely dependent on their market).

–Callie Simms

The questions they want to ask, but usually don’t until after a few drinks is: “Do you have sex with your clients?” If I’m feeling randy, I’ll reply, “Only with my fist”—and make it clear by hitting my fist into my palm like a tough guy that I don’t mean hand-jobs.

No. I don’t have conventional sex with my clients. In fact, approximately 80 percent of my clients don’t have sexual orgasms during our sessions. In BDSM, there is such a thing called the masochist-climax, when the body goes through waves of euphoria induced by the overwhelming sensations—be it pain, pleasure, or a combination thereof. But I do consider professional domination to be part of the sex industry. I put things—metal things, silicone things, rubber things—into people’s places. They don’t put things into my places. They aren’t allowed to even touch me.

I am proud of being a professional dominatrix, but I will admit to being on defensive autopilot when I get unsolicited questions from people who are not familiar with BDSM. I think it’s important to break down stereotypes of media’s flat version of the latex dominatrix and I do enjoy educating; but not all the time, not at every dinner party, nor in a bar full of metrosexuals who look fashionably more fetishistic than I do. So from behind the safe shield of my laptop, I’ve opened my last article for questions and I’m ready to peel back every veil requested. So let’s dance.

She also responds to the following questions:

How have you seen yourself grow or evolve as a professional in the time since you’ve been one?

How has it affected your personal life?

Do you find that the pro work increases or decreases your enjoyment of BDSM in your personal life? Does play in your personal life ever feel like work?

Have you found that attitudes to your profession or the lifestyle have changed over the past few years?

When someone you’ve just met asks what you do for a living, how do you respond?

What’s the best and worst part of being a pro?

Click here to read her answers.

What Are the Advantages of Sex Work?
Money. Prices range from $250-400+ per hour for internet escorts to $50-$100 per act for street workers.

Independence. Unless you work for an agency, you are your own boss. You set your own hours, rates, and rules.

Pursuit of Dreams. Since you can make $1000 per week by only working four hours, you have the freedom to pursue priorities that meaningful to you: family, school, creative endeavors, etc.

Personal Empowerment. It’s extremely empowering for a woman in today’s society to earn high dollar wages without the expense of a high dollar education. It’s also empowering to enjoy sexual freedom without the baggage of societal standards that don’t necessarily apply to the way you define your own sexuality.

Community. The sex worker community is very supportive of each other. We’re family! We look out for each other: we have an intricate system of communication to alert each other of bad clients and possible legal entrapments; we gather together at SWOP meetings and events; and we’re happy to share clients with each other.

What Are the Disadvantages?
Criminalization & Legal exposure. It’s illegal to be a sex worker in America except for certain places in Nevada [editor's note: it's illegal to practice sex for money, but there are many kinds of sex work that are perfectly legal]. In Arizona, if you get convicted of prostitution (misdemeanor charge), you face mandatory jail time – including a six month prison sentence and a Class 5 felony upon a fourth offense! However, there are security precautions you can take to avoid getting busted; for instance, most newspaper and internet escorts don’t see clients who haven’t been pre-screened.

Social stigma. Sex workers are notoriously maligned in our culture. We dream of the day when sex work is widely perceived as an honorable, important and vital contribution to the emotional, physical and mental health of both the sex workers and the clients.

Workplace Safety. Whether it’s on the streets, in our homes or in five star resorts, the fact is that sex workers do not enjoy the same rights as other Americans when it comes to their work (which by the way, is a PRIVATE and CONSENSUAL act between two adults.) Because we are criminalized and stigmatized, we are vulnerable to violence and exploitation.

Street workers have a higher chance of running into clients who may rob or harm them. Internet escorting tends to be much safer, however, since clients must pass a rigorous screening process in order to be seen.

Burn out. Sex workers are prone to burn out like everyone else, but there are steps you can take to keep yourself healthy and safe.

Competition. Just like any other business where top dollar earnings are at stake, the competition can be fierce in certain cities. But fear not: there’s a niche market for every type of sex worker.