Working At A Jack Shack
Bodyrub- Yet Another Facet of Sex Work
At the end of May, I received news that I was no longer able to use this communal space as an incall location. It was a beautiful, easy location that was really too good to be true. And it was. I don’t feel comfortable enough talking about what happened yet. But when I feel ready, I will share about it. The loss of the space, however, basically meant I was back at square one like when I first moved to Brooklyn. When I came here, COVID was still affecting hotels so their prices were discounted to retain business. The handy Dayuse app as many workers know was great until prices skyrocketed again. The other thing about Dayuse is that if you stayed past 6pm in a room, you would automatically have to pay the night which is usually at least double the day price. This price surge happened when I had my own space and I always thanked God for giving me an opportunity to pay a small rental fee in my own nice space and the rest was taken care of.
The loss of the space meant going back to hotels which was not ideal as the hotel knows all your info. And in the end, I would hardly profit from sessions. I was in a jam. Luckily, I thought back to the winter when one of my friends’ pleaded with me to come work with her at a “bodyrub” studio. I really laughed it off at the time partially because I didn’t really know what that was but I pictured a dingy old time brothel where girls stand in robes outside their tiny rooms waiting for a suited man to choose one of them.
It sounded nearly miserable. But a few nights after losing my place, I reached out to this same friend desperate to land even an interview. I was able to and the following week I was properly introduced to bodyrub.
Bodyrub is sex work but I thought otherwise until I came into the work. Before I thought: “oh, it’s the easy way out. F/S* is real sex work, body rub is a little more than having an OnlyFans.” I know, super ignorant. My judgement also brings up whorearchy which I will have a post on later down the line. But basically whorearchy describes the way in which workers prioritize their value based on their participation of criminalized sex work. It creates tension between doms and escorts. Online and in person. Strippers and body rub workers. These are just a few examples. Whorearchy exists and will probably always exist because society will always engrain its people to feel shame about their bodies, sex and the labor they engage in. I will say that hopefully in some communities it has gotten better over the years. I know my perceptions have changed a lot in a short amount of time. Anyway, more on this later. Back to the story- I got an interview and started bodyrub that same week.
As employees we are required to wear lingerie and full faces of makeup at all times during work hours or you run the risk of being called “homeless” by our house mom. Shifts are six to eight hours long. Up to two girls are always working. My commute is an hour. The money I make is not all mine to keep. Basically, I have begrudgingly entered the workforce once again. My life as an independent worker is over for the moment and I am still mourning that. I resent some aspects of the job. At first I felt the cut from my boss was synonymous with theft. It was my labor and body after all, and she was taking a cut. Maybe I'm just brainwashed now but I do feel differently.
While our boss advertises us a little, we still have to screen clients who hit us up directly via our work phones. And of course we have to set up ads outside of hers’ if we are going to make money. I spent three shifts in a row (7 and 8 hrs each) with not one client. And we are not paid to be there, we are paid by the client. I was furious but also felt defective. It really tugged on my insecurities. I know its unhealthy- but if I am being honest I do derive some worth from clients and making money. I don’t see how you could grow up in a society that summarizes you down to your job/career/money acquisition, and not feel insecure when these things are being threatened. Plus if I were to charge my full hourly fee, I would have no problem making at least 2k each day I worked. I bitched and moaned about this specific thing but finally it comes down to this. Sure, everything is relative and I could be charging more for bodyrubs- but the bottom line is that I do not (90%) of the time do not have sex with these clients. My boss told me during my interview, “girl, I make so much money and I don't even take my panties off.” I winced at her remark but funnily enough when I tell other workers what I do- I hear that same phrase coming out of my mouth.
I do need a break from f/s. In the months leading up to losing my spaces, I started to tell romantic partners that I wasn't interested in having sex with them for the time being. I had gotten tired and even angry from having sex when I did not want to. I mean- no one ever forced me but myself. I was tired of forcing myself and my personal life was being affected. Even a few months off being f/s full time, I can tell there’s still stuff I need to process emotionally. Now if I do f/s, it’s only because the client is cute enough and I upcharge the fuck out of them. Of course they don’t know that. They don’t know I was a f/s independent escort before they met me. They probably think I am just a girl trying to pay her rent because the SAG/WGA strikes have left me out of work (which is true).
Learning the clientele of bodyrub has been one of the most fascinating things about the job. First, I wanna say this post is all from my own experience. I also work in a privileged space because the woman who runs is a worker herself. It’s not some dude involved in organized crime who has little empathy for the workers. We are also not workers who have been trafficked into this. It is my choice to be here. Being white, cis and having English as my first language privileges me immensely. So my experience working at the place is almost certainly very different from someone who works for a non-sex worker and/or is trying to immigrate to the US with little resources. Lots of people are at risk of being trafficked due to their immigration status and it is a sad reality. As far as I know, my coworkers and I choose to be here.
With all that said, the men that come through are interesting. It is my impression that most of these men would not be caught dead with a hooker. Rather, they fall into the category of clients who think paying for sex makes a guy a loser. But! A handjob at the end of a massage is just normal and even a coming of age event- they may think. Happy endings are so much more normalized. Especially in NYC where there is a prominent spa culture. But it's just funny to me because most of us are literally hookers. I will say that some girls will tell you they do not do “extras” or “upgrades” whatsoever and those workers very much exist. There are even some places where the girls are naked while they work but nothing about the actual massage is sensual. There are lots of underground places around the city that have historically run some type of bodyrub facility. See what you can find. Could be a fun exercise.
For me, the release at the end is no sweat off my back. What’s more, I've actually learned quite a bit about teasing and edging. What’s the difference between my nuru/erotic/tantric/edging massage, you ask? Literally nothing but the price! If a guy comes in for an hour at the house rate, I give him a good massage and rub my body on him and do a release. If he comes in and says he wants nuru, I rub oil on my tits and charge him 40-100 depending on how nice he’s been to me and do the same damn thing. Is that a scam? I mean in American capitalism, you can sell basic dish sponges for a dollar or charge 5 dollars for one that’s shaped like a smiley face. Pricing is arbitrary and it always is. In all fields of work and product. What will people pay is the question. And when they do pay an arbitrary asking price- there you go, there’s your rate.
In bodyrub, I have found it better in terms of connecting with clients too. Since I am not stressing about how I will have to have sex with them, I make it more of a priority to make them feel good for this one hour they have away from work/personal relationships/struggles. I am someone who has always been a proponent of massage and the idea that tensions and bodies need to be touched for good health. Or, we may walk around miserable because of our lack of intimate touch. I’ve met some good guys, I've met some that have made me sick to my stomach. But all in all, I feel like I am recovering- from what I’m not sure. And if we are being totally transparent- I am making more consistent money than I ever have. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
*ull ervice