What I have found about travel is this: you are not the same person on one side of the trip as you are on the other. That said; and appreciation for growth and experience aside; traveling constantly and being away from home is exhausting. What I wouldn’t give for one day with nothing planned, nowhere to go. Just lounging around in my pj’s, loving my severely neglected kitten, and relishing in my laziness. Ah! The meager idea is enough to make my spiritual appetite salivate.

Complaints aside, I have loved meeting all my new friends and have loved their showing me their perspective lives and sights. Texas and NM are amazing. The Atlantic Ocean truly is a different one than the Pacific. To all of my new friends, thank you for the travels and the wonderful times we shared. To my bed: see you soon.

I promise to begin writing here more.. if for no one else’s benefit, then for my own.

Ben was just such a client. Spending time together during our first two dates I felt a connection to him stronger and deeper than even the last two times I fell for a client.

a bit predisposed, I know, but with my trade being making love, falling in a time or two myself is bound to be expected, is it not?

 He was younger than even I prefer to date and yet seemed so mature, like an old oak in the wood having seen the world alone and eternally, yet only from the vantage point of his corner in the wood. He seemed at all times to be watching, waiting, absorbing all that he sees. The words I said, the absent gestures I made while telling a story, and then; my body, its lines, where I was strong, where I was tender, my ecstasy, my pain, everything. He was as attuned to me in all ways as anybody could be for another person. Usually this level of attention and admiration, prolonged, sets me a little off, but with Ben it was different.  

Ben instantly became my closest confidant and friend. There was no need to hold anything back from him as he had met me at my naughtiest and dirtiest and embraced it, along with the rest of me, all the same. I began talking with him for hours at a time, multiple times a day. He always had a complimentary word or comforting phrase. I more than enjoyed hearing him compliment me day by day, I began to depend upon it. I would wake each morning and lay down each night on the desire to hear him talk and to speak with him equally. Through his eyes I could be the queen, the princess, and the whore. He loved all of me the same as the rest.  

Our affair, as all my others, burned hot and fast. In addition to out first two dinner dates booked in Florida,  he requested I fly with him on a work trip to New Mexico. I was more than happy to comply. Upon arriving at the airport to a gentleman holding a magnificent bouquet of calla lilies, my favorite, he began his slow and precise courtship. Determined to make me as pliant to him as honey in his hand, he succeeded. Every night there was romantic, candle lite dinners, dancing, out-door festivals, and shows. During the day while he worked I basked in absolute indulgence at the resort spa or pool. When he wasn’t working we strolled through museums and parks, shopping centers and town centers.

As effective as the gifts of indulgence and the continual gentlemanly way he cared for my every need while with him, Ben also was genuinely falling for me as well. There was never a table conversation his eyes strayed away from, never a missed opportunity to touch my hand or caress my face. He made me feel as beautiful and important to him as any other thing in his world. Being with Ben was feeling validated in the world. Maybe just a tiny, private corner; but validated just the same.

The ending of this story is the same as the affair; equally expected and easy to believe. As open-minded and supportive as Ben was with my choice of business and level of committment to this industry, at least at present, it began to break him down. He wanted only to talk of those clients who drove me mad with their inability to listen of follow simple requests. He talked incessantly of my next move, my next career, my next life. When ever I had happy news of work to share and celebrate I found not so supporting of a friend as I had before. In time, the deeper our emotions grew, the less Ben could actually accept my whore.

Did I think of changing for him? Yes. Of course I did. But when I truly sat back and considered the situation I thought changing myself now, even a bit, deviating from the course I have set myself on, using my best ability of planning and devising I possibly could; deviating just a tiny bit would be the same as giving up on myself. Calling myself into the big office and explaining that I found someone better suited to take over the job of running my life.

Ben quite possibly could have done a much better job than me at most things. Regardless, I do not believe that is the system set up for individuals in life. We can not, at any time, simply choose to tap out and let someone else have a go. We have to trust in ourselves, make decisions, sometimes bad but mostly good, and find someone to share them with. All in all, he remains a friend. As loved and cherished as many others that I meet through this work. I spent a little extra time with him, and loved every minute of it.

The first girl I decided to help went through a long and arduous experience of trying to learn basic html in order to build her own site and advertisements. After answering several of her questions upon the process and what was needed to be done, I quickly realized I was probably going to end up doing a lot of the work for her myself. It is one thing to have experience as an escort.. which she does, and that is great! but it is another thing entirely for her, or anybody, to understand how and when and why to post ads and blogs and sites.. whew! I’m even exhausted.

The process is rough and not a bucket full of jollies; since I have gone through the process before I decided to extend a helping han d and produce for her the same level of coverage and representation online that has brought me all of my lovely clients and friends I have today. The only issue with all this apparent generosity is that time spent building her campaign will obviously be time spent away from my dates, and therefore my earning stream.

So she and I, and potentially a few others, have come to an agreement: I will build sites and ads for them and in return I will receive a percentage of their fees. I will not be an agency in terms of determining schedules and demanding appointments be made. She will be an independent, working off her own schedule and earning her own rates. I simply am extending my hand and expertise to her in terms of marketing and presentation.

I am thinking of calling my new endeavor Bella Discrete Referral. I hope the title of my little side project relays to clients that I too am an escort who understands the industry, the clients, and am here to offer my recommendations for others in my direct area.

I must go now and start to build my “agency” website. Look for me out there on the net, the boards, and the ads.

Muah,

Bella

Keep in mind also that these are guidelines for the way things are done in the United States.  Things may be a bit different if you live in another country, especially in places where prostitution is legal or unregulated.

Working out the Details

Once your provider has cleared you through her screening process, she’ll contact you either by phone or e-mail to work out the details of your appointment.  You’ll work out a specific time for your date, along with other pertinent details such as the location, how to get there, etc.  In some cases, she might carry on a conversation with you (I do that to get a feel for my clients’ personalities, but some don’t).

DO NOT mention anything about sex or sexual services in your initial contacts with the provider if she does not provide a list of sexual services on her web site.  If she does, then you can ask basic questions without getting dirty.  Providers are there to provide companionship, and discussing sex for fees is solicitation (which is illegal, in the U.S. at least).  If you wish to know what kind of experience you’ll have, read her reviews (if she allows them).  If you get all porny, she’ll likely break off contact altogether.  For most providers, it is acceptable to discuss your “interests” so long as they aren’t discussed in the context of sex (“I have a fetish for facials. Is that something you’d be interested in discussing?)

Appropriate subjects for conversation are a little about yourself, without getting graphic (don’t tell us how big your cock is),  why you’re coming to town, what kind of plans you have, etc.

Don’t try to negotiate rates, unless she specifically mentions in her ads or on her web site that she’ll negotiate (very rare) .  That’s the quickest way to turn a provider off – some will even leave if you attempt to try to get her to reduce what she’s charging.  You don’t negotiate rates with your doctor, so don’t expect to with your provider.

And finally, don’t ask the provider for additional photos, or photos that show her face.  The set she has on her web site are all that she’s willing to share with clients, and of course, we have to keep our faces hidden for our own safety and security (and) yours as well.

Dress

Dress as if it were a first date unless she has specified otherwise on her web site or in her conversations with you.  Most believe that dressing business casual is just fine, but if you’re unsure just ask.  She’ll be happy to tell you what she prefers.  Obviously, if you’re going out to the symphony, to dinner, or to some special function, then what you wear will need to be appropriate for that function.

She’ll likely ask you how you want her dressed.  If you have no preference, then just tell her to show up in something she’s comfortable in (or feels sexy in).  Don’t ask her to dress “slutty” or some way that is going to attract attention on a first date.  Once she gets comfortable with you, she may enjoy playing that way in the future, but she’s not going to show up on a random date looking like a whore.

Hygiene

Poor hygiene is perhaps a professional’s biggest pet peeve.  You’d be surprised at how many clients don’t shower or spruce up before we show up.  Remember – this is a date, and though it is a professional one, that doesn’t mean we should be the only one who expends some effort to clean up. Even if you’re booking a quickie (15 or 30 minute session), you should still at a minimum clean your pubic area/genitals if you believe sex may be involved.

Take a shower right before she arrives, shave, brush your teeth, etc.  If going to an incall location, she may provide you with access to a shower.  Ask if her web site doesn’t specify.  If you’ve been at work all day and stop by to see her for an appointment, you’ll be expected to take a quick shower in most cases.  Many providers have a basic set of toiletries available for your use.

Make sure you have fresh breath.  Don’t eat garlic or onion right before I come over, please!!  I try to avoid eating anything that has onion or garlic in it if I have an appointment that evening.  Garlic is not something that is easy to mask, either, so even chewing a ton of gum isn’t going to hide it.

Many providers will not see smokers, or will at least prefer that you not smoke during sessions.  Some don’t care.  If her web site doesn’t specify, just ask.  Again, not unlike garlic and onion, smoker’s breath is quite rancid to someone who doesn’t smoke.  If you prefer a provider who doesn’t smoke, and her web site doesn’t specify, again, just ask.  Those who do will usually be happy to refrain from smoking for a couple of hours before they come to see you.

If you’re intoxicated or high, your provider is likely to just turn around and leave.  Dealing with someone who’s not in full possession of their faculties is a pain in the ass at best and is often dangerous for us and for you.  If you’re expecting a provider, lay off the booze (light amounts of wine are fine, but don’t over do it).

Upon Her Arrival (for an outcall)

If she’s coming to your hotel or office, provide her with information such as where to park, which entrance to use, where the elevators are (you don’t want her wandering around looking for the elevators – that’s the best way to attract the attention of hotel security, and if she gets in trouble, usually you will, too!), and of course your floor and room number.

Have your identification ready if she requires it- some do, some don’t. Driver’s license or a passport both suffice.  If she’s unable to verify you’re who you say you are, she might leave.

If she’s a GFE, then you can expect a light kiss when she walks in.  If this is your first appointment with her, don’t try to DFK her the moment she walks in the door. She’ll likely be a bit anxious meeting someone new, and will want to take some time getting to know you a bit before she starts getting that intimate.  You should follow her lead.  If she wants to kiss you, she will (and some will – as with everything else here, your mileage may vary).

Always offer her a drink, even if it is just water (and have water available even if you plan to offer other types of drinks).  Leave the bottles sealed.  I’d never take a drink from a bottle that you handed me that had been opened – I have no way of knowing what’s in it.  And while you aren’t the type of person who’d try to drug a provider, there are people out there who will.  Water is important if you get physical – all of that exertion can be dehydrating.

Upon Your Arrival (for an incall)

If you’re seeing a provider at an incall location (whether it is a public place or her private quarters), please be on time, or contact her and let her know you’re going to be late.  Keep in mind that she may have to reschedule you if you’re going to be too late, since she may have other clients scheduled after you.  It’s incumbent upon you to be on time.  Don’t arrive too early, either, because, as life has taught you, ladies need time to get ready; she wants to be completely beautiful before she sees you.

Be sure and park where she asks you to park.  Some providers work out of their homes and specific parking protocol may help her keep from attracting too much attention to her work.

When she’s out of the room, don’t rummage through her stuff.  It may seem strange to you for me to say that, but it’s not uncommon for clients to go hunting around the room when a provider goes into the bathroom.  You’re in someone else’s house, so act like a guest.

Donation/Payment

The business transaction is an important part of the appointment, of course, and most providers are fairly particular about how they want that part handled.  Again, follow her directions.  Most will ask that you leave it in plain sight on a table in an unsealed envelope.  A great way to make an excellent initial impression on your provider is to enclose it in a card of some type.  If you don’t see specific instructions on her web site, just ask how she wants it handled BEFORE she arrives, either during a phone conversation or via e-mail if you’re communicating that way.

Do not discuss money at all during your appointment UNLESS you’re going to request an extension of her time, at which point there’ll be a discussion about appropriate compensation.

Your Companion

Your companion is a human being, with emotions, feelings, desires, and a life outside providing professional services to clients.  Respect her, treat her as you’d expect to be treated.  True, you are paying for her services, but that doesn’t give you license to treat her like dirt or non-human.

Respect her boundaries.  If she doesn’t explain her boundaries (or menu) prior to your meeting, discuss that before things start getting sexual (not right off the bat), and work out a method of communicating so that if you do something she doesn’t like she can let you know.  I prefer the use of safewords for this (and is a good idea for any sexual encounter, professional or private).

There are specific topics you should avoid bringing up.  Don’t ask about her other clients, for example.  Don’t ask about her private life, boyfriends/girlfriends, real name, what her family thinks about her work, etc.  Talk about sports, what you do, the city, politics, or anything else that comes to mind.  If she’s revealed personal information on her web site (such as a school she attended, favorite things, etc.), then those are good topics to explore as well.

Getting Comfortable

Once you’ve gotten to know one another for a few minutes, you’ll likely want to move on to other things.  Either one of you can take the lead here.  Typically, if you’re at her place, she’ll let you know it’s time to get comfortable.  That’s your sign that it’s time to get undressed.  If she’s come to you, generally, she’ll await a sign from you that you’re ready to begin playing.  A good way to start that is to approach her and begin kissing.

If you’ve not seen an escort before, let her know on the front end.  This will let her know that she might need to guide you through a couple of things.  Everyone has a first time, and many of us enjoy providing that first experience for a new client.  We understand that you’ll likely be nervous, and your provider will do whatever she can to make you as comfortable as possible.

Condoms are almost universally required for penetrative sex, though some providers will do bareback blowjobs.  The escort will have a selection of different sizes with her, along with lube and perhaps a couple of toys as well.  It is always a good idea to have a couple of your own condoms with you just in case, however.

Tipping, Gifts, Etc.

Like any other service profession, tipping is optional.  Obviously, if you believe the service your provider offers is deserving of an additional gratuity, by all means offer one.  And while cash is preferred, providers often appreciate gift cards to, well, just about any place, really.

One thing you may want to consider with an agency girl is that the agency is going to take a portion of her money, so she’s not going to be keeping everything you give her at the appointment (some agencies will take as much as half of what she gets from you).  If you wish, a tip to help make  up for the money she has to hand over is always appreciated, especially if she’s provided you with a good session.

It is always a warm gesture to give a provider a gift.  Many escorts will have a section of their web site dedicated to suggestions for gifts.  Some prefer you donate to a good cause (typically a non-profit organization or a charitable organization) rather than providing them with a gift.  If your provider doesn’t specify, a rose or two or a small box of candies (without nuts – some are allergic) are always appreciated.  If you’re going to bring a gift to her incall, don’t carry it out in the open where everyone’s going to see it (like a big bouquet of roses, for example).  It’ll attract unwanted attention.  Similarly, if she has to carry a huge vase and flower spray out of the hotel, it will attract attention.  Since both you and her rely on discretion as a part of the encounter, you want to keep from drawing too much attention to her, even after she’s left you.

Agency vs. Independent

One of the most important differences between agency providers and independents is that, with an agency, you can usually have an escort come see you right away (or close to it).  Their stable is on-call during working hours, so they’re always ready to go on a moment’s notice.

Independents tend to prefer some advance time to prepare, sometimes as much as 48 hours.  I tend to book out as far as a month or so in some cases, though it is very rare for an escort to have that kind of pattern.  Don’t expect to contact an independent provider and have her at your door within an hour or two.

Once all the preliminaries are taken care of and you get on with the appointment, just relax and have fun.  Communicate with your provider – make sure you’re both on the same page about limits, then kick back and allow your provider to make your morning, afternoon, or evening something to remember.

Every once in a while, a client will ask if he can photograph or videotape the encounter.  Some providers will allow you to do this, and will usually state so on her web site.  However, the vast majority of providers will not allow this (they could end up being outed as a working girl, to their detriment).  You’re welcome to ask, but expect a strong no.  Keep in mind that surreptitiously recording someone is a crime in most locations.

If you’ve booked an appointment of a longer duration (four hours or more), your provider is probably going to want to eat at some point.  This generally means something outside the hotel room if you’re in such a place – being cooped up in a small room for so long gets a bit claustrophobic sometimes.  You should also be aware that, for the “overnight” type appointments (typically 8-12 hours or longer, including multi-day appointments) many providers require a separate room to sleep in (if you’re in a hotel).  So please take these things into consideration when doing your planning.

After the appointment

It’s a good idea to e-mail your provider (or her agency) and let her know you enjoyed your time together.  This is a good way to keep the door open in case you’d like to book a future appointment with her.

If for some reason, the appointment didn’t meet your expectations, just don’t contact her again.  There’s no need to send her an e-mail explaining why or giving her a list of things she did that you didn’t like.  We’re all adults.  Things don’t always go 100% as expected every time, so just chalk it up to experience and move on.  If she works for an agency and you experienced some kind of problem, e-mail or call the agency and let them know, politely.

On occasion, you may like to rebook her and she may not wish to see you again.  There could be a variety of reasons for this (lack of chemistry, she wasn’t comfortable with something you did, etc.).  If you send an e-mail or call for another appointment, she’ll usually let you know that she doesn’t wish to see you a second time, or she may just not return your calls/e-mails.  Again, we’re all adults, and as a professional she has to structure her business – her appointments – such that it is beneficial for her to do business.  Just accept that she doesn’t wish to see you and go on with life, perhaps finding another provider.

If things go well, and the both of you decide the relationship was mutually satisfying, perhaps you’ll become regulars for one another, resulting in a long-term arrangement.  You can both enjoy each others’ company for some time to come.    If you wish to avail yourself of the services of other providers, ask the one you’ve seen if it is okay to use her as a reference.  In many cases, future providers will allow you to use others you’ve seen as references in lieu of requiring a lot of background information or membership in an identity verification web site.

Finally, it’s also important to note that your appointment was the enactment of a fantasy.  Even though your provider may have had a wonderful time, she’s not interested in booking time with you “off the clock.”  This is a business for her and not a way to find personal dates or life partners

I might show up acting the “sex-goddess” pro you’ve looked for, but sometimes I’m learning and trying this stuff out along the way.

cheers!

May 10th, 2008 · 3 Comments · Definitions, Working Lives

george carlin on prostitution

I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal. Selling is legal, fucking is legal. So, why isn’t it legal to sell fucking? Why should it be illegal to sell something that’s legal to give away? I can’t follow the logic. Of all the things you can to do a person, giving them an orgasm is hardly the worst. In the army they give you a medal for killing people; in civilian life you go to jail for giving them orgasms. Am I missing something?
From Napalm & Silly Putty

 As I’m sure you know, there are a great many terms used to describe sex workers: whore, hooker, streetwalker, provider, escort, courtesan, etc.  Many of them tend to be used as pejoratives, of course.  I am a bit partial to the word courtesan, but I also use the term professional companion to describe what I do.  I provide much more than just a quick fuck to my clients.  Still, at its core, it is professional sex.
Is paid sex work a “professional service”, though?  Or, restated, is prostitution a “profession?”

You will occasionally encounter philosophical arguments about whether sex work is even work, let alone something that could be considered professional.  Without exception, those who make such arguments have never done it (the same is true for porn work, btw).  In my mind, anything you do for pay is, by any reasonable definition, work in an employment sense, whether you enjoy it or not, whether you do it occasionally for free or not, or whether it involves the use of your mind or body or some combination thereof.  And anyone who’s ever sold sex will tell you that it is, without a doubt, work.  That’s the end of that discussion.
A Profession?
Is it a profession, though? If you accept the definition offered by Paulette Beat Songue, as simply “work someone does as the means to derive an existence,” then clearly anyone doing any kind of sex work for pay is a professional. 1  Similarly, according to Random House Dictionary, the definition of a profession could be as simple as “any vocation or business.”   Both of those reflect a terribly liberal interpretation of the word by most standards and aren’t really much help for our purposes here.  We need something with a little more depth to it to provide a template against which to measure the relative professionalism of the prostitute’s trade.
According to one political science theory, a profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and uphold themselves to and are accepted by the public as possessing specialized knowledge and skills in a widely recognized body of learning derived from research, education, and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interest of or service to others.
It’d be hard to fit prostitution (or many other jobs) neatly into that kind of construct, for a variety of reasons.  Does the public “accept” prostitutes as possessing specialized knowledge and skills?  Those who know what prostitutes do, beyond what the mainstream media portrays (save for perhaps CNBC), understand that prostitutes are usually very skilled at their craft.  They have to be to make the most efficient use of their time.  Some aren’t, of course, but they usually don’t last long in the business.  At least, not at the middle and higher ends of the spectrum.
Level of Service
Typically one expects a professional service to be performed at a higher caliber than what you might expect from an amateur.  I’ve had clients tell me I’m the best fuck they’ve ever had or that I do an excellent job of melding the physical and personality skills they like in a prostitute.  If you read the review boards, many clients compliment providers on their sexual talents and/or interpersonal skills.  The fact of the matter is that, if you’re not good at what you do in this business, you’ll generally have trouble attracting clients, especially those who’ll request your services again (and those are the bread and butter of the ability to make a decent living at this).
Obviously, in the grand scheme of things, some professionals are better than others.  This is true with lawyers, doctors, police officers, accountants, electricians, etc.  So it would stand to reason that the same is true for professional sex workers as well.  Some are better than others – the hobbyists will tell you that in a heartbeat. 2  But since the quality of service in this business is almost purely subjective in nature, one client’s poor service experience may be another’s high quality one.
The services of some are worth more than the services of others because of differing skill levels.  Similarly, the more expansive the repertoire of services (physical or otherwise) you offer as a professional, the more you should expect to be compensated. 

Suffice it to say, however, that most clients typically expect a prostitute to offer a wide range of sexual experiences and to do them well; they expect a professional level service because they are paying a (relatively) hefty fee for it.  Perhaps the fees charged might be indicative of the level of professionalism?
Choice
According to the incredibly mis-named organization Concerned Women For America (CWFA), “…prostitution is often referred to as the “world’s oldest profession.” This phrase implies that people, women especially, willingly choose to be prostitutes. People usually choose professions to further their ambitions or use their aptitudes and gifts. Prostitution is not a profession.”
The implication is, of course, that women never choose to be prostitutes and by virtue of that fact, it can’t be a profession.  Ignoring the incredible lapse of logic there, the myth that women don’t choose to be prostitutes has been contradicted over and over and over again by women who’ve written extensively about their choice to do exactly that.  Air Force AmyW, Brooke Taylor, Amanda Brooks, Tracy QuanW, Norma Jean Almodovar – all of them chose specifically to become prostitutes, for a variety of reasons.  Tracy knew at 10 she wanted to be a prostitute, and Amanda decided in her teens that she wanted to do the work.  Norma Jean had a nice job as a police officer before she quit to become a prostitute and has written and spoken extensively about why she made that choice.  History is replete with examples of women who not only made a conscious choice to engage in prostitution, but did so quite readily and made quite a successful living with it.
Ambitions
Do the women choose the work to further their ambitions?  What are the ambitions of most people who engage in a profession?  Any profession?
For most people, chief among their ambitions are to have a home, pay the bills, raise a family and care for their children, and to save some money.  Some workers might have additional ambitions of starting a new business or adventure, traveling, or perhaps building a brand new home of some type.  All of this is true for a great many prostitutes, including all of the women listed above.  Tracy Quan and Veronica Monet both used money they saved working as prostitutes to start their own empires.  For many, especially those who work the streets, I’d argue one of their driving ambitions is often hanging on to their homes or providing for their children.  Of course, those ambitions aren’t what the not-really-concerned about all women of America mean when they refer to “ambition,” are they?
Anti-prostitution activists will make the assertion that women turn to prostitution only because of financial need.  I have to laugh when I read that statement since the overwhelming majority of people do the work they do simply to make money and wouldn’t be doing it if they didn’t have to to earn a living.  They also make claims about the number of women who’d leave the profession if they could.  Aspasia has a rather cogent post on her blog about a study showing that more than half the members of one profession would leave it if they could.  You know what it was?  The medical profession.  Does that mean that they aren’t professionals since the majority of them wish to leave?  No one would make such a ridiculous claim about them, of course.  But it’s okay to make that stretch for sex work, curiously.

Aspirations
Some would argue that, in order for it to be considered a profession, it would need to be the type of work that one would aspire to do for a significant majority of his/her lifetime.  I am inclined to disagree with this since many people move in and out of different jobs and professions throughout the course of their lives.
Back in the day, people, men especially, would have one job most of their lives. Nowadays, of course, people jump from job to job almost as often as they change automobiles.  Writers become educators, educators become police officers, police officers become lawyers, stockbrokers and hedge fund managers become janitors, and so forth.  Some prostitutes go on to become writers, some go on to become educators, some go on to become attorneys. I know of one woman who worked as a prostitute and is now an executive vice president of a Fortune 100 corporation.  The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that the average worker these days will hold about eleven different jobs from age 18 through 42 alone.  The concept of holding one job throughout most of your adult life as a rule died some years ago, and therefore employment longevity cannot be used as a measuring stick for professionalism.
The number of women who pay their way through college through prostitution (and stripping) would astound the average person, I can assure you.  It is far more prevalent than even many sociologists realize.  Most make it through college quietly and go onto other things, just as the vast majority of people who hold other types of jobs during college will do.
Do people aspire to become prostitutes?   Tracy Quan would answer in the affirmative.  So, even using CWFA’s twisted application of logic, it is plain to see that prostitution can even fit into their mold of what constitutes a profession.

Education and Training
What about receiving training at a high level?  That’s a tough one.   In fact, it is not uncommon at all for prostitutes to have advanced degrees, especially at the high end.   Most don’t have any specific training , of course.  Well, unless you count on-the-job training, or training gained through experience.  Sex is one job where you can arrange your own training, by and large.  At least, from a physical standpoint.  The rest of it often takes some tutelage.
The truth is, however, that there is currently no formalized training for prostitutes.  Or for anyone else who wishes to better themselves in the bedroom, for that matter.  There are a handful of small, unique (and typically itinerant) places where people can avail themselves of specialized sexual training, but those are relatively few and far between.
There are some books that offer advice to prostitutes on how to work in this business, including two good ones by Amanda Brooks (soon to be four, I believe), and books on business management tailored specifically to escorts by J. D. Roberts, and Kay Good.  There are also a handful of sites on the Internet and the occasional DVD that provide some guidance to people seeking to better themselves and improve their sexual skill sets as well.  But they’d have to go other places to get training in marketing skills, personal safety, etc.
Aspasia and I have kind of batted around the idea about creating a school or university for whores (or, as she puts it, a Whoreiversity).  We’d teach subjects such as dealing with legal issues, financial management, client relations, marketing, safe sex practices, personal and client safety, and of course a wide variety of sexual techniques among other things.  All of these are matters that professional prostitutes have to deal with in one form or another if they wish to be successful.
It would be interesting to build a curriculum and a series of classes for this line of work.   In fact, in my post about decriminalization, I made the point that prostitutes should be required to maintain their education with respect to the work – sort of a continuing education kind of thing, not unlike many other, well, professions.   At any rate, as it stands right now, there are no legitimate schools or educational paths for hookers.  Yet.
So, Is It or Not?
If truth be known, most prostitutes could care less whether anyone else considers it a profession or not.  They do it to make the money they need to live on, and will move on to some other line of work if and when a decent opportunity presents itself, just like everyone else.   And, just as an athlete will use his/her body, physical talents and skills to earn their living, so, too, will the prostitute.  The fact that their work involves a vagina (or a penis, in the case of male sex workers) doesn’t negate its professionalism in any way.
For some women, however, prostitution is indeed a profession.  There are a considerable number of women who make an incredible living as professional companions; it is their sole means of income.  Some of them make well into six figures a year.  The majority don’t, of course.  They’ll work until they get arrested, find something else to do, or just get tired of the work.  You don’t hear much about them unless they do get arrested, or one of their clients gets arrested.  Sadly, that’s a side effect of the legal status of the work.
I choose to approach the work in a professional manner.  How do I quantify that?
My web sites are professionally done and present me in a professional light
The way I approach and deal with my clients is very professional
I responsibly manage the money I make from the work I do
I represent the profession well (in my opinion)
I strive to better myself at what I do, through education and experiential learning
I maintain a strong sense of personal and professional ethics as it relates to the work
I strive to deliver a high quality of service to my clients (I even offer a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee, something that is very rare in the industry)
I think that approach embodies the entire concept of professionalism.  And, while I only intend to be doing this for another 18 months or so, I want to be the best that I can be; I want to leave a positive footprint on the world of prostitution and on my clients.
So, basically, it boils down to individual attitude.  Some prostitutes choose to approach the job as a profession, others not so much.  I think that is the ultimate arbiter of whether it is or is not a profession.

Upon reading the vile misrepresentation of my services, (my opinion of course, but no less of a true statement) after the initial period of shock and utter confusion I started asking questions; Who was this unsatisfied client? What had gone so wrong? I was seriously dismayed at the thought that someone had actually been with me and ended up so displeased. This had not happened to me before. Up to this point every client I had ever had been more than elaborate in their praise of my services. They went out of their way to tell me so. I was literally lost and dismayed at what to do with this one, lone, clearly unsatisfied client. (If your curious the review is on TER, the erotic review) 

I believe I acted in the only professional, classy way I know how. I reached out to all the clients I had seen over the past month and asked them if they wouldn’t mind posting their opinions of me on the same site. All glowing, raving reviews I simply assumed. For the most part I was right. One of my wonderful, lovely, adorable client actually posted his second from the same appointment with me as the original was already posted on another review site; Escorts.com. They use terms such as, charming, beautiful, sensual, and intelligent, just to name a few. They told me the reviewer was mistaken, not to let one bad apple ruin my day, etc. They pointed out one of his arguments simply went against the grain of common sense; that I should arrive as perfectly constructed as portrayed in one of my many over glamorize head shots from the website.  One of my regulars even drove into my home town during his work day for an impromptu midday date to remind me just how special he thought I was, the love. They pulled me up by my garters and forced me to return to the girl in the mirror for the sex goddess she once was.

Well, most of them anyway. I did reach out to another gentleman with whom I thought we shared an amazing evening together to hear that upon his reading of this garish review he too felt dissatisfied. This discovery coupled with some very wise words of that ultra supportive client opened my eyes to the reality of the situation. Not every client I see is going to have the same experience with me as the last. It is simple social studies. I have been fortunate thus far to meet so many men with whom I have shared such honest chemistry that the dates all went over as smashing success’. It was only a matter of time for me to face the negative contribution margin in the analysis of rating approval. Thus far, two out of one hundred does not a career change make. We are dealing with such a variety of personalities and expectations here that it is phenomenal I am just now experienced my first slightly unflattering review. 

I have tried contacting the reviewer; to figure out a) who he is, and b) when we met. I could not remember doing anything remotely described in his review and remain curious as to when this terrible encounter actually occurred. The other disgruntled client I will say only that he and I (and 90% of my client base) are of  just too vastly different beliefs to what constitutes a ”satisfactory” client/escort experience. 

At the end of the experience, I cried, I yelled.. I’m kidding  

I am glad to have had the opportunity for so many of my clienele to reach out in such a supportive fashion and let me know just how much they value and appreciate me. To all the others who do not think so, or who may in the future, I say this: through chemical imbalances of your own, or social differences insurmountable, I may not be the escort for you. I am good with that. I am not for everybody, and I will not try to be. Those clients that know me and love me for exactly who I am have shown me that being selected by men of such caliber makes me likewise unobjectionable to some of another caliber indeed.