How are erotic masseurs weathering the increased censorship and regulation? In a saturated marketplace, how do these young men stand out from the crowd? As human beings with their own emotions, needs, and desires, where does this line of work fit into their daily lives? We talk to three to find out.
Many who work in and alongside the industry are feeling the direct effects of these bills. Most consequentially, the passing of SESTA/FOSTA means that many sex workers who were once able to independently operate a business online are being forced back onto the streets, effectively increasing potential harm. The bills have also led to a general sanitisation of the internet, and are arguably responsible for the increased censorship of NSFW content on sites like Tumblr and Instagram. The laws, which on the surface aim to curb sex trafficking, hold responsible any website that is found to “promote prostitution”, which resulted in the closure of the beloved Craigslist personals section, as well as online resources that sex workers used to compare notes on potentially dangerous or abusive clients. There are, of course, anxieties around this process, as its legality is questionable at best, so both clients and masseurs tend to exercise caution when exchanging information or discussing specifics.Īdditionally, the twin bills SESTA/FOSTA, passed in 2018, are chipping away at online platforms where sex workers can conduct business safely. Once they find someone they like, the next step is usually a phone call or text exchange, wherein the masseur has a chance to get a read on the prospective client and decide whether or not to meet in person.
Prospective clients can use one of three major websites to browse profiles, look at photos, read reviews, and check rates.
Masseurs source clients through word of mouth, but also rely on websites to advertise their services. Vacillating between massage, teaching yoga, and other forms of body work, Sam developed a vast repertoire of techniques and clients, and has been working in the field ever since. As he grew older and moved to NYC, he, like so many gay men before him in this town, needed to make some extra cash the path of least resistance was erotic massage. Like many of the men I spoke with, Sam first learned he was good at massage by giving his mother neck rubs when he was younger, which helped him discover that he had a knack for reading the body. With fingers dancing along the spine, thigh, back and neck, and palms penetrating deep into the muscle tissue, this body work is guided by both physiology and psychology to provide relaxing experience and a damn good time. Whereas a traditional massage focuses on physical relief, erotic massage can offer additional psychological release, fulfilling the oft-neglected need for touch and intimacy.įolks like New York resident Sam, 30, pride themselves on being able to provide a professional grade, Swedish-style massage with an additional element of sensuality. As opposed to a traditional massage, which involves laying dead still for the duration, erotic body work often involves an interplay between client and masseur, usually culminating in sexual release. Many work in the nude, or in underwear, and allow varying degrees of touch from the client, bringing an erotic element to their practice. Erotic masseurs specialise not only in the field of flirtation, like their escort counterparts, but also in the art of massage.