*strictly a non sexual service
Hamilton Hawkes
Hamilton Hawkes News, corporate executive women are turning to male escort companions
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Tuesday November 9, 2004
Transcript of interview of Peter Whitcombe of Hamilton Hawkes, speaking with Martin Powley ABC Radio
(Coast FM 91.7)MP:
Talk about women’s lib, it seems females are turning to escort agencies rather than going it alone when they’re heading out for a night on the town. If you’re a single women or maybe if you’re not single, if you’re partner just doesn’t quite cut the mustard when it comes to good company…well, we’re going to meet a man who reckons there is a market for women who will pay money to have guaranteed good company, polite and convivial conversation - and just someone who will pay them all the attention they want.And do you know what? Sex does not enter the equation. It’s just all about good company - but paying for it. If you’re a woman - would you do that? We’ll meet a bloke who reckons that reckons women will.
You’ve got a big work function on and you don’t have a date. You don’t have someone to hang off your elbow to make you look a million dollars and impress all your friends… would you think of ringing an escort agency rather than rather than going it alone? Judging by the ads in the yellow pages and in the weekend papers, men will certainly pick up the phone and hire a date, but now women are doing it too. Peter Whitcombe runs what he calls a companionship agency for women. He’s dropped in for a bit of a chinwag, G’day, Peter…
PW:
Hello Martin,MP:
Now let’s establish straight away, it’s not about sex.PW:
Very important. It’s a non-sexual service. We offer here a companionship service, we call it. It’s a problem these days because ‘escort’ infers escorting for a sexual arrangement.MP:
When did you realise there was a demand, a good reason to set up the kind of business you’ve established?PW:
I’ve felt it in my gut for many years, as all of us are probably aware of, but no one has really acted upon it.I did an interesting survey last weekend to 20 of the major hotels in the CBD district of Brisbane, to the concierges, and front desk hotel managers, and it was an interesting survey, I got a hundred per cent response - that they confirmed (to my belief) that there was a need for such a service.
MP:
Now, I’ve got to tell you, I’m not surprised either, because I remember meeting a very high-ranking female executive and she was telling me (with a group of us just over dinner) how hard it is for a professionalwoman especially. She travels around the country, she doesn’t want to have some desperate loser to go out with, she just wants to be guaranteed of a nice night out, with someone who looks pleasant enough…PW:
…with no strings attached…MP:
…exactly. And I said, “Would you prepared to pay for that?” I honestly can’t remember what she said, but I’ve sort of thought well, yes, there has to be something in this. You clearly agree and you’ve gone and done it.PW:
Ah, there is something in it. Women in today’s world, especially business women, need to project that image of being complete, because they’re competing in a man’s environment and we know the high profile that business women are getting these days. And that also includes tapping into the resources that men usually tap into. And, women are now doing that. That means going out to dinner with a partner. Men have been doing this for years. You can go to any function, you don’t know whether these men have genuine partners or they’re paid companions or escorts generally who are there for a non-sexual service - so it’s just to accompany that gentleman for that particular function. And that’s what we’re filling, in women’s needs. And it’s lovely to see, there’s very powerful, beautiful women out there, addressing that need and acknowledging it and applying it, asking for it - whereas in the past, they haven’t done so.MP:
What kind of men do they want to have with them as a companion for the evening?PW:
They want credible men, ethical men, and professional men. Men who are prepared to listen, who aren’t going to talk about themselves. I think that’s the last thing we all want to hear from anybody, obviously. (Much laughter) I think that the most important thing is to be discreet. Someone you can count on being discreet, with no strings attached at the end of the night. It’s a financial arrangement. It’s a business proposition.MP:
Discreet because, whether you like it or not, in the back of their mind, they’re going to be thinking, “How will I be portrayed if someone knows that I have paid for a professional companion.”PW:
Of course, that discretion goes a long way in the services that we’re offering as companions.MP:
In other words, one of your employees, or one of the men you work with would not be saying to the next woman, “Oh, guess who I was with last Tuesday?”PW:
We can’t afford to do that. One report like that and I haven’t got a service anymore to offer.MP:
What sort of ages are the men who do it?PW:
We go from age 65 (our most mature man) down to 29 years old.MP:
So these are men who are either retired or in other kind of employment, so this a sideline for them?PW:
Yes it’s a part time work, I don’t guarantee work for anyone…Maybe you’d like a job, Martin? I can probably pay you better than the ABC.MP:
I’ll give you my details later. (Much laughter)PW:
I don’t guarantee the work. The work comes up when it’s there.MP:
Now, what do you do in this situation? If a woman wants to portray herself as quite discreet and respectable, but really she really, really wouldn’t mind coffee and “more” afterwards. What does the man do?PW:
We don’t go there. Before the function is arranged, this is all made very clear, this is a non-sexual service, and we are there for these particular reasons - guaranteed chivalry, with no strings attached.MP:
And why are you so tough on that aspect of it, about there is a definitely a line…PW:
Because they’re lots of services out there, escort services that offer sexual services, in addition to what else you want. We want to make it very clear so women feel safe with us. That’s part of our integrity.MP:
Now when you’re out with a lady, what if she as boring as anything, and you’re thinking, Oh My God, I’ve got five or six hours to go with this…PW:
That’s what makes a very good companion. They’re very good listeners.MP:
And a good actor? In the nicest possible way?PW:
I think, in the good sense of that meaning, yes…MP:
Meaning companions put their own needs aside?PW:
You forget about yourself and somebody is paying you (at an hourly rate) to be there… You give yourself 100% to that person, 110%. And that’s very important.MP:
And what sort of functions would a woman hire a man as her companion for. Is that like a function where other people know her.PW:
It could be anything. We don’t say no to anything. Usually it’s a business related function. Women do like to feel complete in that situation.MP:
And the ages of the women?PW:
45 plus. We’ve never had anyone younger that that. And I guess that’s because women can’t really afford it at an earlier age.MP:
Now putting your clear self-interest because it is your business aside, if you were just observing this phenomenon, women increasing being game enough to hire a man as a companion for an evening, what do you think that says about society? Is that a good thing, or do you think it’s sort of a sad thing?PW:
I think it’s great. I think we’re addressing the needs of loneliness in women in society, Men have been doing that without question from society in the past and now women are doing it. I think it’s great and especially in the next 20 to 30 years, were going to have a lot more women living on their own, and men living on their own. I think I’m probably a little bit before my time, with this service. I think this is the way we’re going to go. Women are going to look for other ways of addressing that need.MP:
Well relationship are fascinating to talk about at any time, and people paying for someone to be their companion for an evening is also very fascinating. Thanks for dropping in.PW:
Yes, it is a very important social shift. Thank you for inviting me.MP:
Peter Whitcombe, who runs an escort companionship service for women and I suppose that, is definitely a sign of the times.companionship - courtesy - discretion
