Open letter to local Adult Entertainment Venues
June 2016
Dear Owner / Manager,
As a business Owner / Manager you understand the Metro-Vancouver region is changing, land value increases are putting pressure on rents making it necessary to innovate in order to maximize value
per square foot.
At the same time demographics are changing, technology is changing and peoples attitudes are changing, as well as of course (most notably) the government regulatory environment, especially for
businesses offering (or considering offering) - sexual services.
These changes represent both - challenges as well as opportunities - the question is, how can you adapt your
business to better serve your market ?
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Note that membership in this group is voluntary, and in no way constitutes an admission on your part that any kind of sexual services are currently taking place within your business venue.
In addition, this is not about picking "winners or losers" in the adult entertainment space, it is about finding ways to improve your existing business as well as giving you an opportunity to be involved in new business ventures.
Regardless of your level of interest or involvement in this initiative we want to assure you that we will do our best to ensure your time is well spent and that you will benefit from it.
Background
I have conducted research on the local Adult Entertainment (mainly Sexual Services) industry over the past 30 years, mostly on a volunteer basis but also on a paid basis by people (such as business owners) interested in expanding or getting involved in the industry or by clients (& service providers) of the industry.
I was born and raised in the Vancouver area and have spent all my life here except for a year in Toronto and a year in Asia. My wife and I currently reside in South Vancouver. I am also
politically active and have run twice for Vancouver City Council (2011 & 2014).
I have often wondered how the industry could be improved and possibly benefit from the health and wellness lifestyle changes developing in society. As well as (like other "vice" industries)
possibly benefit charities in the process, and in doing so, help improve the public image of the industry.
Recently I contacted a local Charitable Foundation to see if they might be interested in working with me on a research project in order to determine what level of interest there
might be on the part of Adult Entertainment Venues in supporting the development of Social Enterprise, within the Adult
Entertainment space - and to my surprise, they stated they would be interested.
As part of this effort I am contacting local Adult Entertainment Industry Venues (erotic massage venues, escort agencies, steam baths, adult digital content (games & videos), connectivity
(online & phone chat), love shops, erotic dance bars, etc) - all legally licensed by the cities in which they operate.
Objectives of this initiative
There are two key parts to this initiative:
1 - To explore setting-up a New Fund, financed by the local Adult Entertainment Sector.
2 - To explore setting-up Social Enterprises that would benefit local charities, especially ones supporting the downtown Vancouver East side and
the alleviation of poverty.
I have already been in contact with some owners of Adult Entertainment businesses and they are "open-minded" and supportive of my ideas... as they understand the world is changing and becoming
more health and wellness lifestyle conscious and that they need to adapt to a changing marketplace (including becoming more female-friendly)... those who "clean-up" their image and get involved
with creating "Social Good" will be more successful than similar businesses that don't.....
Note that when I talk about the Adult Entertainment Sector which includes all "vice" industries, I am mainly referring to businesses involved in the Sexual
Services field as opposed to those involved in the sale of Alcohol, Tobacco/Marijuana
(drugs) or Gambling. However, I do believe we can learn from and use some of the terminology that has been developed to regulate these various kinds of businesses.
Based on my research there are three categories within which the Sexual Services Industry operates:
1 - Educational (content development/sales)
2 - Medicinal (healing, performance oriented treatments & counseling)
3 - Recreational (live chat, recorded content, massage, full range of sexual activities)
Again, I would like to narrow my focus and articulate where I believe we could start, it is the Educational Category of the Sexual
Services Industry that I believe would be the best place to start, possibly based on the success and what is being learned from the Hooker Monologues (http://www.hookermonologues.ca/)
production.
Notwithstanding (unconstitutional) federal laws, the "Educational" sub-sector is probably the safest category upon which to start, at least for now...
The ultimate goal, however (& benefit to society) in my view, is the development of (healthy) - "Loving Environments" - and creating the ability to deal with issues - at a deeper level...
Sincerely,
Rick
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Rick Orser, Orser InfoServices, Vancouver, BCSSR (BC Safe Sex Research) Project
P: 604-325-0725
W: http://bcsafesexresearch.ca
E: rick.orser@bcsafesexresearch.ca