413047-Underground-Commercial-Sex-Economy

Establishments
Beyond the stroll, brick and mortar businesses remained an important location to solicit customers inperson.
Twenty-three percent of respondents reported that employees approached and met clients at a
multitude of different establishments such as bars, hotels, clubs, malls, parking lots, and schools.
Regardless of preferred method, advertising was universally essential because it allowed pimps and their
employees to connect to clients. While some pimps took a behind-the-scenes approach to advertisement,
other interviewees were often heavily involved in the design and facilitation of advertisement strategies.
Once clients were aware of the business, pimps also governed communications between employees and
customers.
Communications
Orchestrating lines of communication was an important business practice for respondents; it allowed
pimps to act as the middleman between employees and clients and kept pimps aware of employee
activities. At the same time, communication had to be approached carefully, because it could evidence
illegal activity if detected by law enforcement. Pimps used various means to interact with both customers
and employees.
Communications with Employees
Everyone has to check in. I knew everything: when they get a call, when they go into a
call, and when they leave a call. (A5)
With few exceptions, respondents maintained frequent internal business communication. Check-ins
served as a means for pimps to control employees, ensure their workers’ safety, and coordinate dates.
Respondents used various tactics to maintain communication with their employees. Methods included
group meetings, one-on-one in-person meetings, walkie talkies/booster phones, phone conversations, and
text messages. While particular methods varied, one respondent offered a clear description of how pimps
used management over communication to ensure oversight and control:
I would pay for everything. I’d hand the phone to a driver and say, “Ok, here’s your phone
for the day.” The girls would get a phone too. Everything was through the driver. The girls
would tell the driver where to take them … give the money—which they collected first
thing—to the driver, the driver took it to [me], [I] put it all in the books, and the next day
I would pay everyone. I never communicated with the girls directly [via phone]. I’d show
my face here and there, check into the apartment where they were staying, maybe bring
them some weed. (A4)
Creating efficient lines of communication between pimps, drivers, and employees was also enforced as a
safety measure. A respondent explained, “The girls would hit a number on speed dial. You tell them to
keep the phone in their hand. Give them a designated area to be in, so people would know where they at …
If you hit the number by accident, they are coming.” (C5) Similarly, respondents reported that their
employees would communicate occasional updates to their pimp to assure him that the date was going
smoothly. One pimp explained, “We used to chirp—like walkie talkies—to say when the girl went out.
When they came out, [my] cousin would watch just to see when they went in, [he would know they are]
there for an hour, [and he’d] make sure they are safe” (A1). Other pimps reported similar tactics: “[We]
used walkie talkie boost phones. Checked in every 15 minutes. Even in the middle of doing something with
a date, it’d be like, ‘What you doing’ to make sure everything was ok” (E1). Another respondent relied on
brief text messages to maintain security and respond quickly when a date became threatening. He
explained, “I would tell them if they are going on a date, text color of car and kind. I have a conscience …
Text me if it’s not good, I’ll come knock on door. I knew where they were” (E10). Respondents reported
quick action when an employee communicated a dangerous situation.
While communication was important for safety and control, it also made pimps vulnerable to law
enforcement detection. As a result, pimps and employees used codes to communicate. One respondent
explained his use of code to maintain security: “The girls would tell the driver where to take them, and
then text him pink if everything was good and black if it was all bad” (A4). Codes were also sometimes
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