Why You Should Go Part-time Doing Professional Cuddling Before Going Full-Time

If cuddling feels like your calling, you might feel tempted to dive in with both feet. But today, I want to talk to you about slowing down: doing professional cuddling part-time before going full-time.

You see, I started professional cuddling back in November 2015 part-time around my full-time engineering job. It wasn’t until February 2017 that I decided (read: my job left me few options, I could either leave or take no pay raise for 18 months) to pursue cuddling full-time.

I tell you this because I get a lot of people getting started that reach out asking how they can do it full-time RIGHT NOW.

And I honestly can’t speak on how to go from newbie to full-bie (I’m making that a word now) right away, because I didn’t do that. At least not without going broke within six months before recovering from that first.

But also, when I went full time, I had a list of 200+ people that had, at some point, said they wanted to have a cuddle session with me.

While I had worked with maybe 30-40 people on that list, having that resource was a really powerful tool to help me turn my side gig into my job. It was only after a year and a half of being on a cuddle platform that I was able to get that far.

I often suggest people start by getting themselves listed on a cuddle platform. (Yes, before you look into making a website for yourself) 

Getting listed on a site is an easy way to test what works for you in terms of marketing. People are already looking for cuddlers on a cuddle platform, and they usually have plenty of options to choose from. Why would they choose you, out of everyone on that platform? What makes you stand out?

There’s also so much to be gained from the first few quick wins that come from listing yourself on a platform.

And it’s not just about finding clients you can work with; it’s also about the experience you can get on the business side of things with less investment on your end.

Think about it. Getting just one client to book a session with you a month would earn you an extra $60+ a month around your job (depending on how you set your rates). And that doesn’t always take all that much effort or time investment on your part; it just takes being listed.

But when you have even one client that books with you, you get even more valuable insight: into why your client was looking for a session, why they picked you, what works for them in a session, and why they like cuddling with you in particular.

That info is so valuable!

So while you could skip the listings and jump right into your own website, you’d be basing everything on what you think you want to do without having worked with clients or even seen who might be interested in you.

Your personal brand will be MUCH more powerful (and easier to describe!) once you’ve learned what’s working for you.

And starting slow makes sense, because other professions do that, too.

Freelancers start by asking friends and colleagues who could use their help, or by going on Fiverr or Upwork or TaskRabbit. They get paid to figure out who they really resonate with (and who they don’t), and once they have a better idea of what they have to offer, they break out on their own.

Massage therapists might start their work through a practice like Massage Envy or Elizabeth Grady. They use this time to discover what style they like using the most and what their best clients are looking for before they consider breaking out to start their own practice or brand.

(On top of this, many people decide not to break out on their own. That’s perfectly valid to do too!)

So why wouldn’t we as professional cuddlers do the same thing– especially if we’re not in a rush to do this full-time right away?

Are you willing to give it a try part time for now?

Are you willing to see if you can find people that want to work with you? Are you willing to learn the skills you need to make your cuddle practice thrive around your full time job?

Because honing your skills as a part-timer– and really understanding how you want to work as a professional cuddler– can give you the edge you need to sustainably transition into full-time cuddling.