In small towns the streets are meaner, the rates are lower, and the competition is fierce. People can also be very judgemental.

If you’re the only stripper in a one-horse town, they will know why you’re there and may treat you poorly. Blending in to the crowds will help you get through your stay a little easier. (Just bring your best throwback from the eighties and you’ll fit right in.)

For trans workers, small towns can be downright dangerous. No matter who we are, our best bet is to smile and walk on by when faced with discrimination from others. And be very discreet about our work.

In a small town, we are more likely to run into a client in public – like at the grocery store – and we are more likely to have someone we know respond to our ad – like a teacher from a high school.

Small towns are sometimes very isolated A few minutes out of town and you are alone on a highway. Not a safe place to be if you find out your date is actually a predator.

Be aware if you are taking the Greyhound to a small town at night, you may arrive there and find that there aren’t any cabs. Nothing is open. And you’re all alone. Try to arrange rides in advance through your agent, or call cab companies ahead of time.

If you think your cab driver is sketchy, you can discourage him from trying anything by getting him to take you to a bank machine where he will be seen on camera while you’re withdrawing money.

Not all rural communities have a stroll, so street-based workers may have trouble locating a workspace. There are also usually fewer resources than in bigger cities – less chance of finding sex worker organizations or needle exchanges.

While most sex industry workers say the money is better in larger cities, money can be good in smaller towns, especially when they are located near work camps or oilrigs. Being a new face in a small town can also generate business for you.