New kinds of work are created in society all the time, but few are as intriguing or bizarre as being a rent-a-person. To be very clear, this job only requires the person to accompany their client for a portion of the day and does not entail any kind of romance or physical contact. Guru has spotted three individuals engaging in such work and asked for their views on being a rent-a-person.
Purin Donsri
22-year-old communication arts student from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Purin Donsri, has gained popularity as a rent-a-person through his Facebook page "Pai Duay Dai Na", which means "I can go with you" in Thai. Inspired by a Japanese rent-a-person named Shoji Morimoto, Purin offers his time to complete strangers often in the form of hangout sessions. Here's what Purin shared with Guru about what he does.
What inspired you to work as a rent-a-person?
I sort of stumbled into this while I was an intern. I was given an assignment that required me to find and perform a really unusual job. During my research, I came across Shoji Morimoto, a somewhat famous rent-a-person from Japan. I was intrigued by his work and decided to create a Facebook page, advertising myself as a rent-a-person. It was intended partly to be a joke and partly to really see where this would take me. I did foresee that people could benefit from hiring a rent-a-person, particularly those who don't have many friends or feel lonely. My friends shared my page on their social media and someone tweeted about my page and it got a lot of attention. Thousands went to my page and liked it. I was very surprised that something that I half-intended as a joke gained so much attention. All my friends encouraged me to really go for it and told me that I would be doing something that could make others happy.
What was it like the first time you went out to meet a complete stranger who requested you to hang out with them as a friend?
My first appointment was with a teenage girl who needed someone to accompany her while she was studying, just like her mum would. She also briefed me about how her mum dress and her mum's butterfly tattoo. I went to meet her, dressed as her mum would have and also drew a butterfly on my arm. I was shy, but very excited about the assignment. We ended up having a really great time chatting and it felt like we were friends. Although she was much younger than me, we were able to exchange ideas and perspectives easily and that amazed me.
What can a customer expect to pay for your companionship as a friend?
It is really up to them. What I insist on is that they cover the costs of transportation, food and drinks. However, If there is some kind of promotion or advertising, I would charge B3,500 per job. I am not financially stressed, I do what I can to help people this way without being too concerned about the fees.
What have you learned during these meetings?
I have gained a whole lot, whether it's new perspectives, new friends or knowledge about new places. I can be quite funny, so my clients usually are humoured by my jokes and that gives me a sense of contentment. Most importantly, what I have learned is that there are many people in society who really don't have friends or someone to hang out with. Many of these people wish to travel and go to new places, but are unable to do so because they don't wish to do it on their own.
What type of person is suitable for this job?
I think pretty much anyone can do this job. Whether it ends up being a good experience for everyone involved depends on the fit of their personalities. For example, I am quite a jovial person and some clients like this trait, while others don't. There are people who simply want a silent person to hang out with.
What has been the most memorable experience so far?
One of my clients wanted me to be her "Oppa" (older brother in Korean) for the day and even sent me pictures of a Korean actor called Park Seo-Joon so that I can try to mimic his look. I cut my hair to look like him and met her. We discovered that we had both gone to the same middle school and had a great time chatting. All in all, my experiences have been great and I remember each meeting fondly.
Visit fb.com/paiduaydaina.
Napatsawan Lamlertchookiat
Napatsawan Lamlertchookiat, a 23-year-old freelance interpreter who decided to give the rent-a-person gig a go after learning about Purin Donsri's experience with it. Her "Hai Pai Duai Pao (want me to go with you?)" provides an option for many females who want to rent a person, but would feel more comfortable doing so if they could rent a female. Here's Napatsawan thoughts on the job.
What inspired you to work as a rent-a-person?
I was intrigued by Purin Donsri's Facebook page. The thought of being a rent-a-person and hanging out with people as friends had occurred to me before, but I did not pursue it at that time because I was wary about people getting the wrong idea about me. In Thailand, there are indeed numerous examples of women who advertise themselves as being available for "hang out" sessions in exchange for payment. I did not want to come across as being one of the aforementioned women, so it took me a while to figure out how to represent myself as the rent-a-person that I wanted to be. I was encouraged by watching Purin's success via his Facebook page. I was really keen on doing something new and at the same time helping others who are trying to do something new. To elaborate further on how I want to help others, let's say someone wants to go to a Korean boy-band performance, but none of his/her friends is interested in joining. That person might end up not going. If he/she were to see my page, they would learn that I am interested in Korean music and might choose to hire me. It is really nice to know that I can help someone this way.
What was it like the first time you went out to meet a complete stranger who requested you to hang out with them as a friend?
It was really fun, a little unusual, but fun. I was actually quite nervous and worried about whether I might end up boring the client. After doing this work for a while, I learned how to gauge client preferences, such as whether they prefer me to be chatty or they would be more comfortable with me accompanying them and simply listening.
What can a customer expect to pay for your companionship as a friend?
It hasn't been too long since I set up my page and the numbers of followers I have are still growing. I would want clients to at least cover my transportation costs. I would let them decide how much they want to pay me. However, in the near future, I would probably decide to charge a fixed fee.
(Photos courtesy of Napatsawan Lamlertchookiat)
What have you learned during these meetings?
I tend to do things on my own as I feel that it's easier to get things done this way. However, I think having been this way for so long has made me less capable of detecting another person's feelings. Through this work, I have learned how to approach people and to pick up on cues that could indicate how a person is feeling.
What type of person is suitable for this job?
People who have plenty of free time (laughs). Although it may seem like a comical point, it actually is important. I have had to say no to many requests purely because I did not have the time. Having an open mind is also very important as the activity the client might wish you to accompany him/her on could be anything. It may be an activity that one might find challenging, so having an open mind certainly helps.
What has been the most memorable experience so far?
On my first appointment, I simply walked around with the client. At the start of the meeting, she seemed reserved, so I told her that I was there to listen. Soon after, she began to share with me her struggles. At the end of the meeting, the client said she felt a lot better and that made me happy. It may not seem like much, but making someone feel better is the real charm of this job. That first meeting gave me the resolve to continue doing this. There must be many out there who just want to be heard. They want someone who can listen to their grievances without receiving judgment or advice in return.
Visit fb.com/haipaiduaipao.
Sitthisak Nilkasem
Architecture student Sitthisak Nilkasem, 21, from Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon recently began being a rent-a-person. His Facebook page "Hi Lao Pai Duay Mai", meaning "Would you like me to go with you?", may not have as much attention as his peers, but his amiable personality is likely to change that. Sitthisak shares with Guru his thoughts on the role thus far.
What inspired you to work as a rent-a-person?
I was keen to learn about how different people approach life. I also had a personal development goal in mind -- becoming a better listener. During some self-reflection, I concluded that I had not been that good a listener before I started doing this.
What was it like the first time you went out to meet a complete stranger who requested you to hang out with them as a friend?
The first time I did this, it was with someone of a similar age. The experience was very relaxed and comfortable for both of us, so much so that the other person shared a lot about her life and her feelings. I mostly listened and did not necessarily offer any of my own thoughts about what she was sharing. It felt really good to simply provide a listening ear to a perfect stranger who wished to share.
What can a customer expect to pay for your companionship as a friend?
I don't necessarily have to charge a fixed amount. But I do ask that the person I spend time with cover my expenses, such as my transportation costs towards meeting them, the meals I have with them and the like. I am actually happy to receive small gifts, like baked goods or snacks, instead of cash.
What have you learned during these meetings?
I've learned that many people need a companion like me. Going to places alone can be intimidating and unpleasant. For example, a solo traveller or a person going to someplace running an errand would quickly want to get to that destination because travelling alone can, at times, be tiresome. If this same person perhaps has a companion during the journey, they would enjoy it and also have more confidence.
What type of person is suitable for this job?
I don't think it takes a certain type of person to do this. The end-experience really boils down to the chemistry between both parties.
What has been the most memorable experience so far?
My experience is still very limited, but if I have to choose, it would be the time when I was out with a client who happened to be a foodie. When we were at a restaurant having a meal, she accidentally knocked something off the table and it hit the floor with a very loud noise, which made everyone in the restaurant look in our direction. I immediately stood up to pick up the things and apologised to everyone. I could tell that my client appreciated me saving her from embarrassment. I was proud that I had made her happy. g
Visit fb.com/Hilaopaiduaymai.
