Clients? Punters? Gentlemen? Hobbyists? Patrons?
Someone recently told me they don’t like it when ladies refer to their clients as gentlemen.
‘Gentleman’ I suppose can be a loaded term perhaps to some. Classist snobbery definitely persists, but I’ve always believed manners are free, and are not related to where you went to school, and so I use the term in that manner. The idea that a gentleman is a gentleman because of ‘breeding’ is nonsense to me. A gentleman to me is someone who is considerate, courteous and thoughtful.
One of the most eloquent, well mannered, impeccably behaved ladies I have ever met grew up on an estate that was featured on TV for being ‘one of the worst in the UK’. Could have been a better start sure, but I tell you she is a LADY. And not a lady in spite of the upbringing or despite it, but just because she is how she is. And boy is she ever.
Conversely, one of the most ignorant, puerile insufferable and off-putting morons I have ever had the misfortune of knowing is from a remarkably good family, with a good pedigree, good postcode, good accent… You get the picture. Book. Cover. Don’t Judge.
Like the saying I read in Kevin Aucoin ‘No amount of outside beauty will mask an ugly heart’ Similarly no title or upbringing makes you a gentleman, just like no fancy dress or lipstick will make a lady. It is inside, not by where you come from or call yourself but by how you treats others in life, and anyone who thinks possessions or class has anything to do with it is sorely mistaken.
So I use the term gentlemen to refer to you fellas, because I like to assume that I will be in the company of one, and so far I have never been wrong! 
The results on thesaurus.com for the word ‘clients’ also give us habitue, audience, constituency, prospect, disciple, and chump. Chump! Who refers to their clients as chumps outside of yuppie 1980′s bankers or bail-bondsmen? Who wrote this thing.
The one that I really don’t like is punter. To me a punter is someone with a football in the NFL. And punting is what one does with said ball. Or in UK speak- it’s a boat. Punting is an activity in said boat. More than that, it always leaves a sour taste in my mouth, as though it were vaguely insulting and derogatory to the people I meet.
Similarly, when I’ve referred to myself as one of the more playful names for we ladies (Strumpet! Harlot! Whore!) I’ve been told ‘Oh you aren’t that‘ As though the chosen slang is downmarket or ill in comparison.
So possibly the feeling with names is from both sides of the equation, and while several names are accurate a few have potential connotations, and we all prefer not to risk offending each other (even when the synonyms are accurate).
A few others?
Hobbyist? I quite like this one, I have several hobbies, and I like the idea I might be one too.
John - This is more an American one I think, and I don’t know if it is common today, it feels antiquated the way referring to a detective as a ‘gumshoe’ does.
Patrons? That is a nice one. I have patrons and I enjoy their patronage, and the greatest thing is that I am patronized almost exclusively in the sense of promotion or sponsorship and almost never patronized in a condescending way (That goes over so so well you can imagine, you can I’m sure appreciate that no one enjoys condescension, and I have very little patience for it). As for Sponsorship, I quite like the idea of having bumper-stickers on my car, haha!
Hugs xxx 
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It doesnt start with a C, but I’ll give you an alternative for Patron. You, the Courtesane, you are also a bit of an Artist. and good companionship is definitely an Art. Hence Maecenas would be a nice designation for the Client ?