Good question, I have been pretty lucky in this respect.  The most recent one lured me in with her good looks, and set the hook with her cautious screening process. I'm thrilled she did.

would be a 3, depends heavily on my own research. I don't see anyone based on a single phone call or email. Everyone starts this at some point and I can remember when no one knew me either. But someone took a chance on me and I took the same chance on her. She turned out to be one of my regulars over a long period of time.

There would have to be a few emails and/or phone calls between us before I'd take a chance.

Highly unlikely.  What is it besides looks?  Why, good reviews of course! If there are no reviews then possibly if it was someone at a very reputable agency.

#1 - I am not the TOFTT type. I found a well reviewed provider and I haven't moved on yet. If I were to try out another provider it would have to be someone that I could know about ahead of time as to preferences and experiences. I am not afraid of the LE thing, I just want to know what I am getting into before I get there.

b-

If it is through and agency I trust, I would be a 5 and I have done it several times.

If it is an independent lady, I am a 1. I want all of my money to be spent well. I don't have enough to throw away on a rip-off or a less than stellar experience.

Not at all likely. The hobby stretches my budget and time, so I make every encounter count.

First I check the lady's web page for photos and her general descriptions. Next, I check rates to see if I can afford the visit. After that, I check reviews, but with all the controversy on TER lately, I put less faith in them than I used to.

What I find most important is what and how she posts on TER and other boards. A lady who is willing to share information and experiences, answer newbies' questions and offer advice is far more interesting to me than one who just promotes herself. You can gain insight into her personality by how she banters with the community of regulars on the board.

When I make first contact, it is generally with a range of times in mind. I could make it specific, but I try to establish a dialog via email or phone, whatever her preferred communication medium is. That way, I gain further insight into her personality.

One who comes most readily to mind is Sinful Sinthia from Chicago. She is always having fun on the Chicago Board and helping strangers on the newbie and general boards. When I met her face-to-face, she was all I expected and more.

Back to the original question, I am not one to TOFTT when there are so many good ways to qualify a lady. All it takes is time and a little pleasurable effort.

BUMMER!...

I remember how long it took to get my first review when I started out 4 years ago (it was about a month before it was posted on TER)I'm not the kind to pester my friends for a review,...it is his choice to review me,...good or bad.

So I guess I'll just have to wait huh? :0(
Well, in the meantime I am happy to chat with you wonderful gentlemen and get to know you better. :0)

xoxo
Sweet Sable!

1 Highly Unlikely.   I had some terrible experiences with seeing unknown providers and I wasted a lot of money. Now I won't see a lady unless she has several reviews.

If she is reasonably priced, and has something that piques my interest, I'll give her a try. The pickings in my area are not that great, so a reasonably priced hot new lady is worth investigating.

It also depends on where I find out about her. Less likely to try a new lady on CL. More likely if she is on a local board, or some of the less well known sites. Part of it is avoiding LE.

If she gets one or two favorable comments (does not have to be full reviews), then I may get really interested.

I've found 2 gems recently. I think I will stick with them for now.

Without reviews a website is going to be very important for me in making my decision. When visiting a new city I am always going to look for a reviewed lady that strikes my fancy first but I will roll the dice on occasion. A good website with photographs, accurate rate information and a bit of insight into the lady's personality would impact my choice.

Another idea

that would probably increase the comfort level of those considering taking a chance would be for a new lady to be recommended by an established provider. That could either be via a link on the established providers website to her friends (best option), or the established provider putting in a good word for her on the message boards. (Maybe introducing the new lady herself, and offering a duo to help her get a review or two.) If a well-respected lady is willing to be associated with a new provider, and risk her own reputation, that goes a long way. Flora in NYC did this.

I think having a unique website would help show that this endeavor is not spur-of-the-moment, as well as having some pics which are a step up from cellphone camera resolution. Finally, as others have mentioned, icing on the cake would be for her to participate in the discussions here on intimate matters.

I have met a few gals off of CL, 1 a total rip; 1 hot, but only stripped and danced after promising full service; 2 that were great as to full service/gfe/unrushed, but their pics were old by at least 5 years and were overweight, etc which left me wondering why they were not paying me; and 1 that was hot and a total performer. With CL I would never risk it unless she had multiple good reviews. I agree with a previous posting that if it was an agency that you had used in the past with good results then maybe I would consider it. Buy, check out the rip-off dated 1/25/08 where a guy paid $1,200 and did not even get a hj! Too many women with great reviews to risk it in my opinion. Just my dos centavos

Don't do this, don't do that. Made me feel like a gob of spit. Turns out she pleads to have negative reviews be withdrawn. I was bombarded with emails from her after posting a negative review. She promised it'd be much better next time. Next time? What next time?

I've never had such a bad experience toftt.

Hell, a repeat visit is still chancey sometimes.  When it gets too safe, time to move on.

A very sweet lady once took a chance that I might be someone worth seeing, and I've seen her many times since. I think that if I was really attracted to a lady, and she was apparently a new provider, I would call her. Everyone has to get started, so if she was putting a genuine effort into a website, etc. I wouldn't have a problem.

I must say that is a very good question.  Reviews are very important because I have been ripped off a few times in Vegas.  I learned through my home town that the reviews can be very helpful.  That is not to say that they can be "off" but for the most part they are pretty accurate.  We'll see about Vegas as my next trip in next week will be the first time I used "profesional" sites to help me find someone.

2

My concern would be LE rather than no/poor performance from the provider.  The latter just costs some cash, the former means the end of the game for some of us.

So, in order for me to consider it I would need some indication that the provider was LE.  The best would be to have a well-known lady vouch for her.  The other thing would be if she had been posting and advertising for a month or two.  

Still, it would ultimately come down to looks in combination with some personality that is evidenced in her postings or website.  I would need to want badly to see her before I would start looking past the lack of reviews and evaluate the likelihood that she was LE.

...out the bullshitters/scamsters.

Here are the rules I live by:
1.If it looks to good to be true it probably is.
2.I've never been disappointed by Southern 30+yr old Caucasian providers.
3. I avoid providers visiting from NYC and California.(lots of ripoff artists)
4.I generally avoid seeing African American/Asian providers and Caucasian providers under 30 years old.
5.Always go with your gut.

hobbying have taught me to do my homework.  I have only seen one lady (from an agency who used to have good providers) without reviews.  I took a chance last June when the agency Mom recommended so-and-so.  "She has had lots of repeat guys."  Maybe she had an off-day but I did not have a good time.  She has since left the biz.

My standard reply on the newbie board goes something like this.  Only only see well reviewed ladies (minimum of 4 or 5 reviews) with reviews from established hobbyists (again, minimum of 4 or 5 reviews over time).

I have seen one other lady without reviews but she was recommended by another provider.  This recommendation was very accurate.

Being a relative newbie, 1-highly unlikely.

-- Modified on 2/16/2008 4:17:26 PM

After a couple of less than satisfactory encounters...

1

Something really has to catch my interest for me to go "where no man has gone before", so to speak.  Might be pictures, might be a special, might be an offering... or I might be really bored, and had a cancellation that morning.  I'm not going to take a chance on someone who is asking standard market rates; while a bargain rate can often be a sign of trouble, it can also be an opportunity.  

I've had experiences that were mediocre, and I've had ones that were absolutely amazing.  I once hooked up with a girl who was working out of her dorm room, which was kind of a hassle, and yet was also a major turn-on for me.  She disappeared from the local scene not long afterwards, when the semester ended; I'm guessing she went back to wherever "home" was.  Then again, I've also seen ladies who had out-of-date pictures, smoked heavily, and had crappy little cluttered rooms.

If she's terse/busy, forget it.

I do this mainly for the variety. Most people have either  time or money constraints when it comes to the hobby. I have plenty of both. I am also divorced with my own business, so the prospect of arrest, while unpleasant is a relative inconvenience for me, not the end of the world.

If I'm out of town and looking, I'm looking for someone reliable and can't do a lot of research except for the obvious.  So I don't want to take any chances there.

In my local area, I'm always looking for ladies who can satisfy my needs.  I have more resources, more time, and a higher comfort level.  So I'm more able to take a chance.

What makes me more likely to take a chance?  The following items:

* Web site - simpler is better, but get as much info on there as possible
* Pictures - nudity optional, but if you've got something I really like (ain't telling...), then you'll do yourself a big favor by showing it
* Prompt communications
* Can-do attitude
* Reasonable rate
* Board presence
* Referral/recommendation from a trusted SP or hobbyist