You are a gentleman and a scholar. That was a very astute analysis.
You make an interesting point about unknown versus known which I'm sure deserves its own thread. Yes, I know well that inner tug of war between seeing a favorite that treats me well versus the unknown of seeing someone new (who may or may not be better). Maybe for some of us it comes down to how much of a gambling mood we are in at that moment? Also I totally agree about not being stingy on things that are free. It costs nothing to be polite, or to send a thank you note, or to just listen. But so few folks do it these days. Yet it can mean so much. Thank you for the excellent post.In spinnaker17's post below he links to Ben Franklin's advice on how to choose a mistress where he says "greater prudence in conducting an intrigue" was an important factor in choosing more "mature" women. Ben Franklin was a cunning linguist (as well as a cunnilingus-ist I'm sure). In today's speech he would say a mistress should "have the ability to keep a naughty secret." 
And keeping a naughty secret is something providers naturally have high on their list of required/desired qualities (or should anyway).
So, my question to the group is what other qualities are desirable in a provider? If Ben Franklin were alive today and in the hobby scene (which is highly likely as he loved to party with the ladies) what other must-have qualities would he have on his wish list when looking for a "mistress"?
Remember, Ben Franklin worked hard and partied harder. And also had an excellent sense of humor. So all tongue in cheek answers (as well as serious ones) are gladly accepted. ;-
The rest of it flows from that. I define customer service as determining what the customer wants and within her limitations and boundaries providing that experience. Those limitations could be physical, emotional or financial.
Part of it would therefore include the courtesan recognizing her own limitations and boundaries as well as the customer's. Everyone has limitations and boundaries. As long as we don't transgress those- it's all good good clean fun!
All of the courtesans I have reviewed are really good at that.
Good customer service - good point. I'm sure Ben would agree. What is a business without good customer service?
For me - if I assume that most providers are outstanding performers - it's often the little things that set my favorites above the others. Remembering my wardrobe preference or something funny I said, sending nice messages, getting excited about an upcoming date, hanging up my clothes, helping me get dressed, etc. Those things are nice, personal touches that I appreciate.
Ben most likely would today be an Ashley Madison (or similar) devotee. He was frugal and tended to have more of an eye on what he could NOT have (anothers wife, for instance) rather than what he could easily afford
That stated, the qualities most desired by me when with a provider?
Real-ness . No "Oh God, you're so big" (I'm not) or theatrical moans.
Intimacy. Eye contact before/during/after. Fingers intertwined. Things of that nature
Intimacy and "real"-ness are excellent attributes in a provider. Maybe we can call that "authenticity"? Even though we all know it is a fantasy, we want to feel as if it's real. I totally get that
A few favorite quotes and their implications in this thread:
"Fine linnen, girls and gold so bright, Chuse not to take by candle light". - Candlelight stinks. PR knew that ladies...You're beautiful, I desire you and I want to see you in all your glory. The Ladies I see with should have no 'body issues" or lack self-conscience when they are in my presence. Confidence is Sexy too.
"In a discreet man's mouth a publick thing is private." - the reason why we use handles much more often our real names in the Hobby. We can brag and thump our chests all we wish but if I had to use my real name... I'd probably just keep very quiet.
"What you would seem to be, be really." - even using TER handles, the arseholes still prove themselves to be aresholes.
"Well done, is twice done." - Round 2 seems common enough that you might think that the ladies are following PR's advice to wear us men out.
"Be not niggardly (i.e., cheap or miserly) of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, and countenance." - Ladies who are the most pleasant conversationalists in the session often appear to be the ones with the most positive reviews and most repeat customers. Likewise, there are also some semi-retired ladies who still see 'regulars' because of their ability to hold a conversation more than hold an erection.
"If you ride a horse, sit close and tight, if you ride a man, sit easy and light." - PR liked the ladies not to pound him into the floor. Same goes for me. Slamming me these days just leaves me sore and achy in the AM - in bad ways.
"Many a Man thinks he is buying Pleasure, when he is really selling himself a Slave to it." - yep, no matter how many times I try not to Hobby - I do it anyway. The ladies who semi-retire are almost as bad. Same goes for men and their (more traditional) mistresses.
and PR's 13 virtues (look them up) - spot. on. - but I'm not party to all of them, just about 3/4.
No shill but applicable to the Best Attributes of a Modern Courtesan:
I got a chance to see my ATF again last week. We had the most delightful time. Though I look through the ads and the reviews and such, my ATF always seems to email me and ask to see me(?) when I'm ready to pull the trigger and hobby. That kind of 6th/7th/ 8th? sense is just uncanny. Sure, she's not the svelte GND she once was, but her conversational skills in public and private plus her willingness to make me feel like the King of the Mountain... let's say I desire her more at this point than at any other point, even when we first met years ago. She's a Helluva Woman.
ga_kosh
Your last thought. It's amazing how often I am ready to experiment with a new name, then a favorite chimes in. 80% of time I go with the great known rather than the new hunt. It's also true that the ladies that self promote themselves always seem more alluring then the random search, should I seek a new friend. It's how they handle the initiL seduction of the pm request I think.
So ladies, be confident. Contacts your better clients periodically, remind us how special we were in our last session. If you want a new client, try a direct request, it works more often than you guess
You are a gentleman and a scholar. That was a very astute analysis.
You make an interesting point about unknown versus known which I'm sure deserves its own thread. Yes, I know well that inner tug of war between seeing a favorite that treats me well versus the unknown of seeing someone new (who may or may not be better). Maybe for some of us it comes down to how much of a gambling mood we are in at that moment?
Also I totally agree about not being stingy on things that are free. It costs nothing to be polite, or to send a thank you note, or to just listen. But so few folks do it these days. Yet it can mean so much.
Thank you for the excellent post.
I really like the way you post. You're good. This post was especially good.
Thanks for using both the older spellings of words and defining the word 'niggardly' since many people would be offended or think you're dumb for using 200 yr old terms. I remember seeing "s" and "f" being used in words that they don't appear in anymore.
The way you interpret the quotes makes me think that it's almost a "more they change, the more they don't" situation when you look back on what people used to write and believe.
Lastly, thanks for using "not the svelte GND she once was but I desire her more now" line. I wholeheartedly agree. You met your ATF when she was sexy young thing and now's she' sexy older thing and you don't give shit because she makes you feel good - so you Hobby with her. And the fact you didn't name a name means I'm curious as hell to find out who makes ga_kosh feel like Kong of the Mountain.
Just between the two of us, on this Board, in this Thread... Who is she? 
Harry
It's sad that there are actually people out there with such poor educations that they would get something racist out of the word "niggardly"
I do remember a few people having their posts pulled for using that word. What has this world come to? If you are going to make a 200 year old quote, by necessity you are going to have to use 200 yr old terms. I don't find any reason to apologize or clarify for stupid people, but I do begrudgingly understand why most people do feel the need.
You and electron make me reach for the dictionary all the time. Thanks for that.
Also, and I have stated this before, but these ladies are our shrinks. The one's who combine the psychological and physical. The tactile. The sent. Managing the anticipation, the release, and the relief.
Thanks God for the hobby.
I agree that ga_kosh went way above the call of duty on this one. Smart, educational, funny... It's nice that we can have adult conversations sometimes. About adult topics no less...
And thank you for the compliment (that was a compliment - right? LOL).
I, like Ben Franklin, strive to be a cunning linguist.
Which reminds me - I need to schedule my next session so I can practice...
Also, and I have stated this before, but these ladies are our shrinks. The one's who combine the psychological and physical. The tactile. The sent. Managing the anticipation, the release, and the relief.
Thanks God for the hobby.
And yes electron it was a sincere complement. Allot of smart people in the hobby. That is one of the many reasons I enjoy the hobby so much. Again the mental and the psychical.
Thank you stockings for the kind words.
Well, us guys have two heads for sure - but not two brains. That's often our problem.
Brains are wonderful things as long as they are truly in control. But usually it's the other head that takes over.
Most days I try to be "good" and let the big head do the thinking. But before long the little head distracts me by saying "Hey boss! Let me take control for a while. It'll be fine. Don't you worry about a thing. No, really - I got this!".
And there you have it...
Electron accused me of being a gentleman and a scholar. and Advisor called me Wise.
So now I have to tell Harry how I must be Discrete and play it Smart by not naming my ATF.
Harry and Gambler both make a great point about the times we live in require those of us with larger vocabularies to explain ourselves because apathetic people refuse to educate themselves and ASSume that our words - which merely sound bigoted or racist - are worse than they actually are.
Stockings, I refute your award of titling me National Poet of the Hobby for the lesser title of Village Idiot of Atlanta (not the same as Mayor mind you).
The title of VIA also carries with it double pay, discounted sessions with the ladies, and free vision /dental.
Poor Richard/Ben Franklin was the genius. I merely stumble awkwardly upon his shoulders.
ga_kosh
P.S. - and yes, it's nice to have a adult topic discussion that doesn't result in vitriol.
Kosh,
That village idiot gig is sounding pretty sweet. Where do I send my application? I'm updating my resume now to highlight my many qualifications. Hmmm... On second thought I'll just tell them to do a search for my posts. LOL
Another nice advantage with the village idiot position (like the old court jesters) you can speak the truth all you like without fear of reprisal. Total immunity - that could be the best perk of the job.
But you don't fool (heh) me - I still say you are a gent and a scholar. So there.
So now I have to tell Harry how I must be Discrete and play it Smart by not naming my ATF.
Harry and Gambler both make a great point about the times we live in require those of us with larger vocabularies to explain ourselves because apathetic people refuse to educate themselves and ASSume that our words - which merely sound bigoted or racist - are worse than they actually are.
Stockings, I refute your award of titling me National Poet of the Hobby for the lesser title of Village Idiot of Atlanta (not the same as Mayor mind you).
The title of VIA also carries with it double pay, discounted sessions with the ladies, and free vision /dental.
Poor Richard/Ben Franklin was the genius. I merely stumble awkwardly upon his shoulders.
ga_kosh
P.S. - and yes, it's nice to have a adult topic discussion that doesn't result in vitriol.
I just got finished claiming the title of Village Idiot of Atlanta and my appreciation for a thread Without Vitriol, so now I have to fight to keep my job by defending myself from your outrageous accusations of scholarship and manners while reading you tout your own qualifications, dear Sir Electron?
*Picks up the gauntlet you just threw down and backs slaps you like Bugs Bunny on Yosemite Sam*
Of Course You Know: This. Means. War.
Better still. if I ever attend a M&G and we meet face to face... I might, I say I just might, tell you to "Go find your own Village! One Idiot is enough around here."
My next task is to convince some Ladies to Come on Board with the Village Idiot... but that's a different thread.
ga_kosh
I had no quarrel with you good sir. Until now all was in good jest.
By my reckoning there is more than enough idiocy and fair damsels in this town to keep us both occupied for many lifetimes. But your pride has clouded your vision.
You have bitchslapped a gentleman and this affont to my person must be dealt with - quickly and severely. Matters of honor are not to be taken lightly.
It seems I have greatly offended thee by bestowing the title of "Gentleman and Scholar". Well, you leave me no other choice than to avenge my honor by heaping insult to injury on you - my worthy opponent. So now suffer my wrath...
I find you intelligent, relevant, well-read, ceative, and amusing. If that isn't enough - I also find you an altogether amiable fellow. I know those words must sting but understand you brought this upon yourself.
One bit of parting advice...
It matters not what they call you and I - gentleman, scholar, idiot, rascal. What is important is that we shake hands, make the fair damsels blush, bed them mightily, and then leave them with a smile on our face and a twinkle in our eye.
Because that is what Ben Franklin would want us to do. Because he was a great man. And a horndog. But mainly because he was a great man.
*picks up gauntlet and offers hand in peace*
What say you good sir?
*Picks up the gauntlet you just threw down and backs slaps you like Bugs Bunny on Yosemite Sam*
Of Course You Know: This. Means. War.
Better still. if I ever attend a M&G and we meet face to face... I might, I say I just might, tell you to "Go find your own Village! One Idiot is enough around here."
My next task is to convince some Ladies to Come on Board with the Village Idiot... but that's a different thread.
ga_kosh
First round is on me.
I like my alcohol like my women:
Single (malt), at least 18 yrs old, with hints of cinnamon on the front end, with vanilla, nutmeg, and a smooth finish that leaves me feeling a bit light headed. Or as Ben might say:
Afflicted
Boozy
Cherubimical
Been too free with the Creature
Had my flag out
Been to Jericho
I could go on and on, but just read Ben's list below, chuckle a bit, and I'll take that as a sign that we're good.
Yes - absolutely!
I've been known to get a little nimptopsical from time to time with good friends.
LOL
I like my alcohol like my women:
Single (malt), at least 18 yrs old, with hints of cinnamon on the front end, with vanilla, nutmeg, and a smooth finish that leaves me feeling a bit light headed. Or as Ben might say:
Afflicted
Boozy
Cherubimical
Been too free with the Creature
Had my flag out
Been to Jericho
I could go on and on, but just read Ben's list below, chuckle a bit, and I'll take that as a sign that we're good.
All I see is Madame de Bovary...Am I really just a wallet?
In Terminator II, the cyborg, at the final act, said "I know now why you human cry without being physically hurt". Ironie du Sort...
Am I really just a piece of flesh? Maybe, but I will not stop asking myself...
-- Modified on 7/31/2015 8:39:44 PM
Yeah, I was just thinking tha...
Huh?
Pull yourself together man!
In Terminator II, the cyborg, at the final act, said "I know now why you human cry without being physically hurt". Ironie du Sort...
Am I really just a piece of flesh? Maybe, but I will not stop asking myself...
-- Modified on 7/31/2015 8:39:44 PM
I just started pulling myself together!