As someone who joined this hobby less than a year back, following is what I suggest as bare minimum while starting out.

Get 411 verified, It is very helpful and Gina at 411 is very accommodating and willing to work with you no matter what your circumstance. So no excuse there.

Get VIP membership here since you'll need to go over reviews in detail.

Get a burner phone/app

Get a hobby email address

Try using VPN for accessing all hobby related items, if you can do so.

Get familiar with terms and abbreviations commonly used.

Learn how to approach providers, what to write etc., how to contact,

Learn to prepare for meeting - hygiene etc.

 
While looking at profiles/pics etc. "MY EXPERIENCE" has been that Reviews are a bit more accurate than Pics. I hardly pay attention to any professional photos any more (sorry Aldo Antonio etc.). I tend to pay more attention to recent selfies etc though even they can be inaccurate as well. I know I might get a lot of pushback on this issue but one just needs to read reviews to figure out how many times reviewer mention - pics are hers but older, she is older than pics suggest, she has gained weight etc. etc. If you have any confusion on the above then reach out to reviewers. You'll be surprised at the information/advice that you can get.

Have a realistic expectation.

Now after all the above have been done, look for Newbie Friendly providers (who have recent multiple reviews, not just a couple but at least in double digits) - one can search both 411 and here and get a list. Do not be in a rush to get the first pussy that you find. Take your time. Make sure you understand what makes you tick and look for that in a provider. No sense in getting disappointed in your first visit. I was lucky to get a provider who fulfilled all the above and have never looked back since. I drove back after parking and getting the room number but thankfully I returned in a couple of minutes, explained to the provider my delay and apologized. Most Newbie Friendly providers understand "Newbie" concerns.

Even now, I'd be lying if I state that I do not get some anxiety when visiting a provider who I'm meeting for the first time, so it is natural to be anxious. Do not worry. It will go away as time progresses.

I have never been able to filter BP girls and hence have stayed away from them. I've found TER and 411 girls to be better in class, performance, reliability, hygiene (which is very important to me) etc. etc. Though BP girls in "many" cases are at a lower price point. But I'd advise to stick with better known providers initially.

Of course, if you have any questions, this forum is the best place to start. Hopefully the above list provides most info in one place.

Lastly - share with the community, write reviews, respond to PM of other people seeking information.

Happy Hobbying....

what you have written is in the number of recent reviews you want your perspective provider to have. "But at least double digits" is way too many' especially of your definition of "recent" is within the last month or two. A more realistic number would be "at least 6 within the past six months and those being from established reviewers [meaning they have more than 1 or 2 reviews and closer to 6 or 8 over time].

Regarding anxiety before meeting a provider for the first time, for me it is very similar to the feeling before an athletic contest back when I played in high school and college. Once the first kiss occurs and the hands begin to roam, the butterflies go away.

You make a good point.  

Recent would be over the past few months. Reason I'd looked into that way was to find popular providers. They are the ones that I'd like to meet as a Newbie/First encounter. Even with say 6 reviews, a provider might still not have the experience to deal with Newbies. I was lucky to have met exactly the lady that fit the bill.

But yes, as you mentioned, the numbers can be what is comfortable to you.  

The above is just what I did and never imagined when I started that I'd meet these many providers.  

So, based on the above feedback, we can modify the list to read as

"Now after all the above have been done, look for Newbie Friendly providers (who have recent multiple reviews, some of which should be from WELL KNOWN Reviewers) - one can search both 411 and here and get a list. Do not be in a rush to get the first pussy that you find. Take your time. Make sure you understand what makes you tick and look for that in a provider. No sense in getting disappointed in your first visit. I was lucky to get a provider who fulfilled all the above and have never looked back since. I drove back after parking and getting the room number but thankfully I returned in a couple of minutes, explained to the provider my delay and apologized. Most Newbie Friendly providers understand "Newbie" concerns. "  

multiple can mean 6+ reviews like discussed above but feel free to PM well known reviewers who have reviewed her for extra information if you need.

END OF MESSAGE

Glad that someone else also followed the same path.  

More confirmation just validates the approach and provides a reasonably safe way to get started.  

Happy Hobbying

Based on the various posts that I've gone through recently - both in newbie forum and other forums, the FIRST thing a newbie needs to do is follow a list of nuggets that I've collected during my process here (some given by others on this forum, some are my own)

So, what is this first thing you ask? Well it is sort of a initiation process to TER, you have to take a oath that, till you get experienced enough, a newbie has to repeat the following everyday:

"I will NOT BEG for pussy".  
"I will MOVE ON to the next pussy."

Do not get upset if you don't get a response from a provider, MOVE ON.  
Do not get upset if you fail at a provider's screening process, MOVE ON.
Do not get upset if you have a NCNS in the beginning, MOVE ON.

Keep your provider filter low, get some okays and then start to filter your likes/dislikes. I was lucky to get a wonderful provider to start the process with and understand that not everyone could be that lucky.

The monger's mantra is:

I will beg for pussy.
I will pay for pussy.
I will NOT beg to pay for pussy!

Thank you for the correction  

 
NOT BEG FOR PUSSY is first mantra.

 
MOVE ON is the second mantra.

Sages for sure.  Thanks for sharing your wisdom.  I will implant that in my big head and hope it wins.  

Darn it.

Couldn't type properly to save my life. Even though I thanked for the correction, I still typed it incorrectly.

Will NOT beg to pay for pussy (like the next post suggested)  
AND
MOVE ON

That is how it is. Finally.