I'm a newbie, just starting out, but should see my first couple of providers within the next couple of weeks. I've managed to survive the early screening process when you have no references. What I'm not clear about, though, is what happens after you've seen your first few providers? I've read in other posts that it's OK to ask providers if it's all right to use them as references in the future. Does that mean that after a person is an established hobbyist, you give names of providers, phone numbers, etc. to new providers and their bookers? How exactly does the supplying of references work?

When you leave your session simply ask the lady if she would mind your providing her name as a reference in the future.  Better yet, send a nice little thank you email if you had a good time, and ask then.  

When you contact the lady who asks for the reference try to make it easy for her.  "My reference is Sola at http://www.SL.xxx, her email is SolaLove@xxxxx.  I saw her in NYC when she was visiting in April and she might remember that I ______"  (Either something you discussed, a little gift you left her, an unusual physical feature or scar, etc.)

Don't give out any of your reference ladies information that she does not advertise, such as a private cell phone, etc.  Most of us want the referenced ladies website so we can do a bit of homework to be assured that the lady is legit before we take her word that you are a nice guy.

All that will help to make it easy as pie!
: )

Thanks, Sola. You have a way of explaining things so clearly!