I wouldn't know a provider if one fell out of the sky, and sat on my face.

Well maybe if she sat on my face..
No guarantees though.

If she smiled, you'd have your answer. If she simply looked at you cluelessly, then no harm, no foul, simply change the  subject and move on.

BTW The last time I did this, she just looked at me blankly when I mentioned TER, I took my own advice and changed the subject and moved on

Now of course not all escorts/hookers know about TER so it's quite possible she could still be an provider and not know a thing about TER, but it's an easy segue without coming right out and asking "are you a prostitute???"

She had "retired" from providing and actually lived a few blocks away.  We smiled at each other, said "hi" and continued on our way.  I saw her around the neighborhood for years afterwards but never spoke again.  Just a smile as we passed.  This was back in 1996.

Oddly timely post.

Yesterday I was very concerned about a couple of things happening on this board. I had things to do, but also time waiting for others, so I was coming back on line periodically to check things out. Also, to complete setting the mood, I had a late-night date with a civvie. So I was thinking about the hobby.

In a waiting room, I looked up and saw a woman who looked familiar. She was wearing non-designer jeans, a ratty sweater, and a casual jacket. Her hair was tied up and under a cap. Her face was well-shaped and she had a healthy complexion, she was not overweight but looked rather shapeless in the clothes she was wearing, and she-- like everyone there-- seemed bored, maybe slightly anxious.

But she looked familiar, and I tried to remember where I might know her from. Then I realized that, if I was not mistaken, that she was a provider I had seen a couple of years ago. I didn't want to stare, so I couldn't be sure, but as I went back to my iPod I tried to see a couple more glances, but still couldn't be quite sure.

She didn't look particularly attractive or in any way exciting. It made me remember that in their private lives, providers can be very plain-looking women. I had the "What did I ever see in her" feeling.

I was traveling for business on the left coast and it was check in time at the hotel ~3pm. I got into the elevator along with a woman who looked a lot like Tricia Helfer from waist up but whose caboose was larger (not fat, just a wider pelvis) and on somewhat shorter legs. Not model material but hot enough.

She and I were alone in the elevator and as it started going up I asked if she was here for business or pleasure. She was dressed in classic "fuck me" style. At first she seemed skeptical and sized me up, replied "Business". I invited her to meet me in the hotel bar to discuss business. She accepted. A half hour later we met, had a round of drinks, settled on price and I had a very pleasant evening.

No review. Looked for an ad that fit her but couldn't find one.

I was certain she was a provider or not. Even if I knew, how the hell would she know who I am? And why would she care or want to converse about it?

A conversation between strangers on a plane... sure, happens. But insinuating or steering talk to the hobby? Nope.

not sure about strippers or providers

But if you are in an airport on a Thursday afternoon or Friday morning and happen to pass by a flight headed to Vegas you will see an unusual amount of really hot looking ladies. Coincidence?

It's a good thing you haven't been jadad by the hobby...

Seriously dude, you sit next to a beautiful woman and your first line of thought is she must be a hooker and your second line of thought is how can I work this into a conversation?

Why you just don't get down on your knees and thank God that you are actually seated next to someone remotely attractive on a commercial flight is beyond me.  I logged 145k miles last year and can count on one finger the number of beautiful women that I sat next to that I wasn't paying to sit next to me.

Enjoy the moment next time, and if she is visiting your town, I'll bet that she runs ads and you can meet her that way.

PS the reason she was oddly distracted was this troll sitting next to her was playing with himself trying to figure out if she was a hooker.

Discretion is paramount in the hobby both for her and me. I've seen a provider that I had been with in the lobby of a hotel and I kept walking, we did make eye contact but that was it no hesitation. We discussed it the next time we saw each other and we both thought the other might cross the imaginary line, but we didn't. There are so many scenerios that could be taking place, she or I could be traveling with family or either could be traveling for business and it could be uncomfortable to have to explain. I think she was more impressed that I didn't react,.

I did have an incident in a airport gate once where I got busted by a hottie checking her out and about 5 minutes later she came and sat next to me, but I was charging my IPad and she sat down to charge her phone. We exchanged a little small talk in which she told me she was traveling to my destination for work. I found that peculiar as this was a Friday, my initial thought was wow I wish she was a provider and perhaps she was as I am not a hunk a hunk of burning love so why would a hottie be talking to me out of the blue. But to steer the conversation that way in hopes, no, if she were a provider I don't think she'd want to see someone who is that loose with their discretion.

are u in kindergarten ? u sat next to a girl on a plane and "fantasized"

That you could pay her for sex instead of getting to know her ? How'd you hide your boner n wet spot ? You ruined a good opportunity , and she was or wasn't a provider but a woman ....next time treat her as such and perhaps you flight and hers will be better for both of you ...

I often recognize

I immediately recognize it if a provider has pubic hair.  

Oh you meant public not pubic.

Years ago during a personal growth workshop I attended I came across this lady that seemed quite familiar to me. I approached her and asked if I knew her from somewhere and was told no. Later I approached again and asked if she had been in some spiritual ceremony I had taken part in...and was told no again. I'm not sure when it hit me (it definitely wasn't that day though) that I had seen her photos on an agency site that had been busted months before. That could've been reaaaaaallly awkward lol.

I've also recognized clients in public. We just tend to smile and nod at each other in silent greeting. I'm not sure how I would feel about someone recognizing and approaching me in public. I did have a fan (of my porn work) recognize me at a grocery store (he was the bagger at checkout). It took him a while to realize where he had seen me. I was "scrubbed" out in my opinion with my hair up in a ponytail, yoga pants, a large hoodie and my glasses on. He was attractive...and I totally would've hit on him...if I wasn't with my then boyfriend at the time.

"You look like a whore" is not the best way to start out a conversation...

You are projecting YOUR paranoia onto the general population because you've spent a lot of time with hookers. Don't be so naive. She was probably distracted because she did not want to be stuck sitting next to you, and wished it was Johnny Depp.

It is by the beans of Java that my thoughts acquire speed,  
The hands acquire shakes,  
The shakes become a warning.  
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.