Thinking about hiring an escort for the first time? You’re not alone. Escorting is a growing business and, according to industry analysts, that growth is only expected to continue over the coming years.
But with so many agencies and independent escorts advertising their services online, making a choice can feel overwhelming. How can you find someone who’s right for you? What can you do to ensure your safety? How much should you expect to pay, and when?
Here at The Male Escort Agency, we encourage safe and responsible practices above all else, and that’s why we’ve put together this quick guide for first-time clients. It includes expert insights from industry professionals along with practical safety tips to ensure that you have the escorting experience you’re looking for.
Table of Contents
Establishing Boundaries
Sometimes the smallest details are the ones that matter the most, and, with so many options to choose from, why settle for anything less than the best?
The first step in choosing your escort is to clearly establish your boundaries and ask for exactly what you want. This applies to both independent and agency escorts alike, though the process may vary slightly depending on the agency.
When booking with a traditional agency, some will allow you to review potential escorts’ portfolios, while others may ask you to select a specific escort based on the information provided. When you’re reviewing portfolios, ask yourself what qualities you’re looking for in an escort.
- What kind of personality do you prefer?
- Do you have any specific interests or kinks in mind?
- What are your financial considerations?
Some agencies will let you specify all of these things when booking, while others may have you choose from a handful of pre-selected options.
Either way, when reaching out, don’t be afraid to speak frankly about the services you’re looking for. Every escort has their own strengths and preferences and, as a professional, they shouldn’t be afraid of answering some simple questions. These might include:
- What is your availability like?
- What do you expect from this arrangement?
- What are your personal boundaries and limits?
- What is your cancellation policy?
These are just general questions, of course, but don’t be afraid to get specific. If something is important to you – whether it’s their height, hair colour, favourite sport, or a particular personality trait – there’s no harm in asking about it. Sometimes the smallest details are the ones that matter the most, and, with so many options to choose from, why settle for anything less than the best?
Screening Your Escort
Among the many legitimate male escorts out there, there is also a share of catfishers and scammers. Some of them can be very convincing if you don’t know what to look out for. This is why it’s important to thoroughly screen your escort before agreeing to a date.
Start by Googling their name and city, but don’t be afraid if this doesn’t turn up many results. It’s common for escorts to work under a pseudonym. More often than not this is to protect their privacy and identity, as there is still stigma attached to working in this industry. Ideally, searching their escort name should still bring up an online presence along with reviews from previous clients.
Bear in mind, also, that when looking for a male escort they will often be screening you, too, once you make initial contact. When doing your checks, try to consider what your online footprint would be if you were in their position.
Establishing Trust
When reaching out, it’s good to get the escort to send you a photograph of themselves. Ask them to hold a handwritten note in the photo containing an agreed-upon message – something that couldn’t easily be faked.
This basic step not only shows a willingness to respect your safety concerns, but it also helps weed out AI images, which are notoriously bad at reproducing text. Video calls/FaceTime are also a quick and easy way to confirm that they are, at least in appearance, who they say they are.
We always encourage both clients and escorts to at the very least speak over the phone, if not a video call. It helps to establish trust, and you’ll both feel a lot more comfortable when it comes to meeting, should you agree to do so.
Face-to-Face Meetings
Just like any first date, it’s always wise to take precautions, and when meeting an escort face-to-face for the first time, there are three safety steps you should always take:
- Meet in a public place like a restaurant, shopping centre, cafe, or bar (preferably during daylight when lots of people are around).
- Be aware of what’s going on with your drinks (you may wish to consider drinking from a lidded bottle).
- Tell a friend or family member what you’re doing and where you’re going to be.
These tips demonstrate an abundance of caution. The type of incidents that these tips offer protection against are rare, especially when it comes to male escorts. Escorts themselves (particularly female) are far more likely to be the victims of such incidents than their clients. Nevertheless, such things have occurred in the past, and it would be wrong to claim otherwise. We would urge you to pay particular attention to these guidelines when choosing an escort from a less reputable agency or one of the popular “free-to-advertise” sites.
When it comes to letting people know where you are, we’re certainly not suggesting you tell them you’re meeting an escort – unless you’re comfortable doing so. All you need to tell them is that you’re on a date or that you’re meeting an online friend for the first time. What’s important is that somebody else knows where you are and can expect a message from you confirming your safety later that day. Many escorts operate a similar type of buddy system themselves.
In most escort engagements these types of safety measures are just precautions, but they’re precautions that are worth taking.
Preparing to Meet Your Male Escort
No matter what’s involved in your date, male escorts must be mentally prepared and maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. It’s not unfair of them to expect the same from the clients they are visiting.
Even if your meeting is just to talk through what’s going on in your life for some fresh perspective, it pays to be prepared so you’re making the most of the experience.
A luxurious bath or a nice, long, hot shower are both great ways to wash off the day and get you in the right place, both physically and mentally, for your date. The experience starts at home, and anticipation is as much a part of that experience as meeting your escort. Taking those moments, however brief, will give you that little boost and the confidence that comes with knowing the only thing you have to consider now is the date itself.
Many clients find it helpful to prepare and improve their experience by exploring ways to add extra comfort and excitement. You can easily find adult toys online that suit your preferences, helping you relax and enjoy your time even more. This simple addition can make your first date feel even more special and personalized.
The Cost of Hiring an Escort
Escorts’ prices vary greatly depending on the agency/independent escort you choose to hire, as well as the type of experience you’re seeking. If you’re booking with an independent escort, you will have to negotiate the cost of the date beforehand. Some escorts may have a set fee for specific services, but others will let you negotiate the price based on what you’re looking for and your budget.
Escort prices routinely include expenses such as travel costs and restaurant bills, alongside an hourly rate. As a ballpark figure, rates tend to start in the low hundreds, although, ultimately, any escort will charge what they feel they are worth. Prices can differ considerably between escorts depending on availability, reputation, and experience.
You should always agree on the exact service you’re looking for before meeting, along with the cost of said service. Have that agreement in writing so that both parties can refer to it in the event of a dispute. It needn’t be a formal contract – just proof of the agreement in written communication such as text or WhatsApp messages.
Paying A Deposit
Trust goes both ways. Escorts at The Male Escort Agency have been through a process and committed financially to appear on the site. All they ask is a similar commitment in return to secure the booking.
We advise all the escorts on our site to request a small deposit to secure the booking. Paying a deposit may be contrary to advice you’ve read on other platforms and websites, so allow us to explain why we do this.
If you’re on a website that advises against paying a deposit, it’s usually because that platform is a “free-to-advertise” operation. Something like Craigslist or one of the other more “adult-based” listings pages. Many of the companions on those sites will be legitimate, respectable, and responsible escorts, however, it’s also very easy for scammers to set up shop with the sole intention of conning unsuspecting clients.
There is no barrier to entry on those sites. No card details, no address details, no application form, and no vetting. If the account is reported and removed, a new one can spring up to replace it in just a few minutes. On free-to-advertise sites, the person whose advert you’re reading might not even be in your country.
Those same scammers also target the male companions on our platform, masquerading as genuine clients. Over the last dozen or so years in the business, we’ve received hundreds of reports from guys who have spent time and effort preparing for a date, perhaps journeying for an hour or more at their own expense, to find they’ve been stood up and ghosted with no further contact. What people gain from that remains a mystery, but it happens week in, week out.
Trust goes both ways, and people who have paid nothing to advertise lose nothing by running off with a deposit. Escorts at TMEA have all gone through an onboarding process and have committed financially to appear on our site, and stand to lose a lot if they do the same. All they ask is a similar commitment in return to secure the booking.
With that in mind, deposits form an integral part of the screening process for male escorts. An unwillingness to even consider a deposit is a red flag that suggests you may not be serious about the booking. At the very least, a deposit will cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travelling to your arranged meeting place, whether it’s a restaurant, bar, hotel, or your home. All our escorts set their own deposits, but even a small deposit to cover their transport costs can be enough to ensure their attendance, and those deposits will usually be deducted from the final fee.
You may still be sceptical about paying deposits, and that’s understandable. Not all of our escorts request them, but many do. More often than not, it’s because someone has taken advantage of their good nature. All that we ask is that you keep an open mind when contacting them, and consider a deposit should they request one.
If an escort on our site refuses to deliver on a service after paying their deposit, please do get in touch. We care deeply about maintaining the standards of our platform and the experiences of those who use it. We do not take responsibility for the actions of the escorts who advertise on our site, but, where possible, we will mediate.
Paying a Male Escort
There are always some nerves and often a little awkwardness when it comes to paying a male escort for the first time. Don’t worry – it’s perfectly natural – and once it’s out of the way, you can get on with enjoying your time together.
Experienced male escorts will put you at ease very quickly, and quite often will bring up the topic themselves, politely.
When to pay a male escort
When visiting any male escort for the first time, it’s best to be ready to pay at the beginning of the date. This is standard practice across the industry and should be expected. Some escorts may choose to accept payment at the end if you are a repeat client and have established that type of relationship, but as a general rule of thumb, payment comes first.
How to pay a male escort
Cash is always accepted, however, many escorts will also accept payments via PayPal, bank transfer, or using apps such as CashApp, Venmo, Zelle, SumUp or others.
Check with your escort in advance how they like to be paid, and make arrangements accordingly. Deposits will need to be transferred electronically in advance of the meeting using any of the non-cash methods mentioned above.
Cheques are never accepted.
Final Thoughts
Hiring an escort can be a great experience, especially if you’re curious about trying something new. Although there can be risks involved, there are plenty of ways you can mitigate those risks, and you certainly shouldn’t let them stand between you and your happiness.
Always be sure to establish trust slowly, to look at other clients’ reviews, and take sensible precautions. Finally, don’t forget to establish the cost of the experience before it happens – this will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
If you have any questions at all, you are more than welcome to contact us.
Feel you’re ready to find that perfect first date? Discover the man of your dreams with The Male Escort Agency!
Cover Image by Alexandr Ivanov from Pixabay