Safer than street walkers and outcall ads on
CL, for sure.
You've got the benefit of reviews here plus the ability to assess by scoping out locations and many times by playing conservatively and not being aggressive, an operation gets to know you're not
LE and develops into a standard-fare punch on your options list.
In over 15 years of hobbying primarily
AMP's/
TAMP's the real key is always stay up on local news coverage of any efforts to close places/arrests/vice op's. Stay up on the boards like this one and the "Neighborhood Watch" on
RB.
For a guy who routinely gets mistaken for a cop even by cops, judges, criminals and homeless, believe me, there are challenges in developing a comfort level with the operator and the providers because their apprehension of your being
LE is far greater than yours of
LE because vice focus is always on the operation itself.
You're building and developing relationships if you're going to
MP's in your local region or in cities you visit often, so becoming a 'safe' customer is the result of simply not being a jerk to the operator and providers. It's very hit-and-miss in cities you only visit rarely because you're always a first-time customer, so the operator's and providers'
LE antennae are always quivering and you're a walking red flag to them. Repeat visits and applying your intuition go far in the hobby.
There are the basic red flags that most often you'll avoid by just following your intuition and you'll develop an awareness of in reading the forums/boards like this one, but the near-myth type nightmare scenarios of vice actually operating a shop,
RA's being UC vice officers, hidden cameras recording in the rooms resulting in blackmail/arrests, having money lifted from your clothes while you're in the shower/facilities really are just myths.
Leave wallet/credit cards and cell, and for gosh sakes any company/office ID/smart card you wear during the day, in your ride and carry only cash and the keys. Maybe park a walking distance away and 100% of the time be absolutely ready to execute an about face and leave if you walk in and it feels off or even uncomfortable. "I changed my mind" is a perfectly good excuse to walk and when I've done that, I've felt a huge sigh of relief at escaping what had felt like a dicey situation or a poorly run
MP.
Some hobbyists even leave the keys or at least the remote and house/mail/etc. keys in the ride and carry only the vehicle door key. I'd say that's paranoia, but it depends on your comfort level and the same thing goes with whether to get a separate hobby cell depending primarily on whether your cell bill is subject to scrutiny at home by an SO.
Often, it's not so much an issue of safety as in whether
LE will execute a bust while you're there or track you down, it's a matter of safety as in looking out for unsafe practices that lead to disease. New Year's Eve one provider in an
AMP I visit had a developing new corner mouth sore and there also are those who in the heat of the moment grab Jr. and try to guide him in BB. Uh, no. Ever.
Be safe out there and stay horny, my friends.