spidir

This is my exact thought.  I was hesitant to use the phrase, “training wheel,” because it may sound a bit abusive, condescending, or offensive to some.  I am glad to hear a provider describing it this way.  I can almost liken the relationship to that of having a personal trainer in the gym: he helps me to start the engine and once I feel comfortable enough, I will go out to drive on my own.
I guess it may be difficult for the majority to understand the minority — the middle-aged novice.  I bet most of you can’t even begin to imagine how tough it was for me to express myself anonymously here, let alone to place everything in real-life context.  To me, at the very least, the providers I met have helped me take the first steps to free myself from my psychological prison.

I couldn't disagree more with this. For those who are starting off a bit late, those who haven't found their way through using the bars or the apps. Escorts make great 'training wheels'. People are fucking mean on the apps. And let's be honest, bars aren't the places to meet new people that they were in decades past. Start on 'easy mode'. Gain confidence. Then do the platforms/bars/apps. 

It’s been 8 months since I started this thread and I realize it was resurrected recently.
I was a silent bystander on CoM for a long while before I summoned the courage one day to create an account to pose a question.  I did (still do) benefit from reading others’ Q&A so I feel somewhat obligated to answer my own questions to shed some light on the subject I created myself.
1.     I did end up telling all the providers I met about my (lack of) experiences beforehand.  I am extremely lucky in that they are all kind, understanding, and receptive professionals who accommodate my needs.  It is true that there isn’t anything they haven’t seen or heard before.  It was silly of me to think that they would be surprised by my full disclosures.
2.     All my appointments have been 2-hour long.  I am not the bang-bang, hit-and-run type — at least not yet (Who knows?  I may evolve into one eventually).  I still need the time to gradually ramp up the temperature.  So to me, 1 hour would be too rush and stressful.
3.     A few providers told me they never hosted for the 1st appointment to prevent letting psychopaths and serial killers/rapists into their homes, which is totally understandable.  They prefer to meet in a 3rd party location (e.g. hotel) to assess the sanity of the clients first.  Thus, in-call versus out-call is not necessarily the client's choice.
Lastly, I do sincerely appreciate everyone’s inputs here.  I even find the ones that appear to be sarcastic, bitter, or toxic somewhat amusing and eye-opening.  Thanks for your contributions.

Dear comrades,
I am the OP, but I have changed my username from lostlonelysoul.  Details below.
Thanks for all your recommendations.  I eventually booked a 2-hour session with @Simon Suraci.  I have been eyeing for him on both RM platforms for weeks even before I made my post.  But his home base (SD) is way too far from me.  So I gave up until I saw his travel location coincided with my business trip.  It was meant to be.
Let me start by saying that his ad/profile pics definitely do not do him justice.  He is 100X hotter in person.  You need to see him for yourself.  Per your suggestions, I originally made a massage appointment, but as soon as I told him what I truly desired, he did not hesitate to switch gear and led me to the bedroom.
Needless to say, I was consumed by stress and anxiety initially.  He had a magical way to put me at ease.  Aside from being handsome & sexy as hell, he’s intelligent, funny, and kind.  Before I knew it, I had my first kiss, my first embrace with a man, my first time touching another man’s naked body all over, and…… I’ll let your imagination run wild to fill in the blanks (many, many, many other blanks indeed).
I was (and kind of still is) in a euphoric state for days afterwards.  Luckily, I have no important deadlines or projects on hand; otherwise, I’ll be doomed, for that session was the only thing I could think of ever since.
@Simon Suraci exceeded every expectation I have for my first rendezvous and I am so glad I made the right choice for my many, many firsts.  I bet he will forget about me very soon, but I am 100% certain I will remember him for the rest of my life.  Frankly, that was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had.  I'll surely pay close attention to his traveling schedule from now on.
Thank you all once again.
No longer lost; No longer lonely (even though still alone); My soul has been salvaged; The gate of heaven has been unlocked; Let the wild ride begin + continue

Tell them when you first message. Say you’re totally inexperienced and about what you’d like and why. Not a long message but just the headlines. You’ll get a few declines and guys who ignore you: that’s fine because they’d have been unsuitable anyway and that’s how you find out. 
I’d suggest to book an hour with a sensual / erotic masseur rather than an escort but the label matters less than finding the right person. Just aim for intimacy, not full sex or anything. Experience touch and being close to someone. Just be present with him and have no targets or anything other than to touch and cuddle. If you feel comfortable with him (does he make you feel approved of? - that’s the test) then book another session perhaps longer and explore further. 
After two or three sessions of this, without losing your virginity to him, try meeting people and socialising. I think it would be preferable for you to find a partner to progress further rather than with a provider, if it’s to be your first time having sex. The provider can get you over the initial difficult hurdle but you can do the rest. Good luck X 


 

He's a virgin, not Helen Keller. 
I'm sure he's watched pornography.
He's well aware of what he's missing.

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