d.anders

I asked about the license and heard nothing.

Well, we do age by the day, don't we?

Just wanted to say, I have decades of pro-massage experience (in a spa, but mostly my home) and most of the issues in this thread are alien to me. Behavior may not be "typical," but provider mood can make a difference, and people's moods can change on dime. Generally speaking, I agree with Rod Hagen, people who love their job are oftentimes not motivated by money. OTOH, I once knew a talented masseur who did not enjoy the work. He basically did not like people. He got into massage at an early age, thinking it might be easy money. He eventually raised his prices because he needed the money to motivate him. He's still doing massage, and now limits his customers to no more than two a day. A lot of people in America would like to earn $600 a day.

This is smart advice, but, as a serious customer seeking therapeutic + nudity + intimate touch, I'm crying. When I communicate and ask about a license, if the provider doesn't say yes in some obvious manner, I won't book. I fully understand and respect the risk. I had credentials in my own job that needed to be protected, and I didn't always play by the rules. I disagreed with some of the rules, so I needed to be discreet. In my communication, I always state that I'm not looking for sex, but my truth doesn't mean my first-time email can or should be treated like a trusted friend. This dance is depressing. Actors are more inclined to do damage. I once had an "actor" masseur who nearly put me in the hospital, and the trauma left some scars. Many people think massage is nothing more serious than taking a nap. Training doesn't matter. They are wrong. Of course, if you're just looking for sex, than having someone oil you up and pretend to massage with fake Swedish strokes, then perhaps no big deal.

This is certainly the category that I fall into. Pros who do sensual work are difficult to find, primarily because professionals risk losing their license if they are caught (reported) for doing sensual/sexual work. Training and licensing are not cheap, so I understand why many wish to play it safe. If you lose your license, you close the door on so many work opportunities. For this reason, I understand the need to read between the lines. The may be the only venue where that is possible.

He must be busy. Those ads have to be costing him a fortune every month. He's got a great, sexy look. I'd be happy just to see (and feel) him naked. I doubt he is licensed.

That does seem strange to me. Most of the guys who advertise on the gay massage sites are not professionals. Most of the customers here seem to be looking for a HE, or more versions of sex. I don't understand why anyone would expect professional behavior from a non-professional. It's a fantasy.

It's always a pleasure to encounter someone who behaves like a professional. The sea of flakes is depressing.

I don't think he's new, but he's changed his look. He's older now. Not sure about a name change. I believe he's Russian. An artist. Possibly hung. I don't remember what the consensus was on him, but I think it was positive. He was on my list long ago. I like lean guys who are strong.

Oh yes, and then there was that.

IMO, easy to book, prompt, and easy to get along with are not stellar reasons to praise a massage. For me, talent comes first. The guy's ad is very weird. Forces you to TEXT, but demands his time be respected. Then all the talk of heart attack, panic attack, and stroke does nothing for my blue balls.

Interesting reply, even with the grin. It seems to me, gay men are notorious for enjoying lots of flavors (not just gay men). Why limit yourself to one apple, when you can taste endless apples from around the world? There are 7500 varieties of apple worldwide. I don't think the concept of monogamy applies to tasting apples. I don't think freedom of choice makes one a "whore." But I got the pun.

A lot of people believe they are good at something when they are not. A sexy photo can get someone in the door, but it can't keep someone coming back. Ultimately, a customer can't know for sure until he tries for himself. Given the cost of massage, it's great we have a resource to test the waters. I once had a friend who wanted to do massage. He insisted he had a natural gift. He seduced me into trying him out. He had the most peculiar touch, with cold, clammy hands. I didn't know how to say anything without severely hurting his feelings. I went ahead and told him he should never touch another naked body. He was devastated. There's no taking that moment back. We're no longer friends.

None of the photos look like a 32-year-old body to me. Age scraping is such a white lie. If he's great at massage, I fail to see any benefit of depriving yourself of his talent. I get the disappointment, though. However, a lot of men can't face the truth of their age. Much like women, they lie. It's just a fact of life, and it has nothing to do with their skill or ability to be sexy/sensual. If you book with the guy, and you see in-person his face/neck/hands look 60, then you can ask him why he lies. He'll probably say it seduces customers into booking. Maybe you can explain how extreme the lie is, and he'd be better off upping the number to 42.

That's a remarkable stat. Almost makes me feel better about the world. For what it's worth, I would never criticize the work of a massage therapist to his face, especially for a first time appointment. If a therapist asked me for immediate feedback after the massage was completed, I would offer nothing but praise, and keep my honest thoughts to myself. If I wasn't happy with the massage, I would not book again. IME, it is never a good idea to criticize a stranger in the service business. Many people can't handle criticism. Why put yourself at risk, and potentially cause a very uncomfortable disruption? IMO, no one can please everyone. Some customers aren't worth the trouble. Better to just let them go. I think it's very unfair to write a negative review based on one visit. I would never do it.

Nick is hot, and what a great deal at €150.

His ad says he's certified. I wouldn't mind communicating with him, but he says "text only." Moving on.

The photo in his white underwear is enough for me. Not sure what a guy could do with that while receiving a massage. I go to massage to relax, not to work. Raf seems to stress in his ad his need for "good energy" customers. I wonder what that means? Who are the bad energy customers he wants to avoid, and how does he define bad energy?

I don't know what pearl clutching is. I'm an old guy, and I don't wear jewelry. I'm not the one who wrote OMG, and nor did I use 3 !!! after the word illegal. I was simply stating a fact. Some guys here talk about "tipping" as if they are dining at Luger's. Some guys talk about Asian-owned men's spas as if they're visiting a Four Seasons Hotel. It's silly, and naive.

Wow. That could cost the price of massage these days. I looked at his photos over at MF, and something seems a bit off. Not only are the photos very poor quality, but the tattoo one is a downer. He doesn't even look well. I decided to take a pass.

He's also got a beautiful erection, judging by the porn I searched. I suspect he's bi, but why all the negative massage reviews? It's too bad. If the guy was super cool and talented, he could sweep up in the gay community, and make a fortune.

First time seeing his ad. I think he's hot. Great smile. Those prices are a bit steep for me, especially since I'm not looking for anything sexual. I still may have to contact him to ask a few questions.

Most are younger guys, but not all. In social media, he seems to be very honest about his personal type, and the things that turn him on. But he doesn't require his type to do the work. He seems to like tight, hairless chests, and lots of nipple play. Many handsome, hairless Asians in the mix. I'm sure he's pointed and focused on how he markets himself. Plenty of details without going overboard. If he visited nyc, I would see him. An edging experience by a professional who loves this work is a mind-blowing experience. I also believe it's quite healthy for the body and soul.

Joel seems like an expert at tantric. He's no simple rub-and-tug, time-waster. This guy takes his work quite seriously, and he's been doing it a long time. Regarding price, $300 a session seems fair to me (even though it seems he is charging less). Edging someone properly requires a lot of concentration work. I've done it several times. Most of the men in his photos/videos appear to be fit and quite good looking. I imagine a large percentage of his clientele consists of average or below average guys. It's great that he doesn't require a photo to secure service, but imagine doing 5-6 tantric sessions a day with men you don't find sexy or attractive. It's possible he's the consummate professional, and never lets anyone feel insecure or under-appreciated. I love giving sexy guys a great hand job, but if this were my job and I was super-good at it, I would need money and a lot of it to motivate me to give my all each time. This work is not a traditional massage.

I don't mind an education. I wrongly assumed Mannu's heritage without fully reading his ad. The name Mannu struck me as Indian origin, not Spanish. From the ad photos, he looked exactly like the Indian guys I watch on massage videos produced in India. I was quite surprised to learn he identifies as Cuban. I've never met a Cuban named Mannu. As for "Abhyanga" massage, I learned the term from several YouTube travel creators, and they described the massage in the manner I wrote about. I'm not at all trying to suggest that I am an authority on massage in India, since watching these massage videos, produced in India, is a new experience for me.