Booking well is mostly about being clear and being easy to deal with. Say who you are, when you want to meet, for how long, and where. Almost every awkward first contact is awkward because one of those four things was missing.
The first message
Keep it short and give her something to work with. A good opening message contains your first name, the date and approximate time, the duration you want, and whether you are asking her to come to you or you will come to her. That is enough for her to answer yes or no without a back and forth.
What not to do is open with a question about services, or with nothing but “hi”. The first tells her you have not read her listing. The second tells her nothing at all, and she has twenty of those waiting.
Screening, and why it exists
Some companions will ask for a little verification before confirming. That might be a work email address, a reference from someone else she has seen, or simply a short phone call. This is not suspicion of you personally. She is meeting a stranger alone, often at an address she has given out, and screening is the only protection she has.
If you are uncomfortable giving a work email, say so and offer an alternative. Most people will work with you. Refusing every option and pushing back usually ends the conversation, reasonably.
Deposits
Deposits are normal, especially for outcall, overnight bookings, or anything booked well in advance. Twenty per cent is a common figure. A full payment demanded up front, or a request to pay by a method with no recourse at all, is worth treating with caution.
On the day
Turn up on time, or message if you are running late. Have the fee ready in cash, in an envelope, and put it somewhere visible without making a moment of it. Shower beforehand. These sound obvious written down, and they are still the three things most often mentioned when you ask what makes a good client.
If plans change, cancel as early as you can. A cancellation two hours ahead is a nuisance. A no show costs her the evening.
What not to ask
Do not ask for her real name, what else she does, or whether she enjoys the work. Do not try to negotiate the rate. Do not ask for anything to be recorded. None of these are grey areas and asking marks you out immediately.
Finding someone in London if you are visiting
Most people start with one of three places: the personal website of an independent companion, an agency site, or a directory that lists many people. Read the profile properly and check that she covers your area before you write. A profile that gives no way to contact her directly, or that asks for full payment up front, is a reason to look elsewhere.
Words like “VIP”, “high class” and “elite” are marketing rather than a measured grade, so look at the substance instead: a clear and consistent profile, a direct way to reach her, a sensible screening step, and a rate in line with the figures we measure every month. A rate far below the median is as much a warning sign as one far above it.