HOOK: E-zine By, For, and About Men in the Sex Industry

A well-known and stable client pool is always your best defense to a vice sting. If you've done someone before, you can pretty much rest assured that he's not a cop (at least not a vice cop who is going to arrest you). Not everyone is afforded the luxury of having a client list of regulars. That's where the danger comes in.

Cautious of all new clients
The danger always involves the "new client" who wants to discuss exactly what you are going to do with him, and how much it is going to cost. To build a case, the police must get you to say that you will be willing to engage in a sexual act for a sum of money. The conversations are often recorded, but is unlikely that you will have an opportunity to search for the wire before it is too late.

So how can you tell if the guy on the phone, or in the car, is an eager customer or a cop setting you up? What safeguards can you take to prevent the police from being able to build a case against you? And what steps can you take during the initial meeting with the customer that might alert you to the fact that he's a cop?

You're being paid for your time
Always approach a new job with the thought that you are only being paid for your time and "what happens" during that time need not be discussed in advance. If there is anything you specifically don't do, it fine to state that at the first meeting. If the john persists in asking if you will engage in a certain sex act, and how much that would cost - LOOK OUT! Stick to the line that you are paid for your time, and that what happens during that time needs not be discussed until you are alone in a bedroom/hotel room/other place.

Change the Location of the Deal at the Last Minute
The police will not want to move the conversation to another location, because they would have to move the backup officers (placed all around you in cars or doorways). These operation are not mobile. The cop will not want to be alone with you in an unsecured setting. That is why most arrests go down in or near the cop's undercover police car. Try moving the setting of the final deal to a bar, a nearby espresso stand or another car. Heavy resistance to a move of the critical conversation may indicate a set up.

Ask Explicit Questions
Remember, vice cops are still cops. Asking him to describe in detail exactly what he wants you to do to him, the way a real customer would, might tell you a lot. A person paying a nice chunk of change for sex has explicit expectations. Chances are he has fantasies. Talk about those for a moment or two. Can he talk convincingly like someone willing to fork over cash for a blowjob? Or does he say something like "I thought we'd do a little anal." (actual quote from arrest scenario in Seattle).

Common sense and following your instincts are the rule. A newspaper ad is more likely to generate a bust than a job resulting from a reference made by another customer. Internet tends to be less risky right now than print ads. Bar work less dangerous than street work.

But the safest way is always going to be the known client. As in any business, known, reliable clients provide the greatest security when carrying on an illegal trade.

Sadly, financial situations and time considerations don't always allow for enough advance screening of new clients. Just remember the easy tips: at a first meeting talk like you're paid for your TIME, move the critical discussion about money to a new location at the last moment (even if just a block away) and let the john talk for a bit to see if his story seems believable to you.