When it comes to a first-time session with a Mistress I've always said to think with the head on your shoulders and not the one between your legs. Over the years I've made that mistake a few times, believe me. Do your research, read reviews, carefully check out the Mistress' social media sites and website. And don't be nervous to ask the right questions - even pointed questions - when you contact the Mistress directly whether it is text, email or by phone. If you can feel in your gut that something isn't going to work with the specific Mistress, in my experience, your gut is probably correct.
It's easier than ever to do research about seeing a Mistress than say, or the pre-2000 era. After a recent session I spoke to my longtime Mistress after a session about what her first impression was of me in the late '90s, and vice versa. We met through the Personals section of a famous mainstream magazine that had four or five line ads - no pics - of independent Mistresses. We agreed those calls were an art form, today a lost art form. Subs usually called on pay phones or work phones, few of us had cellphones then. The sub had to be businesslike and polite, ask about the tribute, location, schedule etc. without sounding like a cop. And one might ask, if the Mistress didn't volunteer the info or it wasn't in the ad, what she looked like. It had to be a quick call, certainly not one that would delve to phone sex. The sub also had to figure out if the ad was a scam or if she was serious. My Mistress agreed completely, saying she would provide information about activities to be offered in a general nature, not specifics that would enter the phone sex area. The Mistress would ask what the potential sub did for a living, age, maybe looks... engage in a bit of conversation to judge if he was a cop, someone serious and not a phone freak, or someone who could be dangerous.
Today, between some high prices for top Mistresses; deposits; reference / picture requests; etc. it is tough out there. But it was, in a different way, in the pre-2000 era. There are more tools to ID which Mistresses share your interests and you can match up with successfully.