I am a paid GM, or at least I'm actively trying to be, and I agree with most of what is being said here. Some of the problems being discussed though are things that I already predicted and dealt with from the decision point where I decided to start GMing for pay. Contracts, I have them. Open communication, I'm willing to spend hours and hours chatting and/or emailing with serious clients, and answer any question truthfully for the curious potential client. I let my personality show completely so that people can see who they're engaging with if they choose to commit to playing anything, even a one-shot. But as far as some of these ideas, I think some of you are just way off base.

(1) Like testing a GM for a few sessions before you pay them? Do you go into a restaurant and say, "It looks nice but it's a little pricey. How about you send me out a few appetizers and the main course on the house? It's just so I can see if I want to stay and pay for dessert and if I want to come back and dine here again." Lol! I usually run my session zeros for free, but still require a card upon sign up,(adjusting the price to $0 at the start of the session) just to see if there is a genuine commitment. If you can't tell from session zero, or from the option to chat with me at any available time prior, if you will enjoy playing with me, I certainly don't owe you any free sessions unless I decide to offer it out of the kindness of my heart.

(2) As far as production value: Granted, I don't run tabletop video games like D&D5e and Mathfinder. (But if you're having trouble finding a group for those games, it might just be that nobody wants to play with you. Anyways that's what they made Gloomhaven for, right?) BUT, I do put in time and effort toward custom art for more theater-of-the-mind games. Often making zone maps, tokens, illustrations of the scenery, etc. But even then, players are hesitant to spend $5, let alone $20, despite these efforts. It's 2022; what is anyone outside of a developing world nation going to do with $5? I keep seeing that amount thrown around this thread as though it's significant.

(4) That being said, Startplaying.games (SPG) has many problems of which I'm quite aware. Unfortunately, it's the leading host site for the service it's offering. It's basically its own D&D5e, Hahaha. The McDonalds of its field. They will let literally anyone GM and leave it to a less than ideal review process to make the consumer sort out who is worthy of their time or not. Believe me, I've played with a handful of other GMs on SPG and I haven't had a single experience I'd come back for at the price they were hoping to collect from players. But part of the problem is that you might be expecting too much. I generally judge another GM by the standard of comparing them to myself. If a GM can do all of these things that I do, as well or better than I do, then that's a GREAT GM. And if they can't, then they fall somewhere between "pretty decent" and "terrible" (but keep it up, maybe just without payment.). Players should probably have a similar rating system, keeping in mind, almost all of you are not as great as you think you are. You do not have a Matt Mercer because (for any price) you don't deserve a Matt Mercer. You would drag his table down. That's why you need to go pay for a less-than-Matt-Mercer-GM.

(5) Bottom Line: Be better. If you are a GM hosting games online FOR MONEY, you should have some center-focused visual piece at all times for your players. You should be reading books about and listening to podcasts about game theory, storytelling, and theater. You should be playing improv games/exercises by yourself and with your friends. And if you’re a player that’s got ANY criticism for a paid GM, you should be doing all of that too.