I'd say getting in touch with others in the community is pretty vital, both for meeting but also for safety. These are the people who are going to know if a guy is trouble or not. As far as whipping specifically, I find that it is good to find people into impact play and start off with lighter stuff (spanking, flogging, crop) and building the trust between you and the other guy. You're going to have a MUCH better experience if you are comfortable and fully trust the guy you're with.