For me, if we're talking in real time, like on Kik or something, and a guy can go for more than a half an hour just getting to know me as a person, before he immediately brings up tickling, he gets major brownie points. I'm much more likely to ultimately meet up for a session with that kind of a person. I'm not saying it's a guarantee, but I'm likely to feel safer and more secure with someone I can have a conversation with, and I definitely feel more respected. I'm going to be more open and honest when the conversation does come around to tickling then I would be with a guy who immediately jumps right on the subject. Conversations that commence with "so, are your feet ticklish?" Or "so have you ever tickled another girl?" Immediately send up my red flags, and I almost never end up meeting those people in person. Furthermore, if a guy can carry on an actual conversation, with responses that are more than one or two words at a time, that's even better.
I specifically mentioned guys, but the same could definitely apply for women as well. Tickle sessions are based on trust. You can't have trust, in my opinion, if one partner or the other is a mystery, or is made to feel like who they are doesn't matter.
My 2 cents, for whatever they're worth.