Event

Event Review: Lovely Fate Play Party

July 2, 2018 By Laila 8 Comments

Lovely Fate… My new favorite play party in Los Angeles… everything I never knew I wanted in a kink event.

I recently had the pleasure of attending Lovely Fate. For those who haven’t heard of it, Lovely Fate is a new series of upscale BDSM play parties in Los Angeles.

I have been to many BDSM events around the country and the world. I have to say that this could be the best event I have been to so far. Founded by a group of friends from the LA kink scene, they told me they were tired of the same old events, and set out to create the ultimate play party – the kind they had hoped existed when they first entered the scene. The result – at least based on the one event I attended – is impressive.

According to the web site, Lovely Fate aims for “sensory joy and intrigue”. Having had no idea what on earth this meant, as I entered the party I felt like I began to understand. Music, visual elements, smells and taste have apparently been carefully choreographed to arouse and intoxicate guests. As for touch – there are plenty of opportunities to participate as a dominant or submissive (top or bottom?) either in featured interactive scenes or in negotiated play with other guests. But before you think of wooden, rehearsed stage shows, think again. Instead, imagine experienced kinksters invited to perform their most intimate, creative and real BDSM scenes in weird, wonderful and alluring surrounds. These are a kind of aperitif to get the party started before many guests enjoy scenes of their own.

Erotic shibari? Check. Teasing and torturous endurance bondage? Check. Predicaments, slave training, sensory deprivation? Check, check, check. I’ve noticed that many play parties are dominated (!) by impact play. And while that can certainly be found here, I was impressed by the breadth of variety on display.

After my ticket was checked, a pretty young thing greeted me and introduced herself. She then beckoned for me to follow and lead me (and my date) down a hallway and through a dark curtain. A deep, dark melody filled the air my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room. In almost a whisper, our lovely escort invited me to “choose my fate” and gestured to several small silver statues on a table. I worked out that each represented a BDSM role. Being a bisexual Rope Bunny Switch with a sadistic streak, I am not easily categorized (other than just “kinky as fuck”). But I was feeling a Toppy that evening, so I went for the small figurine of what appeared to be a badass Dominatrix. Our new friend grinned wickedly and brought me through another curtain to reveal a larger room where some other guests were gathered and a variety of scenes were unfolding. On one table, a girl tied in a gote chest harness, with a devious man tormenting her tits mercilessly. In a corner, a cage confined a naked feminine figure who gazed back at me. And across the room, a pair of male slaves knelt at the feet of two latex-clad dominas. This is where I was led, and immediately invited to join in on the fun. I should clarify that I was asked at check-in if I wanted to participate – many guests were generally watching and socializing and there was no expectation that I had to play right away (or at all).

The event was so unique, that is difficult to categorize. The best way I can describe it is an upscale BDSM play party combined with elements of interactive theatre. A great deal of creativity and attention to detail has gone into all aspects of the event, with the apparent goals of creating an environment that is classy and enchanting, but unmistakably all about BDSM and power exchange. This is definitely not just another upscale sex party flirting with kink.

What stood out to me most of all were the people attending this event. While there was a spectrum of skill and experience in BDSM present, everyone I encountered was friendly and welcoming. While there were plenty of attractive people, it wasn’t so over the top as to be intimidating (like you might find at certain high end swinger events in LA). Whether they were dominants, submissives, masters or slaves, these were simply fun, kinky people who wanted to be there to have a good time.

Curious about why this vibe seemed different to many other BDSM parties, I asked around. Lovely Fate is a membership club – to attend you have to either be a member or be invited to attend (as I was). The original members were friends of the founders, and they are a little selective about who joins. Apparently not to exclude any particular type of person – but more to preserve the friendly, welcoming and non-judgmental feel. Disclosure: yes, I applied to become a member following the event. So it’s entirely possible I’m subconsciously over-praising this event in this write up so they let me join!

Awesome, kinky fun – the next one is coming up this Saturday July 7, 2018… ticket info here.

-Laila

How to Host Your Own Play Party

September 19, 2017 By anniebear 1 Comment

You don’t have to be an event planner extraordinaire in order to throw your own play party. With a little organization and preparation, you can gather your favorite folks together for a fun night of safe, kinky fun. The following tips will help you get started.

Create a guest list

You’ll have to jot down a list of all the people you’d be interested in having over to your home. Allowing people to play in your personal home is extremely intimate and involves a certain level of trust. Make sure these are people you are at least slightly familiar with and who will respect your home. Make sure to have a good ratio. This doesn’t necessarily mean equal men to women (and every other orientation) but rather will there be enough Tops vs. bottoms? Did you invite four Dominatrixes but only have two potential play partners for them? A lot of times people come in couples and that’s fine, just be cognizant of who ends up RSVPing so you’ll be prepared to entertain in other ways.

Consider using an online invite

Depending on the size of your party, it might be easier to invite people through an online invite such as evite.com or a private Facebook invite. This will be more organized than a giant group text or chasing everyone via individual texts. If technology is not your style, then by all means go the old fashioned way of calling people. The online invite will just give you a step by step way to view who is coming. Also make it clear in your invite if people are allowed to bring guests. If you only want folks you know personally to attend, this will prevent any awkward unexpected (and uninvited) guests.

Consider the size of your space

How many people can comfortably fit in your home/apartment? Now consider how many people can comfortably play in your home/apartment. In Los Angeles at least, there’s the old saying that you should invite twice as many people as you would like to come since only half of the RSVPs will show up. So if your space can hold 25 people, invite around 35 to be on the safe side. In my experience, there are ALWAYS people who will bail last minute. It’s an unfortunate reality, but you’d rather plan for more and have just the right amount.

Set a list of house rules

You cannot just assume everyone coming will know proper BDSM etiquette or rather, the etiquette for a party in your home. Do you want people doing a needle play scene on your couch for example? Is wax play on your new carpet going to fly? Perhaps you don’t want a flogging scene in your daughter’s (who is away at her friend’s house) room? Post the rules in the invite and also post signs letting people know if certain rooms are off limits. If possible, just lock the doors so there is no confusion. I always make sure to let guests know if penetration is ok. If so, you need to be prepared with extra trashcans, condoms, and towels. While it’s difficult to think of every scenario, I always try to cover things like edge play (fire, blood, needles, knives), penetration, wax, golden showers, single tails (are your ceilings high enough? Will the whip accidentally break something?), and noise levels. If you live in an apartment, perhaps you can encourage Dominants with loud submissives to gag them, haha. Since it’s your party, you make the rules. Don’t be afraid to remind guests of the rules if you find them breaking them. It’s your home.

Provide refreshments

Or ask guests to bring something to contribute. Water is the number one necessity at any play party followed closely by food or snacks. It’s important to let guests know if there will be a full dinner served or just snacks so people don’t arrive ready to play hungry. While I have served alcohol at past play parties, many kinksters strongly believe in playing sober. This is a sensitive and highly debated topic but it’s entirely up to you of course. I personally like to follow the rule that drinking while playing is ok but being drunk while playing is not. If you have alcohol, make sure you have something substantial for people to munch on throughout the night.

Be a social butterfly

Keep an eye on your guests. If someone is standing alone, engage them in conversation and make introductions. To me this lifestlye is all about inclusion which means making everyone you’ve invited feel included! You can also do yourself some favors by inviting some extroverts to the party to help you out.

Offer defined play stations/areas and set the mood

Not everyone’s house is a fully equipped dungeon but more power to you if yours is and can I please come over?! 😉 Consider the different areas of your home/apartment and set them up in a way that would be hospitable to play. Removed objects or decorative things that you don’t want to get broken or damaged. Don’t want someone getting a spanking in grandmother’s antique rocking chair? Put it away in an off limits room. If possible, dim the lighting or trade out some bulbs to a softer glow or color. Put on some music for background noise.

There should also be a clear “socialization” area for people to sit and watch/relax. This can even be a few chairs or couch along the perimeter of the room. Also, be prepared to accommodate (or not) smokers or having a smoking area or a sign to tell people to go outside if you so wish.

Be prepared to get the night started

Private play parties can get awkward really fast if the socialization aspect lingers on too long. As the host, you should be prepared to get the party started! Or if you want to be in attendance to the guests, plan on having some close friends get the play started with a planned scene. It only takes one spanking to break the ice and others will be soon to follow.

Plan an end time…unless you want people potentially staying all night and if you do that’s fine! But planning an end time will eliminate potential resentments over guests overstaying their welcome.

I hope these tips will help you newbie party planners out there. Did I forget anything major to planning a play party? What are your best practices for hosting an in home play party? Let me know in the comments!

anniebear is a submissive living in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing, modeling for friends, animal rescue, and teaching herself how to cook. You can catch her on Fetlife or Facebook.

anniebear Learns to be a Dominatrix

August 28, 2017 By anniebear 3 Comments

A few weeks ago I attended a full weekend, three-day group immersion course on how to become a Dominatrix. The instructors, DommeCraft founder, Simone Justice and co-teacher Mistress Damiana Chi are experienced professional/lifestyle Dominatrices. We could not have been in better hands. If you haven’t heard of DommeCraft, consider it the university level training course for those interested in learning the ins and outs of lifestyle and professional domination. The course includes handouts, homework, live demos, practice demos, feedback, and at the end a graduation with a certificate of completion. If there truly were a legalized, certification course for Domination then DommeCraft would be the leader in the industry.

Damiana Chi and Simone Justice, our instructors for the weekend.

I had a lot of nervous feelings in the days leading up to the course. I’ve mostly identified as a submissive and had always been such in my past and current relationships. In the last year or so I’ve been playing around with topping and dominating a few play partners, mostly women. The idea of going to learn from the pros was appealing to me because I thought it would help me gain more confidence and also develop my blossoming skills as a top. My expectations going into the course were completely blown out of the water! While I’d like to divulge every little detail, for the privacy of the other students and also the coursework, I will only cover some of the major highlights.

I arrived at the secret dungeon location on a Friday evening. There was one other attendee already there and we shyly exchanged hellos and a few questions. The dungeon space was amazing. It had everything you would need for a great scene; an open floor plan, high ceilings, bondage equipment and racks. My favorite was a suspended globe shaped cage, perfect for trapping someone inside to prod and tease! Damiana greeted us first and I was slightly intimidated but quickly realized she was an extremely warm and friendly person. In all there were six students. Simone arrived last, in a wheelchair. A sidenote, Simone had recently suffered a broken hip so I thought it was incredible for her to have such dedication and commitment to still come and lead the full weekend class. I’m sure it was extremely exhausting but you would never be able to tell that she had suffered such a terrible injury.

We quickly got down to business. Simone began the class with everyone introducing themselves. I was surprised at the variety of women in the class. Everyone came from a different background yet managed to have so much in common. It truly was a lovely group of women. Simone lead us through some exercises to familiarize ourselves with each other and to create good energy amongst one another. I’ve never worked in this manner before, but the exercises we did really worked! It made me feel both closer and eager to learn more about the other women. We then sat in a circle and received handouts on the first evening’s lessons. I won’t go into too many details due to the very personal nature of the work we did but suffice it to say it was revolutionary.

The next morning I arrived ready to rock! We dove headfirst into lessons on verbal domination with our partners. We were told that around noon, some demo submissive men would be arriving that we could practice our work on. I was expecting one or two submissives and we would take turns. I was delighted to see that there was more than one submissive per student in the class! This just goes to show the dedication and attention that Simone and Damiana give to providing the best tools in which we could learn. I was extremely nervous to work with actual in the flesh human beings. In the past, I have topped a handful of men and women, but this was an entirely new environment where I would be observed while at the same time practice the lessons. We were given the opportunity to take a submissive through a “preliminary” scene using verbal tactics only. I never realized how much I relied on physical touch. It was definitely a challenge as expressed by some of the other students as well.

We did a recap on how the scenes went and proceeded on to the next lessons. A lot of the specific information we learned is confidential, and only reserved for those in this line of study, however we continued the course with bondage cuffs, collars, leashes, and light impact implements and sensation play. We of course practiced all on our willing submissives, who I think delighted in all of us “baby dommes.” From personal experience, I’ve been a demo bottom before and it is a fun process watching someone discover and explore his or her domination.

Another unique aspect of this workshop was the use of “Goddess work.” I’m unfamiliar with this method, however many of the other students were well acquainted with their Goddesses and which ones they identify with, and requested inclusion of more Goddess elements. Simone changed the class to accommodate and brought in several Goddess statues as well for us to use. As a female Domme, it is important to be able to at least be open to tapping into those who have come before you and the energy derived from not only within but the Goddesses and those around you. I’m still working on grasping these concepts, but it was very powerful.

Day three commenced and was the final and most invigorating day. We observed both Damiana and Simone give full scene demonstrations which was so much fun! They acted as if there were no one else in the room and the intimacy between them and the submissives was incredible. Afterward we got hands on with the demo subs and did a rotation of different implements and domination techniques to try out. Damiana showed us some CBT (cock and ball torture) techniques which included tying up the penis and the balls and then delivering smacks or whatever type of play you wanted to do. I was pretty nervous about this particular technique as it looks super painful. I’ve also never been one to be too handy with rope so the concept never particularly appealed to me. But, I rolled up my sleeves and jumped right in when the time came to try it out! I am pleased to confess that I was able to master the CBT tie quite quickly! Perhaps I have a new calling, haha.

Day three wrapped up very quickly. I missed going to the graduation play party, but I heard it was a fantastic experience to bring together all that we had learned and try out our new skills in a party environment. It was incredible meeting so many wonderful women and also the very dedicated male submissives who assisted. Thank you to Simone and Damiana for a wonderful class. I’m also very eager to attend the “Dommes of DommeCraft” play party, September 2nd, which will have Dominas who have attended past DommeCraft weekend and daylong classes and private lessons with Simone. To join us write Damiana@DamianaChi to apply. Wish me luck!

To find out more about all of the classes offered go to here

Joining the Kink Community

August 28, 2017 By Jenn Masri 3 Comments

Discovering the world of kink can be a fabulous and overwhelming experience. So where do you go? What do you do? This can be especially nerve wracking if you are coming in like I did – unpartnered and clueless.

In my opinion Fetlife is the best way to find events in the scene. Most event coordinators will promote there whether or not they promote elsewhere. So the first step, if you haven’t already, is to join Fetlife. Go to Fetlife.com and create a profile. Feel free to use a stock photo or a picture of your dog as your profile pic until you come up with something better. Just don’t leave it empty for long. The profiles with a big “?” as the profile pic may make people think it’s a fake account, you’re a troll, etc. Also, keep in mind my next step will only work if you input your actual city or one that is near you. I understand if you are uncomfortable putting your specific city name – but even a nearby city will work. For example if you live in Santa Monica (which is a beach city near Los Angeles) then use Santa Monica or Los Angeles. However, if you use Antarctica (and don’t actually live there) then my next suggestion will not work.

On to the next step. Along the top of the site you will see a link for “Events” – click on it. Under “Upcoming Events” you will notice three tabs. “Friends RSVPed to”, “Near Me”, and “All Events”. If you are brand new to the site, chances are you don’t have any (or many) friends on your friends list yet, so that tab won’t offer much. The “All Events” tab will be overwhelming and probably take you a while to scroll through, however, if you posted a fake city this will be your option. So that leaves you with the “Near Me” tab. Click it! You will probably have to get through the first few pages of events that recently happened before you get to the current date. Then look at each event listed for the dates coming up that you have some free time. My opinion is that you focus on finding a class first. Starting with classes accomplishes a few things – you learn something regardless of current interests, you meet people in a non-pressure environment, and if you are on the shy side there is less expectation of socialization. So find a class on any topic that works for your schedule and GO!

(*If you are in the Los Angeles area I know a wonderful BDSM 101 Series at Sanctuary you can attend every Monday at 8pm – wink wink.)

My first class was on singletails (a.k.a whips). Was I interested in singletails? Nope. Did they, in fact, terrify me? Yep. I went anyway because I figured I would meet other people who were active in the scene and possibly learn something – or at least have fun watching the demo. Sure enough, all of those things happened. There was no pressure to play (because it wasn’t a party), going alone wasn’t awkward, and even though I am very social and extroverted, there was more focus on the class and presenter, which was nice given my newbie status.

Once you’re at the class be sure to approach either the instructor (after the class is finished) or another classmate that looks friendly and let them know you’re new and wondering what other classes or munches are coming up. Ask if they will be there – then you will have a familiar face to look for.

Go to more classes, start attending munches. Munches are just where a group of kinksters get together in a vanilla setting (usually a restaurant) to eat and socialize. Let people know you’re new and looking for friends and other events. Once you are ready to attend a play party you will have met lots of people and started to create a friends list. You will have people to reach out to and to look for and talk to at events.

I know you may be anxious to start playing and/or finding a partner. However, my advice is to slow it down and take your time. Get to know the scene and the people in it. Get a feel for who is experienced in the type of play you want to try, who you can trust, etc. I know it can be overwhelming and scary at first – and your experience will differ depending on how big your local scene is – but enjoy the process. View it as an adventure to be explored!

Jennifer Masri is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in Alternative Lifestyles for individual and relationship issues. She also teaches the BDSM 101 class series at Sanctuary LAX in Los Angeles every Monday evening. Read more about Jennifer on her blog, A Kink Shrink.

Over 1600 Kink Lovers Flock to DomCon LA 2017

July 17, 2017 By Jay E. Moyes 1 Comment

Los Angeles, CA – DomCon Los Angeles, the world’s premier professional and lifestyle domination convention was a huge success this year with over 1600 people attending. The event was May 17-21, 2017 at the Hilton LAX. The crowd was filled with BDSM enthusiasts, the kink curious, and high profile adult stars Nina Hartley, Irene Boss and Jewel Marceau, just to name a few.

Walking about the convention floor were fetish models wearing latex catsuits, dresses and hoods. Dominatrixes were clad in custom leather and boots. Vendors offered novel and perverse sex toys, along with electrifying fetish fashions. In the crowd were cosplayers, human pets in a variety of animal costumes, and elegant cross dressers. Regularly appearing onstage were rope bondage suspensions, whip demonstrations, spanking and burlesque dances.

A few of the lovely and talented Mistresses in attendance at DomCon LA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

Opening ceremonies were packed this year, and even shuttles to the Sanctuary LAX venue were standing room only. It marked the first awarding of the BDSM Hall of Fame winners. Among the initiated this year were Mistress Precious, Simone Justice, Mistress Tara Indiana, Domina Angelina and Mistress Servalan.

Puppies at the Pet Show. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

This year marked the first official “Kitty Parade,” through the vendor area, led by Mistress Porcelain Midnight in cat persona. Her human feline entourage followed, along with some pony players and even a
few puppy play friends.

Participants in the Pet Show and Kitty Parade. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

First place in the pet show this year was Mistress Molly, who arrived as the unicorn pet of Mistress Porcelain Midnight.

Winners from the pony show on Saturday were Speckles, for the “High Point” award, Ms Mystie for “Best Trainer,” and Windu, for “Best in Show.”

The Whiplr Elite Lounge, hosted by Simone Justice, was a success at DomCon this year, offering Whiplr members a chance to get away from the crowds and socialize during the event. Among their guests were Mistress Bella Bathory, Snow Mercy, and Goddess Anat.

Simone Justice and anniebear at the Whiplr lounge. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios. — Simone Justice and anniebear at the Whiplr lounge.

It’s not all about Femdom though. Master Kane was among the special guests of honor. DomCon also featured the Male Dom Social on Saturday, and Sir Valentino hosted a special Master/sub social on Sunday.

“This was Flirt4Free’s first time attending DomCon, and it was such an amazing and fulfilling experience,” said community outreach manager, Karly Kroft, Fetish Community Manager of Flirt4Free. “We were able to recruit some really great fetish broadcasters who we are very excited to have on our network. The connections we made are priceless, and we were so grateful for the warm and engaging welcome from the Kink Community!”

Vendors came from near and far to show off their latest innovations. Baroness brought her famous latex fashions from New York. Nix of Firebird Leathers displayed her “dragon scale” aluminum garments and light up feather Mohawk headdresses. Yet what got some of the most attention was the ultraviolet sex toy sanitizer from Kim Airs at the Leather by Danny booth.

Baby Love's Latex booth at DomConLA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios. — Baby Love’s Latex booth at DomConLA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

“On behalf of myself, the staff and volunteers of DomCon LA, vendors, and our special guests, thank you so much for coming,” said Mistress Cyan. “We are grateful to everyone who came, and participated. Our kind thanks go out to the army of volunteers that make this event possible, and to our sponsors, Whiplr, Kink.com, Stockroom, and AVN.”

Mistress Cyan and the DomCon board are making strides in debuting a DomCon London or Australia event in the future. The next expo is DomCon New Orleans in October 5th-8th, which will include a fetish parade down Bourbon Street. Go to DomConNOLA.com to learn more.

Event Review: Kink Weekly Launch Party

June 20, 2017 By Jenn Masri 1 Comment

So it’s been a little over a week since the Kink Weekly launch party happened. I must admit, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. It was in partnership with a new event brand called Lovely Fate so honestly, anything was possible. I had never been to the venue before and wasn’t privy to too many details beforehand. I was, however, very much looking forward to it. Both for the anticipation of the party itself as well as to celebrate this wonderful on-line publication!

My Sir and I decided to Uber there because it had been mentioned that there was a lack of parking. So glad we did! The venue is at the end of a very unassuming dead-end alley. You would seriously never know it was there by just driving down the street. We waited for a little bit because they were running a few minutes late inside (and I have this annoying habit of not being fashionably late if I can help it).

Once we were allowed in the door we were greeted by a lovely blonde woman standing behind a desk who asked for our IDs to check us in. We also signed the waiver which is pretty standard protocol.

Before I continue with my description of the evening I would like to take a moment to put in mind those kink/BDSM fiction novels you may have read. No, I am NOT referring to 50 Shades. The other novels that create a sexy and alluring ambiance as you flip through the pages. Have you read any of those? Well if you have, keep them in mind as I continue to describe this party.

Once we were done checking in we continued past the desk and, just ahead, in front of floor-to-ceiling white curtains, stood two adorable female subs. They weren’t wearing much and they each held lit candelabras. They welcomed us in as they parted the curtains to let us through. Once inside the next room we were met by additional greeters who offered a chance to pull a “dare” from their box (not a euphemism lol) – there were little folded pieces of paper that had suggested dares on them. A fun little addition! To our left was a human table and a human lamp next to an actual couch and chair for socializing away from the main room. Beyond this area were more white curtains which I would later learn separated the smoking area and additional bathroom.

Turning right into the main room there was an enthusiastic greeter who was very helpful in pointing out the bar and various other points to the space. We enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres by more scantily clad lovelies and a drink from the bar (ok I stuck to water and lemonade). There were two adorable rope bunnies tied together on a table that I enjoyed torturing with a bit of tickling. FYI they had rules of consent on a small board in front of them and I also knew them both. Also a beautiful human centerpiece on a large square table feeding guests chocolate covered strawberries.

After an appropriate amount of socializing had been done and most of the guests had arrived – Dexx gathered the crowd to thank everyone for making the event possible and proceeded to open up an additional section which included several play areas including a school room with enough chairs for about a dozen “students”. There were a few planned scenes/performances which included role-play, fire, flogging and more.

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening with the ambiance of those novels that actually rouse the senses. My Sir and I had a wonderful time, met many new people, saw familiar faces, and watched some amazing play. Thank you to Dexx and anniebear for orchestrating such a classy and wonderful event!

Kink Weekly Launch Party – tickets on sale now

April 18, 2017 By Dexx 7 Comments

GET TICKETS HERE

We are very excited to tell you that we will be hosting an official Kink Weekly Launch Party on June 10, 2017, in our hometown of Los Angeles, California.

While we have been online for a little over a year now, we have recently achieved some great milestones in our readership and want to celebrate this with a unique BDSM event for our writers, photographers, models and kinky friends.

This will be a very special event, with an intimate feel and we would love to share it with our fantastic readers – you! As such, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase online. Come along and get kinky with Dexx, anniebear, Baadmaster, Jenn and all of our other kinky contributors and models.

We have partnered with the one and only Lovely Fate Events to produce the event. If you didn’t get a chance to read Laila’s recent review of a Lovely Fate evening, check it out here.

This will be a very special evening – a play party like no other, with unique interactive entertainment and a sensual, electric atmosphere for your own awesome scenes. We hope to see some of you there!

Special guests joining us include:
Mistress Lucy Khan
Princess Marx
Plus Arcane, Slave Daphne, Hudsy Hawn, Goddess Fae, Crocoduck, Rope Daddy and more.

GET TICKETS HERE.

*If you are an experienced Dom / Top and would like to do a featured play scene that is particularly unique, interesting or creative, contact us to find out about discounted tickets (limited availability).

*If you are a sub / bottom of any experience level and are interested in participating in a featured play scene with an experienced Top (scene to be negotiated in advance), contact us to find out about discounted tickets (limited availability)

Event Review: Dan Savage’s HUMP! Film Festival

April 12, 2017 By anniebear 2 Comments

Who knew vanilla friends could take you to the kinkiest things? That’s exactly what happened to me. An old colleague of mine sent me a text asking if I wanted to go to an amateur porn film festival because out of all of the friends she knew, I was the first one to come to mind. Well, she got that one right! I am a big fan of porn, having been an avid watcher of many genres for years now. Once she sent me the link for the festival and I was able to read a bit more about it, I was hooked! HUMP! Is the brainchild of Dan Savage; sex educator, LBGTQ champion, and general badass. This is the first year that HUMP! is on the road, bringing the festival across the United States. Los Angeles was just one stop of many, but we welcomed HUMP! with open arms.

I was curious as to who would attend a porn film festival. I had images in my head of a dark theater full of heavy breathing men. I was delightfully surprised to find several (not many) women in the audience. There were a lot of couples and the male gay presence was in force, which I mostly attribute to Dan Savage’s involvement. The crowd was friendly and jovial as we waited for the films to start.

The festival opened with a pre-recorded word from Dan Savage and also an outline of the rules for the evening. Not only were no cell phones allowed, but we were told that our phone would be confiscated if it was seen out at any time during the films. This was mostly to protect the actors in the films. I also really enjoyed the rule of “don’t be an asshole.” They encouraged you to keep any personal opinions to yourself since you would most likely be insulting someone in the audience. I actually wished the rules for the HUMP! festival could be the rules for every movie I see at a theatre from here on out.

To prove that each film was made specifically with the HUMP! festival in mind, they encouraged filmmakers to include either an accordion or “Make America Great Again” hat. The latter included a disclaimer that they chose this item before the election when no one thought you know who would win…sorry. However, we were not disappointed with the use of that hate within the films. It actually made it slightly more hilarious watching a man having sex with another man while wearing it or someone using it as a used condom receptacle.

The films were each just five minutes in length which proved to be beneficial in some cases as there were a few in there that included things that personally revolted me. Don’t worry, while it sounds like I am passing judgment on some of the films (I am), the rules prior to the movies included a statement that said, “You may even see things you’d never want to see.” I was in good company. Also, I just prescribed to the “their kink is not my kink and that’s ok” mentality as a small bout of nausea came and went during a particularly epic scene involving a stick of butter.

BDSM was represented in HUMP! though not to it’s best and brightest, at least in my opinion. There was a particularly kinky game of scrabble, puppy play, and humorous film called “It’s Fucking Complicated” which highlighted the difficulty of outlining each individual’s kinks to a new partner. There was a hilarious “nature” video documenting the life and habits of the gimp. The gimp of course was a person wearing a full body leather or pleather suit, their arms and legs tied so that they had some difficulty maneuvering around. At one point a film came on which lasted around thirty seconds, long enough to showcase a “Cock-a-pult”. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a device placed on an erect penis in which something can be catapulted from the tip. It was highly effective and also offered a welcome break from a couple of back–to-back, intense films.

There were a series of awards given for different films including “Best Sex”, “Best Kink”, and “Best Humor”. But no matter what film came and went, the audience gave a rousing round of applause, whistles, and cheers. I would be curious to see what this festival is like in other parts of the country. I hope it’s as well received. There are still many stops left on the tour. At the time of this writing, HUMP! is heading to Chicago, Washington DC, and Dallas with a dozen or so thereafter. Tickets are still available and I highly recommend it for those wanting something very out of the ordinary!

anniebear is a submissive living with her partner Dexx in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing, modeling for friends, animal rescue, and teaching herself how to cook. You can catch her on Fetlife or Facebook.

This week in kink, April 10th, 2017

April 11, 2017 By Dexx 1 Comment

I appreciated the style in which photographer Max Eicke captured these professional Dominas. He profiles them in a new book. Take a look at some of his work here along with a brief interview.

We are very excited that Wry’s Polytalks with Ethical Slut author Janet Hardy and Opening Up author Tristan Taormino are back! Tickets are limited to 100. This is a powerhouse talk to attend if you are poly or even poly curious.

Take a look inside the wild world of professional BDSM abduction fantasies. It looks like I need to get into a new line of work because this seems like it would be really fun! Who knew New York would be the center of this business. Vice profiles one Dominatrix and her journey through a planned abduction scene fro start to finish.

While this seems like a no brainer to most, its a sad fact that predators use dating apps to attract inexperienced women into BDSM. It can be difficult to differentiate safe play and dangerous tendencies for a newbie. This goes for both women and men. She Knows offers some key tips for those pursuing kink through dating apps.

-Dexx

Have some kinky news to share? Tell us about any upcoming BDSM events, new products, dungeon openings / closings, collarings, kink in mainstream media, and anything else you think kinky folks might be interested to hear about. Send your tips through to news@kinkweekly.com, and it might just end up on next week’s “This Week in Kink”!

Event Review: Pandora Play Party, Sydney

March 14, 2017 By anniebear 5 Comments

I’ve just returned from the land down under. It was actually a dual trip stopping in New Zealand and then heading on to Australia. It was my first time in Australia but a repeat for New Zealand. You can read my review of some kink events I’d previously attended in New Zealand here. I knew being my first time in Australia I had to make the kinky most out of it! Luckily there was a BDSM event that was right up my ally while I was in town.

The Pandora Play Party was advertised as “one of Sydney’s premier play parties which was formed to help provide a comfortable environment and fun atmosphere for Sydney kinksters who wish to meet like-minded people and be free and open about their fetish.” The party is for kinksters from all walks of life but caters to those 40 years old and younger. I know that the 40 and under parties are often riddled with controversy here in the states so I had imagined theirs might encounter the same type of scrutiny. I was still very curious how Aussies get kinky though and RSVPed for myself and my friend after a quick conversation via the messenger app kik with one of the party organizers. I was informed that this was a crossover party, a rare breed of kink and swinger merged into one party. I knew that many had tried and failed to create a space for both of these groups even here in Los Angeles however I had also heard in other communities, particularly smaller ones, these groups often came together for a good time. This was going to be an interesting night!

We flew into Sydney on a Saturday and the party was the same evening. We grabbed an Uber from our place in Surry Hills only to realize the party location was a bit further than we had anticipated (having no knowledge of the lay of the land). We were nervous about arriving late as the organizer told us to come no later than 9:30pm but we kept our fingers crossed and soldiered on! We pulled onto a residential street with medium to large-sized homes. The driver dropped us in front of what we believed to be the right house and sped off. We could hear the distinct sound of whipping and some music and we knew we were in the right place!

We walked through a gate at the side of the house and around to the back as instructed. I noticed a beautiful pool in the back yard and many people were milling about. We were directed to the inside and there we met one of the other cohosts of the party. She was very friendly and knew exactly who we were once we gave our names. She chatted with us and offered us complimentary champagne. Everyone was dressed in sexy lingerie for the women and jeans and shirts for the men, though later in the evening the men became increasingly more undressed. We sure didn’t mind that! The other host came up to greet us and gave us a quick lay of the land. The house was large with several ceiling and wall hard points on the lower level. The upper level held multiple bedrooms and bathrooms wherein a lot of sexy time was happening.

There was a heavy flogging scene in progress compliments of the home owner, the girl’s behind was heavily marked. There was rope in progress in the other half of the room. The rope tying would continue throughout the evening with several couples moving in and out of the space trying partial and full suspensions. We were also delighted to see a woman tying another girl in an egg shaped, hanging whicker chair. I so badly wanted to take a photo but didn’t want to invade anyone’s privacy but let me tell you she was pure genius and the rope bottom was loving it!

Everyone we met throughout the night was so incredibly nice, friendly and open to chatting. I found this to be opposite many of the regular parties in Los Angeles where though I love attending and have amassed a good group of friends, these can often have an air of superiority and snobbery. We learned more about the Sydney scene and that this particular party was new to the venue we were visiting. We never would have known because of how well it was set up and run. The Pandora party did receive some flak from those not appreciating the 40 and under restriction but I did notice there were a few in attendance who appeared over 40 which goes to show that compromises can be made for the right people!

As the night progressed I decided it would be fun to do a little Topping action. I cuffed my friend to the wall, grabbed my toy bag and proceeded to give her a sound spanking along with impact play and flogging. The scenes at this party were much more “front and center” with people typically stopping to watch for long amounts of time. This made me slightly nervous as I am newer to topping, however I was among good, non-judgmental company and quickly relaxed into it. I took my time teasing and squeezing her body but as space was slightly limited for this type of play, I eventually had to wrap up the scene.

We went and relaxed, having a drink. All of a sudden I thought someone must have had an accident as the fire department showed up….or rather one particular man form the fire department appeared. He was actually just some extra entertainment for the evening! We were treated to a show as he danced his way around the room playing with fire, and he was hot!

The night was getting late for us so we decided to head home. We said goodbye to everyone and thanked them for the great time. All in all, the Pandora Play party is great for people of all skill levels and interests. It was about 40/60 ratio in terms of kink to swingers but everyone was super respectful of one another. Being that they mostly kept the actual sex acts separate from the BDSM helped to minimize any discomfort for those who are not necessarily into both at the same time. I’d definitely recommend this party!

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