Workshops at the NELA Fetish Fair Fleamarket #44
801 Greenwich Ave, Warwick, RI 02886
Reserve your room via the NELA Hotel Reservations page.
You must register for the Flea to attend these workshops.
Please refer to the Flea's web site for information about registration and fees. Here's a direct link to the ticketing page.
Topping to the Next Level: Hot Negotiation
If you think negotiation is finding out what your bottom likes and doesn't like you're missing the best parts.
Negotiation is the foundation for the scene.
It establishes consent, builds trust, sets a tone, creates expectations and identifies boundaries. With the right tools, it can also be hot, seductive and wickedly effective.
We'll explore:
- What is the real purpose of negotiation?
- Where does the negotiation end and the scene begin?
- What objectives should you pursue when you negotiate?
- When should your negotiation NOT lead to a scene?
- What is your negotiation style?
- Does your style suite your purpose and persona?
- What are some specific techniques for eliciting engagement, obtaining consent and gathering information?
Learn how to negotiate more powerfully and effectively. You're scenes will be better for it.
Topping to the Next Level: How to Push
When is it OK to push your bottom? How do you push them safely, ethically, and effectively?
If you've got that mastered, try this: how do you push yourself?
Topics we'll be covering include:
- Getting someone outside their comfort zone
- Helping your bottom receive stimulus and process play
- Creating tension in your scenes
- Working with a bottom who asks you to push them harder or says "I'm afraid of this but I want to try it?"
- Encouraging your bottom to try something they're unsure of
- Learning from someone's "never done it" history
- Gracefully managing the intensity of a scene
- Helping bottoms push through barriers
- Renegotiating during a scene
- Recognizing "hard limits" vs. "soft limits".
Making D/S Work
Dominant/submissive relationships can be supremely satisfying: you get all the love and support of any good relationship, plus all the power that's implicit in D/S.
They're not easy though.
D/S requires mad skills, goodwill, self-awareness, and a willingness to be transparent and vulnerable.
Max has been doing consensual, deliberate, D/S for 20 years. Not surprisingly, he has a lot to say about the topic.
This workshop helps you identify what you want from D/S, and provides advanced skills and resources for finding and nurturing your ideal D/S relationship.
As with all of Max's workshops, a handout will be provided to facilitate your learning and retention.
Photo © Kayleigh Shawn
When Things Go Wrong - What To Do and What To Learn
Things can - and do - go wrong in a BDSM scene.
Sometimes it's a small thing. Sometimes it's more substantial. Either way, your level of preparedness makes all the difference between a little bump and a scene-ender - or worse.
Max has plenty of practice with things going wrong.
Ideally, these events can be opportunities for learning and growth. We'll talk specifically about three key elements of your response:
- Dealing with the situation
- Learning for next time
- Retaining and rebuilding trust
Since prevention is even better than reaction, we'll also discuss how to make your scenes more resilient and less likely to go wrong.
This amazing workshop is chock full of anecdotes and "learning moments". We'll touch on a broad range of events related to equipment, technique, negotiation, planning, environmental problems, emotional responses, and injuries. While there will be some emphasis on bondage-related events, most of the discussion is applicable to any type of BDSM play, and non-bondage folks are encouraged to attend.
This workshop is structured as a lecture, so you don't need to bring a practice partner or rope. Do bring an inquiring mind and some good questions.
A handout is provided to help you remember what was covered and to provide additional references.
This workshop assumes no previous bondage or BDSM experience, and is appropriate for all genders and orientations.
