Part 1: Notes from the TNGC SEDS Education Meeting "How to Find A Dom" by Wilson
The following three posts are the notes taken at the TNGC SEDS Education Meeting "How to Find A Dom" by Wilson held on 5-Jan-2008. It wouldn't fit in one LJ post so I had to break it up. Please feel free to comment with additional information or corrections. Also, feel free to friend me and I'll friend you back. :)
Part 1 of 3: Where to Meet People
FINDING A DOM - Presented by Wilson, LA&M on 05-Jan-2008
1) Where to Meet People
a) Social Gatherings: Many social groups meet in the Chicago area, based on varying kinky interests and demographics
i) TNGC (The Next Generation Chicago) is the best place for under 35-year-olds to meet: Weekly munches on Thursdays, SEDS meetings, a very active community. http://tngc.org/
ii) Happy Hour in the Loop -- could find no reference for this online
iii) NawaShibari Chicago. www.Myspace.com/NawaShibariChicago, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nawashibarichicago/
iv) Pansexual ??
v) Chicago Dom/Sub ?? Is this the same thing as the Slosh (O’Hare Area):
vi) The Chicago Slosh (O’Hare Area) http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano/thechicagoslosh.html, http://www.geocities.com/daggerdom/thechicagoslosh.html
vii) West Suburban Munch. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestSuburbanMunchGroup/
viii) Chicago South Side - could find no reference for this online
b) BDSM Clubs: Chicago has three, most cities have one, if that
i) SinsCenter: located in a near northern suburb. Allows for temporary membership as a trial. http://sinscenter.com/
ii) GD2 (Galleria Domain 2): Hosts a “Newcomer’s social” once a month, as well as free educational programming. http://www.galleriadomain.com/
iii) LRA (formerly Leather Rose): Also offers free educational programming. http://www.lra-chicago.org/
(1) Comment from audience: If it is financially difficult to frequent clubs, note that some of them will set up a “work/study” program for you, i.e. allow you to attend bar or work the door in exchange for admission or a discount on admission. Just ask.
c) Fetish Nights
i) Bondage-A-GoGo at Exit Chicago. http://exitchicago.com/
ii) Continuum - hosts Shibari event every third Wednesday with a play party. http://www.thecontinuumchicago.com/, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheContinuumChicago
d) Kinky Conventions: four are held annually in Chicago. They can be expensive, but consider volunteering for a hardship scholarship
i) Kinky Kollege - October. http://www.kinkykollege.com/
ii) SinSations in Leather - February http://www.sinsationsinleather.com/
iii) IML (International Mr. Leather) - over Memorial Day. http://www.imrl.com/
iv) ShibariCon - over Memorial Day. http://www.shibaricon.com/
2) How to Decide Which to Attend?
a) Go to all of them! Find the ones that suit you
b) Give them more than once chance, as different people attend on different nights. Will need to visit repeatedly to accurately see what it’s like
c) Go often enough to engage people and make connections with them; takes more than one visit (Networking)
d) Remember you are not going to just walk in and find the Dom of your dreams on the first night. Put in the time and effort into developing friendships; need to get to know people
e) If you don’t find one that suits you, you have three options
i) Complain about it ;)
ii) Start your own
iii) Choose one and then make it your own
(1) Bring your friends, so you will be sure to find people with whom you have things in common
Part 1 of 3: Where to Meet People
FINDING A DOM - Presented by Wilson, LA&M on 05-Jan-2008
- Information presented here translates in any direction, regarding roles and gender.
- Wilson expressed that this presentation is not the be-all/end-all on the subject; these are just his perspectives and experiences. He also expressed that he is not an expert and he suggests that you take what resonates with you from the lecture and feel free to discard the rest.
1) Where to Meet People
a) Social Gatherings: Many social groups meet in the Chicago area, based on varying kinky interests and demographics
i) TNGC (The Next Generation Chicago) is the best place for under 35-year-olds to meet: Weekly munches on Thursdays, SEDS meetings, a very active community. http://tngc.org/
ii) Happy Hour in the Loop -- could find no reference for this online
iii) NawaShibari Chicago. www.Myspace.com/NawaShibariChicago, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nawashibarichicago/
iv) Pansexual ??
v) Chicago Dom/Sub ?? Is this the same thing as the Slosh (O’Hare Area):
vi) The Chicago Slosh (O’Hare Area) http://www.geocities.com/c_cosimano/thechicagoslosh.html, http://www.geocities.com/daggerdom/thechicagoslosh.html
vii) West Suburban Munch. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestSuburbanMunchGroup/
viii) Chicago South Side - could find no reference for this online
b) BDSM Clubs: Chicago has three, most cities have one, if that
i) SinsCenter: located in a near northern suburb. Allows for temporary membership as a trial. http://sinscenter.com/
ii) GD2 (Galleria Domain 2): Hosts a “Newcomer’s social” once a month, as well as free educational programming. http://www.galleriadomain.com/
iii) LRA (formerly Leather Rose): Also offers free educational programming. http://www.lra-chicago.org/
(1) Comment from audience: If it is financially difficult to frequent clubs, note that some of them will set up a “work/study” program for you, i.e. allow you to attend bar or work the door in exchange for admission or a discount on admission. Just ask.
c) Fetish Nights
i) Bondage-A-GoGo at Exit Chicago. http://exitchicago.com/
ii) Continuum - hosts Shibari event every third Wednesday with a play party. http://www.thecontinuumchicago.com/, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheContinuumChicago
d) Kinky Conventions: four are held annually in Chicago. They can be expensive, but consider volunteering for a hardship scholarship
i) Kinky Kollege - October. http://www.kinkykollege.com/
ii) SinSations in Leather - February http://www.sinsationsinleather.com/
iii) IML (International Mr. Leather) - over Memorial Day. http://www.imrl.com/
iv) ShibariCon - over Memorial Day. http://www.shibaricon.com/
2) How to Decide Which to Attend?
a) Go to all of them! Find the ones that suit you
b) Give them more than once chance, as different people attend on different nights. Will need to visit repeatedly to accurately see what it’s like
c) Go often enough to engage people and make connections with them; takes more than one visit (Networking)
d) Remember you are not going to just walk in and find the Dom of your dreams on the first night. Put in the time and effort into developing friendships; need to get to know people
e) If you don’t find one that suits you, you have three options
i) Complain about it ;)
ii) Start your own
iii) Choose one and then make it your own
(1) Bring your friends, so you will be sure to find people with whom you have things in common