Leather class curriculum suggestions?

[Bilbo]

I will be starting something I used to do a few years ago, this April 12th - an interactive all day class in leather designed for people who have interest but basically no experience in it whatsoever. Would anyone like to suggest subjects/techniques/ etc. which you would want to have covered if you were to take such a class? Bear in mind that taking such a class indicates that you have an interest in the subjects you would expect to be taught. So wise cracks like, "Why am I taking this class?" are a bit off subject. Also bear in mind that it is for absolute beginners, so you wouldn't expect things like sounds to be covered other than perhaps merely being mentioned for a sentence or three. Or if you did expect such a heavy game in such a tenderfoot class, you would certainly be disappointed. So references to that recent thread with pictures would also be a bit off subject. Thanks. - Bilbo

[Rick Munroe]

I would like to learn how to make my Mom a tooled monogrammed purse for Mother's Day.

[Guest Love Bubble Butt]

Are you being serious? Is this actually going to be a class at a community college or something?

[Guest Love Bubble Butt]

Sorry, didn't mean for my prior post to be under Rick's post. Meant to respond to Bilbo's post.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

The Learning Annex

 

I assume any such class will be taught outside an institutional approbation, unless we are talking about something akin to the subject of this post. A client of mine recently took a class is fisting with approximately 10 other students; I did not ask where it was taught. Another client recently took a cooking class in a small boutique shop that specialized in cookware. Personally, I do not think the sauce recipes he learned were worth what he spent. I could have shown him all those suggestions and given him a little extra for the money he spent.

 

As for the Introduction to Leather Sex class, I think bondage is always a good subject; people are not always comfortable with pain, but restraints always interest them. The various permutations of what exists, from surgical and removable bandage tape, nylon and other types of ropes, to fabric lined restraints are always topics people find fascinating when I discuss them with clients at various levels of experience.

 

 

 

My dungeon or yours?.

 

http://www.mygaydar.com/francoinla

[Bilbo]

RE: The Learning Annex

 

Yes, I am being serious. I used to teach this class about once every three months or so, up until about two, maybe three, years ago. So, yes, Franco, I do include bondage. Most of the men in this training class turn out to be in training to be leather bottoms, but their bondage training is a lot more specific than about how to not freak out when they are tied or chained. If they know how to watch when someone binds or chains them and be able to tell if it is being done correctly by an experienced person, then they will know how to question what is happening, how to use the safe word and how to bail if it is necessary - in time, before they are totally tied.

 

The class is taught in my dungeon, which is a multipurpose room (changeable to a massage room) here in my home in Houston. And it is interactive. It's not just lecture and illustration or demonstration.

 

I do have a coaster which I made in Boy Scout Camp (way before I knew they disallowed gay guys, maybe before they themselves knew it). I love it and use it a lot. But that was the last time I made anything much with tooling and latigo. So I'm afraid you'll have to look for a different class, boyRick.

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

Bilbo - This is a great idea. Many men don't get "into" leather right away, and have to pick up techniques from observing what's going on in leather bars and such. I would sign up for your course if I were anywhere near Houston. Do you know if anyone offers this type of course in any other city? I would think there would be a demand for what you offer.

[btmstudnyc]

Bilbo,

 

I would love to take a class in flogging...to learn how to actually flog someone properly...I had it done to me once very briefly....Is it supposed to feel GOOD? It certainly did.

 

I saw a class with Mistress Midori at the LURE...it was on BONDAGE... It was packed....she is Japanese, so imagine how perfect her knots were...she tied up the manager (ugh..he was so fucking beautiful) and after she was done, he looked like a perfectly packaged present...Damn, He looked so delicious tied up that way.

 

I'm sure classes on water sports would be better for a beginner than a class on fisting....althought proper fisting techniques would be appreciated.

 

TOYS....oh my gosh....TOYS...

Just show me what the fuck all these things do. I know this sounds so totally dumb, HOW TO PROPERLY FIND and PUT ON a cock ring. This includes the proper way to wear chaps (I wore them backwards last time.) How to put on a chest harnass...what is it for? AND how do you use it in sex....PULL BABY PULL...I always feel like someones trying to tighten my corset.

 

OK....CLICHE

What side is what? left is top, right is bottom?...yellow, green, red, black, white, blue and purple...what do all these colors mean and on which side do they mean what....HELP. I have gotten myself in such silly circumstances. My favorite is when someone comes up to me and sees my arm band on and says "YOU, are NOT a TOP."

 

Master/Slave and Pendant Locker...what the hell do I do if he loses the fucking key again? What does master really mean? What does Slave really mean?

 

Domination/ HUMILIATION....VERBAL....Suck my cock...that's right boy...eat my ass...Lick daddy's boots. I just sound like a purse fell out of my mouth...Hahahaha

 

OK, that's all I want to know for now. Maybe you can give me a 10 minute wrap up of everything when I get to Houston and give you the massage that you need after reading the answers to this post.

 

 

JIM

Just a dumb fucking filthy sloppy whore. JADFFSW

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it dont fit, force it

btmstudnyc@aol.com

[Bilbo]

Cocky - The Body Electric people offer two courses in leather. I think they're both called Power, Surrender and Intimacy. First you take the one weekend version. Then, if you want even more, you take the week long version. As I've mentioned on other threads, my Cub, Maverick, will be taking the course in Boston this fall. They offer it in many, not most, major cities once a year, and Houston is not one of them. I'm going as fast as I can on their Sacred Intimate training. After that, I'll backtrack and take these courses, too. bodyelectric.org

 

You might also want to check with your local branch of the National Leather Association. Some branches offer the occaisional evening class, though the ones I've seen them offer are not "in general" and are aimed at experienced players.

 

Butchmann's used to openly offer leather training for either tops or bottoms. ( butchmanns.com ??) I just heard last weekend at LUEY that they now offer training for bottoms, but you have to know enough to ask them for it. They used to be in California, but then they moved. I think they're in Arizona now.

[Bilbo]

Jim, That's a lot of good suggestions. I do find it interesting, though, that while I meant to be asking this question of the client types, all of the subject suggestions are from fellow escorts. All of the clients, and I love them, who have answered have been more along the lines of where and when. I guess there must be some interest in the class out there if the only thing they want to know is how to hold of it.

 

I can do some limited travelling on weekends, even with running my theater, so I did forget one suggestion in my answer about where to find it outside of Houston. Hire me and I'll come teach you. But then, airport security and baggage weight ... Oh, what the Hell, ask me.

 

But don't ask me for a week or so. As you might have noticed from the escort travel threads, Maverick and I are in Arizona all next week. This also means that I don't want anybody upset for not getting an immediate answer on anything y'all might ask me on this thread. I'll bump it up with my answers when I get back.

 

Meanwhile, Jim, it was my impression that while you lean towards bottoming that those flashing eyes and that heavenly smile sometimes look down into someone else's eyes as you fuck him. Switch but with a preference. Or am I wrong? Ah, well, I won't get to find the answer to that one out personally. We'll be too busy with me on top. Heheheh.

[+ Charlie]

Since anyone taking an introductory class is probably a real beginner, a couple of basic things should probably be explained. For instance, what are the genuine potential dangers involved in certain acts (ws/rimming/scat scenes, different forms of bondage, whipping with different instruments, gags, fisting, etc.)? During a scene, how do you know when you have had enough or things are going too far for you, and what should you do about it? If you are the top, how do you know when you have gone too far for the bottom? What about different kinds of drugs, which often are used in heavy leather scenes? How do you choose the appropriate escort for a particular scene? Finally (and I realize this de-romanticizes the whole thing), what are appropriate first aid techniques for things like welts on your ass, poppers spilled on mucous membrane, dislocated thumbs, raw nipples, bloody noses, numbness in bound areas, and probably many other accidents that you have seen in your practice.

[+ Lucky]

Some good points could be made on how to wear leather. Bottomstud mentions the harness and chaps. Just about an hour ago a friend gave me his harness to wear. I had never put one on before. (One hint: Let chain get to room temperature first!) I did feel silly wearing it. What does one wear with it, etc.

So many people wear leather and then put on something that doesn't go with it, or, they are wearing pants that are too tight, etc. These things could be covered in your class.

In my opinion the only guys who should wear leather are the guys who don't need it!

I guess I mean that if you are not butch to start with, leather won't make you so.

Okay, now you will educate me that leather isn't just about being butch, etc. Okay with me. I am all ears. (That's why there are classes!)

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Strut Your Stuff

 

>I did feel silly wearing it. What does one wear with

>it, etc.

 

With a harness, nothing else above the waist, except for arm bands, preferably the copper metalic kind if you have nice biceps and good skin color.

 

Likewise, nothing else should be worn below the pants. Personally, unless you have a 27-29 inch waist and are below 5'7", you have no business wearing leather hot pants or anything other than leather jeans or chaps. If you do not have the ass for it, it does not matter how butch you are, you have no business wearing rubber, leather, latex, etc., unless you have a huge package and no one will be looking at you from the back.

 

> Okay with me. I am all ears.

 

What a disappointing thought.

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

Thanks! I will pursue your suggestions. By the way, Jim does have some good suggestions posted below - like how do all those THINGS work??!! }(

[Guest Ant415]

Lucky,

 

What to wear with a leather harness. Considering your skin and eye color: some roomy, unstructured, genie-type pants, in light pastel colors, and a fabric like muslin or a sheer cotton. A nice beret, in maroon would top it all of nicely.

[Bilbo]

OK, We're back from a great week in Arizona. Came home to find over 300 new emails and 7 or so pages here on the message center to try to weed through/respond to. I still haven't found the time to answer these posts the way they deserve, especially the one from Jim Bttmstud. I hope to do that tomorrow when I'm all caught up.

Love, Blade and Cub

[Bilbo]

RE: The Learning Annex

 

Franco - I do cover bondage in the day course, both theoretic and practical - tieing or chaining guys for short periods of time with nothing else happening to them during that time, just so that they can get used to the feeling of the bondage itself. If they're out there playing I don't think every Daddy is going to do that for them. Under those circumstances, they'll be lucky to get a minute or two of bondage with verbal or visual threats before something physical happens.

 

And while I do explain the different kinds of bondage, remember that these are guys who have no prior experience. And most of them will be bottoms, at least at first. And we only have one day for the class. I touch briefly on the different kinds of gear that might be used on them, but they won't be the ones choosing it, by and large. I spend more time on making sure that they know how it can be used without leaving marks. Most important there, IMHO, is width: narrow leaves more marks than wide. That includes bondage material and whips and riding crops, etc. At this stage, IMHO, generalized theory that they can remember easily and that applies to a number of things is more important than a lot of technical details that will be lost in their adrenalin rush.

[Bilbo]

>Bilbo,

>

>I would love to take a class in flogging...to learn how to

>actually flog someone properly...

 

- One thing I teach in the course is where to land a blow and where not to. Boils down to hit fleshy areas, avoid bone and carteledge.

 

>I had it done to me once very

>briefly....Is it supposed to feel GOOD? It certainly did.

 

Yes. Why would bottoms want it otherwise? I had an overnight client quit in the middle of the night one time because he couldn't mentally handle the fact that he felt he was enjoying himself too much. And at that point, he was just sleeping on the floor in the doorway to play the part of the protective guard dog.

 

>

>After she was done, he looked like a

>perfectly packaged present...Damn, He looked so delicious

>tied up that way.

 

- Do we ever remember to mention that one necessity in a dungeon (at least in a gay one, the one hetero dungeon I ever saw didn't have one) is a mirror? Not only do bottoms look so appealing to others when bound, etc., they tend to love the look of it themselves. And all the headtrips it sends them through.

 

>

>I'm sure classes on water sports would be better for a

>beginner than a class on fisting....althought proper fisting

>techniques would be appreciated.

 

- And here we have, perhaps, one of the differences between classes for beginners and classes for absolute beginners. Many novices would get scared shitless, so to speak, just from talking about fisting when they are naked, collared and sitting on the floor at my feet. Unless they ask about it (many do) I tend to not discuss fisting (unless they ask - many do) other than to tell them that they aren't ready for it yet. Water sports they are ready to talk about, though not really ready to do that day.

>

>TOYS....oh my gosh....TOYS...

 

- You don't mention dildos. They aren't really just in the kinky sphere, it's true. But its so much fun watching the youngsters (21 - 75) sitting there getting impressed by just holding a Jeff Stryker dildo in their hands.)

 

>This includes the proper way to wear chaps (I wore them

>backwards last time.)

 

- That must have looked really cute on you. (seriously, not meaning to be arch.) Of course that would have been more difficult with Western style chaps which are bare legged in back.

 

Hanky code - It confuses everyone. But it's so much fun. I generally just give out a copy of it on paper and then answer questions. Just don't ask me how to tell some of those shades of green from each other.

 

>

>Master/Slave and Pendant Locker...what the hell do I do if he

>loses the fucking key again?

 

- Um, Absolute Beginner class. If a Master is going to lock collar an absolute beginner, he wants to train the fucker from scratch himself. But,, Again?! This sounds like a story I would love to hear. Trade you some lost key stories of my own if you'd like>

 

>What does master really mean?

>What does Slave really mean?

 

- After a bit of orientaton, the first major thing we teach (In the past, my Cub, Maverick, has often helped me teach these classes.) is the spiritual side of leather. This is one area where I have to keep my eye on the clock or I definitely spend too much time on it without spending enough, know what I mean, Verne?

 

 

>

>OK, that's all I want to know for now. Maybe you can give me

>a 10 minute wrap up of everything when I get to Houston and

>give you the massage that you need after reading the answers

>to this post.

 

- Hmmm, visiting Houston this weekend, loves to get flaggelated, ... Gads, I have got to get my appointment made!!

}(

[Bilbo]

Charlie ( and guys below him on the list) - lots of good comments. I am both running out of time this morning and want to spread these answers out over several days (obvious self promotion), so I'm not ignoring y'all. I'm just postponing ansering until, probably, tomorrow.

[Bilbo]

>Since anyone taking an introductory class is probably a real

>beginner,

 

I weed out the people who aren't. The absolute beginners need their space to learn at their own speed.

 

Safe sex practices are covered. Including how not to draw blood and what to do if it happens.

 

>During a scene, how do you

>know when you have had enough or things are going too far for

>you, and what should you do about it?

 

This is a big part of the day. We try to alleviate the nerves and adrenaline from a student's first leather experience so that they are calmer when they actually have a scene. Being calm and listening to your body, not allowiing drugs other than possibly poppers to get in the way of your communication with your own body, your body will tell you when you have had enough. What should you do about it - use the safe word immediately.

 

<If you are the top, how

>do you know when you have gone too far for the bottom?

 

When you hear the safe word. But also listen to yourself. Don't let a bottom force you into going beyond your own limits as to what you're willing to do to him. This also is based upon calmly listening to your own body. Learn that the top can use the safe word, too, if he has to.

 

< What

>about different kinds of drugs, which often are used in heavy

>leather scenes?

 

Hey, we're dealing with beginners here. They're young enough in the practices to be taught to do it correctly - Don't use drugs during a scene!! Including alchohol. I have turned away drunk clients for their own safety and mine, and I would imagine so has every other reputable Master for hire.

 

<How do you choose the appropriate escort for a

>particular scene?

 

In most parts of the country, there won't be more than one Master for hire in any one locale. A large part of the class is giving the neophytes the knowledge and the guts to only accept topping from a real Master who plays safe and sane. I don't go into choosing escorts, but I do go into choosing Masters in general, and I guess that the info would be basically the same.

 

<Finally (and I realize this de-romanticizes

>the whole thing),

 

Well, the class really does de-romanticize the whole thing anyway. One thing we make sure the students know is that many porn stories are definitely fiction and should not be imitated in real life, only in your fantasies.

 

< what are appropriate first aid techniques

>for things like welts on your ass, poppers spilled on mucous

>membrane, dislocated thumbs, raw nipples, bloody noses,

>numbness in bound areas, and probably many other accidents

>that you have seen in your practice.

 

We don't cover first aid. We are more proactive than reactive. We teach how to avoid needing first aid. Such as, don't let any one tie your thumbs together. Oh, sure, put ice on your welts, I suppose I might mention, but really all of the rest of the things you mention are also run into in vanilla sex situations. So these guys should already know about those from somewhere else.

 

Once again running out of time. More answers to your posts tomorrow.

[+ Charlie]

Thanks for your detailed response, Bilbo, but I don't actually need the answers to these questions. I was trying to give you an idea of the sorts of things that a beginner might want, or need, to know. It sounds like I might enjoy auditing your course, however, even though I don't need the credits. (Wish I could think of an excuse to go to Houston.)

[Bilbo]

Charlie, I didn't mean to say that you did need the course. Having invited you to have some input into the day's proceedings, you become with your gracious advice a collabator in a sense and deserve my input on your input. And unless you're looking for a reason to take it off your business expense account or taxes, you don't need an excuse to visit Houston. Houston is it's own excuse! And there are leather festivals here several times a year. NLA-H's Spring Iniquity is coming up next, I think, followed by the fifth or so annual dog training contest. I met the boy who runs that last thing at LUEY (another leather fest, the weekend after Mardi Gras) this year and he is hot, hot, hot. Also seems to be very happy in the three person (two boys and a Daddy) leather family he's in. Which is wonderful to fantasize about! }(

[Bilbo]

Lucky - I absolutely agree about warming up harnesses before you put them on. Although some of them just don't seem to want to warm up from anything but bodyheat. Is yours all chain like mine, or is leather cold enough for you. And don't worry about being too femme for leather, IMHO. It's better to be a facet of yourself in whatever you're wearing. Which makes me a bit butch in my drag, and a bit sensitive in my Daddy leathers. (But, then, most of the guys I work with are beginners, with the rest being intermediates.)