Next class: Beyond Verbal Communication

Photo By Jim Duvall

I was thinking of making some silly "back to school" reference, but let's face it, most of us never stop learning when it comes to our sexuality and personal evolution.

As the new Director of Education for the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, I have been talking to everyone I come in contact with about what workshops they are interested in attending. I have gotten some really good feedback and am working on getting more classes on relationship skills and sex focused skills.

One person answered "I want to take a class that's all about how to read my bottom." Followed by a chorus of affirmative agreement. Well that's easy! I have one of those classes up my sleeve!

So, on September 15th, a Saturday, Jim Duvall and I will be at the CSPC from 5pm - 7pm to present "Going Beyond Verbal Communication." This class is a great primer on body language and how to use it to enhance your communication. Whether you are in a long term relationship or interested in doing some pick up play, this class will give you valuable tools when relating with others. You will be amazed at how much more informed you will be about the people you interact with based purely on your observations. It's also fascinating how much more informed you will be able yourself and  how you unconsciously send out signals.

Come out the the class, learn some cool stuff. Go out to dinner to fuel up and digest the new information. Then come back to the CSPC at 8pm to Fettered or Power Play Mixed Tape, and use your new skills!


Here's the nuts and bolts:

Where: Annex
When: 5pm -7pm
Cost: $20

Body language, tone of voice, rate of speech and posture are powerful ways we send cues to our partner, often louder than words. Non-verbal communication can be a rich source of information, especially when gags are used, or you have a partner that slips into a deep headspace where words don’t seem to exist. With careful attention, you can use these subtle forms of communication to enhance your play, whether you are a top or a bottom. We will show you techniques for gathering visual, tactile and auditory information before and during a scene to create more fluid and intuitive play. Imagine not needing to ask your bottom “Are you ok?”
Come prepared to participate in group and paired exercises. If you come without a partner, we will find you a partner for the exercises.

For those exploring their sexuality, the FSPC offers:

 Exploring Kink - Getting Started
 Sunday, July 29th 2012, 4:00-6:00 pm at the CSPC in Seattle
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This is for those of you who enjoyed Seattle Erotic Art Festival's Sensation City and want more information. If you didn't get a chance to check out Sensation City, here is a chance to attend the "Try I- You'll Like It" event after the class.
Max will be presenting a comprehensive and entertaining BDSM overview before the "Try It You'll Like It" event.
He'll cover many of the things we struggle with as we begin exploring kink:
- Basic concepts, including sensation play, dominance/submission, bondage and fetishes
- Common kink terminology
- Kink etiquette - How not to lose friends before you make them
- A rapid-fire "Show and Tell" with a bunch of BDSM equipment
- Demonstrations of several kink activities - and opportunities to volunteer for the demos
- Tips for identifying the things you most enjoy, gaining experience, and finding partners
- Lots of time for questions
If you're relatively new to kink, there's no better way to get started - and it's followed by the "Try It You'll Like It" event, which gives you an opportunity to watch and/or "sample" a number of kink activities.
Workshop attendees are also invited to join the "Getting Know You" Potluck and Social for dinner before the "Try It You'll Like It" event. Yes - we'll feed you if you attend the workshop!
As with all of Max's workshops, a handout will be provided to help you remember what's been said.
This workshop assumes no previous experience, and is appropriate for all genders and orientations.
http://www.bondagelessons.com/content/2012/07/29/exploring-kink-getting-started

Be living art at the Libertine Social Club!

The Libertine Social Club is an elegant evening of art, conversation and sexiness in the spirit of the salons of the late 19th century. The inaugural event is this Sunday, July 15th at the Center for Sex Positive Culture for members and their guests. Doors open at 5:30pm for an optional protocol informational and the party begins at 6pm and continues until 11pm.

Libertine is in need of those who are willing and able to serve as living art for a portion of time during the upcoming Social Club.  Anyone is welcome to be involved, whether they are attending as an in-service attendant or a patron. Here are a few examples of ways you could serve as art:

- Body paint models: models will be nude or in minimal underwear, and be painted by the patrons. Must be able to stand for up to 15 minutes.

- Human platters: models will be ceremonially cleansed, and then have food arranged on their bodies for patrons to take at their leisure.

- Decorations and eye candy: models in cages, in fetish wear, in rope, etc. This is a more passive, quiet type of artistic service.

- Interactive decorations: The next step up from eye candy; a decoration that the patrons can touch. Any interactive tableau will have a host or attendant to negotiate with patrons on your behalf. Please be prepared to be touched by strangers in ways that you negotiate.

If you are interested in being involved in artistic service, whether in one of the ways listed above or with your own ideas, please email us to begin negotiations!

Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.

Show Your Love: DONATE

Do you believe the Seattle Erotic Art Festival is doing something important in this world? We are a 501c3 nonprofit and cannot produce this event without the generosity and support of donors. 

Please consider being a part of making the Festival possible.

Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Learn more and donate today:

http://www.seattleerotic.org/donate/

And note that your donations can go twice as far! Many businesses (including Microsoft and Boeing) match their employees' donations. Please learn more:

http://www.seattleerotic.org/matching-donations/

Preparing for our "post-mort"

As we wake up from sleeping after the Festival, we always want to know how we can make it better for next year.

Please take a few minutes and complete the Seattle Erotic Art Festival's brief online survey.

What did you love? What would improve your experience?

Your feedback makes a real impact. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/festivalsurvey2012

Mid-Festival

Today I think I have the best job in the whole organization. I just sent out emails to artists informing them that their piece(s) sold and another round of emails to art patrons about the art they purchased. Everyone is so happy. I need to remember how great this feels when people are angry at me for their art not selling.

Teaching in the midst of SEAF & Paradise

Today, tickets for the 10th Annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival went on sale. To celebrate, the Launch Party is tonight at Neumo's. (Tickets are still available at the door for $25.) I am reminded of how incredibly close I am to this beloved event. I still have much to do, and I feel fairly calm about it all. I hope I am not delusional.

Today is also the day of the last Artist Workshop, which focuses on matting 2D art and offers special information about packing and delivering your art to the Festival. This workshop is free for Festival Accepted Artists and $10 for everyone else. We will be in the Annex of the CSPC from 2-4pm.

Tomorrow, we'll send out the rest of the letters for Paradise Unbound presenters. I must say, this year's line up is impressive and the classes are richly diverse. Lots of personal growth and just plain sexy classes, no matter what you think is sexy. Paradise will sell out, so make sure to check your calendar and if you can join us in August, even if just for a day or two, you will have an incredible time learning and having fun.

In the midst of preparing for the Festival, I have a new class I am teaching next week. The Body's Edge: Skin Anatomy for Kink. I am very excited to finally feel ready to teach about a body system that is so amazing. Until recently, I haven't felt that I could really talk about the skin in relation to BDSM activities such as needles, cuttings and brands. I had so little experience that while I had all this anatomical knowledge, I didn't have the practical experiences to apply it. Well, now I do.

This class is for  both the curious through the seasoned veteran of blood play and other activities that break the skin. Experienced players are going to learn the why behind the things they know. For the newer, or curious, player, you'll get a lot of info to help you decide which type of play is right for what you want to create. I'll be covering the skin's healing process and capabilities so that you can knowledgeably help or hinder that process, thereby affecting the level of scarring. Of course, I can't make any promises about results, as everyone's skin is so different. It will be fascinating, that I know I can promise!