MistressJadeMTL
Posts: 168
Joined: 12/18/2004
From: Montreal, Canada
Status: offline
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Here in Montreal, we have an event organized by Club Sin (http://ClubSin.ca) called "Fetish Friday" that is held on the 1st and 3rd friday of the month. The first one is usually more crowded (up to 250-300 people!) and has some sort of performance, stage show or fetish fashion show at midnight. The second is less crowded and is usually pitched as more of a play party atmosphere, despite there only being a few pieces of play furniture.
The first thing one has to understand about Montreal is that it is very European in flavour. The French culture is also one that is not shy about love and romance. People here are generally more open-minded about sexuality in general. After all, we can easily find sex shops only a door or two away from churches in the downtown area!! Also the rate of people "living together" is something like 3-4 times the Canadian average, which is, I believe, at least 2 times higher than the US average.
Montreal is truly a city of people-watchers. We have elevated it to a high art. ;) We have several streets that are almost wall-to-wall cafés complete with outdoor terraces. It is an industry that practically caters to people-watching. The city is a fashion center and the younger generation in particular are very hip and trendy, even if on a budget.
All of these must be considered when we have a closer look at the Montreal public BDSM & Fetish scene. In particular, many of the younger generation are dressing up and going out to have a good time and are not necessarily into the whole kink aspect. Some are goths or goth-wannabes, some are simply leather or latex lovers - including our own famous Bianca Beauchamp (http://BiancaBeauchamp.com), Montreal's latex queen. She is not into BDSM or kink at all, she considers herself just a latex lover & fetish model with an exhibitionist streak.
There are many who consider many of these events to be a "See & Be Seen" type of event -- and there is nothing wrong with that. Many people find it a more accessible type of kink event to start out with; they are not ready for a private BDSM club, where they might feel totally out of place and overwhelmed by it all. There is a place for these types of events, as evidenced by the quick growth of Club Sin's Fetish Fridays, which only started last fall and now welcomes at least 200+ people on a good night.
The younger attendees, if they are interested in finding out more, usually will talk with others and discover what other events are taking place. Here the Net becomes useful, because many of the sites feature pics and describe in detail the type of event and dress code they use; which helps people to decide if that is what they are feel comfortable with. I myself have had many a discussion to inform people of other Montreal-based fetish & kink events, so much so that I started a web calendar to make it easier to point them in the right direction. (see my sig below)
Many of the older BDSM community members have a hard time with Fetish Fridays and similar events, because the music can be very loud (depending on the DJ that night) and many of them prefer the chance to socialize and the atmosphere is not particularly conducive to that. Which is why more of the older generation tends to gravitate towards munches and clubs like Le Chateau (http://LeChateau.biz) where they can actually have conversations without having to strain their voices all night.
Some folk don't mind playing in public, while others tend to shy away from it. Personally I enjoy both, depending on my mood and who I am with that night. I am a bit of a performer at heart, so that suits me. But I can understand those "purists" who only want to play at home and shun "the scene".
It all depends on the mix of people, the overall upbringing and open-mindedness of the surrounding community and culture and what kind of events are available. Obviously if you go to a club/event with very little play equipment or space, there's not much you can do. Many younger folk just don't have the playing experience yet, or can't afford a wide selection of "toys", or don't feel comfortable enough yet to play/scene in public. Yet, they have an intense interest when they do see it, as they can observe and learn from it, and maybe feel more comfortable about it about it at a later date.
I no longer take it for granted when I see people wearing a collar here in public (at a club or on the streets), as they are probably just wearing it for fashion reasons. Also, I've seen some subs even wear one to "advertise" their submissiveness at crowded events, possibly with an open lock to show they are available. I've even seen Dominants wear some sort of studded/spiked collar or neckpiece, so it is no longer a clear indicator as it might have been in years past. I also no longer assume that just because someone is wearing a flogger or whip on their belt that they know or are qualified to use it properly. I try not to make any assumptions, because the influx of relatively new people into the scene, either from the fetish/fashion/goth/club goers or the Net, means that many of the old standards are no longer as easily applicable. But then again, I'm pickier than most when it comes to socializing or playing with strangers in a club... but to each their own.
Just my 2¢ worth...
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~ Mistress Jade Dragon
HeadMistress - FemDomme Society of Canada: http://FemDommeSociety.ca
Montreal BDSM/Fetish Calendar of events: http://ClubFetish.ca/calendar
Blog - Adventures of a HeadMistress - http://femdommesociety.ca/HeadMistress_Jade
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