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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 3:20:55 AM   
RCdc


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quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious
Badges are still very useful, but people tend not to need a class in how to wear a badge


Bah to badges... they should all be given one of these...



Retro ROCKS!


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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 3:54:30 AM   
VaguelyCurious


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Status: offline 		But then everybody would think they were mice!

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 3:59:33 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
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quote:

What do you expect from DMs in a public play space?


Discretion, diplomancy, authority and accountability.

quote:

What kind of training do you hope that they have?


First Aid.
Diplomacy.

quote:

What points would you like to see covered in training a DM?


First Aid. In the UK it's pretty easy to get on a basic course and I wouldn't like to see anyone with the badge without the most basic. I don't like the idea that only a couple of the DMs have it, I would want them to all have it.

Drug recognition skills. When I worked behind a pub bar, even we had that. Some people don't have the first idea what a drug looks like, let alone what to look out for in a person intoxicated or high on anything.

And a police check.

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 4:00:38 AM   
RCdc


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quote:

ORIGINAL: VaguelyCurious

But then everybody would think they were mice!



Yes.
But really clever mice.

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 5:01:03 AM   
allthatjaz


Posts: 2878
Joined: 8/20/2008
Status: offline 		Amongst our DM staff we had a paramedic and a nurse. Neither had a first aid certificate and neither wanted to declare to the BDSM scene what their jobs were. I was especially glad to have a paramedic on our team but he was not allowed to wear a first aid badge. To of done the course it would of cost a minimum of £80 but because DM staff were voluntary except for expenses, we couldn't rely on them hanging around long enough to warrant paying for each one of them to go on a course like this. In the 3 years of running the club we only had a medical situation once and that was an emergency that I don't believe a first aider would of coped with well. Our DM paramedic saved the day on that occasion. We always had radios so if someone was needed they could be there in seconds.

I think you have to train your DM's about drugs. The clubs in the UK circulated pictures of known drug dealers and trouble makers who frequent the scene. They should never get through the door but sometimes the door girls can mistakenly let someone slip in!

I agree with the person who mentioned about interupting a scene to either curb it down or check everything is ok. Being able to do this in an inobtrusive way is important.
They have to be assertive on occasion too. Wanky men were firmly told that they were being watched and if it happened again they were unceremoniously removed.
People who didn't bother to clean equipment after use were politely approached and so were people who sat on the dungeon furniture.
When a club gets in full swing that's when a DM really has his/her work cut out and its important now that they remain polite but don't get involved in lengthy conversations with people.
We also trained our DM's how to handle a police presence which unfortunately is a frequent thing in London clubs. Another good reason for radios because we would know the moment they walked through the door. The DM's would then quietly let players know that police were in the building and could they stop play until they were informed otherwise.
We always had a head DM who oversaw what the other DM's were up to and always made sure they were not left at a certain post long enough to get bored and that they had, had a drink and a break.

Edited to say... I think another important thing is for the more sadistic players amongst us. Some scenes frighten some people and that's when the voyeurs will all go and look for a DM. If DM's can become familiar with the big sceners and suggest that if they want them around when they start a scene so that they can reassure the voyeurs. The heavy sceners usually appreciate this because they feel their scene is being protected.






< Message edited by allthatjaz -- 2/2/2011 5:13:50 AM >

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 5:17:02 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
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quote:

ORIGINAL: allthatjaz

Amongst our DM staff we had a paramedic and a nurse. Neither had a first aid certificate and neither wanted to declare to the BDSM scene what their jobs were. I was especially glad to have a paramedic on our team but he was not allowed to wear a first aid badge. To of done the course it would of cost a minimum of £80 but because DM staff were voluntary except for expenses, we couldn't rely on them hanging around long enough to warrant paying for each one of them to go on a course like this. In the 3 years of running the club we only had a medical situation once and that was an emergency that I don't believe a first aider would of coped with well. Our DM paramedic saved the day on that occasion. We always had radios so if someone was needed they could be there in seconds.



Someone with the history of a paramedic and any rules surrounding that, I can understand.
For someone who is volunteering... why don't they pay the costs? I never understand that kind of thing - if you volunteer for something, don't doing by half and if they can't cut the mustard and cope with an emergency, then they shouldn't be given that kind of authority.

I don't believe that there will be that many medical emergencies to be honest, but it's something that keeps punters minds at ease.

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 6:21:29 AM   
allthatjaz


Posts: 2878
Joined: 8/20/2008
Status: offline 		If we had first aiders or paramedics approaching us about DM work then we would choose them over someone with no certificate or medical qualification and although I have to say that most of our DMs were reliable, some were not. Hades was a big club and so needed a certain amount of DM's on the floor before the club could open. If a few DM's phoned in on the 11th hour to tell you they couldn't make it then you have to find alternatives at the last minute. This was a regular occurrence and so even if every DM I had taken on had a first aid certificate and I had advertised as much, then I would of constantly been breaking my own code by pulling in unqualified (first-aid) DM's at the last minute.


I used to work in a nightclub where fights broke out every week and every week ambulances were called. To my recollection we had one first aider and I think that is pretty normal in most regular night clubs. Not that I am saying that's right but in all the clubs I have been to that have been BDSM related, I have never once seen a drunken fight and only known of 1 person that needed first aid.
When you take on a London club your told that you need X amount of security. That is vanilla security from an independent company. Now this security under normal circumstances would be walking round a club ensuring people are behaving themselves but in a BDSM club they are clearly kept away from the customers for obvious reasons. For this reason you need your own security that is BDSM friendly on the floor and amongst that security you need first-aiders.



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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 9:06:37 AM   
darkenchantment


Posts: 39
Joined: 10/21/2005
Status: offline 		Knowing the club policy regarding use of a slave in the dungeon. I have seen a slave beaten far beyond everyone's comfort zone in a club, which was not a pleasant experience for anyone there. It can be difficult to interfere in this situation; although my personal view is that this was not suitable for a public playroom. I think a clear policy and for DM's to understand how to tactfully implement it is important.

I would second the suggestion that being good at untying knots fairly quickly is also useful; plus carrying a pair of scissors for emergencies. Being tied slowly and tight prior to a good session is generally exciting for the sub; but once it is all over, its usually best to get them out of it fairly quickly. I've seen inexperienced people take ages over this process.

And best wishes to you with your classes.

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 1:00:26 PM   
theMadWelder


Posts: 52
Joined: 11/20/2006
Status: offline 		The Dallas Mentors has a DM program

http://www.dallasmentors.com/

Also at the Sanctuary they use a red shash with DM sewn onto it so the person wearing it is very easy to recogonize.

edit: What ever the group attending, they will also staff with one of their group members as a DM.



< Message edited by theMadWelder -- 2/2/2011 1:19:34 PM >

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 3:53:36 PM   
MaamJay


Posts: 2101
Joined: 9/2/2005
Status: offline 		I think hausboy had some excellent suggestions that I would definitely add a second voice to. It is a fine line between friendly, helpful and authoritative, but it is the best option for a DM. So it is important they know the gear well, how to use it safely, to be able to warn Tops of any potential problems, and the weight loading is important. Master and I are big people and we always checked with any new piece of equipment with the owner, but not all think of that. I really like the idea of the DMs also greeting newbies and showing them around, makes them approachable, makes the newbies aware of who they can call on. If the people are new to bdsm (and not just that particular play space), the DM can offer to hover and tactfully assist if they want the help. I was once very grateful to a DM for alerting Me to a situation I'd not noticed ... I had a subby boy tied on the rack and was busy torturing his feet with a feather duster (he's very ticklish!) and the DM noticed his collar was a bit tight in the position in which he was lying. The DM simply sidled up alongside Me and whispered "You might like to check his collar" ... no one would have noticed, least not the subby ... I checked it, loosened it off ... all was well. That's the sort of DMing that really works!

Maam Jay aka violet[A]

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 4:06:41 PM   
KnightofMists


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quote:

In my opinion a DM's should be invisible until needed.



I completely agree with this....... and needed means... when the rules of the space are being violated or an individual is in Immediate Risk of Harm!

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/2/2011 4:25:57 PM   
JustStephen


Posts: 61
Joined: 4/15/2008
Status: offline 		Great question LP.

The DM is there to help with the smooth running of the space. When I want to know where the wipes and spray for the equipment are I ask a DM. when I want to do a scene a little out of the ordinary or harder that what I usually witness I will tell the DM so they don't step in. When someone tries to get in on my scene uninvited I expect the DM to notice before I do and do something about it.

What I don't expect is the DM trying to tell me I am doing it wrong!

Otherwise sure I need to be able to identify the DM easily. If they are there and wearing a badge then no problem. If they are just another punter, no badge, then they might as well not be there. In fact I would prefer they weren't there. Because that way I know I have to police my space.

If they have a little medical knowledge... well they probably know less that me so I will deal with it first... unless its me who needs help then I don't want them to do more than dial 999.

Never trusted a "first aid at work" certificate.

The real skill of a DM is blending into the background until they are needed like a good maître d', then magically appearing, dealing with whatever needs dealing with then disappearing again.

Can you teach that?

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Profile   Post #: 32
RE: Working on a new class - 2/3/2011 9:40:41 PM   
hausboy


Posts: 2360
Joined: 9/5/2010
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quote:

ORIGINAL: JustStephen

Great question LP.

The DM is there to help with the smooth running of the space. When I want to know where the wipes and spray for the equipment are I ask a DM. when I want to do a scene a little out of the ordinary or harder that what I usually witness I will tell the DM so they don't step in. When someone tries to get in on my scene uninvited I expect the DM to notice before I do and do something about it.

What I don't expect is the DM trying to tell me I am doing it wrong!

Otherwise sure I need to be able to identify the DM easily. If they are there and wearing a badge then no problem. If they are just another punter, no badge, then they might as well not be there. In fact I would prefer they weren't there. Because that way I know I have to police my space.

If they have a little medical knowledge... well they probably know less that me so I will deal with it first... unless its me who needs help then I don't want them to do more than dial 999.

Never trusted a "first aid at work" certificate.

The real skill of a DM is blending into the background until they are needed like a good maître d', then magically appearing, dealing with whatever needs dealing with then disappearing again.

Can you teach that?


Hey JustStephen

yes.....  you can teach that. (I'm quite certain LadyPact can!)   It isn't the DM's job to critique your scene or tell you what you're doing wrong....unless it violates a house rule, or is about to cause injury/harm to you or your play partners.  You'd be surprised how many DM's do have extensive medical training--I know quite a few us were/are medics/EMTs, RN's, PAs and even an MD here and there.

And by the way--medical knowledge is not a substitute for dialing 911. If anything, DM's with medical backgrounds are far more likely to call 911 than people who just have ink drying on their first aid card, many of whom can't recognize true medical emergencies beyond the obvious flesh wound.

I disagree about DM's being invisible until needed....but I think I'm disagreeing on a semantic level.  DM's should be all over the place--but be unnoticeable to those who are engaged in what they are doing.   A presence without being an intrusion or a distraction.

edited for typos


< Message edited by hausboy -- 2/3/2011 9:41:43 PM >

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RE: Working on a new class - 2/4/2011 6:39:46 PM   
CalifChick


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Joined: 10/28/2007
From: California
Status: offline 		LP, I would like to mention a couple of things.  One is that I tend to think of DMs as lifeguards, not rogue cops.  Some people, no matter how many DM classes they take, still strut around, violating personal space, just itching for a chance to jump in and stop a scene and SAVE THE DAY!

Blechh.

The other is that I think DM classes would benefit from alot of roleplay, and realistic roleplay at that.  Just telling someone to unobtrusively point something out to a player isn't enough, people need to be SHOWN how to do it.  And the roleplayers shouldn't say, "okay, pretend I'm caning him in the kidneys now" or something like that.  They need to be hitting someone in the wrong spot (which can be done safely by a fast swing stopping short, among other things).

Cali


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RE: Working on a new class - 2/5/2011 1:29:42 AM   
allthatjaz


Posts: 2878
Joined: 8/20/2008
Status: offline 		I wouldn't expect my DM's to show people how to throw a flogger. If someone really wanted to know how to do things then that would be the job of the Dungeon Master or Dungeon Mistress.

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