Continuing Education

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HollyS -> Continuing Education (6/20/2006 9:17:13 AM)
Last year at this time I attended Servant's Retreat - a weekend-long small group seminar held with other bottoms, submissives and slaves which I found extremely worthwhile. I've a friend who is speaking at TESFest and just got back from presenting at Camp Crucible. Another list where I participate is full of people reporting on South Plains Leather Fest, South East Leather Fest, and a whole host of other big events where playtime often comes after a wide variety of information sessions covering a million different topics. I'd be interested to hear from those of you who've ever taken a class, either for tops or bottoms, and what you thought of it. What did you find most useful? Have you been able to use the information since coming back from the event? For tops, have you ever sent your bottom to classes to learn more skills to further his or her service? What presenters do you like best or what regular presentations do you recommend to other people? ~Holly

LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 9:27:32 AM)
While I've never been in a specific weekend/formal training session like the ones offered (money or logistics never worked out) I'd be curious to attend one at least once to see perspectives. However, I constantly attend weekly workshops and conventions which give courses throughout the time. I think what matters is that the presenter knows the topic, knows how to PRESENT the topic (the two are very different skills) and that you leave with more motivations and questions about yourself than you entered with. I remember I went to a class on humiliation by Princess Kali and it was specifically for females only. One male master tried to attend with his two female slaves and she politely insisted that he leave. He had to take the two slaves with him, which I thought was sad. I see this happen all the time- couples and families who have to attend classes all together. WHile there's merit in that, I'd like to see people separating on their own and combining what they've learned. I recommend Edge, Lolita, Bridgett Harrigton, Phantom and femcar, Catherine Gross, Neptune, Raven Kaldera and Jonathon, Princess Kali, Glenda Rider, and I'm sure there are some others. Most of these are East Coast based, but travel all the time and are actively open to present.

Emperor1956 -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 9:55:29 AM)
I have attended many classes at various gatherings over the years, both conference type programs and local "munch" and similar presentations. The standout presenter is Midori, who I think is one of the best teachers and ambassadors of WIIWD I've ever seen. If you ever have a chance to take a class from her, do it! I also have heard from sources I consider very reliable that Catherine Gross is a very good teacher and facilitator. The late Phillip Miller was a great teacher, and also personally a good friend. Shortly after he and molly wrote "Screw the Roses" I was privileged to accompany them on one leg of a short speaking tour in the Midwest. I have rarely seen someone who could "capture" an audience and both amuse and teach the way Phil could. (And let me tell you as someone who speaks professionally -- our community makes for tough audiences!) I miss him to this day, and very often I think of how we lost a great educator and mentor. And amen to LA's comment about the ability to present being separate from the ability to do B/D/S/M. Great teachers are much more than great Doms or subs. -E

enthralled -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 9:55:59 AM)
I've attended workshops, classes, participated in presentations, and had formal training and have taken something from all of them! Just to name a few in case you ever have the opportunity..... Barton of LC (fireplay), PantherProwls (the Bay area-impact play), JD (The Tribe in Atlanta- whips), Master Jim & slave Marsha (TX- M/s lifestyle), Viola Johnson (slavery & vampirism), Mistress Suzan and slave ziggy (Master/slave 2006) .... I think you would enjoy seeing any of these people present or attending one of their workshops! Though I've had the opportunity and pleasure of being involved publicly in the community, I've found that sometimes just being still long enough to listen teaches me more than I ever imagined I could learn. ~enthralled

enthralled -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 9:57:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Emperor1956 I have attended several classes at various gatherings. The standout presenter is Midori, who I think is one of the best teachers and ambassadors of WIIWD I've ever seen. If you ever have a chance to take a class from her, do it! I also have heard from sources I consider very reliable that Catharine Gross is a very good teacher and facilitator. And amen to LA's comment about the ability to present being separate from the ability to do B/D/S/M. Great teachers are much more than great Doms or subs. -E OMG yes! ... and Midori ... how could I forget that one!!!!! [&:]

wild1cfl -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 10:03:05 AM)
For me Midori was one of the best. She has a presence about her that she does not need to be overbearing or throw her wieght around to show who she is. She is very quiet and unassuming yet you can tell in her voice that she commands respect. There was another presenter that I enjoyed many years ago, but unfortunately I did not get his name. He was presenting at the Orlando Power Exchange annual bash. His presentations included knife play and interrogation techniques. My wife went to the knife play class as that is something that she loves, adn we both went to the interrogaton class. he knows what he is doing as he worked for the government in interogation in South America. We learned a great deal from him and have used many of his techniques in our interrogation roleplays.

thetammyjo -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 10:04:49 AM)
I've been to many, many workshops and classes and given quite a few myself. These varied from small group (Headspace, CV) events to large groups (TES) to conventions that covered multiple states or even entire regions of the USA. I find the best classes try to get the audience involved in some fashion and don't preach a one-way to do things while being very open about their own experiences as examples of how things can be done. Actually everyone in my household has attended and led workshops or given lectures at these same events. Sometimes with me, sometimes alone. We are very much a household that believes in learning from others, sharing experiences, and spreading information.

HollyS -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 10:23:20 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross I recommend Edge, Lolita, Bridgett Harrigton, Phantom and femcar, Catherine Gross, Neptune, Raven Kaldera and Jonathon, Princess Kali, Glenda Rider, and I'm sure there are some others. Yes, Servant's Retreat is one of Catherine Gross's seminars and I totally agree with you and E -- she is a marvelous presenter as well as highly knowledgeable about topics for both tops and bottoms. She's got a new day class called The Nine Fold Path that I would like to check out the next time she's through this way. quote: I think what matters is that the presenter knows the topic, knows how to PRESENT the topic (the two are very different skills) and that you leave with more motivations and questions about yourself than you entered with. This is the essence of a successful presentation - thank you for putting it out there. Besides Catherine, I would recommend Fifth Angel's classes for very heavy edge players as well as those into medical S/m. Laura Antoniou's speeches are pretty entertaining, though I've never been to one of her classes. Skip Chasey (leather spirituality; D/s and S/m relationship dynamics), Mercedes (formal and personal service), Guy Baldwin, and Master Jim with slave marsha are all fabulous presenters who put on great seminars. All of these people travel as well and have done local group classes as well as larger presentations at big conferences. ~Holly

scratchingpost -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 10:56:01 AM)
Where would I find out about some of these seminars and classes offered? I would LOVE to see Laura Antoniou...

BitaTruble -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 11:07:47 AM)
I've been fortunate to attend a number of workshops and classes and the one which stands out above all others in my mind is Fakir Musofar. He's simply an incredible person and I adore his passion for his subjects. I'd highly recommend either a branding or piercing class if he's the one who's teaching. Celeste PS: His partner Cleo DuBois is also yummy. ;)

enthralled -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 11:18:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BitaTruble I've been fortunate to attend a number of workshops and classes and the one which stands out above all others in my mind is Fakir Musofar. He's simply an incredible person and I adore his passion for his subjects. I'd highly recommend either a branding or piercing class if he's the one who's teaching. Celeste PS: His partner Cleo DuBois is also yummy. ;) pouts As Fakir Musafar was one of my idols, sadly He gave his last public presentation back in February I think it was .... I would've loved to have attended a seminar by him! ~enthralled

BitaTruble -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 11:33:26 AM)
quote: pouts As Fakir Musafar was one of my idols, sadly He gave his last public presentation back in February I think it was .... I would've loved to have attended a seminar by him! ~enthralled I didn't know he retired from public presentation. He's so adorable. I'm sorry you didn't get the chance to attend one of his shops or classes. The man's got a twinkle in his eye that just never quits. He is a truly 'gentle' man. I admit to having a bit of a crush on him.. or hero worship, something. ::laughs:: Celeste

Emperor1956 -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 12:35:30 PM)
quote: pouts As Fakir Musafar was one of my idols, sadly He gave his last public presentation back in February I think it was .... I would've loved to have attended a seminar by him! ~enthralled Last I knew, he was alive and piercing! He gave a public piercing demonstration in San Fran in May, and per his website, he's still available for presentations/talks/demos. Do you realize that Fakir was born in 1930? That is REALLY humbling. E.

enthralled -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 12:42:26 PM)
Oh wow ... someone from California had told me that he had given his last public presentation ... a kind of 'retirement' so to speak but hey! .. that means maybe I can still get out there before it DOES happen! I'd love to have him do some scarification on me ... and I think I have a couple places left to pierce! ... lol [;)] ~enthralled

JohnWarren -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 12:45:52 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: enthralled Oh wow ... someone from California had told me that he had given his last public presentation ... a kind of 'retirement' so to speak but hey! .. that means maybe I can still get out there before it DOES happen! I'd love to have him do some scarification on me ... and I think I have a couple places left to pierce! ... lol [;)] ~enthralled A number of us old timers are going into retirement. When I announced mine this year, Janet Hardy wrote me and said that she planned to stop traveling and giving presentations in a year or so. It's a hard life. I only know a few people who come away from a demo with more money than they went into it. Sure the sponsor pays air fare and the hotel but often we find ourselves picking up hundreds of dollars in additional expenses from things like meals and airport parking. Besides there's a whole new crop of presenters coming up. Time to give them their "time in the barrel." Libby and I may be making a few presentations in Seattle next year, but that's because Angel is a dear friend of many years.

Sensualips -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 12:54:09 PM)
I have not seen any big names as you all have mentioned, but have attended quite a few local area demos and classes. I am planning to see Midori in August though. It is sort of a bummer because Kansas has few big names and somehow Midori and Jay Wisemen/John Pendal have been scheduled opposite of each other -- but three hours apart. Grrrr. I also missed John Warren when he was in OKC. Double grrr. I agree that knowing how to present effectively is very different from just being skilled or knowledgable in a subject area. The best presentations I have seen were on take down / rape play and breath play. Both were done by the same Dom and he incorporated some lecture/speaking, some audience interaction, and some scene/demo. The demos were full on and very dramatic, yet it was also easy to see many of the things that had just been taught or discussed.

MistressOfGa -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 1:06:35 PM)
I have also been fortunate to attend many workshops. I love the ones that are very relaxed and offer audience participation. I didn't know much about the wand until I actually got to attend a class on it. I would love to own one now. So to answer your question, yes I have come home and used what I had learned at the workshop. I try to attend as many as possible, but like LA said, logistics and money play a big part in my attendence. John Warren, I would love to attend one of your presentations. I hope I get the chance to do so before you retire.

thetammyjo -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 1:28:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: JohnWarren A number of us old timers are going into retirement. When I announced mine this year, Janet Hardy wrote me and said that she planned to stop traveling and giving presentations in a year or so. It's a hard life. I only know a few people who come away from a demo with more money than they went into it. Sure the sponsor pays air fare and the hotel but often we find ourselves picking up hundreds of dollars in additional expenses from things like meals and airport parking. Besides there's a whole new crop of presenters coming up. Time to give them their "time in the barrel." Libby and I may be making a few presentations in Seattle next year, but that's because Angel is a dear friend of many years. The money issue is like that huge monster in the room no one wants to talk about. Most sponsors don't cover travel expenses or hotel for the vast majority of their presenters -- you just get free admission to the conference. I can only afford to go to local things or things that KinkyBooks picks up the cost for -- I make it up for them in the bookstore though cause apparently me and my smiling face and advice double book sales they've determined.

Jnj -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 1:30:04 PM)
We recently had Jack Mcgeorge at Galleria Domain, and the feedback from our membership was wonderful. He was well spoken and concise, and a week later, I am still mulling over things he said. Others on my must see list would be Guy Baldwin, Jack Rinella, Mark B, Master Jim & slave marsha, Lew Ruebens.

HollyS -> RE: Continuing Education (6/20/2006 2:46:02 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: scratchingpost Where would I find out about some of these seminars and classes offered? I would LOVE to see Laura Antoniou... Hi scratchingpost, I know Laura's going to be the keynote speaker at Great Lakes Leather Alliance in Indianapolis this August. Check out http://greatlakesleather.org/web/2004.html for more info about her presentation as well as all the other great speakers at this event. I know Mistress Susan and slave ziggy will be there as well as Master Skip Chasey and his slave. It looks like a good conference if you're in the Midwest and want to hear some good speakers. ~Holly

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