Nina Hartley 

I came of age during the last time sex was considered to be, overall, more positive than negative. The 70s were not just about lame politics and stupid clothing fashion, but also about thinking in new ways about sex, gender, culture and empowerment. The idea that women could take control over their own pleasure, and should communicate what they needed to their partners, was only one important idea that came of age then. For me, sex has been my vocation, my meal ticket, my path to happiness and self-understanding. It is my meditation and communion with Ernest (my husband.) My interest in sex is unabated by all that I've had: I'm always interested in it: watching it, doing it, helping others do it better, listening to others have it, lending a helping hand (quick, more lube!). Since it is a body-based activity, the good that comes from it lasts and lasts and affects other parts of my life. There is always something to learn about oneself through sex, even less-than-satisfying sex. I don't have bad sex any more, ever. By making conscious sexuality my mantra, I always get the most out of every sexual experience, whether a friendly hand job in Helsinki or getting it up the butt from Ernest. What is important for both Ernest and me is living a full, authentic life. Ernest and I both value the life fully lived, and examined carefully. We both needed to live a life where our interest in sexuality was an asset, not a liability.

::Cocksucking 101
Nina brings her considerable experience with this most basic of sexual skills to bear on this fun and explicit workshop. Learn basic anatomy and phisiology, to help you to be a better cocksucker. Learn tips for performing fellatio from either the dominant the submissive role. While my demo model is going to be a hot butch boi, if there is any brave and exhibitionistic bio-boy who thinks he can do it, there's a place for a real penis in this workshop! All genders welcome.

::Strap-on Sex
Learn the basics of hot, effective strapon sex from one of the best in the business. An enthusiastic practitoner in her private life, adult video star Nina Hartley shares what she knows with you. From how to pick the right harness and toy to methods for maximum pleasure for both participants, she'll tell you all she knows.

Master Skip  

Skip Chasey (a/k/a Master Skip) heads a family of spiritually grounded leatherfolk in the City of Angels, where he is a practicing spiritual director and certified Grief Recovery(TM) counselor and also earns a living as a missionary among the savages of Hollywood. He is a co-owner of the Southwest Leather Conference, a core instructor for the APEX Academy/Butchmanns Experience, and a co-founder of People of Leather Among You ("PLAY"), a social and educational group for Southern California men and women interested in the integration of spirituality and leather/fetish sexuality. In 2000 Master Skip addressed a crowd of almost one million people as an openly gay, Christian, leatherman at the Millennium March on Washington, and since then has given the keynote address and presented programs on the spiritual dynamics of BDSM at dozens of leather events and organizations across the country. He is a past recipient of the Lee Montague Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service from Avatar Club Los Angeles (where he is an active member), was named "Best Trainer" at the 2002 International Puppy Contest (WOOF!), and in 2005 was honored with the Pantheon of Leather Community Choice Award. According to Master Skip, "Blood may be thicker than water, but leather is thicker than blood."

:: Symbolism and Meaning: A Deeper Understanding of D/s Relationships
Whether it's Master/Mistress and slave, Daddy and boy/boi, Dom and sub or any other D/s relationship, many of the expectations and desires of the participants often go unmet. Why is it that most of our kinky couplings end after a relatively short amount of time? Is it only our sexual appetites that drive us to enter into these relationships, or is there a deeper longing at play? Join Master Skip as he explores the archetypal nature of D/s relationships and facilitates a discussion of ways to sustain and deepen these relationships when the honeymoon is over.

:: Cathartic Flogging: Merging the Erotic and the Ecstatic
Webster's defines catharsis as "an emotional purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal." Catharsis provides release from tension, an increased feeling of aliveness, and can even serve as a catalyst for spiritual enlightenment. Through catharsis one can experience bliss. Provided that the proper intention, focus and egoic surrender are in place, the mindful use of a flogger provides an excellent opportunity for catharsis for both the Dom and the sub. Come discover the simple message of the flogger, and how that message can transform youbody, mind and spirit! Note: This is not a workshop on flogging technique, but rather on how to use this powerful SM practice to facilitate catharsis. 

slave Rick  

slave Rick has presented programs on the spiritual dynamics of BDSM at Together in Leather, Folsom Fringe, SC-LOCK, Desert Dominion, Arizona Power Exchange, Pantheon West, Lair de Sade, PLAY, the Southwest Leather Conference, the Northeast Master/slave Conference, South Plains Leatherfest and the Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association of Southern California. he is a full-time civil servant, a part-time college instructor, a massage therapist, a retired Science of Mind practitioner and a licensed psychotherapist. First and foremost, however, he is by grace in service to his beloved Master.

:: Submission, Seduction & Surrender: Spiritual Awakening in M/s Relationships
The D/s dynamic in most Master/slave relationships is typically focused on control and direction of the slave's behavior. D/s can, however, also be a spiritual journey in which the slave progresses from bodily submission, through mental seduction, and ultimately to a blissful surrender of ego in an alignment of will and Spirit. Join slave Rick on this "road less traveled" as he examines how, in this awakening process, the slave's experience is transformed from one of lust and getting his/her needs met to one of unconditional love and devotion. 

Master Jim and slave marsha  

Master Jim
Master Jim, International Master 2001, is a leatherman who has been involved in BDSM for over 15 years. He presents seminars and weekend programs on Master/slave relationships across the U.S. and Canada. Master Jim is one of the owners of South Plains Leatherfest-International Master/slave Weekend (www.southplainsleatherfest.com), and he writes about Master/slave relationships at his website, edgeliving.blogspot.com. Master Jim identifies sexually as a gay leatherman; however, he is comfortable being served by persons of other genders or sexual orientations. He is the owner of a female slave, slave marsha, who has been in service to him for over 8 years. When he isn't teaching about the Master/slave dynamic, Master Jim can be found riding his 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King.

slave marsha
slave marsha, International slave 2001, is a femme leatherdyke who has been involved in BDSM for nearly 10 years and has been in service to Master Jim of Dallas for over 8 years. She frequently assists Master Jim in presenting seminars on Master/slave relationships across the U.S. and Canada. slave marsha is a co-owner of South Plains Leatherfest-International Master/slave Weekend (www.southplainsleatherfest.com). slave marsha identifies sexually as a femme leatherdyke, however, her desire to serve transcends sexual orientation, making it possible for her to happily serve Master Jim, a gay leatherman. She is grateful that Master Jim also allows her to have a committed butch-femme relationship with Cougar, a butch leatherdyke. One of slave marsha's favorite forms of service is riding her 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe with Master Jim while singing "Born to be Wild."

:: Where You Go, I Will Follow: The Central Role of Obedience in Master/slave Relationships
At the core of Master/slave relationships is the promise by a slave that he or she will obey, that his or her will, heart and spirit will align with the Master’s. But what does that mean? Is external obedience sufficient? How can a slave develop a heart that longs to obey? And what happens when the vow to obey conflicts with what the slave believes is “right?” “Where You Go, I Will Follow” explores these issues and more that surround the concept of obedience and that impact Master/slave relationships in everyday living.

::That’s One, Sir, Thank You Sir!: The Role of Correction, Punishment and Penance in M/s Relationships
“Spank me, Sir – i’ve been bad!” – how often have we heard this, or something like it, at a dungeon party? But what about real punishment in the context of a Master/slave relationship – punishment that is not for fun or erotic sensation, but is designed to strengthen both the slave and the Master? In this seminar, Master Jim and slave marsha address the role of punishment and the related, but different, concepts of correction and penance as tools for growing and developing a Master/slave relationship.

Sheryl Dee  

Sheryl Dee, American Leatherwoman 2003 is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been active in the lifestyle since 1993. She has presented workshops on submission, slavery and service as well as Master/slave relationships and the D/s lifestyle. She serves as secretary of the board of directors for Leather Leadership Conference, Inc. and is a co-producer of American Brotherhood Weekend. She has been honored with awards including Pantheon of Leather Community Choice Woman of the Year as well as SouthWest Leather Conference Leather Heart Award.

Sheryl is credited with being one of the founders of the Leather Girl Movement, is the founder and owner of the Leather Girl Network, and the creator of the Leather Girl Pride Flag.

To Sheryl being a slave is much more than what she does, it is who she is. It is while serving she is able to fly free and express all of who she is. She views submission and slavery as journeys that not only come from the heart, but lead to it. It is within, from and because of these journeys that she is Ms. Elle Sachs' loving slave.

::Degrees of Power – Degrees of Freedom
A Journey to Self We in the leather community have extensive experience learning and exploring our physical selves. We learn our limits and then push them. We have amazing communication skills when it comes to negotiating SM play and other aspects of our lives in the physical realm. Dominance and submission moves us beyond the physical into the emotional, psychological and spiritual. Many of us find it difficult to negotiate D/s scenes, play and relationships as we have spent less time learning about our internal selves. In this workshop we will talk about personal traits, what draws us to Dominance and submission, and what we are looking for in our relationships. We will also discuss possible ways to consider partnering. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to examine themselves, their needs, wants, desires, strengths and weaknesses as Dominants and submissives.

::Dominance and submission? Mastery and slavery? A Service Fetish?
We all try to find our "place". As we first find our way into this lifestyle we often ask ourselves, "Where do I fit?". It is human nature to try to make things simple and dichotomies tend to be the easiest. We try to decide if we are a Top or a bottom, a Dominant or a submissive, a Master or a slave. Of course within the leather community there are many of us who do not fit into one of the boxes. We tend to be a "paint outside the lines" kind of people. Is it possible to enjoy performing service and not be a slave or submissive? What if you want someone to serve you for a short time, but the commitment or long term responsibility of being a Master or a Dominant feels more like a burden than a part of what drives you? Service is a viable, fun, sensual fetish. In this workshop we will talk about the differences between D/s and M/s as well as explore Service as a Fetish rather than a lifestyle. Participants will be encouraged to explore their own stereotypes, some community myths to learn more about themselves and each other.

Bridgett Harrington  

Bridgett Harrington is a fetishist, photographer, erotic educator, Dominatrix, bondage model and artist, and tech geek, and in general is far too busy for her own good. Her two websites, RopeLover.com and BlackBookArt.com, are her most active projects, and being a pervert who has been part of the SM community for over 10 years everywhere from Seattle to London, England, keeps her hands full as well. As an adult film actress she has appeared on over 100 websites and a multitude of videos and magazines, and though the road keeps calling her away to teach, shoot images and model, she continues to call Portland, Oregon... Home.

:: Introduction to Asian Aesthetic Bondage (hands-on)
Japanese Bondage (known as Shibari, NawaShibari or Kinbaku) is a tradition with a history combining art, martial arts, meditation, torture, and erotic passion. However, this class is about getting to the meat of the matter- learning the few basic ties that will get you started and actually USING Shibari today. We will cover single and double column ties, chest harnesses, crotch ropes, and learning to think creatively about combining these key elements in your play.

:: Taking the Lead: Pony, Puppy and Beast Owning/Training (discussion with hands-on)
The freedom of becoming something greater than human is a call for many- the desire to be a noble human equine, a happy puppy dog, an oily pig in a pen, a lazy cat that gets fed, petted and... but what about those of us who have to take care of these "Creatures"? How do we best see to their needs, help them truly live their fantasies out, create the perfect scenes and live for them- and still get what we want out of being human pet owners? We will discuss the psychology of human pets and pet owning, practicalities of dealing with bodily functions and the desire to fuck our "pets" without messing up their head space, shopping for our ponies and puppies, and then have some general play time to interact with the pets we may have brought with us today. This is a great class for folks who are just curious about being a human "creature" as well- get your whinnies heard by your owners!

FifthAngel  

A martial artist, critical care nurse, and all-around sexual sadist, FifthAngel extracts various elements from his extensive background in martial arts, weapons and firearms training to help create some of the most emotionally and mentally challenging scenes known to BDSM. Adding the title of author to his hobbies, he has written his first BDSM book, "The Finer Points of Pain and Pleasure," on the subject of pressure points. Branded for playing on the edge, FifthAngel at times demonstrates sexual sadism in its purest sense - a sexual sadist does not enjoy seeing the bottom orgasm from pain. Rather, a sexual sadist is happy seeing the bottom NOT getting pleasure from the emotional or physical pain they are experiencing. Many are cheerful to know he is not a sexual sadist all the time, while others dispute that he has ever actually been nice in a scene. With a goal to educate others to deepen their emotional experiences through BDSM and rites of passage, he has expanded his teachings and demonstrations to include spiritual piercing and flesh hooks. FifthAngel remains an equal opportunity sadist and is always happy to work with volunteers among workshop attendees. An edge player in all aspects of his life he enjoys vertical rock and ice climbing as well as high altitude mountaineering. His personal quest is to place the leather pride flag on top of the various state high points as he travels the country teaching. He is a proud member and supporter of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (www.ncsfreedom.org). When not dangling by a rope off the side of a mountain or tormenting consenting bottoms, FifthAngel resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his 24x7 slave leslie. He is the founder and director of the local chapter of Masters And slaves Together (MAsT: Jacksonville).

:: The Finer Points of Pain and Pleasure
Dating back thousands of years, pressure points have been used as a means of healing as well as preventing illness. In the world of SM, pressure points have many other interesting applications. They can be used to inflict pain ranging from mild discomfort to blinding agony -- giving us that treasured "oh, just kill me and get it over with" reaction. At the other end of the spectrum, pressure points can be used for intense sensual play and can even create orgasms without direct genital stimulation. A seemingly effortless method of inflicting pain and sensation, the only toys needed are your body, mind and spirit. Thanks to the subtlety and portability of this play, it works great in public -- nobody else will ever realize why your partner is turning red and squirming so much. As always, FifthAngel will be happy to provide hands-on instruction to volunteers from the workshop attendees.

:: Flesh Hooks & Fetish Needles
From the earliest cultures to modern times, piercing the body has been used as a means of decoration, showing wealth, marking rites of passage, body modification or induction into the "spirit world." In this practical demonstration, you will see the more extreme side of SM piercing, which will include facial piercing, hooks that can be used for bondage and suspension, as well as 6" hubless needles. Size does matter and we will be using 12 gauge to 8 gauge needles and hooks. As usual, FifthAngel will use volunteers from the attendees. Due to the nature of this class, you must contact him prior to the event if you wish to help. 

Jack Rinella 

The acclaimed author of the best-selling book, The Master's Manual, as well as The Compleat Slave, Partners in Power, and the newly-published Becoming a Slave, Jack Rinella is a free-lance writer, college instructor, and sought-after lecturer. He has been active in the Leather scene since 1983, is a founding member of MAsT-Chicago, an associate member of the Chicago Hellfire Club, and has written extensively about our lifestyle as a weekly columnist.

::An Historical Perspective of Kinky Sex
We have an extensive, if hidden and often forgotten, History. There is more to the idea of the “Old Guard” than we think. This slide show / seminar will talk about our past and what it tells us about our present and our future. We will debunk myths and legends so that we are free to create a community as lively and exciting as the ones that created our present lifestyle. This workshop may run a little late.

::Bedroom Play
What do Leatherfolk do when there’s no DM to monitor their play. This is about activities on the edge. Not for the faint-hearted we will discuss sex, anal/oral play, extreme bondage, CBT, humiliation, and the darker sides of what we do.

Betka Schpitz 

Betka Schpitz is a lifestyle and professional pervert with over ten years experience playing with women, men and couples of both genders. She is an educator, writer, and connoisseur in the kinky arts of BDSM. She also owns Portland's favorite pervy haven, Venom Studios. (http://www.studiovenom.com) Venom is used by the entire pansexual community for play parties, educational workshops, private play, art shows, rituals, collaring ceremonies, photo shoots, video shoots, weekend getaways, and any anything else you can dream up for a 3,500 sq ft adult playground. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! The combination of running a dungeon, fetish modeling, owning a fetish boutique, and being a professional Dominatrix have left Betka a very, very naughty lady. Her kinky interests are wide ranging and ever evolving, they include everything from heavy bondage and rubber to blood sport and electricity. Both in and out of scene she has a wicked sense of humor, a true love of kink, and a hunger for the bizarre.

::Cunt Torture!
Lets face it: Pussies are pretty. We all can agree on this. A pussy in pain though? That, is beautiful. This class is going to cover as much cunt as possible. We are going to start at the beginning with preparation and safety, then work our way up to fisting. ( So to speak!)Slave kitten will be Betka's demo bottom for what should prove to be a very sexy demonstration, not for the faint at heart. Class will cover clips, pumping, chemicals, electricity, needle work, stapling, vibrators, percussion, bondage, stretching, fisting, light medical and so much more!

Trooper Frank 

Trooper Frank is a 28 year veteran police officer, who has performed his duties in some highly specialized units during his career. As an expert on human behavior by virtue of his Masters Degree in Human Relations and Clinical Counseling, he has learned even more as a field officer, instructor and trainer. Being certified as a "Deception Detection" expert, Trooper has been present at polygraphings, interviews, and of course, interrogations. Having performed interrogations as the primary or lead officer, he is trained in the art of seeking information, utilizing both the psychological as well as physical aspects that a subject brings to the event.

::Interrogation
Over the years, interrogation has earned a "bad rap" from the public and amnesty groups alike, given the sensationalistic manner in which interrogations are sometimes reported. However, as we in the kink, leather and BDSM community know all too well, what happens what happens between two or more consenting adults is of no concern to others. Interrogation is an art, first and foremost. It has a scientific background based in psychology and physiology, which are the easier pieces to learn by lay persons. It is the "artful" part that takes time, modeling, repetition, and of course- confidence. Like most activities in our community, the person "in charge" must relay without any doubt, that they are in charge, skilled and trustworthy before any subject will successfully assume the headspace needed for a positive session. Confidence is a function of one's personality, self-esteem and comprehension of the skills in any kink activity.

That being said, do not allow this to deter you from trying your hand at interrogation. It has become increasingly sought after by both men and women as a very aggressive, hot and bonding experience. More so, it teaches the subject being interrogated that they can survive and withstand the grueling process that takes place, and as such, come out the other side much stronger and confident to continue expanding their repertoire with you.

The workshop given here will not be long enough in time to adequately make the participants "experts", but will provide a springboard from which further investigation and experiences can be sought.

Topics to be covered will include the Three D's of Interrogation, Environment, Physical tactics, Psychological tactics, and the parameters of safety with concern to physical restraint, torture and psychological overload of the subject.

A live demonstration is planned to help illustrate these areas.

Tank Girl 

::Singal Whips: A Primer for the Future
Are you thinking about buying your first signal whip, but have no idea what to look for? Do you wonder where it should be bought? Or have you already bought one and are now trying to figure out how to use it and care for it? If you're asking these questions, then this workshop is for you. Join Tank Girl to learn what to look for in a good signal whip, who to buy from, how to take care of it, how to use it, and most importantly, where to use it on the bottom. She'll provide handouts including the basic anatomy of a bottom's target areas, care tips, and a list of sellers (both makers and retailers). Time will be set aside for opportunities to actually throw the whip at targets so if you have a whip, bring it.