May, 2009
This month is a very busy one for me. We recently returned from Seattle, where Michele had four pieces in the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival, a.k.a. SEAF (she sold one). I also participated in two performances for Monk's "Bindings Project" (three nights, four hours a night, fifteen performers, total insanity -- scroll down the blog to the entries about the project). I'm on the "Power Bottoms" panel on Wednesday the 20th. And I'll top-off the month with Rope Dojo® on Saturday and Sunday, the 23rd and 24th. Whew!
So, the whole "power bottom" thing is a bit curious to me. I mean, I don't think of myself as a bottom who makes people feel uncomfortable. I understand bottoming in a position of strength -- that's one of the things I'm all about. But being a bottom who scares people? Not so much. I was on this panel two years ago and I thought it was interesting to converse with three other people about where we all come from as bottoms and what about our play we thought could be intimidating. I think I was at the low end of that "scary bottom" spectrum. I think I'm more intimidating because I have boundaries and have no qualms about telling people what I think. I have lines I won't cross because I have protecting my emotinal and physical safety as my first order of business. It'll be interesting to see where this new panel stands on the questions the moderator will ask. I'm the only returning panel member, so I'll have to figure out how to press my own agenda
And let's face it -- I do have an agenda: to add an example of someone who tries to take care of himself with regards to his scene life, someone who has clear boundaries and still has a great time in his play. So often I think people get and perpetuate the idea that you have to throw away all caution and common sense in order to be a "real" player. Not so in my opinion. That's where I can serve as the alternative view -- which doesn't seem to get much airtime in these discussions. We'll see how it goes.
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Did I mention that I have some very interesting galleries this time around? I was on location with Michele as she shot Yin and her paramour, R, last year and I got a chance to add my rope to hers. There's also a gallery of Monk and me from the aforementioned Bindings Project. I also have more words on Kaddish.
More next time.
Namaste,
