ROPE BONDAGE PEER WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION
About Rope Bondage Peer Workshops in general
*** This is the introductory text at the Yahoo! Group website***
A Rope Bondage Peer Workshop is any rope bondage workshop that is:
a) Free of charge.
IMPORTANT NOTE - due to recent changes in the licencing laws, only members are allowed to enter private clubs. It being unlikely that any of us have a home large enough to allow the workshop to continue, Ceasars have kindly introduced a £2 one day membership specifically for the event.
b) Free of authority.
The participants at the workshop are peers who are helping each other, not bosses who can tell you what to do. Of course if you offend enough people, say by breaking the photo policy, the venue may decide to kick you out, just like at a munch.
*** About our Workshop in particular ***
The members of this mailing list currently run a Rope Bondage Peer Workshop once every three months (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct), on the 3rd Sunday of the month (the same day as the BBB), from 5pm to 9pm at Caesar's near Coventry.
It is not a disco. It is not a commercial event where people are paid to do stuff for you. It is not a club. It is not a munch or social meeting where it is ok to just chat and watch. It is a workshop. That means it is a hands on class, where the aim is for everyone to spend as much time as possible using rope: either being tied, doing the tying or teaching.
Floor space and time on equipment is a scarce resource. The whole event is only 4 hours long, and there may only be 2 or three suspension frames to share between 80 people. For everyone to get the most out of the event requires everyone attending to help out, and show consideration and sense.
*** Helping out ***
This is a free event, and you get access to some of the top rope bondage experts in the UK. In return for which, it is expected that everyone will try to help out in one way or another. And that if someone shows you a tie, that you will in turn pass the teaching on when someone else wants to know, just like in a martial arts Dojo.
In particular, it is expected that everyone take on a sense of ownership of the event. There are no authoratative organisers to whom things can be left and who you have a right to expect that they will do things for you. There are only volunteers. People just like you. So if you see someone breaking the photo policy, you don't wait for some authority to do something about it for you - you speak up, because it is just as much your job as anyone else's. Likewise if you see someone lost and bewildered.
Similarly, you are also responsible for the direction in which our workshops go, and whether they remain peer workshops and whether they retain a good atmosphere and prosper. Both by the example you set when at the workshop, and by taking part in decisions when policy is discussed on the email list. There will be people out there wanting to charge entry, restrict membership, impose authority, make it part of a commercial event. Those who exchange liberty for a little comfort soon find they have neither. Beware and be active.
*** What the workshop is like ***
"we were soon surrounded by gorgeous naked men and women in rope underwear"
"I had a great time. I was tied up for the first time in my life and had photos taken in the photo area to remember the occasion.
I saw many 'name' Rope experts at the workshop working hard making it all look easy. They were teaching and tying people and demonstrating all night. Not always whole ties but the little details which make the bondage work that little bit better or showing people how to do bondage harnesses for example to work around injured shoulders and other modifications.
They were not booked to teach but given their level of skill and enjoyment from passing on their knowledge they dispensed it freely and it was warmly welcomed.
I know that they picked up new skills and knowledge between each other even at their level."
"Best of all (for me at least) was the Rope Bondage Peer workshop held at Caesars in the evening. This was the third workshop organised and i have to say was an absolutely fantastic event. In fact, if ever anyone needs a reminder of what the "scene" is supposed to be all about well this would be it!
No bitching, no bickering and not a prima-donna to be seen just a great mix of people sharing ideas, experience, knowledge and a general appreciation of the beauty of rope bondage. Encouragement and praise was the order of the day and everyone happy to lend a hand be it advice, ideas or muscle (mainly in lifting various people into and out of some truely inspirational suspension creations).
There was one point in the night where literally everywhere i looked there was someone either being tied into or running around already in some kind of rope-work. Oh - and i got to spend a couple of hours tying up a pretty girl - what more could a girl ask for?
i can say with my hand on my heart that if you like rope bondage then you will love this!"
"We arrived a few minutes early and immediately volunteered to help with the setting up. I was handed a pile of FAQ notices and spent about 20 minutes or so handing them out to everyone who came through the door, explaining about the name badges and the photo policy wristbands. Most people were obviously eager to get inside and get started, but a few seconds at the start of the evening isn't much to ask.
The coloured markings on people's name badges were a little bit hard to read and make out in the dim light, I wasn't sure a couple of times if it was a blue star or a green one, but I managed to get a very nice man to do some very, very pretty rope work in two colours on me and got some gorgeous photos. Such a pretty knot, lovely coloured ropes and it felt very snug and tight and restrictive. I love to feel it tight round my chest when I breathe. Out of that again and I went wandering looking for my next victim, errrm person to tie me up."
*** How to behave at the workshop ***
What to do at one:
* Tie people up
* Get tied up
* Teach others how to tie people up when they ask for help
* Ask to be taught how to tie people up when that is not an interruption
* Take photos of bondage in the photo area following the photo guidelines
* Talk about rope bondage
* Wear a name badge to help people talk to you
* Watch others doing rope bondage without getting in their way
* Take equal responsibility for making this a fun and well organised event
What not to do at one:
* Demand that others stop playing in order to pay attention to your
elite lesson
* Demand that others stop playing in order to teach you Right Now
* Touch (including standing on) other people's ropes without their
permission
* Use other people's equipment without their permission
* Touch or try to tie people up without their permission
* Try to join in an ongoing scene without both people's permission
* Get in the way of people doing bondage
* Demand absolute respectful silence for 20 feet around you
* Talk loudly about computers 2 feet away from someone tranced out
* Expect anyone else to do anything for you as a right not a courtesy
* Be discourteous
*** Who is welcome ***
Anyone who knows they have a sincere interest in rope. You don't have to have given tutorials elsewhere. You don't have to own tons of rope. Anyone who wants to do or learn more and who is willing to take part and help out, is welcome. This is a rope bondage event, organised by rope bondage enthusiasts for rope bondage enthusiasts. Do rope bondage!
*** How the entrance works ***
To encourage people in sensitive jobs to come along and strip naked we have and enforce a photo policy. You will be required to demonstrate that you understand what the photo policy is before being allowed to enter the venue. And you will be expected to not just comply with the policy, but also help enforce it by pointing it out if you spot anyone else breaking it. If you think this is overkill (and opinions do differ) then feel free to post to the mailing list suggesting an alternative strategy. And if enough people agree with you on a poll, then the policy will be changed. But until then, please either stick to the agreed policy or don't come. We're serious about this.
You'll also get on entering a name badge, and be offered a choice of coloured sticker. Please do wear a name badge - remember, this is a class not a club. The stickers are to help people without partners or teachers find a match. You are not obliged to use a sticker and putting a sticker on your badge does not commit you to playing with any particular person. It just indicates that you won't be offended by being asked. You are free to say "No" if someone asks you. (To balance that, if you ask someone else and they say "No", please accept it with good grace.)
If you are new to the workshop it is a good idea to mention this to the greeter at the entrance, as they will point you out to the welcomer (the person who has volunteered to help put people in touch with each other) who will try to get you sorted out with rope, and teachers and partners as needed. Don't be intimidated by the numbers or the experts doing suspension or the close groups who all seem to know each other. You'll find everyone very friendly, and, as long as you keep sufficient distance while watching, and wait until they have finished before asking questions, people will be glad to answer or to point you in the direction of someone best suited to help.
*** The Hat ***
No one is in charge at the workshop, and the only people with the authority to throw you out are the venue staff. However if the DM (Duty Monitor) wants to speak to you, please make time. The DM is the one wearing The Hat (a big noticable hat - once seen you won't mistake it), which changes hands through out the evening. The DM is someone who has volunteered to spend part of their evening monitoring the photo policy instead of doing bondage, so please be nice to them and try to make their life easy. They also have a number of information sheets to help them track down who has volunteered to do what, so they are a good first port of call if you have a question.
Somewhere as you enter there will be a notice saying that by entering you agree to certain things. These are basically catch alls to give the venue staff (and anyone they delegate) a legal right to throw you out, confiscate photographic equipment, be protected from idiots, etc. Roughly: 1. Be sensible
For instance don't get the venue in trouble, don't hold the DM or anyone else associated with the workshop liable for the activities of others, act appropriately for a rope bondage peer workshop. 2. Be considerate
That means (among other things) don't touch other people or their stuff without their consent and don't disturb their scenes.
*** Volunteering ***
One of the best ways to break the ice is of course to volunteer to help out. There is plenty to do, both on the day and in the run up to it, such as bringing food, helping setup, printout out notices, etc. If you are not sure what to do to help, some people have volunteered to coordinate different areas, and they will have lists of what needs doing.
Coordinating requires tact as it is NOT ordering other people about, and it can be difficult to strike a balance between there not being enough volunteers for your area, and posting so much you annoy everyone. One of the best ways to learn is to volunteer to be a deputy coordinator for a particular area. Coordinators keep their deputies up to date on what is happening in their area, so the deputy can step in if they fall sick, go on holiday, get over worked, lose their net connection etc.
To support the coordinators there may be a jack of all trades who has volunteered to be the Emergancy Backup. This person does three things: 1. Provides backup to coordinators, especially those without deputies, acting as a sort of deputy-without-portfolio
2. Coordinates the coordinators, asking them for a monthly status check so if one has dropped off the edge of the planet, it is known that someone else needs to volunteer to fill in their shoes until returned 3. As a corollory of 2, the Emergancy Backup is also the person who keeps track of who is doing what coordination job, and can brief new coordinators with a rough description of their area, or even spawn new roles as need demands.
The workshop does not run nearly as well without coordinators. However, quite rightly, if no one volunteers in a particular area (or leaves volunteering until the last minute), leaving the coordinator with so much work they don't get to enjoy the workshop themselves, they tend not to volunteer to do it again for the next workshop. So to save wear and tear on coordinators it is a good idea to put your entry in the volunteer database saying what you intend to do to help as soon as possible - preferable in the first week after the previous workshop.
To update the database with your offer of help you go to the URL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uk_rope/database select the table for volunteers for this particular workshop, then select the link "Add Record" at the top, fill in the fields, then select the blue button at the bottom "Add Record".
There may be a table at the workshop, called The Volunteer Post, where you can sign up to do stuff at the next workshop without the hassle of directly editing the database yourself.
*** How to use the mailing list and website ***
1. Don't upload photos unless you have permission.
2. Don't republish photos from here to elsewhere.
3. Under the Members album, create an album named after yourself, and put your photos in there.
4. If you have a website, it goes under Links : Members
5. If you want to introduce yourself, or mention you don't have
a partner for the next workshop, the best way to do so is by starting or joining in a more general thread such as: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uk_rope/message/579
6. The lists does not accept attachments, so use the Files area
7. Other databases include one to help find or offer lifts by car,
one listing the coordinators, and one giving equipment needed
8. If you just want to receive an occasional reminder about the workshop, and not see all the organisational discussion, you can set your yahoo list membership to "special announcements only"
By the way, if you are new to rope bondage, there are some good tutorials linked to from the Links area. You might find it helpful to print one of these off to bring along to the workshop. There will also be books available to borrow on the day.
*** Origins ***
The original Rope Bondage Peer Workshop was started in San Francisco by Loki. It was brought over to the UK by Douglas (Pallando), whose original philosophy was:
"It is like the original
munches. Someone has posted the idea "Let's all turn up at this freely available venue, bring some rope, and teach each other how to do better bondage." and what actually happens depends on what those who turn up bring with them.
There is nobody certified as being The Great Rope Teacher. Nor is anyone being paid to do anything. There are just a whole load of rope enthusiasts doing their stuff. And some may be better than you at doing ties (or at least know some you don't). And you can ask them politely to show you. And you may then get politely asked by someone else to pass it on and show them.
That's what the event is about. Helping each other out. And that starts with running the event. It isn't obligatory, and not everyone has the same time, money or skills. But there is something everyone can do, from bring a packet of crisps, offering a lift if anyone comes from your local area, to publicising the event by mentioning it to other friends in the scene who you know are into bondage.
Every little helps."
*** Summary ***
Key websites:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uk_rope
http://www.ceasarsnightclub.com/
Data:
5pm - 9pm, 3rd Sunday of the Month, Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Caesar's Nightclub, Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common, Nr Coventry CV7 7HD
uk_rope-owner@yahoogroups.com or 07990 707141 on the day.
Wear comfortable clothing. Bring rope and maybe a mat. Leave the attitude.
