Photo taken by me

I am back all safe and sound from my meeting to volunteer for my local FetLife community fundraiser, which is next Sunday. Here’s my report:

Being mindful of access, I went an hour early to the place where it was to happen, so I could scope out the best place to park and so forth. They had just ripped up the sidewalk right in front of the place, so I had to park a little ways down, but it was all good.

Entering the place about ten minutes early, I was escorted to the area where the meeting would take place and was alone for about four minutes until one of the organizers arrived. She is a lovely lady who identifies as a Domme, or at least it says she is looking for a submissive on her profile.

I won’t be using names in this post since I don’t have permission to do so, and if you’re curious, then just go to FetLife and look up the PLAID events. I will be referring to people by their accepted gender roles and dynamic roles as I knew them.

The organizing lady was very personable and also an ASL interpreter, since we had a deaf Dom who is part of the group’s ruling body. The president is a nice guy who complimented me by saying he usually doesn’t speak so frankly to new people, but he liked my vibe and felt no “ick” from me. That’s always nice to hear.

Surprisingly, I was rather outspoken with my opinions, whether asked or not. They appreciated it and found it very helpful to make things as accessible as possible. There was another fellow Dom, there using wheels. He’s from Chicago and just recently moved to the area. He’s into Rope Play, which I find very cool, but I lack the patience to do it.

They had us use nametags, and it was standard practice to use your lifestyle name for legal purposes, meaning you don’t want to get yourself into trouble in your everyday life or career. I go as Jon Grey. I decided not to put MasterJonGrey as I am known on FetLife because it feels pushy to make people use the title. The reason I used it on FetLife is that I got tired of Dommes messaging me as if they couldn’t tell what I was. It’s become a little better now.

They give out the jobs, and I sign up to do two different ones, which surprises the president. “You already have one,” I told him. Yes, I did, but only for an hour, then I can do the other for an hour. I’ve purposely chosen jobs where people will come to me for different reasons, instead of me going out to them. This is my preference.

The organizer lady Friended me when I only had followed. She and I could be good friends. I know her type. It was more fun to watch her facial expressions as she interpreted for the president than to listen to him! The Rope Dom also friended me, and I’m following up with another gentleman I met there.

One of the guys I met was knitting when we met. I asked about what he was making, and he told me he was also working on making restraints for aesthetic appeal more than for actual restraint. He wanted to make enough to do a photo shoot. I remembered that some subs can’t wear metal on their necks due to skin tags appearing. I suggested he make collars, and he was thrilled! He’s planning on making some to sell at next week’s fundraiser.

Two other nice things: I got a large Coke Zero at the beginning, so I wouldn’t seem like I was mooching off the bar, and when it came time to pay, the guy said, ‘ Don’t worry about it. ‘ “You only ordered a Coke.” Several others had ordered and consumed adult beverages. The other thing is the president made sure to tell me and Rope Dom dude that we have special parking spots right by the gate for next week!

The conclusion was that this was a lot of fun. It was so lovely to be able to talk “D/s shop” without feeling at all strange about it. I can now honestly attest to maintaining eye contact in a conversation, even when there are a couple of very compelling distractions!