Service top is a BDSM term that is used in reference to a partner who plays the role of the top in scenes -- which is often seen as a dominant role-- while acting in accordance with their partner's desires. Often the terms “top” and “dominant” are used interchangeably but in this case the “top” (the active person who is applying activities and techniques to their submissive/partner) is doing things their partner wants rather than “dominating” them. To the outsider a service top may appear to be completely in control as they restrain, spank, flog, tease, or torment their bottom (the partner they are “topping”) and, in one way they do as everything in regards to safety and keeping the scene organized is their job, but when it comes to actually controlling the action, it is the bottom who is calling all the shots.
For a service top, the pleasure in any given scene comes from knowing just how much they can make their bottom feel good. Devoting time to planning for and executing their bottom’s ideal scenes can be a turn on and they will take instruction from their submissive as to what the submissive wants, often allowing the submissive to dictate how the scene should play out before finally, showering them with extensive aftercare.
Top vs. Dominant
As mentioned earlier, the terms “top” and “dominant” are often used interchangeably but that is not actually correct. A top is responsible for carrying out the activities on their bottom in a scene. If the bottom is being flogged, tied up, electrostimulated, or even tickled, the top is doing it. They are responsible for providing a safe and satisfying experience. A dominant or Dom/Domme is a partner who takes control in a BDSM dynamic which may be in place of a scene, a night, or an entire relationship. So, while a Dom might be a top, a top will not necessarily be a Dom.
“We often think of a dominant as someone being pleased and a submissive as someone who loves to please, but power dynamics need not limit who gives and receives pleasure. One way to enjoy being a service top to a submissive partner is to blindfold them and/or tie them to the bed and pleasure them until they can't take it anymore. You can also experiment with orgasm denial — bringing them close to orgasm, stopping, then repeating until they finally climax, or allowing them to orgasm only when you say they can.”-- says Anna Richards, founder of the erotic ethical porn site FrolicMe.com
This is a source of some confusion as it can lead folks to believe that the person acting as the Top in a scene is “supposed to” act as a Dominant but, as we can see, that is not the case. There is in fact a lot of room for all sorts of different dynamics between tops and bottoms as long as the Top fulfills their responsibilities when it comes to delivering a safe experience.
The Other Meaning of Service Top
The term “service top” is sometimes used to mean something else as well. “A Service Top can also mean that the Top is being paid or has been contracted in some way for their services.” says Natasha Marie Markiewicz, Sexual wellness expert and Head of Communications at sexual health and technology company MysteryVibe. Most professional dominants are considered service tops when they engage in "pay for play" scenes, but non-professional dominants may also engage in service topping for both the bottom's enjoyment and their own. Service topping may also be done as part of a submissive's training by a dominant.
