Continuing on with our overview of the current kink scene, we pick up in what's happening in the EU...
The popular UK BDSM Darkside Magazine not only hosts a naughty get-together, but through the magazine’s advertisements and interviews with dominas, one can surely find what ails them in the way of kink events in the European community.
Torture Garden, billing itself as the world’s largest monthly fetish club, features monthly London events at various venues, regular events in Edinburgh and Manchester, and runs international tour events in Rome, Tokyo, Berlin, and even in the US (see one of their events listed in the calendar below).
As to an overall global European feel to events in the EU, Mistress Ianna Justice weighs in again:
"Each country has its own scene and there's not a global European feel to events. We see that in the types of play that we often associate with each country. For example, the strict headmistress with a cane in England, the femme fatale in France, the heavy bondage and latex images we see coming out of Germany. Of course, those are just basic representations and there is a wide range of Dommes we see in each location, but it gives us an idea of what's popular in a given country.
Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of kink conventions in Europe, but I'm doing my part to change that, with my event France FemDom and our non-profit Kinky Saloon France, with hopes that others will do the same."
“Big events can be overwhelming, which I love because there are so many different people to meet and connect with, you are bound to meet someone you like or to collaborate with. Smaller group settings allow you to really get to know someone and get down to business and maybe even formulate a plan or action right on the spot,” Andy Markenson offers. “Whatever I am looking for though, I often look to social media to see what's new when it comes to happenings in the kink universe. Twitter, Instagram, and FetLife.”
Choosing what event, party, or online workshop is best for you does indeed take a little net digging, as Markenson says. You can also solicit friends you know in the scene and generally keep your ears open (whatever else you keep open is totally up to you) to what might be happening in the social swirl around you.
You might only ever find online postings about your desire for bull cuckolding, with sadly no one in your immediate area into it. But these days, even a niche fetish most likely has a Reddit group or even a casual bunch of folks interested in what you might be interested in.
Ava Durga , is a life coach and retired pro-domme specializing in trans femmes, kinksters, and a clientele who are generally quite closeted and very private about their kink. But even in her niche work within the niche world of kink, Ava still finds a natural human desire to “share time with others who understand and even celebrate their ‘differentness’.”
“I’ve noticed an uptick in the desire for meaningful social contact and connection. The loneliness epidemic may be even more acute for people who feel isolated, stifled, uncertain, or even ashamed of their sexual interests or gender expression. Online forums and phone sex with strangers aren’t fulfilling the same needs, e.g., personal connection, physical experience, hands-on learning, as real-life social interactions.
While not everyone wants to get involved in the public scene, attending a kink event or meeting, even just once, can be a worthwhile personal growth experience, especially if you're friendly, polite, prepared, and show up with an open mind and few expectations. And you never know who you'll meet.”
Searching across one’s computer will yield results, but as with any scene, getting out and meeting people, here, there, or anywhere, often sees the best results.
The outliers of munches and adult content creator get-togethers might offer less play (or nudity) but they surely fulfill a need for folks in the business as well as fans.
In her three years running her independent of Parisian Phoenix Publishing Angel Ackerman has managed to publish books memoirs, poetry, children’s titles….and erotica. She is attending her first erotica-themed convention this year SexDownSouth: Atlanta.
“In the last decade, BDSM, fetish, and Kink have entered into mainstream venues in a way I never imagined," Angel says. "Maybe society is moving toward us all living authentic lives in such a way that truly does expand into gender and sexuality-- and to me, as a mom, a journalist, and a book publisher, it's important to make sure materials in the world at large offer a true spectrum of what people desire and safe ways to practice it.”
(US)
Ongoing-Liquid Red Las Vegas Liquid Red Las Vegas Fetish Party | A Social Fetish & themed Las Vegas Fetish Party With Eroticism and Kink (liquidredlv.com)
August 15-18 - Naughty Knowledge in PA Naughty Knowledge 2024 - Studio 58 Events
September 7th-Liquid Red Kink Ball Detroit-at Token Lounge in Westland, MI www.liquidreddetroit.com
September 19-22 - Splash Takeovers in Fort Lauderdale, FL https://splashtakeovers.com/sessions/new
October 10-13- DomCon New Orleans DomCon New Orleans Set for October 10-13 | AVN
EUROPE
September 7th-Torture Garden Berlin, Metropol Club Berlin HOME | Torture Garden Berlin
October (various dates, ongoing)-SM Club Rome Event Calendar | SM Club Roma
Ongoing- Manchester Munch Manchester Munch
