Well, I came back totally sleep deprived from FetishCon but had a really good time, saw a lot of old friends, and met some new ones. As I’ve mentioned before I’m kind of shy and have social anxiety, so these big events are never easy for me, but I find that it’s usually worth the effort.

Things started right off with the Meet N’ Greet Thursday night. There were so many gorgeous models there and lots of producers and photographers whose sites I’ve admired for years. I know I’m forgetting lots of people but two highlights were meeting JJ Plush, who’s really funny and very sweet, and also Gina Rae Michaels, whose work I’ve always liked. She does some of the most amazing mouth stuffing gags and wears some fabulous business suits.

Over the weekend I was able to catch a few presentations, and one of the best was a scarf bondage demo put on by BondDave from Florida. He was funny and entertaining and really knows his scarves, having studied with Richard Volcane, well known by the readers of Harmony’s Bondage Life magazine back in the day. BondDave did a terrific demo, tying up Mallory Brooke, who clearly was enjoying herself.

Later I got to hang out and shoot some pictures with Cindy and Audrey from the Yahoo Group. It was really great to see them both again. And later that weekend I got to shoot some more pictures of Sybil, who dressed up in a fantastic “cold shoulder” secretary outfit – of course, this secretary got into a bit of a bind.

Another fun shoot was with Jeff Jamm and a lovely model named Kimberly Sinical whom I only had met that morning, with our mutual friend Rik. Later that afternoon I was over her knee, tied up and getting spanked, and then finally we ended up on the floor tied up together and gagged with one of Jeff’s double ballgags. I’m really looking forward to seeing how those pics turned out ;-) Kimberly was a delight to work with and I really hope we have a chance to do more.

Back on the vendor floor it was really great to finally meet Sandra Silvers, whom I’ve always liked, and another high point was meeting the beautiful Paige Richards, who was a total delight to chat with – very down to earth and a very classy lady.

Saturday there was a party away from the hotel in a club called Czar that I was able to make. The weather was hot and humid but thankfully they had a shuttle bus to and from the place. Jean Bardot and Rubberdoll both put on terrific stage shows there. I often find it kind of intimidating to just walk up to women and start talking, but being in a strange city somehow makes it easier. I saw a really attractive girl wearing this wonderful office girl outfit with a tight pencil skirt and green blouse with puffy shoulders. She turned out to be really nice and although she wasn’t a model, I told her she should be. We hung out for a while and danced and I wanted to take her back to my room to tie her up but, well, I didn’t have the guts to ask. It was very nice though meeting such a cutie.

The final Sunday night party at the hotel is one of the best, though I found it a little bittersweet, knowing that I’d soon be back on the plane and heading home. I met a very lucky crossdresser named Sasha who was there with her adorable girlfriend K. – very nice people – and chatted with JJ Plush again and also Elane Hershey, whom I’ve always liked. Andre the Toon Man and I hung out for a while, talking about life, at the end of the night, and then it was getting close to packing up. They wrapped up the party with the crazy Reverend B. Dangerous, who puts screwdrivers up his nose and has a big guy stand on the back of his head while he’s lying in a pile of broken glass. I’ve seen his show twice now and always enjoy his crazy flirting-with-death antics – I see his self infliction of pain as a metaphor for the desire to break free from the constraints of day to day life (no, seriously), something so many of us yearn to do.

To be honest, I always feel a little funny about all the name dropping when I report on these events and hope it doesn’t sound like I’m showing off. People sometimes write me and say I’m kind of a big deal with Trannies in Trouble, but when I’m at these events I just feel like another fan wandering around starstruck. In some ways it almost feels like being in High School again. There are the big name models and the major website producers, who seem like the cool kids, and then the rest of us walking around hoping to fit in and be a part of the crowd. I do well enough but I’ll probably always have that little edge of insecurity.

In any case, it was a really nice weekend and great to see old friends whom I hadn’t seen in a few years and to meet so many new people. I never know from year to year if I’ll be able to make it to Tampa again, but hope to be back in 2011. If you’re into damsel in distress bondage this really is about the best convention of its kind out there and is worth visiting if you can afford the trip.

The Bondage Cafe booth at FetCon

In my new shiny skirt

BondDave with Mallory Brooke

Sybil with the fabulous Rubberdoll

With the lovely Paige Richards

Two Sandra’s – with Sandra Silvers

Cute secretary Sybil in a bind

Tied up back in my room, bondage by TC