Where were you shot? Did I shoot your picture of did Valerie? Due to the 2257 bullshit we did not post the images on the site.

very nicely put! This was part of my concern this past year. I was on more than one ocassion taken by the arm by someone who did not know I knew how to do my job and do it well. I was more than happy to oblige the concerned party with a viewing of the last images taken to show there was no reason for concern and to explain that I sign a release that states very clearly the intened use of the wrist bands and my proficiency in photoshop to make anyone who I could not tell or remember the color of band in the photo not recognizable by any means.

I think what happened last year was that many folks got a bit frustrated because they only had 3-4 hours to cram in their own play scene plus get a chance to watch others in the play dungeon. Starting at 10pm was so late that you didn't feel like you could relax much before you had to concentrate on your own scene. That will be different this year in that the dungeon will open at 8pm and that will give everyone more time to get there full voyeurism fetish in and allow plenty of time to have a scene for themselves. Besides the time restraints anxieties, people had to literally walk over folks that were spread out on the floor because of lack of play space, and that also built into the frustration factors. I believe that too will be different this year. So, i feel that some of the short tempers that were seen and felt throughout the play space were due to a few frustration factors.

One other important issue to bring up is that what we do … what we create … in retrospect to the Japanese inspired Shibari Art … is ART in itself! This is far different than what you will see in your average BDSM conventions and dungeons. We create ART and art should be captured when it happens … it cannot be recreated when convenient … not that truly passionate spiritual energy that is formed by being in the moment! We can see all the ‘fake’ looking photos we want by cruising the Internet sites and magazines. It is rare to see that “real” moment where you actually feel that the model is actually enjoying and understanding what is happening to her/him. They are being paid to make it look like they are having fun and entertaining us. Not that there is anything wrong with that, and many times we are paying to see that pose or video, but there is a huge difference when we see it happening in real life, at the real moment, in the real energy, and able to share that later.

That is far different from what i have seen at the past 2 ShibariCons. I have seen works of ART that cannot ever be re-created in a studio or stage set. Sure, there are wonderful, inspiring, awe struck moments we see of professional models in professional photographs, but to actually capture the moment that the average ‘Joe and Jane’ create, using the skills they had just learned earlier in the day, making the ropes come to life, finding that energy and feeding off of it, widening the imagination, catching the creativity happening at that moment is something so special that it can bring tears to some who view it later. What would the slide shows of past Shibaricons be like if not to include shots of dungeon play? I just love the moments when someone jumps up and says, “that was me and Jane, oh wow, how cool was that”, and the giggles and oohs and aaws heard throughout the audience. Sigh.

This is ART of a different kind, different than most have experienced, different than most have even seen … i beseech those who are making the decisions to rethink their rules, their initial intent, and their motives and allow this special art to be shared by others and not be compromised by a few discontented attendees. Provide a small area for those who want their privacy to not be disturbed by their neighbor and their quiet serenity boxed in.
But please, do not place me in that box.

This is important to me, so i am speaking out. I implore others to do the same.