This year, Toronto's Northbound Leather party, called Climax, took place on the docks a couple Saturdays back. Famed as one of the largest fetish parties in North America, this bash drew people from France and Germany, not to mention people who traveled over 100 miles from London Ontario just for the night, a night of BDSM play, dancing and fetish fashion. Needless to say, a strict fetish code was in effect. No street suits and ties, please -- only leather, rubber, latex, costumes, whips, toys, and whatever your imagination can conjure...
For the first event, the spectacular fashion show, the balcony was crammed with people who'd bought special VIP passes watching from on high as designs by Marty Rotman interpreted scenes from popular movies. Out came the old favorites -- The Sound of Music, Carrie, and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -- but with special S/M twists, of course. The costumes were stunning. As we took pictures, we couldn’t help notice that this was no walk to the end of the runway, strike a pose and turn show. Not in the least.
The plots, the props, it was all so theatrical -- a man transformed into a woman, donning his drag before our eyes, righteous nuns punished a naughty schoolgirl and her boyfriend; by flogging them and forcing them into chastity belts; a mental institution went crazy with some of the most amazing fetish wear I’ve ever seen.
The night included fire play, needle piercing, medical demonstrations, and lots of other things, some of which might seem extreme for people who aren’t familiar with the fetish scene or BDSM play. However, the models all had a good time and even the most intense scenes had a sense of fantasy.
After the forty-five minute show and its thunderous applause, my boyfriend and I went out to the smoking area while they dismantled the stage to start the games. Out in smokers' exile, the chilly damp air on the lake made it none too pleasant, but we found many of our friends out there. I don’t smoke very much but I do find that, like at most events, standing around with smokers is a good way to meet people. You don’t have to smoke yourself; you can just introduce yourself and start talking about the show or the outfits or maybe compliment someone on how he or she looks.
If you look good, and I don’t mean fit and thin, but if you have a decent outfit or something interesting on, you will find people complimenting you. Sometimes this is an icebreaker, sometimes the person just truly is complimenting you on your appearance. For instance, every time I wear my custom made corset and tie it so tight that my boobs spill over the top, women want to pet them. I’m sure men do too, but it’s always women that ask, and I usually let them. Both men and women will tell me how hot I look, and I love it. It puts a bounce in my step and raises my confidence level. At any rate, complimenting people, whether it’s in the smoking area or in the bathroom, can get a conversation started.
So if you want to turn a night at the fetish club into a friendly way to meet and chat up BDSM folk (you'll never find so many from so far in one place), start by wearing something that can make a good conversation piece. You can find interesting jewelry or a colorful flogger, or maybe you like to wear brightly colored feather boas with matching fishnets. Whatever look you go for, try to add a bit of flair that brings out your personality. Feeling like "the walking wounded"? Go with it!
If you have attended the event alone, chances are you’ll be able to find a little group of people to hang out with. You’d be amazed at how many times I’ve talked to people and it’s their first time either out in the fetish scene all together or just at that particular venue.
In the time it took to have a cigarette, the stage was dismantled and the dancing began. One thing about dancing at a fetish night is that you can express yourself however you want with whichever sex you choose.
Two main areas you have to have at a fetish event. A dance floor and a dungeon. And Climax had a dungeon with 28 pieces of equipment contributed by many different Toronto groups where we could we could watch people being flogged and spanked, all with smiles on their faces.
A note for newbies: At an event such as this, first timers are always encouraged to play. If you are walking around with a flogger or crop, don’t be surprised if you have someone asking you to whip him or her. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, so don’t be embarrassed to say that it’s your first time and you want to watch or maybe you just don’t dig the person asking. It’s ok to say no, and no one will be offended.At the same time, don’t randomly walk around flogging people thinking you are flirting. This is rude. As well, be aware of people playing or lying on the floor and try to stay out of the way of people’s back swings. You must always ask permission to join a scene.
Well, we danced some more and mingled some more, enjoying spontaneous scenes that crept up all over the club. One lady was sitting on the bar while a man kneeled on the floor under her massaging her feet.
I'm always a sucker for a good foot rub, though I didn't get mine done that night. In another area, people formed a large circle while watching a man flog first a lady, then another man. There was much laughing and playfulness in the scene. Next thing you know, people are jumping onto the speakers, shaking their booties and flashing the crowd. On the dance floor, dancers formed dancing chains that also included humping. Lips and hands traveled over partners' bodies as slow dancing turned into a make-out session, no matter what music was playing. In the lounge area, a man lay on the floor while seated women wearing stilettos used him as a foot rest. Since a fetish club isn’t primarily a swingers club, you're less likely to find any actual sex taking place. This is a place to meet like-minded people and enjoy each other’s outfits or a place to try a new piece of dungeon equipment that you could never keep at home. I’ve always found fetish people to be very friendly and courteous. Throughout the night, many men and women approached me and it was fun to meet people from all over the place who came to Toronto for this night.
I watched as people met and hooked up, while others wandered around looking for that perfect someone. Sometimes I just wanted to grab a person I’d see on one side of the room and put them with some one I’d see on the other side of the room. After all, everyone is there for the same reason more or less. That is to have a good time and meet new people.
Even if you’ve never been to a club before, you’d probably fit right in at a function like this, as long as you dress the part. No one forces you to do anything and you can learn a lot by watching what turns other people on. The age groups at such an event spans about thirty or forty years I would imagine. Northbound monthly events usually attract an older crowd and there were mostly people thirty and beyond. However I did spot quite a few young uns in the mix as well.
At a fetish club, you can express yourself however you like. You can watch, you can dance, you can make conversation with your partner or a stranger about a scene being played out. The women’s bathroom is usually a friendly place too, where girls and trannies help each other with their make up and corsets.
As someone who has attended fetish clubs alone for years, I can tell you that in Toronto, it’s a comfortable place to be if you like to wear leather or PVC or corsets. There is a good chance that if you are clean and friendly, you will have no problem meeting people. Even if you aren’t interested in someone, you can relieve a lot of stress by dancing. I’ve spent many years dancing by myself at fetish clubs and in dancing, I see many other people dancing by themselves as well. Self-expression comes in many forms, and a fetish club is a good place to practice it.
