Images by West Smith
My grandpa, who was a bit on the uptight aspect, took my mother to see the musical Hair when she was a child. On the finish of the primary act, the performers got here out onto the stage bare. My mother remembers his face was “mortified.” My grandfather mentioned he wished to go away instantly, lacking the second half and the present’s crescendo “Let The Sunshine In.”
If he wasn’t already useless, I feel my grandpa would have died the second he walked into the 2nd annual Seattle Fetish Ball this weekend on the SoDo Showbox.
The Fetish Ball was the principle occasion of the weekend-long record of fetish-forward actions, which included a Fetish Cruise that launched into Lake Union on Friday and concluded with a Decompression Brunch at The Unicorn on the Hill on Sunday. Vancouver, BC, has had a world well-known Fetish Weekend for many years now, and with Seattle’s fetish scene rising and feeling larger than ever, the time is true for an occasion like this to actually take off.
Once I arrived on the venue I used to be greeted by Fashion Trade’s best-selling machine, The Penalty field SUPER Hellcat FLAGSHIP EDITION. Retailing for 1,939.00€ (not together with delivery from Germany) these aren’t often one thing I see within the wild, and I used to be dissatisfied to see that not one individual interacted with it all through all the night.
I think about having considered one of these in your home can be like proudly owning a pinball machine. You play with it a bunch once you first get it, however after some time it turns into extra like a big piece of spinoff furnishings that you just solely contact when friends come over.
In terms of kink and fetish play, consent is all the time crucial factor. For this occasion I used to be assisted by my good friend Alex Gooseman who, with clipboard in hand, was tasked with gathering signed pictures consent waivers from each single individual photographed.
Simpler mentioned than performed when a hearty portion of the occasion’s individuals are carrying horse hooves and unable to carry a pen. (Don’t fear although, we nonetheless received written consent from everybody in these pictures.)
“I ought to do extra yoga,” the individual wrapped within the shibari ropes advised me after their ambient present within the VIP lounge of the Fetish Ball. “Me too,” I mentioned figuring out that nonetheless a lot that individual did do yoga, I did one hundred pc much less. In addition they assured me that for even the least limber individual, there are methods to be tied in shibari which can be “comfortable-ish.”
In contrast to the pair of black skinny denims that I’ve been carrying since 2014, Latex clothes must be polished and shined to ensure that it to keep up its distinctive look. The Fetish Ball had a sales space that might shine your latex for you whereas on the occasion, conveniently situated subsequent to the Naughty Nook.
All through the night time, a number of latex trend exhibits happened, utilizing the SoDo Showbox stage as a runway. Inside Sanctum was the primary model to stroll and, like most cool intercourse issues apparently, was dropped at America by the use of Germany.
Somebody as soon as mentioned to me, “For everybody that likes to get pissed on, there’s somebody who likes to piss on individuals.” And I feel that’s stunning.
It doesn’t matter what individuals in Seattle let you know, I feel the Seattle Freeze is actual. And if it’s onerous to fulfill buddies on this metropolis, then it should be that a lot tougher to fulfill those that match your freak. I’m glad the Seattle Fetish Ball exists and I hope it turns into a staple of the world Fetish Scene.
P.S. – I didn’t see anybody getting pissed on, but in addition I used to be not invited to the after social gathering.
