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What exactly is KinkMasters? 

Glad you asked.

Similar in nature to the vanilla organization ToastMasters International, the purpose of KinkMasters of North Carolina is to provide mentoring, support and networking for those who present workshops and demos in our alternative sexuality community.

From the newest beginner who wants to present one day in the future, to the community icon with decades of experience, all are welcome who genuinely wish to share their knowledge, tips, ideas and techniques with fellow presenters.

Everyone who attends KinkMasters should be prepared to participate in reviews of draft presentations, discussion circles, with written and verbal feedback to their peers, all in the spirit of embracing free and open exchange of ideas. The goal is to make ALL of us better presenters in the alternative sexuality community, by cooperating, mentoring and supporting each other as we learn and grow as public speakers.

While this is planned as a NC-based group, KinkMasters is open to anyone in any location who wishes to attend.

The ability to get feedback from one's peers will be an important part of participating in KinkMasters - supporting each other in our quest to be the best presenters and educators we can be. 

The planned agenda for April 24th is:

Morning session (approximately 10 AM - 1 PM) - Interactive workshops. Next on the schedule is Part III of Passion is Not Enough: Delivering Effective Workshops.

In our last KinkMasters session, we covered Parts I & II which focused on developing your topics, outlines and visuals. Part III focus on improving your delivery skills - using your voice and gestures, plus tips for how to deal with many of the challenges of being a presenter - leading Q&A sessions, dealing with difficult attendees, distractions in the environment, and more. (This was our presentation given at Leather Leadership Conference XIII in Atlanta, April 2009) You can read more about this workshop here.

If we have time, we may also do a brief overview of one of our presentations this year at LLC, The Polished Presenter. The Polished Presenter provokes introspective thought about what drives you to present, what your "personal brand" is as a presenter, and how to uncover your unique Presenter Promise to the community.

Afternoon session (approximately 2 PM to 4 PM) - Presenter feedback sessions. One or more fellow presenters may sign up for approximately one hour to walk through a class concept, outline, draft version or even currently delivered presentation to gain feedback and commentary from their peers.  

In the each afternoon session, we will usually have a dry run of a test workshop by a local presenter seeking feedback and mentoring from fellow presenters.

Please contact us if you are interested in presenting your demo, workshop or class for feedback at KinkMasters!

"This event has truly enriched my life and got me re-energized to get out there and present on the topics that REALLY get me going. One of my dilemmas is that I love almost all forms of BDSM play and try to not be dependent on any certain type of play or technique, in an effort to allow me to be more versatile.

I was totally thinking on the wrong track when trying to pick a topic (only thinking of technical [skills] like flogging/needles/etc. or tangible items). But what I specialize in that makes me different from others is the passion I have for using my voice in many different ways to not only control the flow of the scene but also verbally taking my bottom on a journey through that verbal connection I use. I have opened my eyes and really discovered a lot about myself through the [KinkMasters] workshop… It was a fantastic time and I can't wait to be there again!" 

~ Tilley, CAPEX

More about KinkMasters.... 

The current vision for KinkMasters is that there will be minimal organizational structure and no membership dues. Meetings are planned on a quarterly basis. Those who wish to attend a scheduled KinkMasters event will be asked to pay a moderate registration fee each time to cover materials and supplies. Some events, depending on the agenda, may have a higher registration fee and include lunch. Participating members may volunteer to present a draft version of a workshop they have under development, with the expectation that all attending members will provide constructive comments, advice and suggestions.

Guest speakers may be invited to present on topics of interest, such as how to market yourself as a presenter, adult educational theory and practice, how to deal with problematic situations, how to network with event organizers, etc. Guest speaker events may carry a higher registration fee, depending on the travel and venue costs incurred.