Ostensibly the Torture Garden Valentine Ball was a stunning spectacle. Decor, acts, rooms, ideas, visuals, music… were all value for money. The thing is, at this TG I think this time we were witness to a change. TG has found itself the other side of the recession as more of a giant fancy dress party for Bizarre readers. Yet is it their fault that 2,500 people turn up?

It’s just I’ve always felt this is where the spirit of ‘punk’ is now. This of all clubnights is where the  freedom of ultimate individual expression is. Not a chancer stumbling around in a bathrobe, not common festival skimpiness. TG has always been famous for its strict dress code and thus an outlet for freaking out. Yet only  about a third there wore non-streetwear, and they were swamped by the overpopulation of watered-down  ’tops-off’ males and Burlesque hen-party females. As Latex Kitty said to me: ‘I don’t want to talk to someone with their top off, what’s that about?’

Quite. TG can’t be a Red Hot Chilli Peppers gig. But you had to admire those that braved the cold under the industrial archways of SeOne. I froze in my catsuit. That’s a heat transference thing right? I’m not up on my science but I’m sure somebody could have put a radiator on. A few oil drum bonfires would have looked good – probably against Health & Safety regulations…

Unfortunately it was the venue that inhibited the night. What SeOne gave in faded grandeur and space it took back in bad business choices. Frankly, the toilets were not fit for purpose. Carlsberg or Strongbow in cans – £4 a pop. Wine in plastic. Mismanaged cloakroom-queues. Obligatory heavy-handed doormen. All of it smacked of an inexperience in the fetish territory. One longed for the labyrinthian spookiness and facilitation of Mass at Brixton.

Despite the shortfallings of the venue – which did deliver a decent space – there is as always so much to celebrate about the hard work TG always put into its events. A stunning chart-ready electropop performance by Viktoria Modesta would have given Lady GaGa a run for her money. And the succinctly finessed digital grooves of the main Club Arena bathed  in swaythes of ultramarine lasers by Beating Hearts were juxtaposed by a devilish revelry and stomping cheese-rock in the Neon Love Ballroom.

What also set TG apart were features like the performance artists: a double-headed manikin greeting everyone with a surgical mask and a kiss; and the Sexdoll Love Tunnel which set a sublimely pervy tone to the entrance, replete with dismembered blow-up doll parts and live rubber-maids. There were stalls, free photo-booths and of course pole-dancing, not to mention a sumptuous fashion show by Kaori’s Latex Dreams .

Asking around it seems TG might be looking to get its own venue, and that would be phenomenal because it would iron out the discrepancies of over-subscription, of Generation X Factor not understanding protocol, and the difficulties with enforcing a dress code with so many attending.

I was asked a few time what the solution might be. You know, I’m not sure there is a problem: it’s an opportunity. TG doesn’t need to be a victim of its own success: because it does have a groundswell of newbies coming through that need to be trained – perhaps with a TG Lite night. Then you could call the hardcore night, oh I don’t know, TG Strict – for those discerning souls who spend a month sorting out their outfits and travel across Europe to be at the cutting edge. Of course it would need to be choosier about the venues too.

Like any other true-blue femdomme, I love receiving service – and this is not a euphemism for cunnilingus!

A couple of weeks ago I had a session with a rubber/bondage/electro-stim freak. How wonderful!
There was some very real chemistry that could not be ignored.
He promptly sent me an email upon his return home wishing to present himself as a possible slave.

I advised him of the screening process he must go through and he agreed without question.

He arrived just a short while ago, brought me a large bouquet of my favourite flowers (Stargazer Lilies) and is now painting my bathroom.

It amazes me how little men actually understand the meaning of slavery when they approach with such offers.
They clearly feel it means the domme is supposed to serve their needs and not the other way around.
How sadly delusional!

This boy seems to have the right idea, but time and experience have taught me to screen carefully and hold fast to a prolonged probationary period.

Time will tell.

I have recently added a copy of the radio interview I did regarding rubber fetishism for Sex City on CIUT Radio with Leanne Custer. They originally asked me to do a 15 segment, but then offered me a whole show – almost one hour!
Some of the information is no longer current – I am no longer with the “boy” I refer to, the video clip I mention is no longer available on Youtube and Ewa from Latexworks has since moved to Toronto.

As the interview in lengthy, I have had to cut it down to two parts.

The links are available on my main page, towards the bottom:

www.servemarinablack.com

ManiFest, is holding a one-of-a-kind international bordercrossing fetish party in Hamburg!

The “ManiFest Special” will be hold at Catonium on march 6th and has a impressive line of live acts and DJ’s.

As Scandinavia’s largest fetish club, Manifest has organized fetish events in Copenhagen since 1995 and has more than 1.400 members. The ManiFest crowd is playful, friendly, cool and open-minded, so be sure that you don’t miss this party!

Membership of ManiFest is not required for this special event. Tickets at pre-sale cost €30 or €37at the door. Packages including – bus from Copenhagen/Århus and Hotel, can also be ordered.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.manifest.eu

Vex Clothing is having a massive sample sale, offering dozens of innovative latex for both men and women at drastically reduced prices.  Many have been worn only for fashion shoots and on stage, or were samples used in production. Like most clothing designer samples, you’re in luck if you wear a size small.

Check ‘em out here.

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Libidex is currently offering a Valentines sale, with savings up to 25%.

Buy any Libidex garment through our website www.libidex.com, and you’ll get a full 25% off the advertised purchase price.*

* Note: made-to-measure charged at 35% of the non-discounted price, made-to-fit at 60%.

During busy sale periods ‘Express Delivery’ may not be possible – we will confirm availability once your order has been received. Due to high demand during the sale, despatch times can be up to 8 weeks. In the very unlikely event that your order takes longer than this, we will inform you.

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Update February 5: My employer, Latexa Fashion boutique in Denmark has an overstock sale now in progress. Save 30% on selected items in stock and ready to ship, including catsuits and plus sizes.

Sale is here.

Rubber Yoga is a sensual form of yoga for latex lovers, offered by the German website RUBBERYOGA. They offer three different rubber yoga workshop there will take you through an energetic journey through your body, so your spirit can flourish.

As latex clings to your body like a second skin, it warms you and flatters your silhouette. You feel free and safe at the same time. With gentle and graceful movements, you will allow your energies to flow though the body with a meditative pleasure in mind. Sensual energies are pursued in terms of content to move the energies, but on a moral level as this is a purely non-sex experience.

RUBBERYOGA combines methods from the traditional Hatha and Kundalini yoga with the TAO yoga methods to refine the energy cycle in our body. And since in both yoga, and qigong exercises are integrated, the program speaks to both men and women.

RUBBERYOGA website also explains that rubber yoga is so rewarding becource the rubber smooths and tightens your body. After a two-hour session of rubber yoga, your skin feels silky smooth and you will be carried away by a warm feeling of well being.

I’m not much of a yoga guy myself, so please let me know you think about this.