“We only hire Dommes with prior experience, but can train certain activities when clients are not around.”

Getting Started

Like most other sex industry workers, BDSM and Fetish work can be found on the Internet, by placing ads in adult sections of newspapers and magazines, and also through fetish cultural activities.

You may be required to produce ID if you are working for an employer. Part of the interview process may also involve you posing for photos in the positions required for your particular clients. This is done to make sure you are capable of doing the work.

Regardless of how you get into this work, you must remain open-minded, non-judgemental, and expect to see some strange things. And know you’re doing a great and important service for your clients.

Equipment

If you truly have power over your clients, you don’t need extensive equipment. However, ambience and equipment make for better and more diverse sessions. BDSM and fetish cover endless varieties of unusual and bizarre activities. Adult toy stores, leather shops, grocery stores, and drug stores all have stuff you can buy to make your dungeon exciting.

The free sections of classifieds websites are also a great place to find stuff to start up a dungeon. The hardware store will become your best friend to buy chains, o-rings, clasps and other stuff. You should buy a power drill. Remember, anything can become bondage or suspension gear in a few easy steps.

Suggested equipment:

• Vibrators
• Dildos
• Rope
• Handcuffs
• Sexy fetish costumes/shoes
• Sissy gear – make-up, girly clothing/shoes and accessories in men’s sizes
• Adult baby gear – diapers, crib, bottles etc
• St. Andrew’s Cross
• Medical table
• Medical supplies – enema bag, catheter kit, speculum etc
• Bondage bed/chair
• Plastic wrap for immobilization
• Cages
• Stocks
• Canes
• Gags
• Hoods
• Blindfolds
• Whips
• Crops
• Floggers
• Paddles
• Straps
• Strap-on
• Spanking bench

…and the list goes on.

At the beginning you may have to get creative if a client asks for something, and you don’t have the equipment. For instance, if you don’t own a ball gag, stuff the client’s mouth with panties. Wrap pantyhose around his mouth and tie it at the back of his neck. This reduces the initial costs when first starting up.

When purchasing equipment, look for high-quality, well-made items that won’t break, stain, or come untied. You can also find supplies at clothing stores that cater to fetish or Goth wear. Or why not have a submissive make your gear for you! Especially great if you need crosses, stocks, tables, and cages.

If you’re just starting out, you can easily start a bag of tricks for cheap:

• Go to your local hardware store and pick up some O-rings and D-rings and clasps, rope, clothespins or clamps, duct tape (and scissors for the removal). Burn or glue the ends of the rope so it won’t fray. The D-rings will be used for wearable restraints; the 0-rings can be screwed into furniture or your wall.
• Go to the pharmacy for some latex gloves, surgical masks, enema bags, etc
• To make your own wrist and ankle cuffs and collars, you can get leather at a sewing or craft store, or some hardware stores. Line it with fur or silk so it’s soft on the inside. Use D-rings to make the connectors. Fasten with snaps or ribbon/ leather laces (which also come in handy for cock and ball torture (CBT). If you’re into recycling or on a limited budget, you can also make many types of restraints using old bicycle tubing.
• Saran wrap or tensor bandages are fun for bondage and fetish play.
• Pet store leashes are cheaper than sex store leashes. But never use a pet collar on a human.
• Do not share items made of leather or other porous materials that cannot be completely sanitized as they can transmit bacteria.
• Get a first aid kit.

Training

You can access workshops for BDSM and seduction through local sex shops. However, much of your learning will be on the job, as well as the much-appreciated advice of more experienced workers and clients. You can also get a lot of information on the Internet.

Rates

Rates vary from worker to worker. But in general, it works like this:

Domination and/or Submission – $150 – $400 / hour
Cost to rent a dungeon: $50-$100/hour