Pleasure in Pain at Fetish Con in Tampa, Florida

Fetish Con rolled into Tampa last weekend, a four-day event and the East Coast's largest fetish trade show with exhibits, late-night parties and educational sessions (yes, the hands-on demonstrations and lectures are considered educational). Hearing about the event on the Tampa-based MJ Morning Radio Show, a friend and I headed to the Hyatt Regency Tampa to see what Fetish Con was about. Don't worry, I didn't get roped into staying all day, I just spent an hour or so exploring the trade show floor and poking my head into some of the educational sessions.

What Does One Wear to Fetish Con?
I was nervous and concerned about what to wear. I didn't want to look too "vanilla" and I anticipated all attendees would be half-naked, strutting around in leather or vinyl. But walking into the hotel lobby, I realized I fit in with most of the attendees. Sure, there were young female models donning fishnet stockings and vinyl skirts while other fetish models wore super heroine outfits (like Wonder Woman or Supergirl). And, I did see a couple walking hand and leash as one was bound with a dog collar. Oh! Can't forget the six-foot tall man wearing fishnets, a short vinyl skirt and pigtails. Overall, most attendees were dressed conservatively. The middle-aged professional men, which made up about half of the attendees, wore button down shirts and jeans so my attire of a basic cotton, pink top and black slacks fit in nicely.

One thing's for sure, during Fetish Con I discovered I could never where latex. I stepped into a booth selling latex and all I kept smelling were rubber balloons. Who would want to walk around smelling like a rubber balloon? Then again, maybe that's a fetish.

Highlights of Fetish Con, August 14 - 18, 2008
While there was an air of fun and kink on the trade show floor, it was pretty much business. Fetish Con vendors were looking to make sales and attendees were serious when trying out the goods. Fetish essentials ranged from leather whips and dog collars to wooden and metal contraptions to be strapped to. Plenty of adult toys made from glass, metal and traditional plastic were for sale along fetish apparel, like form-fitting corsets, spiky shoes and leather vests.

A popular component of Fetish Con is fan interaction with fetish models. During this year's event, there were 16 attending models, referred to as "Guests of Honor." They included Stacy Burke, who served as the Mistress of Ceremonies, Jean Bardot, Paris Kennedy and Isobel Wren. The models posed for fans, signed autographs and promoted their DVDs and Web sites.

Educational sessions, hands-on seminars and lectures included the basics in bondage, wax play, how to become a fetish model, photographer's etiquette and legalities in the adult industry.

Saturday afternoon, comic book artist and writer George Perez was the Master of Ceremonies for Super Heroine Showdown II. Fetish models in super heroine customs paraded on stage and were later tied up by villainesses. Which in an odd way, reminded me of Saturday morning cartoons I grew up watching in the 1970s. Saturday evening was the popular Fan Photo Shoot where fetish models posed for photos.

Sunday afternoon was a fetish wedding where models Wednesday Harrington and Lord Marcus exchanged vows on the main stage. Did the bride wear latex or leather? Possibly.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings were late night parties with activities happening on three different floors of the Hyatt Regency. Parties included Friday's Vamps & Vixen Ball, Saturday's Fetish Fantasy Masquerade Ball and Sunday's 6th Annual Fetish Ball & Bash. I also heard there was some sort of dungeon play space.

Who Attends Fetish Con?
"I have a power tool with a feather duster on the end," the fifty-something-year-old, portly man told me, "it's simply divine."

Was that a pick up line? I'm not sure. I almost burst out laughing but out of respect, didn't. Everyone I met during Fetish Con were kind, friendly and obviously open minded and accepting. I'm vanilla, meaning I'm pretty plain. Out of the thousands of Fetish Con attendees, I represented a small percentage. I attended because I heard about the event and was curious. Other delegates were a mix of the middle-aged professionals, wannabe fetish models and film producers. Looking around at the Fetish Con attendees I almost expected to see someone I knew. Surprisingly, I didn't recognize anyone.

Would I attend Fetish Con again? Maybe. Would I bring grandma along? Oh, definitely not.

History of Fetish Con
Now in its eighth year, Fetish Con was originally called Diva Con and the first event was held in Tampa in 2000. The following three years, the event grew and was held in Queens, N.Y. In 2004, Fetish Con returned to Tampa. At print time, 2009 dates have not been determined.