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Lord_Battista@lordbattista.com
www.epedominion.com
Lord Battista's Dungeon
SENSUOUS SADIE: Like many people, I knew of your work through the
Erotic Power Exchange Dominion. Please tell me a little bit about the
website and what your goals are with that.
LORD BATTISTA: "I have a two-fold concept with EPEDominion. The
first is to offer good information about our Lifestyle. In our Workshop
area, we seek out interesting projects to do research on. The projects
are for my learning experience and in the end to help educate others. We
have a Health & Safety section run by Madam Dragonfly, a very cool
and knowledgeable lady in PA. None other than You, Sensuous Sadie, runs
the Reading Room. We have a national and international information area
we are working on for listing Clubs, Orgs, and Business Information in
all 50 states and a few other countries. And the site is growing daily.
"The second part of the concept is pure business. I am an ICP
(Internet Content Provider) I do web site design and hosting; I am of
course kink friendly, and hope to get the word out to business people
that are looking for a provider that understands their unique needs. I
am doing this through building a National and International listing of
Clubs, Orgs and Business in the Lifestyle and offering them listings in
our database. We do have a WebRing and are starting an awards program to
deserving sites."
Sadie: I know that you offer free website hosting for various BDSM
groups and individuals. Please tell me about why this has been a
priority for you. What are some of the groups you host?
LB: "Most of the BDSM groups do not have the money to pay for
hosting. As a service to my community I offer free web hosting to any
BDSM club that needs it and free personal websites, and all I ask in
return is a small banner linking to EPEDominion Website. I am a firm
believer that as you take you should give back and this is the way I
repay the community for all the fun and education I get from the Leaders
and people in our lifestyle.
"Here is a list of the Clubs I host: Albany Stocks & Bonds,
Erotic Power Exchange Dominion, Rose & Thorn, and Utica Kink
Society."
Sadie: I understand you're working on a new project called Meeting of
the Minds. What is that about? Who is involved?
LB: "In the Motorcycle world there is an event called Meeting Of
The Minds; all the MC groups talk and get together on Issues that affect
all of them by putting aside their differences to do good for a common
cause. With all the New Clubs and the large influx of people coming into
the lifestyle due to the Internet, I felt something like this could work
for the BDSM community. The group is a Non-listed Yahoo Group where we
invite all Groups, Educators and BDSM Business people to join and offer
their experience to the newer groups and discuss issues the affect all
of us. There is also a website set up to list all the member groups'
events and we hope in time that will help leaders in scheduling their
events so there are not too many in a given month in a given area. This
is a bold idea and has not been an idea that is easy to start. We have
about 20 members and that is about half of the initial invitation list.
We are getting ready to start in the NYC area, MA, VT, & CT. But I
feel strongly enough about it that we will keep on trying to get the
word out. The Website URL is http://www.meetingoftheminds.info
"
Sadie: What other projects are you working on that might interest our
readers?
LB: "The Three Projects we have going now are BDSM Heterosexual
History. This is one project that looks to be a long-term endeavor as
the information is sparse to say the least. Once you go back before the
early 70's, there is little to no information. There is however a lot of
information documented in regards to the Gay Leather history and many
great projects involved in documenting that side of the lifestyle's
history. Our second project is a Protocol and Etiquette Project. This
project is a bit easier to gain information on. In this project, we are
compiling many views on what is proper P&E around the country and
will at the end do a summary of the similarities around the country in
the lifestyle and Vanilla community. The third project is one you are
doing and that I guess is what this interview is about, getting views
from Leaders and people with deep involvement in this lifestyle."
Sadie: What local groups are you affiliated with? What kind of events
are the most interesting to you and why?
LB: "There are two groups in the Albany area, APeX and ASB. I
support the both of them. As for events I like social events, they are a
great way to meet people. Large parties and Balls as well, I like to get
in Costume. I enjoy small Play Parties; for me, I plan my scenes and
like to control the room, the music, Lighting, temperature and smell so
play at large parties is not a turn on for me. I am a major voyeur
however so anywhere there is play is fun."
Sadie: You've been involved in the BDSM scene for a long time. Please
tell me about your background.
LB: "Well I am a Dominant. My screen name comes from an old family
name of my great Uncle Battista. I first got involved in the lifestyle
at age 20 in San Francisco. I got friendly with a few people in my
building one of which was a Pro. Dominatrix, the other a Master of over
40 years at that time. This is where I learned about the lifestyle and
proper protocol and etiquette. I moved from San Francisco to New Orleans
five years later where I had some introductions to a group there. I
found that group not in line with what I had learned from my mentor and
the San Francisco scene so I left the public scene for about 23 years.
Out of those 23 years, I was in a monogamous relationship for 16 years.
I moved back to my home in Albany, New York around 1985 where I started
an Internet Service Company. When my marriage ended two years ago, I
started looking again for people of a similar interest, first on-line
where most of whom I met were quite fake or had no idea of proper
protocol and etiquette; then through a wonderful woman I met online, I
was introduced to the real time Albany Community a little over a year
ago. At the present time I am involved in a 24/7 D/s relationship."
Sadie: What is it about BDSM that continues to interest you and keep
you engaged?
LB: "Well this question has so many answers. When I first came into
the lifestyle, it was finding out that I was not alone in my feelings
and it was the acceptance of others. Then for the many years that I kept
it a private part of my life, it was the little extra part of my
relationship that brought us closer. Then to come back to the public
scene a few years ago. I found that there is a great group here in
Albany, so I have the renewed feeling of the acceptance of my youth. I
share my life with a wonderful submissive woman going on a year now so I
have the added BDSM dynamic to that relationship. And the new dynamic is
that I am a person that likes knowledge and today with the Internet and
the more openness of our lifestyle the opportunities are vast to gain
knowledge. Today the amount of information you can gather at your
computer terminal in an afternoon would have taken years when I first
become involved in this lifestyle. The trick is wading through the BS
but there is great information out there."
Sadie: Do you have any special interests in BDSM that you'd like to
share?
LB: "Let me see, so many interests so little time? If we are
talking about BDSM as to how I look at the way it is now I guess my
interests would lend towards Etiquette and Protocol. I feel with the
advent of the Internet and the way it lacks the personal touch people
have put aside proper manners and I hear way too much how there is no
protocol in BDSM today. So to try to bring back a bit of protocol is an
interest to me. A far as my kink that would be chains, a woman in chains
is a wonderful sight."
Sadie: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
LB: "All I would like to say is remember we are in a very old
lifestyle that has been going through a big revival of late. Due to this
revival and the new dynamics of the way information is passed, we are
finding others of like minds at the speed of light. Some of these will
be great people; some will be users and abusers. When I first started in
the lifestyle it was not easy to find like-minded people and when you
did find a group you were looked at and observed for a time before you
were invited into the mix of a group. If in fact you were a user or
abuser you were found out and the word was passed. Today acceptance is
quick, the qualification to be in a group is slim, and many times it is
just a look at a profile and a quick e-mail to ask a few questions. Is
this bad? I don't know but I do know one thing, it puts the
responsibility on the individual now. So be safe, play safe, and if you
do meet a new person, just because they belong to a group don't assume
they are a safe player or an honorable person. Get references."
Sadie: Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sensuous
Sadie is the author of It's Not
About the Whip: Love, Sex, and Spirituality in the BDSM Scene (http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-0551.html).
She is the founder and leader (1999 - 2001) of
Rose
&
Thorn
,
Vermont
's first BDSM group.
Comments, compliments and complaints, as well as requests for reprinting
can be addressed to her at SensuousSadie@aol.com
or visit her website at www.sensuoussadie.com. Sadie believes the universe is abundant, and that sharing information
freely is part of this abundance, so she allows reprints of her writing
in most venues.
Copyright
2003 Sadie Sez Publications
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