MrFulmen has already given you some wonderful starting points that really do have value. Like him congats on working on yourself its a great place to start. I cant add much more. One thing extra that does spring to mind, learn how to be "of service" rather than looking to be "serviced"
This could things like assessing your life and building on skill sets you already have, that might be "of use" to a Dominant (if you seek more that casual play or "life/experience" outside of scene'ing).
How can you improve a Dominants life? These actions of "service" can be very different for each Dominant (as we not all stamped out from the same cookie cutter machine) but might include things like home maintenance, PC or car maintenance, cooking cleaning, massage, organizational skills, yoga or exercise, boot blacking, play equipment building, first aide, web coding.... the list is endless, it comes down to how "of service" you wish to be above and beyond being "in service" during scene.
gremog wrote:
snip....
Now my question. Are there "standard" things that I need to keep in mind?
Any help, any thinking with me is appreciated!
One standard we all share is safety. Safety issue are the same world wide, it never hurts to learn safety of all the acts you wish to participate in. After all these could save your life.
The next standard would be terminology. We often don't agree on the whole meaning or implication of the word but the general "gist" is often shared. Knowing the terminologies used is good to use as "short hand" to get to the actual discussion or the heart of the words meaning, to you BOTH
Are there standards? I don't think so as we Dominants are all so very different in what we "seek, want, desire or require" What I want in a live in partner is different to what I seek in a casual partner or in my poly partners. I think for myself the most important thing is that the "self label or title" you apply to yourself, matches my personal meaning. I'd also expect that "standard to be upheld. If you identify as say, slave....then you better be a slave! a sub, a sub etc. In short if you cant walk the talk, then don't talk it!
There is nothing wrong with being a bottom, there is problem (imo) if you self label as slave and my definition differs. As a Domme it gets very tiresome dealing with egos wrapped around titles. A bottom, sub or slave ALL have value in their own rights, none is BETTER than the other. Just make sure you are what you state. I bet many a Dominant has over looked a person that self titled as Slave because they are personally looking for a Submissive or a bottom. I know i have no need for a slave and often skip those profiles but when meeting or playing with said "slaves"..they have turned out (IMO) to be bottoms, that have often "assumed" that self label of "slave" would get them more attention or be in more demand or is some how BIGGER and better. A better idea is to own what you do and do it well.
As far as self training play skills.
Learning how you body responds is a good thing to learn and will serve you will and a Dominant.
Do you understand your stages of refractory (in short how you re load after orgasm)
Do you know your stages of arousal (practice edging)