Bound in Boston - Shibari & Kinbaku style rope bondage education

Unless stated otherwise, the dress code for our cons is "family friendly." We share the hotel with other events and guests, and our relationship with the hotel depends on us not making other hotel guests uncomfortable. No fetish-wear, no play in the halls, no kink behavior in public spaces. Please read the detailed event rules here...
Photography is only permitted if the subject is against a wall and no one is in the photograph. Cell-phone/mobile device use is prohibited in the con space. More information regarding our mobile device policy is here...
Arrive at least 20 minutes early. That way, you'll make sure that you get through registration and to your first class on time.
Two 30' lengths and two 15' lengths is just the right amount for most of the classes. Check out the rope page for more helpful hints on rope.
Bring a beach towel, a yoga mat, a small blanket, or a sheet. Wearing loose clothing will make tying and moving a lot easier.
Put a card with your name and phone number in your jackets and bags. People leave stuff behind after each con - if we find your belongings and they're labeled, that helps us get them back to you.
Bring some cash for buying awesome stuff from our awesome vendors! If you need rope, we usually have a vendor selling rope.
Add a little decoration to your bags. A lot of people bring their stuff in generic-looking black bags - if you add a little ornamentation, it'll help make sure other people don't accidentally wander off with your things.

The following comments are taken from the last post-con survey, in answer to the question "What advice would you give to someone who's never been to a Bound In Boston con before?"

"Be open to new ideas. Don't come with a preconcieved notion of what the con is going to be like. Just let it all flow."
"Eat breakfast. Bring snacks. Pace yourself. Talk to strangers."
"Prepare to have a good time. Oh...and remember towels and/or mat. We were glad that we did."
"Don't be afraid to go up to someone and ask questions or introduce yourself. People are so much more welcoming than we all expect. We are a very committed community to bringing all kinds of people together for the purpose of education for personal growth."
"Don't be afraid to ask questions."
"Definitely attend the rope 101 class. Introduce yourself to people--don't be scared! Read the class descriptions in advance and plan out which classes you will take. Ask questions of presenters. if you don't understand something in class, say so, but also be respectful if the class needs to move on. Ask your neighbors for help if they get the tie and you don't. Sit up front or at least somewhere that you can clearly see the presenter. Practice a tie many times, and asap after you learn it, in order to commit it to muscle memory."
"Don't let what other people are doing intimidate you. We all started somewhere and remember it well. Develop an intention for your time at BiB and share it with your partner(s) and instructors."
"Give yourself to the experience. Trust the vibe. It is a wonderful, welcoming, inclusive experience. Oh, and bring some rope."
"Look over the schedule beforehand to get a feel for it. Come prepared with a pad and pen."
"Mingle, ask questions, enjoy! Ask more questions and mingle more. There is a vast wealth of knowledge to pull from, both from the presenters, the staff, and other attendees."

Going solo to Bound In Boston

A question that's often asked is, "I don't have a partner - will I still have a good time if I come to Bound In Boston by myself?"

The simple answer is "Yes!" A more detailed, more honest answer is probably, "It depends."

We usually seem to have a fairly balanced mix of solo tops and bottoms, and a pretty even gender mix. It's not perfect, but it's pretty close. While we don't have a formal procedure for matching up soloists, we do have a way to help people who are looking for partners find one another. These "I'm looking" buttons are available at the registration desk. If you're looking for a partner, pick up a button, and then look for others wearing one:

Having fun as a soloist also depends on your own personal social style. In a lot of ways, attending Bound In Boston by yourself is similar to attending any other social activity by yourself: if you enjoy meeting new people and making friends, you're likely to have a good time. On the other hand, if the thought of being in the middle of a group of people you don't know makes you woozy, going alone might not be fun.

First and foremost, our cons are educational events, and there's always a good mix of sessions that are hands-on, discussion, lecture, and demonstration. Even if you don't have a partner, there'll be plenty of opportunities to just sit, watch, and learn.

It also helps to have the right expectations. While plenty of friendships are formed at Bound In Boston, it is most definitely NOT a place to find a "hook-up." If you attend with the expectation that you'll find a sex partner, you're likely to be disappointed.

For new-comers:

If you've never been to a play party before, it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience. Lots of people, lots of activity - lots to see and absorb.

Although most of these rules would seem obvious, it's easy to forget that play party etiquette is a bit more complex than at a regular party. The general rule is "be super respectful of people who are already engaged in some activity together." Specifically, that means:

The most important rule of all: don't interrupt people who are "scening" (interacting/playing). Even if they appear to be doing very little, they're still sharing an intimate space and an intimate moment. It's OK to stand at a distance and watch, but unless someone in a scene makes specific contact with you and asks you to join, you should never, ever talk to or touch the people in a scene.
People who are playing together rarely want suggestions from others. If you think someone is doing something the wrong way, if you think you have a better way of doing something, if you have a toy you think they might want to use - keep it to yourself. A party is not a place for unsolicited advice. If you think someone is doing something extraordinarly dangerous, go find someone in charge and tell them.
Touching people you don't know and don't have permission to touch is very bad form and will get you thrown out of a party. Just because someone is interacting in the middle of a group of people doesn't mean they want to interact with you.
Don't pick up other people's stuff. Don't step on other people's stuff. People are pretty possessive about their toys.
Be aware of where you're going when you're walking around. Especially in a crowded party, there's a lot of stuff going on.
Asking someone if they want to play with you is perfectly acceptable, as long as you understand that "no" always, always, ALWAYS means "no." There's an excellent message thread on FetLife called "How NOT to be creepy at a party" - newcomers will get a lot out of reading it, here...
If the party is crowded, expect to get bumped and jostled. Crowded parties are, well, crowded.

For the experienced people:

Our parties are attended by both new-comers and experienced people. We like new-comers - more people to play with! Remember that even with the best of intentions, people will make mistakes. We're all in this community together, and we were all beginners once. If we're kind and respectful when pointing out mistakes, we'll create a more fun atmosphere for everyone.

Advice & etiquette

Going solo to Bound In Boston

For new-comers:

For the experienced people: