Page 52 - AVN March 2016

by MISTRESSPOUBELLE
FEATURE
The Lair Roars at AEE
The AVN show rocked the world of kink
by presenting The Lair during AEE.
Taking over the balcony overlooking the
action-packed floor of The Joint, vendors
beyond the scope of vanilla plied their
wares to the experienced, the curious,
and those seeking something different
than the mini-skirted, cleavage-exposing
attendees of AEE.
Hosting The Lair for the second
year, Mistress Cyan from the Sanctuary
LAX shared, “We were busy even on
Wednesday, the first day the show was
open. We saw our friends that were
here last year as well as a lot of new
attendees. It’s fantastic that so many
people came upstairs on the first day
to check out The Lair. I’m so proud of
AEE sponsoring it as well as industry
stalwarts Kink.com and The Stockroom
lending their support.”
Many familiar faces from the Los
Angeles and Las Vegas kink community
have made it their priority to be in
The Lair during the show. Mistress
Hudsy Hawn, from The Stockroom
and The Dominion in Los Angeles,
not only provided knowledgeable
customer service to those wanting to
buy equipment but also shared tricks
and tips for those who wanted to learn.
As director of education for Stockroom
University, Hudsy feels strongly about
encouraging new participants in the
world of kink. “It always amazes me to
be one of the first people in the scene
they encounter because so many people
have the misconception that those who
partake in this must have something
wrong with them,” she said. “Once they
learn and get to know us, we’re actually a
really nice bunch of people who just love
to play!”
Returning East Coast vendor Leather
by Danny premiered many new products
in this year’s Lair, including custom-
made wood blocks that provide instant
bondage points for surfaces that are too
delicate to attach them to. Danny said, “I
come up with these ideas and products
when I realize there is nothing out there
to accommodate what I need. As they
say, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’
and when I create something that I can
put to good use myself, then I know
it’s going to be a great product.” Other
products showcased included his hand-
crafted leather “Split Thumper,” which
is the Leatherman of kink. “There’s so
much you can do with this!” Danny exclaimed,
and whenever a curious buyer was in his booth,
he gladly demonstrated the product’s versatility.
L.A.-based Justin Sayne’s crop of real alligator
floggers, whips and other one-of-a-kind devices
of pleasure and pain were again a hit. “The
extraordinary shapes and textures are what makes
my whips and slappers different than anything
out there,” Justin explained. “Not only can you
use the textured, alligator side of the skin but the
other side is a nice, softer suede. I’ve expanded
the line from when I was here last year in The
Lair and there’s been a lot of nice interest and
sales, too. I’m happy.”
Pennsylvania-based Flogger Knows Best
returned for the fourth year and was, in fact, one
of the original Lair vendors. Scott, the “father” of
the company, said, “The vanilla reaction has been
open and they’ve been willing to experiment and
try the different sensations the floggers produce.
I’ve been doing a lot of education, especially that
floggers can be sensual and do not have to hurt.
Since we sell a little bit of everything—including
soft deer, elk, pig, which is sturdy and sueded
on both sides—we really do have something for
everyone. For the harder players, there’s bull and
buffalo, too.”
Steampunk design fabricators Kyla’s Keepsakes
from Phoenix vended hand-made feather
accessories, voluminous skirts with matching
corsets and handmade leather goods and custom
embroidery. “We’re the first steampunk designer
to be here at the AEE show!” exclaimed owner
Kyla Kahn. “There’s an incredible crossover
with steampunk and the BDSM scene so it was
a natural fit for us to be here. The reception has
been great and many people are coming here
for accessories. … On another note, I’d love to
see steampunk more in the porn industry. The
Victorian era is sexy because it leaves something
to the imagination.”
For the third year in a row, Palmdale-based
Orchid and Serpent split their store with the
more vanilla and intro kink products being
sold on the main AEE floor and the harder core
products in the Lair. “Wednesday was a little
slow but considering it was the first day, it’s
to be expected,” owner Philip said. “It’s been
much better today with lots of friendly people
looking for kinky things to do. We basically have
something for everyone to hit, strike or put in!”
Leyland Craftwork returned this year with
owner/creator Claire Agincourt showing off his
wide collection of canes and paddles made with
acrylic, Lexan, flexible carbon fiber and, of course,
leather. “My customers are either the starting-
out vanilla crowd or the most experienced player
who knows exactly what they want. The vanilla
crowd buys riding crops, I think, because they
are the iconic BDSM tool,” Claire shared. “Riding
crops are considered a safe toy to use because it’s
difficult to accidentally injure someone with a
riding crop, unless of course, you are a horse.”
Locally based The Black Room German fetish
store has presented wares at the Lair for the
past three years. The owner, Franz, sold general
merchandise, which includes clothes of all shapes
and styles. “The casual, non-scene Fifty Shades of
Gray shopper tends to buy our dresses, leather
harnesses, latex, patent leather, maybe some
lingerie and hosiery. We sell more clothing than
equipment since there are other vendors for those
products. There’s also interest in our dungeon
furniture, too, which we are not only showing but
demoing at the Lair, too.”
Out from Phoenix, Bad Dragon showed off
fantasy-based silicone dildos, including a Demon
pointy-headed dildo created in association with
Kink.com. According to Varka, the company CEO,
“The show has been fantastic and beyond our
expectations! Last year we just wandered around
but to be a vendor this year has been really, really
good so far.” Bad Dragon’s spotlighted, glass-
enclosed dildo collection stopped customers in
their tracks. “Our toys are like nothing they’ve
ever seen, and we like it like that.”
Prowling in the Lair
Mistress Cyan (far left)
hosted the Lair, which
was supported by many
adult companies, among
them Kink.com, Leather By
Danny, The Stockroom and
The Black Room. (Mistress
Cyan photo by Dirk B; all
others by Rick Garcia)
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