There’s a point in the week of prep for an event where I always wonder if it’s really worth the work. Then, within very little time at all, I see that it really is.

Smut Market 3 was sold out and traders trickled in to set up and a little while after opening, customers arrived too. It was a slow trickle for a while then 2pm hit and it was busy, busy, busy from there on in. And of course, busy is good for us as a business.  And yes, making money is part of organising such events but that alone doesn’t make it worth our time.

What makes it worth it, is seeing folks new to the scene deep in conversation with regulars and later being told how much fun they’ve had and how welcomed they felt. It’s seeing people excitedly showing off their new purchases and for me, being the one people ask to try out their new purchases on!

I love hearing people chatting animatedly and later seeing their connections on social media. Hearing laughter, seeing smiles and excited hugs just fills my heart with all kinds of joy and love.

Positive feedback makes us determined to do the next event, when all the traders jump to book in for Smut Market 4 on the 30th March and everyone is sad to hear it’s so far away…that makes me feel good. Not because I’m a sadist, but because Kev and I have created something that people really love.

Not only do people discover us as Smut.UK but they discover Miss T’s, our kinky home from home. They find out about this amazingly welcoming and friendly little BDSM dungeon and every time I hear people making plans to go to other events there I beam because I want the place to go from strength to strength.

Miss T and her boy as well as Animal work hard to make the Smut Market a success. They are integral to the event and make sure everyone has a fun, safe and happy time. In fact, Miss T went so far as to organise a caning demo for someone new to the scene. And I got to be the caned bottom at the afterparty!

That’s another thing I like. Yes, being beaten, we all know that, but also people finding out new things. It’s fabulous to see curiosity, wonder and delight. It’s like watching our community knitting itself together in front of my eyes.

And yes, being beaten. I did enjoy the 4 hits of varying strength from Animal’s new crocodile tail. There was the example on when he first bought it and then 3 later to compare and contrast it to the alligator tail. It’s a close run thing, but the crocodile is more evil. It’s the added weight that does the damage!

At the end of a very long day, Kev and I go home with smiles on our faces, already planning the next Smut Market and reviewing the last one.

I really, really love my job.