Interview with mistress Shane

Could You introduce Yourself?
I’ve got over 16 years of experience as a professional Mistress. I started in New York, the place I was born. Some ten years ago, I came to Europe and settled in Belgium. My new Studio is in Aartselaar, a small city near Antwerp and Brussels.

SM is part of my life. When I was young, I had friends with a certain fetish. They already saw I was dominant before I even knew it myself. I became interested in SM by some experiences. I give you two examples. At the age of 18, I was working in a shoe store. One day, a bus driver came in and asked for the largest pair of pumps. When he put them on I saw he was wearing a panty. He bought the shoes. I think he felt relaxed, because I reacted well to this. One year later, a friend who studied improvisation theatre asked me to walk over him. Everyone in class had to pretend he or she was a piece of furniture. He was given the role of a floor, that was the reason for his question. I did it. He told me afterwards I had been one of the few persons who really gave him the feeling of being a floor. These were my first experiences with the world of BDSM. When I started my professional career, I realised this is where I need to be.

An American Mistress in Belgium. What was the most difficult thing for You to adjust to as far as SM is concerned?
I don’t feel American anymore. I do have my friends and social life here. In the beginning, there was no clear difference between BDSM and sex in Belgium. Some Mistresses had sex with their clients and the clients thought this was normal. Now, they realise the difference between SM and sex. BDSM isn’t about the cheap sexual thrill, it’s more in the mind. I don’t have problems with prostitution in itself, but there’s no sexual contact in any session as far as I’m concerned. Some Mistresses still allow it. I don’t look down on them. It’s just not my way of SM.

You can both be soft and hard, but I’ve got the impression Your interest lies most in hard SM. What’s the attractive thing for You to make a slave pushing his own barriers?
People allow me to be hard towards them, to push them beyond their limits. To me, it feels like an honour to respond to this allowance. It depends on what the slave is looking for. There must be mutual consent. I don’t want to inflict pain on someone who isn’t into it. I try to be more physical in punishing now. For example by face slapping and kicking. This is a new development for me as well.

You’ve opened a new studio. Is there a philosophy behind the way You decorated it?
Aartselaar is a place outside the big city of Antwerp. My studio is located very discretely. The ground floor is decorated traditionally with a cross, a whipping bench, two cages and My throne, the first floor is more modern. Here, there’s also a special area for golden showers and a deprivation cage. I’m still buying equipment. There are also outdoor possibilities. The philosophy? I need a studio that’s clean and where clients feel comfortable. I don’t wish for the best, most luxurious studio. Nobody can have everything.

You worked a lot with other Mistresses when You were located in Antwerp. Will You continue doing this?
Yes. I’ll be working again with Mistress Jay from Gent, Mistress Morticia from Mechelen and with Mistress Charlotte from Hannover. The more value of working with other Mistresses is one can learn from each other. They experience the same things as I do. The positive, the negative and the funny things. When you work by yourself all the time you somehow forget who you are.

The Mistresses with whom I’m working with are not competitors in my eyes. Competition between Mistresses often lies in their clients. When one client first goes to one, then goes to another and starts talking about the first Mistress envy arises easily.

You must have many loyal clients who’ve come for years already. How do You make sure You’re able to keep it exiting for both Mistress and slave?
I had been at the point of returning to NY for good after having sold my previous studio. The fact I have so many loyal clients was an important reason not to do it in the end. It depends on what the client wants how to keep it exited. When they come with new ideas I like, I incorporate them into a session. Sometimes, there’s the possibility of a slave girl joining the session. But there are also clients who wish the same kind of play over and over again. Their fantasy is completely focused on that one issue. I understand. It most of the time has to do with a specific experience in their childhood. Such sessions don’t last that long. Personally, I prefer longer lasting sessions during which I don’t have to rush.

Some loyal people I see once a year, others every ten days. It’s more about the person rather than a typical type of session that’s important to me. I can’t keep everyone as a loyal client. I can’t satisfy them all. What people can’t expect with me is baby play, caviar, permanent damage and heavy medical play (not in my own studio). Baby sessions are often linked to sexual experiences in childhood. I find it difficult to handle them.

What was the strangest request/session You ever had?
This is a too difficult question to answer properly. I don’t find requests strange quickly. Well, if you want to hear something. I once had an Arab sheikh who wanted me to put on his clothes. He put on my clothes. Is this strange enough?

Would You like to say anything else to end?
SM isn’t an easy thing to do. Not everyone is able to do this work. Mistresses need to be respected more. We help a lot of people by giving them strength. Personally, I’ve learned to become more selfish. As a Mistress You give much of Yourself, sometimes too much. I’m finding the balance between giving and taking. Some slaves want you to do things all the time. In fact, they become the master. I’m not looking for such slaves who do things wrong constantly just to be punished.