ProjectEuropa welcome to the wonderful world of the Dungeon Master. Whether you know it that was your role in this scene. From the sound of it you did a pretty good job. As you said every one went home happy and unhurt.

To answer your last question first, yes I have done it, from both sides, and liked it immensely. I still do it but never without help. From my experiance your concerns about doing it one on one are well justified. As you witnessed things can change quickly. As you noted the Top was in topspace, paying attention to what he was doing with the cane, rightly so, but missing the subtle things going on. While the Sub was blistly disconnected from reality while visiting subspace. Thats why your role as DM was so important for all concerned. This occures frequently not only with suspension but in bondage and other types of scenes as well. Its not a failing an anyones part but just one of thoses realities of life. There is an old saying I learned from my gay S&m days, never play alone. Which ment that one on one play, particulary in the S&m world, is dangerious and you should have another person around for safety.

It seems you get credit for several other things too. First suspension is not a beginners game and when you add inversion you really up the safety concerns. Its, in my opinion,the most life threating thing you can do in a scene. First you did your homework and learned the risks, both physical and mechanical. Second you thought through the risks and applied the information you learned in your reasearch and were proactive before the scene began to asure a good outcome. Third you had a safety person, yourself, to lookout after every ones safety and well being. Fourth you acted on the knowledge to avert a problem when trouble did arise. Bravo

All of us are aware of SSC and the concepts but too few of us don't think about RAK (Risk Aware Kink) which teaches us to know and understand the risks involved in our play. It also implys that as Tops or Doms etc. we have studied the technique and are aware of the pitfalls and have a plan to avoid them and can recognize and deal with them if they do occure. As bottoms or subs etc. we will know the risks, be honest about ourselves and our physical and mental strengths and weekness. Take time to ask the tough questions of those we entrust our safety to. And most importantly to say NO when our safety concerns are not met.

Before I go let me take a monent from the personal experience file just to scare the hell out of you. Many years ago two good friends were engaged in some Friday night play which involved inverted suspension and one on one play. After securing the bottom and hoisting him up off the floor till his sholders were just touching the Top went to the wall to get a pair of cuffs for his wrists, to secure them behind his back. In those seconds between letting go of the winch handle and picking up the cuffs he had a massive heart atack that rendered him imoble. Because the bottoms hands had not been secured and because he was in excelent physical condition he was able, in time, to work himself free and call for help. Fortunatly for all involved everyone made it through alive. A couple weeks later the bottom and I tried to recreate the escape with me suspended. The result after about 20 min I was hanging limp and unconsus. Which ment the adverage person probably woulden't been able to manage it and the result would have been two dead friends for me to find on Saturday morning.

ProjectEuropa don't give up on your fantasy but apply what you have learned, set reasonable expectations for the scene, get a friend or two and go for it.

Thanks for posting your wonderfull experience. Got any pictures to share?