Sounds great to me, you did your research and tried to find some common ground. You were flexible and resonsive to your sub. I guess you've got to find out 'how was it for them' but I bet you any money that they will tell you that they loved it.

I tend to make mental notes of things that I want to try when I'm not actually doing it so I have a small library of things to do. Then if something is needed you're already halfway there and you don't come across all 'hmmm, wonder what happens if I tie this bit to this bit....' and you know what you're doing. That's where confidence comes from. For example, you want to restrain your sub standing with her hands away from her bottom, it's a good idea to know how to do it before you need it. If I haven't got a good plan for something then I won't do it, but will make a note that it's something to have a plan for next time. Anything I'm unsure about I'll research and/or try on myself when I'm alone. I don't like to do things that 'don't work' so just a bit of forthought really works for me and then when you're actually doing it you're confident cos you aren't winging it and you can be thinking about something else, like fucking with your subs head at the same time for example.

I'm sure I don't need to mention that it's a safe approach too; but I will

How did you find it? Did it turn you on or were you wishing you were on the receiving end?