PERFORMERS IN LOCKDOWN:

SAKURA STRIKE (PSYCATT)
Dominatrix/Fetish Model

Sakura Strike is a fulltime pro dominatrix who, in her spare time, also models latex and other fetishwear under the name Psycatt. As a result, she now finds more enjoyable applications for her profess-ional photo-retouching talents, and reckons mistressing has also equipped her with various transferable skills — in luxury customer service, psychology, promotion, management and leadership

Effect of Covid on my work: It’s affected my ability to do real time sessions, which is the bulk of my income. Sadly for me I’m currently unable to bully, punish and torment my poor subs/slaves in person.

…and on life beyond fetish: I’m a very social person. Being unable to see most people I love, as well as travel, has made me feel very stuck and restricted. I really miss being able to spend time with people I care about as I’m not great at keeping in touch via text.

Obviously financially I’ve also taken a blow, because live sessions are what I live for and made most of my income from, so being unable to go to work means I’ve had to re-think business strategy and spend a lot more time on my screen than I enjoy spending.

Thankfully, I have very kind and caring friends and clients who are very understanding, and remember me and to keep in touch despite my terrible communication online!

Income replacement: I’ve had to shift all my efforts into online domination, which is a completely different market with different clients. Currently I’m running an OnlyFans page where I’m doing a lot of custom content, and posting snippets everyday, investing time in remote tasks, texting and camming sessions.

I think providing high quality service/content is important, and I aim to deliver a luxury service standard, that’s highly personalised and bespoke to my clients.

Counter-intuitive as it sounds, outside of a scene, regardless of how degrading/cruel/sadistic we’ve agreed for things to be, empathy is very important. I want my clients to feel valued and feel that they receive the things they want from me, and maybe just that little extra that makes them want to stay and come back for more!

Financial support: I might seek it if things don’t go as well as hoped for, although I’d like to avoid it if I can. Who knows, this might just be the kickstart I needed to start doing Findom (financial domination) properly!

Coping strategies: I go for a daily walk for exercise and for coming up with ways to be creative. Currently thinking of some plans for a YouTube channel for Psycatt as a form of directing my anxiety somewhere positive and focused on personal growth!

The outloook for me: I’ll have to continue investing in the online business for as long as it takes, and look into solutions rather than problems. Adult workers have always been resourceful and found interesting, creative ways to bypass and overcome obstacles, so I’ll focus my attention on becoming better at those forms of business!

One big thing: Knowing my bills and food would be taken care of financially would really reduce my anxiety levels!

Hopes/fears for our community:
 My biggest hope is that that we’ll come out with a brand new kink instead of collective trauma! I’m only joking, but will also have a cage ready for anyone wanting it as soon as the lockdown is over! Biggest fear is that people will be scared of physical contact and having fun socially!

…and for society/humanity:
 My biggest hope is that this crisis inspires people to develop themselves further as creatives and spiritually! My biggest fear is the long term financial and psychological impact this will have on my clients and friends. But as I always like to think, there’s no problems, only solutions, and I’m sure we’ll figure out a way to overcome things positively!

onlyfans.com/sakurastrike
instagram.com/psycatt

PERFORMERS IN LOCKDOWN:

TOPANGA LOVE
Performer/Costume Designer/ Latex Maker

A performer specialising in exotic fetish/ BDSM shows, Topanga works as a latex maker for well-known brands and applies this skill to creating her stage outfits. Jojo to her friends, she accepts private party work and latex commissions. She has previously worked in customer relations on cruise liners, and for hotel suppliers.

Effect of Covid on my work: Living day to day for a freelancer is hard, especially when all our industries are in lockdown now. I try to stay busy, wake up early every day, do some admin, avoid social media like the plague due to personal reasons, writing lists of things I could do other than performing and latex production.

I still work on my patterns and getting through my stash of rubber to do a sample sale soon to cover costs of living.

My Etsy shop is finally going live, not sure if it’s even worth it at this point. I self-isolate, so it’s been difficult especially with the news of the loss of my dear friend only a few days before lockdown.

Not getting any closure, and mourning during a lockdown feels a bit like when Dumbledore dies and we all know its only going to get darker. Lots of movies, some gaming…

…and on life beyond fetish: Well, the travel industry is a mess, which is annoying as it’s usually my fallback. I don’t think it will recover anytime soon. Just catching up with the backlog will take months — this is a situation without precedent.

The last time the industry froze nearly as badly as this (by European standards) was during the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in Iceland. I remember being on the phone with customers stranded in Dubai, unable to give them a resolution.

This is of course a very different situation — however it all boils down to people wanting answers and us not having any information to give them.

Income replacement: Currently I’m just working on new patterns, and making samples for an eBay sale. Also bringing my Etsy shop back to life for orders and commissions of headdresses, latex and costumes.

Financial support: I’m due absolutely nothing due to being away from the UK for three years for medical and family reasons.

Coping strategies: Watching lots of thrillers, sketching, exercise, some self-teaching through online tutorials, cooking, cleaning and snuggling cats.

The outlook for me: I have no vision of the future. I am going through the motions of what I should be doing to get me past each day. I am questioning everything at the moment. The scene, the industry, the mentality and hypocrisy behind most of it.

I am also aware that mourning will take a while and that right now I am too angry due to my grief. It’s a bit contradictory when my job is to look good and happy, while I feel rotten inside at the tremendous loss of human life.

One big thing: Knowing that I’d have a stable job to go to after this would be a major stress relief.

Hopes/fears for our community:
 I hope this will give us all time to look at what is working and what isn’t.

I won’t get into my social media debate, but this is supposed to be a safe scene for obvious reasons, and it isn’t. Abuse has been witnessed but the scene is more concerned with pretending all is well.

PERFORMERS IN LOCKDOWN:

BRUCE ESINEM
Shibari Tutor/Rope Supplier

Veteran rigger Esinem (with model Sophie Alice Golder, above) creates online shibari tutorials with partner Nina Russ for ShibariClasses, and does online rope sales through Esinem-Rope (retail) and EU-Rope (trade). He does occasional live performances and rope-related projects for music videos etc. Rope is now his fulltime work

Effect of Covid on my work: So far, people have been buying lots of rope and tutorials to cope with lockdown. Shipping is slightly affected and I’m hoping it won’t worsen significantly.

…and on life beyond fetish: Not massively as we tend to be very home-centric. Sad to have less visitors.

Income replacement: I’ve not needed it, but am using time to update social media marketing. Hopefully, the project to build a three-bed house on the site of my garages will not be too much delayed.

Financial support: Again, not needed.

Coping strategies: A lot of airgun target practice. Thinking of ways to contribute more usefully.

The outlook for me: Not worried, feel confident of weathering any storm.