When I performed a preview production of my show, Coming Out Kinky – A Grown Up Story, a wonderful thing happened. I was contacted by a member of the audience who asked about investing in the show. I was on a cloud of joy and optimism: “Wow,” I thought. “That was so easy! I’ll be able to put up a longer production of the play and so soon!”
At my first lunch meeting with the investor, the conversation took an unexpected turn. Given that his professional background was in continuing education for therapists, he asked me if I’d be interested in performing the show as part of a class to teach therapists about kink. “My show can help therapists?!” I thought. A soothing feeling of legitimacy spread through my body – maybe what I was doing was important to the world after all.
My decision a few years ago to share Coming Out Kinky publicly felt like a step into an abyss. Will people want to hurt me? What will happen to my career? My Mom fretted about these concerns and I comforted her – inwardly just as worried as she. As foolhardy as my decision to expose my unique sex life openly seemed to me, I felt called to do it anyway.
Now, I was teaming up with a sex therapist to create a class. Given that my day job is as a corporate seminar leader, my worlds were indeed integrating. But hey, what about my dream of a longer production of my play? I’d spent 18 months developing the show for a public audience. My investor seemed less and less interested in that expensive venture and I was left with a challenge in front of me.
I knew that ambitious, creative people were posting their projects on websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, inviting the world to support them. I was terrified to do it. If I went this route, I could no longer share my show with a select group of local friends – people who I knew wouldn’t judge me harshly. If I launched a crowdfunding campaign, I would have to tell everyone. This meant coming out on Facebook, blogging, giving radio interviews and being visible like never before.
How would I be received?
I launched the campaign with an upbeat video and lots of photos to explain the show’s story. Here are the gifts that resulted:
- * High school acquaintances on Facebook have stepped forward to “like” and enthusiastically support me
- * My conservative friends and relatives have expressed that though they don’t fully understand what I’m doing, they love me and want me to be happy
- * I was invited to be a guest on Playboy Radio
- * My campaign received visits from Europe, the Netherlands and Brazil; one contributor came from Ethiopia!
- * I raised over $12,000 and now can proudly announce the World Premiere of my show in Los Angeles in May and June of 2014
Running a successful crowdfunding campaign taught me that there is an appetite for candid stories about sexuality. More specifically, I’ve learned that kink is ready to come out of the closet. I am a respected professional, beloved daughter, affectionate sister and compassionate friend. I am also kinky as hell. The world seems ready for me, for this message and for my show.
Here’s are details about the World Premiere of Coming Out Kinky – tickets are available and selling fast.* * * * *
This blog was written as a guest post for the splendid, provocative website gasm.org.
This blog was written as a guest post for the splendid, provocative website gasm.org.