# How does one become a professional dominatrix? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304 "2003-04-08T13:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/1 "2003-04-08T13:26:23Z")
Is there any special school you have to attend or a certificate to get? Or can any girl with a taste for leather and a head for business start up her own dominatrix enterprises? Inquiring minds want to know! **whipcrack** .:Nichol:. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/2 "2003-04-08T13:36:23Z")
Q: How does one become a professional dominatrix? A: Beats me!?! Thanks, folks, I’ll be here all week! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/3 "2003-04-08T13:38:37Z")
\*\*Q: How does one become a professional dominatrix? \*\* Bend over and I’ll show ya! :eek: Did I just say that? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/4 "2003-04-08T14:02:57Z")
I imagine any aspiring entrepreneur can start up a service. After all, I can’t picture a college giving out degrees in whipology and knot tying. The first step is probably stocking up. (Stocks, get it?) Your ‘supplies’ should probably be varied to suit the various interests of your clients. The large equipment would depend on your location. After that you should get a nice customer base, possibly from your online harem. **wink, wink** Adversting will be the primary way of getting business, with websites and periodicals being the main forms of media. Then it’s just a matter of keeping everyone happy (or not. Some people may like it that way) Sounds good in theory, right? ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/5 "2003-04-08T14:09:11Z")
It’s always nice to see young people inquiring about career opportunities on this board. My suggestion is to go to porn school, with a minor in personal humiliation. Your course of study should also include readings from Marque de Sade, rope tieing and the use of vulgar language. May I wish you the worst in your new career. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/6 "2003-04-08T14:26:14Z")
Since you live in the US, you’ll have to file and pay your income tax quarterly instead of annually because you’re self-employed. You may be able to write off some of your “supplies” as business expenses. A good accountant is a must. Many metropolitan areas have one or more free newspapers that cater to the, shall we say, more extreme members of the community. These are excellent places to advertise. More mainstream newspapers may also have personal ads where you can put some carefully worded messages to reach your target market. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/7 "2003-04-08T14:34:49Z")
Also bear in mind that if you convert a room in your house over to a dungeon, you can write it off as an office. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/8 "2003-04-08T15:19:46Z")
There might be some groups or clubs in your area. You could start attending the events and pick up some pointers. You could almost certainly make some contacts there, and also pick up a few practice clients. A dominant women should have no problem finding men, women or couples to play with. In fact, you’ll most likely have to beat them off with a…ahh nevermind. If you’re serious, I guess you could find some local dommes (try the local alt paper or the internet) and see if you could apprentice with them. Be careful though. Aside from the obvious dangers associated with such practices, there are legal aspects to consider. Even if no sex is provided, the local police tend to look unkindly at such practices. This would certainly be less of a problem if you’re in L.A. or NYC. There are also quite a few how-to books available, although I am unfamiliar with any sort of certification programs (what are they teaching at those community colleges anyway?). Good luck in your future career… ---
**Author:** ![IrishRideGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b4bc9f/32.png) [@IrishRideGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrishRideGirl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/9 "2003-04-08T16:00:26Z")
You could apply for a job in a Dungeon. There are quite a few here in NYC and from what I understand, training is provided. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/10 "2003-04-08T16:30:25Z")
A friend of mine has started up such a business. She is a Domme in her private life, found herself in financial trouble, and decided to go pro. No sex, of course. She is experienced in how it all works, has all the equipment, and knows how to keep it safe. She actually just put up a profile on Yahoo! and I think some D/s websites. A few people contacted her, she talked with them, got comfortable with their situation and set up the appointment. Security was an issue, she had a trusted friend involved to make sure nothing bad happened. I’ll say this, the D/s culture is not simple (just from my contact with friend) if you don’t know how it works, you’ll screw it up royally. My friend was rather upset at one client who claimed to be experienced when he was not, the hired Domme had better be experienced. You need to expose yourself to the culture first, or you’ll make your clients unhappy, and that could spell very bad news. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/11 "2003-04-08T16:37:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nichol\_storm \* > \*\*Is there any special school you have to attend or a certificate to get? Or can any girl with a taste for leather and a head for business start up her own dominatrix enterprises? > > Inquiring minds want to know! **whipcrack** > > .:Nichol:. \*\* Given that laser printers are so cheap nowadays I’d be surprised if there’d be much call for your dot matrix services. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-professional-dominatrix/167304/12 "2003-04-08T17:08:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Also bear in mind that if you convert a room in your house over to a dungeon, you can write it off as an office. \*\* But she will need to be careful not to use that room for personal gratification or it will be disallowed. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Cheesesteak_ > **the hired Domme had better be experienced. You need to expose yourself to the culture first, or you’ll make your clients unhappy, and that could spell very bad news.** I feel fairly confident that **Nichol\_storm** wasn’t sitting in Sunday School when out of the blue this idea came to mind. :eek: [sup] **I’m meant to be a dominatrix!** [/sup]