FAQ
What is FOCS?
A community jam space for Queer, FLINTA*, global majority people to practice shibari. A relaxed, no-pressure space to tie, be tied, self-tie, or just meet others in the scene. This is not a workshop or teaching space though we encourage demos on a one to one basis.
What does FLINTA mean?*
FLINTA* = Women, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-Binary, Trans and Agender People. The * represents all non-binary gender identities. This is a German acronym and the F represents Frauen which means Women.
What does Global Majority mean?
If you identify as Global Majority, a Person of Colour (POC), South West Asian and North African (SWANA), East and South East Asian (ESEA), Black Indigenous POC (BIPOC), Black Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME), Latinx, biracial, multiracial... this space is for you!
Where is the jam?
The jam will be hosted in a Queer, Black owned studio space between Hackney Marshes station and Stratford Station.
Who can join?
Queer/FLINTA* POC only.
No white people. No cis men.
Can I bring a white/straight ally?
This is a Global Majority FLINTA* centered space and we ask that white people, non-queers, and cis men do not attend. Thank you for honouring that boundary and helping us maintain this space.
What do I need to bring?
Your own ropes and shears/scissors. A small amount of community rope will be available to borrow. We will provide shears but please bring your own from your kit too!
Water/ refillable bottle. There is a water fountain on site.
Snacks - particularly if you are prone to low blood sugar.
The schedule
7-7:15pm Settling in, mingling
7:20 - the door will be shut, with no further entries.
7:20-7:35pm Opening circle / jam intro
7:35-9:45pm Open jam
9:45-10:00pm Wind down and end.
Jam etiquette
Please wear your name & pronoun label and respect people’s labels!
Always tie within your ability.
There will be hard points at this jam. Please don't do any suspensions with studio rope. If self-suspending, please ask someone to spot you. We will not be teaching how to do or manage uplines so please only use the hard points if it's within your skill level.
If you want to tie with someone new, ask & wait for an answer. Listen to it. Decide your actions accordingly. No means no. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and nobody owes you access to their body. Negotiate / discuss before the tie. If the bottom is unsure of their limits and boundaries, GO SLOW. Also, when tying remember... you're not performing. Communicate as you need to!
If it appears someone is in the middle of a scene (or tie) together, please do not interrupt.
If you see something you are concerned or unsure about, please raise this with an organiser. If appropriate they will interrupt the scene and request a check-in using the traffic light system (explained below) from the participants. There will be at least 2 organisers monitoring at any time (currently we’ll be wearing coloured caps but this may change).
Please dress comfortably for the jam, there is no dress code.
No bottom nudity & please wear street clothes while outside the building.
No sex. For sapphics this is large and wide ranging. If the question crosses your mind, it's sex, or close enough so not allowed. This is not a kink venue & this is not a play party.
Use of drugs/alcohol is not allowed.
Impact play is welcomed for this jam!
Photography is allowed with agreement from everyone in the photograph & nobody in the background please. It's a big studio so please ensure nobody else is photographed. If you take a pic (w/no faces) you'd be happy for is to use on socials please share with us via email.
No racism, transphobia, ableism, sexism, homophobia, anti sex worker rhetoric or any other form of discrimination or slut shaming will be condoned or accepted. Please call out this behaviour as a community, organisers will. Let's work to remove this from our language and our bodies and create a space where we are accepting of our whole community.
What is a traffic light check?
Consent is an ongoing and alive entity in a scene. Using the traffic light system explicitly makes it visible and ongoing. You can make the check by asking for colours / what are your colours? / give me your colours? etc.
Riggers and models both have power within the scene to change intensity and stop. Any partner can call for a check at any time. You’re invited to explore this in your scenes in this space and practice speaking up.
Generally speaking the following will apply unless you have negotiated otherwise:
Green - Everything is good and we can continue at the same or higher intensity.
Yellow / Amber - Pause & invite a more detailed verbal check in. If discussion hasn’t happened, you need to start to untie but can remain in scene.
Red / no response - Scene ends immediately. Remove ropes as quickly as possible. Move directly into after care.
Accessibility
The venue is on the ground floor and has step free access. Toilets are level access and wheelchair accessible.
Lighting will be low but sufficient for safety and rope practice/play.
Low level music will be playing throughout the jam.
Mats and plenty of floor seating will be available. At the edges of the room, there is some raised seating. If you require this, please claim the space so you can tie comfortably.
If you need assistance for anything, or would just like to let us know things (regarding accessibility, mobility, allergy, literally anything at all), please contact us via email ahead of time. Our email is FOCSLdn@proton.me
Fragrance policy
This is a fragrance-free event. Please avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, heavily scented deodorants, or any strong fragrances.
COVID policy
We advise you still mask on public transport.
If you feel unwell, please don’t come - contact organisers about reselling your ticket. We will do our best to support you (however close it is to the jam).
Masking is encouraged but not required for the event itself.
How much are tickets?
Tickets are priced at £11
What does the cost of my ticket go towards?
We are entirely non-profit. Your ticket helps cover venue rental. If you get a supporter ticket this will cover set up, community rope, the first aid kit and other expenses. Any money made will be reinvested back into the jam.
Feedback
We’ll send a feedback form after the jam for you to complete in your own time. We value everyone’s opinion i and your feedback will help shape future events.
The organisers
In no particular order, Mon (they/them) Kali (she/they) Isis (she/her) and Theo (they/them).
You can reach out to the team at by email at FOCSLdn@proton.me