TDV: Hi Mistress LunaSea, welcome to The Dominant’s View and thanks for agreeing to do this interview. To get us started could you give us a little background about yourself and your involvement in BDSM?

MLS: Thank you Kayla for the opportunity to interview with The Dominant's View. Coming into BDSM came very natural for Me once I learned that it was a lifestyle. I had great examples of very strong, independent women in My family. I have always taken leadership roles both as a child and as an adult. I was an observer of the gay male leather scene in clubs in the 80's and went to My first BDSM workshop in 1999 in the gay community of which I was very involved in at the time. The room was packed and I sat on the front row. As I listened, I realized that to a degree I had been practicing kink, role play, fetishes and consensual domination all of My life, but I didn't know it was a lifestyle with a name. I couldn't get enough after that. My partner at the time refused to go to the workshop and as My interest grew it became a problem for us. It contributed to the end of our relationship. My only regret is that I didn't come into the lifestyle and Pro Domme work at a much earlier age.

TDV: What made you decide to become a professional dominatrix?

MLS:I have always been an entrepreneur and when I learned that I could make a business out of just being Myself, it made sense for Me.

TDV: How did you start as a professional? Was it expensive to set up or did you acquire your equipment piece by piece?

MLS:Well...I did lots and lots of research almost to the point of being ridiculous. I did two years worth of research. I worried that I was contributing to dishonesty in people's relationships. I came to the conclusion that people are going to do what they want and need to do to be happy. It is not My job to be responsible for people's relationships and how they want to handle them. I wanted to be the best that I could be in My training, toys, equipment and safety. I am very interested the psychology of this lifestyle and why we do what we do. The best part of what I love about this lifestyle is the exchange of power and trust. And as a Pro Domme, that's huge to get with a client. As a lifestyle Mistress those people that I have that trust with become family to some degree.

About the expense of going Pro and how I got My equipment. Some of it was given to Me. Much was bought. It is very expensive to do this business right. All profits from My business went right back into toys, training and travel to train from some of the best, getting great fetish clothes and of course advertising.

TDV: Where did you get your initial clients from?

MLS: I have a web slave that made Me a wonderful, professional looking site and I got listed with as many Pro Domme non escort type of sites/search engines as possible. I have been fortunate to have had talented photographers, friends, make-up artists and My web slave to work with and learn from. Sales, marketing and management and corporate training was a part of My past life. Actually, there's so much more that I need to be doing for My business. A new website is currently in the works.

TDV: You do more than dominate clients, you are involved in performances and other areas of adult media. Could you tell us about that aspect of your work?

MLS: Performance art has always been a part of Me since I was a child. I have taken breaks from it from time to time, but always find Myself going to back it. It's great to act out whether in a photo session or on stage in a fetish burlesque show or best of all, during a session. It's using Myself as art to some degree. I always dress as though I am doing a stage show or performance for My sessions because dressings up is a fetish for Me. I also do demos/workshops and usually once or twice a year I do fund raising for worthy causes.

TDV: You are heavily involved with the BDSM community at large. How do you balance your ‘professional’ side with your own personal interests? In other words, do you get to be ‘just a dom’ sometimes when you attend BDSM events?

MLS: The two are quite intermingled. My two male slaves and close inner circle of friends would tell you that it's fluid. My lifestyle and being Mistress LunaSea is all the time. If I am doing something personal like training at the gym or researching being a Life Coach and Hypnotherapist , it goes with My business and personal life interests. Going to events, I'm always Mistress LunaSea.

TDV: Some people in the BDSM culture are not all that fond of ‘professional domination’. Do you ever run into comments/problems in that area? If so, how have you handled that?

MLS: Yes, I have heard comments that Pro Domme's only do what we do for the money. I am both a lifestyle Dominant with two non-sexual slaves that have served Me for 6 and 3 three years. As a lesbian, our family certainly is out of service and devotion. I do what I do because I love what I do. Being a Pro Domme is neither always easy nor pretty and very few women are getting rich doing this as a career. It has been My experience, and that of most of the Pro Domme's that I know live the lifestyle.

TDV: Do you consider professional domination a difficult profession to enter into?

MLS: No it is not hard to get into. Go to any adult toy store and buy a couple of cheap toys, some inexpensive lingerie make a web page and call yourself a Mistress. But to do this business right, in My opinion, educate yourself and know what you are getting into. Try to learn from the best that you can find that will let you learn from them. Go to lifestyle events and workshops. Take a First Aid/CPR class. Invest in quality toys and equipment. Learn from others mistakes so you don't make the same ones. Join organizations that help our lifestyle like The National Coalition For Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and The Free Speech Coalition. Research and education is something that I just can't stress enough about. Knowing the laws and regulations for your community is another big thing to consider especially for doing your web site legally. Being Professional to Me means having the proper training and education in your chosen field.

TDV: In your view, what are the pros and cons to your profession?

MLS: Pros-Having people trust me and loving the exchange of power between us. Getting to live the life of My dreams. Having men and women willingly want to serve Me, shower Me with gifts and adore Me. Dressing and living a fantasy on a regular basis.

Cons- It's not a get rich quick kinda business unless you are doing something illegal. Clients are disappointing many times when they don't keep their word with having their sessions or sending gifts and tributes.

TDV: Is there a particular area of BDSM that you specialize in for your clients? Is specializing in one or two areas beneficial to a professional dominant or would you say it’s better to be more diverse?

MLS: I do sensual domination which is to say that I use every part of Me that is womanly to tease and deny. Sex is never a part of My sessions. I love to tease, torment and deny. I also love a heavy player and am quite the sadist. So I would say I specialize in being a sensual sadist. It is great to be diverse and I would say that I am that as well. I don't like for sessions to be predicable or script like. I love spontaneity, devious laughing and the unpredictable thought of giving pleasure or pain or total overload of both! Muhahaha!!!

TDV: What factors do you use to decide whether or not to accept a client?

MLS: If I sense that they are looking for sex, if they are aggressive, disrespectful, dominant or if we just don't have mutual interests and I don't like the way that they sound to Me. I have been very fortunate to have great clients for the most part.

TDV: As professional dominant, what advice would you give others who were considering entering into that profession?

MLS: Keep legal. Get a business license, do taxes, know laws and safety issues. Research, educate yourself and take the business, but not yourself, seriously. Get involved in local lifestyle groups and get mentors if possible. Know, this is not a get rich quick scheme. Doing it right has costs Me a lot time and money. I have been incredibly fortunate to have slaves contribute to helping Me live My dream of doing this business the way that I want. They get to go on My journey and it works for us all. Get a good slave or two would be some great advice once you understand the basics.

TDV: Is there anything else you would like to add?

MLS: I love what I do and have met so many wonderful people all along My journey. Never stop learning and share what you know if asked.

TDV: Thanks so much for sharing your time with us.

MLS: Thank you for asking Me to share.