January 2008
Part Two
WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 26: INTERVIEW WITH SPOT, INTERNATIONAL MR. BOOTBLACK 2007
“A man may gain a taste a wine, and therefore lose his taste for water, but should we not pity him?” --Thoreau
As you read this quote, think about Spot who is International Mr. Bootblack 2007. Spot resides in Lansing, Michigan. When asked his nationality, Spot tells us that he’s a mutt meaning he is a mixture of Italian, Arab, European, and American Indian. He’s always lived in the US, but in the past 13 months he has traveled to London, Amsterdam, and Berlin and says it was an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back.
Check out Bootblacking 101: A Handbook
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your boy. What is his name? Where does he live? How long have you guys been together?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Have you been involved in any special events that have helped to foster the leather experience or promote the leather community?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like to share with us?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about the leather events you have attended. Where were they?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 26:
“A man may gain a taste a wine, and therefore lose his taste for water, but should we not pity him?” --Thoreau
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your boy. What is his name? Where does he live? How long have you guys been together?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Have you been involved in any special events that have helped to foster the leather experience or promote the leather community?
INTERVIEW WITH SPOT, INTERNATIONAL MR. BOOTBLACK 2007
“A man may gain a taste a wine, and therefore lose his taste for water, but should we not pity him?” --Thoreau
As you read this quote, think about Spot who is International Mr. Bootblack 2007. Spot resides in Lansing, Michigan. When asked his nationality, Spot tells us that he’s a mutt meaning he is a mixture of Italian, Arab, European, and American Indian. He’s always lived in the US, but in the past 13 months he has traveled to London, Amsterdam, and Berlin and says it was an amazing experience and can’t wait to go back.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: How were your holidays? What was your New Year’s resolution? How is that progressing? What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?
SPOT: My holidays were quiet. I had surgery just before Christmas, so I was taking it kind of easy. I don’t make resolutions. I think if you want to make a change yourself or what you’re doing, then you should just do it whenever the mood strikes. I’m also not a Valentine’s Day kind of guy. I can eat chocolate any time.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Please tell us about bootblacking. How long have you been involved? How did you learn?
SPOT: I began bootblacking when I first started learning about the Leather community, over ten years ago. I started working on my Sir’s boots and mine to make sure they looked their best for going out. I also have a HUGE boot fetish, so working on a guy’s boots is fun for me. I like being a part of keeping the history of their boots and leather going. Caring for boots and leather takes time, knowledge, and care. It takes time to learn the skills, and about different kinds of leather. But taking neglected leather and making it shine and look great is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Leather properly taken care of will last a lifetime and beyond.
Check out Bootblacking 101: A Handbook
Check out Bootblacking 101: A Handbook
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your boy. What is his name? Where does he live? How long have you guys been together?
SPOT: My boy jim lives in Detroit, about 75 minutes East of me. I began perverting him in late September. Before his trip to my basement, he was vanilla. Now he’s learning, growing and experiencing as much as I can get him to. It’s a responsibility I take seriously.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Do you speak any other languages besides English? If so, what are they?
SPOT: I used to be pretty good with American Sign Language and French, but it’s been over 12 years since I’ve spoken French. My use of ASL is rather sporadic. I’ve had to step in and interpret a couple times this year, and I was sweating bullets. But the guys I was interpreting for seemed to understand me, so I guess that’s what’s important.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: What titles have you held in the past and currently hold today? Tell us about the experiences you encountered during your leather journey.
SPOT: My first title was Great Lakes Bootblack 2006, and now currently International Mr. Bootblack 2007. My experiences during my leather journey have been exciting, wonderful, disappointing, scary, sexy, and sometimes all in the same hour. To explain it all or discuss it all would require more time than I’m sure people want to read.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: How old are you? What are your stats? What are your hobbies?
SPOT: I’m 6’6”, 260+ but dropping quickly, green eyes, furry, couple of tattoos, and a septum piercing. My hobbies are… Is this going with my centerfold? Seriously, my hobbies include mostly school right now, home improvement stuff, abusing my boy when I can, and traveling to represent my title. It seems like I do a lot and am always busy, then I start to list it and it seems so short.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Do you have any nicknames? If so, who and how did you get the name?
SPOT: Well Spot is my nickname. Can’t see my mother putting that on a birth certificate, plus I would have trouble with my passport I think. I got the name Spot from my second Sir when we were at the DC Eagle one night. He sat down, and I when I knelt next to him he started scratching my head. I just zoned right out. After a bit he wanted to walk around, and pulled me up. That’s when he noticed the large wet spot on my jeans. So Spot became my pup name, but everyone else picked up on it and it’s stuck. I rather like it and I think it fits me.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your relationship with your family.
SPOT: My father died November 2006 after a long illness, and I am on good terms with his side of the family. I no longer speak with my mother.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Do you tell your family about your Leather lifestyle? Does your employer know? What type of work do you do? Do others know you’re a leather titleholder? If so, how was that perceived?
SPOT: Well, my stepsister, who writes gay erotica, knows some of it. A friend who works with my cousin spilled the beans about my winning at IML. So they kind of know, but they don’t want any details, and I don’t push it. My employer knows and is all right and supportive. Of course I’m self-employed so that makes life easier.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about your wildest leather fantasy. What is your kink? What roles do you like? Are you into “pup play”?
SPOT: Can I do this one handed? My role is definitely “switch”. I like to have a boy and do wild things to him, as well as have someone tie me up and do stuff to me. Yes, I am into pup play. Was a pup for two years, and then went on hiatus when I moved to Michigan to take care of my father. After two plus years in Michigan, I found Dak and became his trainer for a while. My fantasy includes playing with knives. I like to grab a boy and cut his clothing off while also running the knives over his body letting him feel them. I think it would be hot to actually abduct a boy at knifepoint, making him cuff and hood himself in the back of the van, then take him out into the woods somewhere, cut his clothing off, work him over, then face fuck him and make him swallow my cum. It would also be hot to be the recipient of that. Anyone interested?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: What qualities about yourself do you like the most? The least?
SPOT: I like that I am honest and blunt about my feelings and opinions. I don’t need people to agree with me, just respect that I am allowed to have a different opinion. Discussions of such things can lead to learning some interesting things about each other. I like the least that I’m impatient.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Do you travel outside of the United States? How often?
SPOT: Last year after my father died, Dak and I went to London and Amsterdam over New Years. Then in August I was invited to attend Folsom Europe in Berlin. Both were amazing trips in which I learned a lot. And there are some hot guys over there!
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Why and how long have you been involved in the leather community?
SPOT: I’ve been involved with the Leather Community for over ten years. I had been intrigued by leather and the BDSM aspect for many years previous, but was too nervous to take the steps. At a social gathering in Delaware I met a guy that literally showed me the ropes. I’ve been learning and growing ever since.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Do you have a dungeon or play space? If you do, tell us about it. If you don’t, tell us how you would design your dungeon?
SPOT: Yes I do have a dungeon space. Built it myself. There’s a suspended bondage table, and standing chains – chains that run ceiling to floor to be able to attach a boy standing so I can get at both sides of him. I have my equipment mounted on the walls within easy reach, and so the boys can see it and get nervous. I like to play with their minds as well as their bodies.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about the International Mr. Bootblack competition. Where was it held? Give us details. What web sites is this event promoted?
SPOT: It’s held during International Mr. Leather, usually in the vendor market area. It’s a ballot competition, so if you’re going to be there PLEASE make sure you go vote for your bootblack even if he can’t do your boots, it’s important. It’s about 20 hours of boots in three days, but a fun time too. Being able to work around other bootblacks and discuss stuff is a great experience.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Please tell more about your boy. What do you like the most about him? What makes your relationship work the most?
SPOT: First, my boy is handsome who’s very eager to serve and please. I like that he’s smart and we can discuss things more than sex and some celebrity scandal. Our relationship works because we talk and discuss things. I have him journal on experiences, discussing not only what happened, but also how he felt about the things that happened. Then we discuss it more.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Have you been involved in any special events that have helped to foster the leather experience or promote the leather community?
SPOT: I think every event that’s out there helps promote the leather community. I remember GLLA 2006 the hotel was flying the Leather Pride Flag outside the hotel – how cool is that? DARK is a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience things you might not have. As well, LIFE Detroit, Leather Institute For Education does monthly classes that I’ve attended and taught. I’ve experienced things there I would not have thought about, like a food demo which my boy was the buffet, then the food grunge.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: What role do you feel titleholders serve? What advice do you have for them?
SPOT: Titleholders are out there for their community. They’ve put themselves out there, and probably a great deal of their body, to help out. Seek them out; ask for their help and their attendance at your event. See if they can teach a class, or in some way help make your event better. Especially your local guys will need your help to move to the next level of competition. Have a bar night to help their travel fund, or just to celebrate their victory. It’s all well and good to attend the event and scope out the guys and get laid. But the winner has more to do after the bar closes and you’re with the man of your dreams. Remember them the next day. And while you’re there, PLEASE be polite when they’re speaking on stage and keep your voice down if you absolutely must talk – better yet listen to them to see if they’re the guy you want representing your community.
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Where can we find you online? Do you have e-mail or a web site you’d like to share with us?
WVQN LEATHERBEAR: Tell us about the leather events you have attended. Where were they?
SPOT: I’ve been to IML three times, the last time competing; GLLA Great Lakes Leather Alliance four times, three times competing and my step down; The Conductor’s Run; Mr. Michigan Leather multiple times, once as a judge; Detroit Area Rough Kinkfest, which I’ve bootblacked at every year they’ve had it and been a presenter; Folsom Europe in Berlin, International Leather Sir & boy Contest; Mr. Pittsburgh Eagle Contest, which I was the tally master this last year; Brian “Captain” McCoy’s holiday toy drive for foster children of Allegheny county for two years; CLAW; I’m sure there are others I can’t remember, and I’m sorry. But I do remember meeting my new buddy WVQN Leather Bear Steve Tompa at GLLA in Indianapolis then later at the Foster Kids Toy Drive at the Pittsburgh Eagle.
A special thanks goes to International Mr. Bootblack 2007 Spot for taking the time to speak to the Readers of West Virginia Queer News.
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steven Tompa
bravenet.com