Learn: During the day, instructional workshops are offered. You can learn how to do play-piercing, use a single tail, play with electricity, do genital torture, etc. Aside from practical technique classes, there are classes about the psychological types of SM play: Erotic Humiliation, Interrogation Scenes, Crossdressing for Beginners. The classes are taught by experienced SM people--I have taught at many conventions myself. I enjoy attending the classes that deal with issues about the lifestyle: SM and Spirituality, Structuring Dominant/submissive Relationships, Legal Issues and SM, Leather Community History.
Shop: The second big attraction is the vendor area. It's easy enough to buy kinky toys these days, either online or in sex-toy stores. But it's fun to see row after row of kink paraphernalia laid out, and it's a boon to be able to do side-by-side price and quality comparisons of, for example, several brands of floggers. You can also score bargains on the last day of the con, when vendors would rather trim their profit than pack everything back up. The vendor area is also the best place to cruise. Hang out by the toys you like and see who else comes over to fondle them. Leather con shopping is one SM activity where it's completely fine to strike up conversations with strangers, as you both drool over the rubber clothes, or the bullwhips, or whatever flips your switch.
Play: You're cruising because, of course, you want to meet new people and make dates for the evening's play parties. The structure and rules of convention play parties are essentially the same as hometown parties--except they are usually bigger, and always much cruisier. Everyone is bolder, and more attractive, when you're only in town for the weekend. So convention parties are fun for those of us who like to prowl without commitments. I'll let you know if I capture anything interesting....
