On a crisp Saturday afternoon, watery British sunlight filters into an ordinary kitchen that has been temporarily transformed into a rather extraordinary classroom. Between the toaster and the cat bowls, a unique educational session is about to begin, led by Melissa Todd, a dominatrix with three decades of experience.
From Instagram DM to Impromptu Academy
The adventure started when three women found Todd on Instagram. They messaged, asking if she would teach them and their friends how to become professional dominatrices. Initially hesitant, Todd's attitude changed when they revealed they were planning to spend £2,500 each at a established London domme school in Shepherd's Bush.
Her inner bargain-hunter intervened. "Don't do that," she told them. "I'll teach you for £200 apiece. It might not be any good, but it'll save you a small fortune." With that, she inadvertently founded her own intimate, kitchen-table domme school, feeling both nervous and ill-prepared for the role of teacher.
The Theory and The Reality
The session began with an hour of theory. The pupils, taking notes seriously for the first ten minutes, learned about spanking positions, implements, the mathematics of a good flogging stance, and the psychology of dominance. They pored over sample client emails, expressing horror at the sheer volume of admin involved – answering enquiries, booking dungeons and flights, and sourcing specific fetish items like "pale pink plastic bloomers" for a client named Lacy Louise.
They quickly realised professional domination is less about constant adventure and more a customer service industry, akin to hairdressing or waiting tables, albeit with more dramatic outfits. The fantasy of non-stop fun gave way to the reality of logistical paperwork and managing client expectations.
A Practical Lesson with a Willing Client
The theoretical discussion was followed by a practical session with a genuine client. Peter, an obliging local gentleman who thrives on pain, arrived for the students to practise on. Todd revealed she has ended every session with him for the past 20 years by stuffing kitchen roll into his trousers to absorb blood from canings.
One tentative pupil attempted role-play, asking, "Now, Peter, I understand you've been an extremely naughty boy?" Uninterested in theatrics and quite deaf, Peter replied, "Don't be ridiculous, woman. Just hit me." She complied, and by the end, the kitchen walls resembled a "Jackson Pollock done in burgundy."
Afterwards, over thimbles of prosecco, the conversation turned to choosing domme names. The students leaned towards classic titles like 'Mistress' and 'Countess'. Todd advised them to take three concrete steps: choose a name, set up a dedicated X account and email, and place their first advertisement.
The Dream Versus The Daily Grind
Despite the initial enthusiasm, Todd is sceptical her pupils will pursue this path. Of the 25 or so women who have seriously requested her help, none have succeeded in making a career of sex work. These three students were already in well-paid careers in property development and social media.
What they truly sought, Todd believes, was "a chance to feel a little bit naughty for an afternoon" and to indulge in a technicolour daydream of a future free from conventional respectability. They spoke of a time "when the children are grown" or "when I divorce my husband," where they could be adored for dirty cash. Todd suspects that day will never come for most.
For their £200, they bought an unforgettable experience and a glimpse behind the leather curtain. They learned that domination is hard work, but for one afternoon in a Kent kitchen, they got to live out the fantasy.
