RSVP Here!

Many classes require students to come in with some basic structures already in their toolkit. This class is designed to introduce and reinforce the common pre-reqs for floor-level classes, giving you an introduction to commonly used structures before moving into floor-specific work.

In this class we'll start by reviewing a single column - the building block underneath nearly everything in rope -before introducing double columns. From there, we'll move into three foundational structures that show up again and again in floor work: a basic chest harness, a hip harness, and the futomomo.

This class is designed for students who are looking to do more floor rope and want to make sure they have the pre-reqs down before diving into floor-specific classes. It's beginner-friendly, with plenty of room for intermediate folks.

Schedule

6:30 p.m. | Doors open
7:00–10 p.m. | Instruction

Prerequisites:

All participants:

-Basic understanding of consent, negotiation, and the general risks involved in rope bondage

What to Bring

Bring 6-8 hanks of natural fiber rope or posh. (Nylon is fine, but some of the techniques will be slightly different) Rope will also be available to borrow — please let the instructors know in advance if you need rope.

Pricing

Sliding scale:

• $30-100 per tying pair

No one turned away for lack of funds. We always have at least one scholarship spot available for each class.

For scholarship promo code email ChicagoRopeCollective@Gmail.com

About Strong Starts

We believe everyone’s rope benefits from strong foundations. This ongoing class series focuses on the building blocks of rope — single columns, wraps, friction knots, and basic structures that students can draw from and combine to create a wide range of experiences. Each session moves from fundamentals into floor and partial applications, making it ideal for newcomers as well as a chance for intermediate folks to refine and deepen their technique.

Consent is our baseline. We expect all participants to arrive with an understanding of consent and negotiation practices. This allows us to dive right into the material. If you have questions about consent or negotiation, we are happy to connect with you outside of class.

Instructor Bios

Jesse (aka Ropeygoat)
they/them · fae/faer · it (in kink only)
📍 Chicago
📷 Instagram: @ropeygoat

Tom (aka TheOtherMonster)
They/He
📍 Chicago
📷 Instagram: @TheOtherMonsterRope

Tom, TheOtherMonster, (they/he) is an avid nerd, kink/sex educator and, in scene, a bratty top. Jesse, RopeyGoat (they/them/fae/themme/faer) is a community organizer, academic, educator, switch, and above all else, a brat in all settings. Jesse and Tom entered the scene in 2018 and have been growing together and antagonizing each other ever since. They center fun, play and connection in all their kink activities. When not at the dungeon, you can find Tom and Jesse enjoying video/board games, D&D, climbing, riding bikes or looking at cute animal videos.

https://forbiddentickets.com/events/chicago-rope-collective/6c5cf83543

What to expect:
(101/201 level — beginner to intermediate riggers with any level of photo experience)

This workshop covers the fundamentals of using photography as part of a rope scene - from lighting basics to camera settings to managing the dynamics of shooting while you tie. Whether you're brand new to cameras or already shooting regularly, you'll walk away with practical tools you can use right away, phone camera or otherwise.

Schedule

Lighting & Camera Fundamentals (30 min)
We'll start with lighting basics - building from a single light up to three-point lighting, and how to make smart choices with whatever gear you actually have on hand. From there, a quick rundown of gear and the exposure triangle; this leans more toward camera users, but I'll also share tips for getting better shots on a smartphone.

Exercise: (30 min) Attendees pair up and play with a single light, seeing how it changes the way their partner looks and reads on camera.

We'll close this section with a few minutes on photographic theory — some of the guiding principles I use when deciding how to frame and capture a scene.

Live Demo (45–60 min)
I'll walk through my process while demonstrating a simple suspension and shooting it live. Photography is part of the play for me, and managing the dynamics of a scene while also taking pictures is its own skill — I'll do my best to weave in the techniques from the first section as I go.

Hands-On Practice (60 min)
Participants tie — either the suspension I demonstrated or whatever feels most sustainable for their partner — while practicing the lighting techniques from earlier. I'm aiming to have enough lights on hand for everyone to have at least one to work with.

Optional: Photo Review
If time and interest allow, and we're able to get the CRC projector working, we'll close with a group review of photos taken during class.

Class Prerequisites:
Suspension experience recommended but these principles can be applied to floor play

Students should bring:

• rope,

• a camera of your choice (can be your phone),

• a partner to tie

Instructor Bios:

trauma-ties (he/him) (ig: @errant.knots, fl: trauma-ties) Chicago based rigger and photographer, has been messing around with cameras for over a decade. With an early background in film and video production, he found still photography as an art form around the same time he discovered BDSM and kink, and has been exploring the intersection of objectification, documentation, and erotic image making ever since.

Chicago Rope Collective is getting ready to open its doors - and you're invited to help us make it happen. Come roll up your sleeves as we transform the space.

Grab a ticket and come by anytime between 4-9pm for an evening of painting, catching up with friends, and checking out the space. Grab a brush if you're feeling it, wander around and see what the space could look like, or just come hang out - however you want to spend the evening works. No shifts, no scheduling - stay ten minutes or stay the whole night.

Before the walls get repainted, we'll have markers out for anyone who's spent time here to leave a message or a memory.

How it works:

This is a donation-based, sliding-scale fundraiser - pay what feels good for you. Door tickets available if we don't sell out in advance.

Painting starting at 5:00pm

Pizza at 7:00pm:
When the evening winds down, we're taking a break for pizza! Whether you've spent the evening painting or you're just swinging by for the food and good company, everyone's invited to stick around, grab a slice, and hang out with the CRC owners.

Where your money goes:
Every dollar you contribute goes toward rent, operating costs, and the startup supplies we need to get the studio up and running. Anything raised beyond that will go toward the beginning of our scholarship fund.

RSVP HERE

https://forbiddentickets.com/events/chicago-rope-collective/a2a046b2fa

Join us for a rope jam centering dykes, butches, studs, and lesbians. Dyke is used intentionally in this space to reflect its politically subversive history along with the focus on community. Dyke will always include gender fuckery, and all gender expressions of dyke are welcome at this event.

Please note that while flagging and (rope) cruising is welcome at this event, sex is not permitted and nips and bits must remain covered.

This event is open to all experience levels. While this space will be centered on dykes, people may bring non dyke tying partners with them as well.

What to Expect

Tying, skill sharing, socializing, and general queer shenanigans.

For any questions reach out to:
Foxy - Arctic_Foxglove
Brooklyn - --brooklyn--
Sara - sara_rope

Schedule

6:30 p.m. | Doors open
7:00–9:00 p.m. | Rope Jam

What to Bring

Your rope kit.

Some rope will be available to borrow - please let the hosts know in advance if you need rope.

Pricing

Free!!!!
(Donations appreciated and contribute directly to the Chicago Rope Collective and costs for the studio)

Instructor Bios

Foxy (She/They) - Foxy is a femme-dyke switch who has been bottoming for rope since 2020 and topping since 2023. She likes to explore objectification and the gray areas of horniness in rope. She is inspired by traditional semenawa aesthetics, and blending styles to create a queer interpretation of rope bondage.

Brooklyn (They/Them) - Brooklyn is a Chicago-based rope switch and educator. Their primary focus and educational background is in Naka-inspired semenawa, and they are interested in interpreting rope bondage in ways that center queer and genderqueer sexuality and desire.

Sara (Any) - Sara is a top leaning switch who has been exploring rope for the past six years. Their style draws heavily from traditional semenawa, while experimenting with nontraditional structures, elements and themes.