I would say that GASP 2026 was a smashing success. Yesterday’s post covered the numbers — we increased our attendee count by about 25 percent. We also saw huge responses to our two new Thursday night events: the newbie mixer and friendship speed dating. With both of those, we learned we need vastly larger spaces. Our vendor fair was the biggest ever, as was our banquet, each one taking an additional 33 percent of convention space, year-over-year. And at the Spanking Carousel (our version of Spanky Hawkins), I personally spanked eighteen people in fewer than 90 minutes. 

I don’t get to play a lot at spanking parties, though, outside of the carousel. Last year I gave a few spankings, but this year, other than the carousel and spanking Partner 1 several times (including a scene in the dungeon), I only gave three spankings. One was to a friend who I’ve played with before, one was to a spanking party friend, and one was to someone who’s wanted to play with me for a while but we just haven’t been able to line up our schedules. I would say all three of them went extremely well. 

But honestly, when I throw a party, it’s less likely that I’ll be the one giving the spankings. At my house parties, I usually give no more than three spankings over the course of five to six hours. I’m too busy being the host. Same with GASP, although this year in addition to being the host I was also (for the most part) in charge of our registration table. I enjoyed it because I got to greet almost every party attendee in person, although I admit that when things got busy I didn’t spend as much time with everyone as I could have. 

One other reason I don’t play as much at my own national party is because, even though I’m known in the community as a safe and respectful spanker, I’m still ridiculously shy when it comes to asking people to play. I see people all over the place who I’m sure would say yes if only I were to ask them; I just don’t have the courage to ask them. It’s a combination of my fear of rejection and my desire not to inconvenience anyone by suggesting they do something they don’t want to do. Of course they’re at a spanking party because they want to engage in spanking activity, so I probably wouldn’t be inconveniencing them, and all tops get rejected from time to time. 

I kind of wonder if there isn’t some sort of distortion field around me that comes with being a party organizer. Maybe people don’t feel comfortable asking me to play because I am an organizer. I know I’ve only ever asked one party organizer to play, and she declined (which was totally fine), and while I have played with another it was long before she was an organizer. 

I guess the moral of this story is: I spank bottoms one hand at a time, just like most other tops do (some spank two-handed). If you want to play with me, you only need to ask. If I don’t feel up to it, I’ll be polite and honest.

Maybe next year, at GASP 2027, I’ll do more scenes. Maybe I won’t. I guess it depends upon how things shake out.