Dinner with Doms Part 2 - The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Luke Degre, by Rebecca Anderson

In French, the word degre (pronounced D-gray) means intense. It is no accident that this word is the surname of Luke Degre, one of San Francisco's most prominent riggers and performance Dominants. Degre is intense - a study in determination, persistence and will.

Luke's background is a mixed one. The first BDSM experience he recalls was at the age of 17 when he tied his girlfriend to the bed. His father came to the door asking if Luke wanted to smoke a joint, so Luke threw a blanket over her before letting him in. He and Degre proceeded to chat and smoke while said girlfriend lie covered on the same bed they sat on. Degre’s father asked if the girl would like a hit, and Luke said ''she’s tied up, Dad.'' Dad lifted the blanket, saw an ankle and said ''so she is'' and left it at that.

Such open minded parenting can have its price though - Luke has spent time behind bars, the unfortunate result of non-violent criminal activity he and his father got caught up in a long time ago. Even though Luke has been fastidiously clean since then, a felony record carries with it not only stigma but can be an unnerving thing to possess as a Dominant due to the ever-present risk of one's actions be misinterpreted as non-consensual. Perhaps it is this in part that gives Degre the air of seriousness and consuming responsibility.

In 2006 decided he needed to elevate his rope bondage skills and began a course of self study. Shortly thereafter Kink.com was in the midst of public hearings over their intended acquisition of the San Francisco Armory Building. Luke attended the hearings to show his support for the community. While there he ran into pre-eminent bondage master Lew Rubens. His request? ''Teach me.''

Lew Rubens has had many such requests, and has only taken on three apprentices. Luke became that third one largely in part to the gravitas he showed in his approaching Rubens. Since then, the two have spent countless hours in training, consultation and friendship. In the May 8th update on BehindKINK.com, Rubens states that ''he’s probably been one of the best students I’ve had, he has definitely been one of the most dedicated.'' Recently when I contacted Lew he mentioned he was at home playing tic-tac-toe with Luke, using rubber bands and a girl’s ass.

These days, Luke is trying to make that transition that many of us work so hard for - to be able to pursue his craft as a full time profession. Unsurprisingly, Luke is doing better than most, too. He appears regularly at Bondage a Go Go, the BDSM club that launched the likes of Midori, Master Arcane, and the Two Knotty Boys.

Luke's very beautiful work can also be found on his Tribe page (http://people.tribe.net/65b9f689-8e10-410a-b064-edb5d835f49e) and is well worth checking out. Degre has additionally shot for Kink.com’s inaugural site Hogtied.

Next year will see the launch of LukeDegre.com, a free informative site dedicated to the BDSM arts. Degre is currently working on what he describes as a ''visual book'' on the same topic.

Degre is also the Studio Manager of Space 385 (a local producer of BDSM and gay adult content) and will be representing Space 385 at this years’ 25th Annual Folsom Street Fair on September 28th. Look for him to be tying up willing and hot subjects at the Mr. S booth at Folsom and 8th Streets.

More links to Derge’s work:
http://photobucket.com/LukeDegre
http://www.myspace.com/lukedegre