Langlitz Leather Cop (Mark), to be found in Bristol and the forests of the West.

Langlitz Leather Cop writes about BLUF Bristol #4

LeatherWest’s Magazine FOCUS - where guest writers give us their take on all things leather and opinions that concern the leather community in the West.

Guest writer, Langlitz Leather Cop (Mark), a leatherman and BLUF member in the West and a regular of leather events over the years, gives his take on a recent BLUF Bristol event and considers the conflict between the ‘real’ and ‘virtual’ and the need to ‘gear up and get out there’.

BLUF Bristol #4 on Saturday 19th October was my first ‘Bristol’ event, and as it happens the first of many.

Having attended BLUF at The Backstreet over the years, a couple on Manchester events about 5 years ago. I was encouraged by the degree of interest and very importantly and the capacity limit. The fact it was a private BLUF members event, so it would be guaranteed to be wall-to-wall leather in a sea of Muircaps… How could I not attend?

Luckily for me I acquired one of the last tickets. SBerg (a Bristol BLUF member and one of the organisers) contacted me offering advice on parking, info about the venue and a positive ‘can do’ attitude, which for me, made all the difference.

In the same week of the BLUF Bristol event, a dinner invitation (in full leather I might add!) rekindled my social conscience. I reciprocated, offering to pick up my dinner host and drive to Bristol and then back. I’d have company on journey and it would be another BLUF attendee that might have cancelled.

Driving in Wescos is definitely not advisable, so I had other footwear on, changing on the pavement in the adjacent side streets. Add jacket, Muir Cap and Gloves … I was all ready to enter The Den. BLUF Bristol organiser BristolUniform greeted us both with a welcoming smile and SBerg also added his greetings as we signed in. It was just after 9.30pm and there were already decent amount of guys geared up and ready!

Although a small venue, The Den was great for the number of around 70+. We even tempted some out of the M25 boundary into the provinces. Plenty of conversations going on, nice waft of cigar smoke in the tented area, somewhere to sit whilst your boots were re-polished and even some darker, cruisier areas for those getting-to-know-you-better moments.

Despite the early opening time, the venue only started to thin around 2am - think we left just after, a couple of goodbyes and thank you’s later and an early morning drive back to the Cotswolds.

Langlitz Leather Cop - Mark - at BLUFBristol #4. Picture taken by Neil Page Creative. Copyright of BLUF Bristol, 2013. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Langlitz Leather Cop - Mark - at BLUFBristol #4. Picture taken by Neil Page Creative. Copyright of BLUF Bristol, 2013. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

For some time, the subject of the internet has cropped up; namely that guys simply don’t go out much anymore as they arrange meets online and the consequence is that the idea of meeting REAL Leathermen itself becomes an online fantasy.
One particular thought dominated my mind: the process of getting ready to go out, travelling, the ‘unknown’ as you enter a new venue; “will I cop off ?” (excuse the pun) etc etc - in short, the FUN of going to an event IS a large part of the social process. We can all create the image we like online - sometimes too successfully - as at events, guys are wary of talking to each other in case they get a negative response ,which certainly wasn’t the case at BLUF Bristol #4.
We should not forget younger leathermen might not have experienced, say, the Backstreet in London from 15-20 years ago when even moving around the place was slow as it was packed almost sardine fashion. Mind you that does have benefits if my memory serves me correctly. But compare these scenes to more recent years and even double figures can be difficult to achieve.
As LondonSubNigel, BLUF.com’s webmaster, commented on the Bluf Website, events are happening because leathermen are making them happen. I take my Muir cap off to the organisers at BLUF Bristol for their tenacity and their use of social media to promote the event.
No question this is the way to go: its instant and any last minute changes can inform attendees of any problems or issues - even where visitors are meeting up prior to main event.
An extract from LondonSubNigel’s blog “Community Matters”:

“It’s those members that individually are ‘BLUF’; we are nothing if not the sum of all those parts. So to anyone out there who thinks “wouldn’t it be great if there were events near me”, forgive me for paraphrasing JFK and saying “Ask not what your leather club can do for you, but what you can do for your leather club.”

So, for January: BLUF Bristol #5 (which is advised to be on the 25th, though waiting for confirmation), would BLUF members and leathermen be interested in a late afternoon/early evening dinner event that would give a chance to meet and greet, have a drink and something to eat?

I’d be happy to organise something providing some local members can help as I live 60 miles away and would require local knowledge? Please e-mail me.
Mark, LanglitzLeatherCop
Notes:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect a view of LeatherWest.
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