For the last three years, our friend Jane*, 34, has worked in a dungeon in downtown NYC. Before her first day on the job, she'd never lifted so much as a table tennis bat to spank someone with--it was a learn-on-the-job kind of thing, apparently. Jane agreed to be the inaugural participant in our new "A Day in the Life Of" interview series, in which we ask very nosy questions of people with occupational hazards that may or may not stretch to their sex lives.

*Not her real name because, as she notes below, if her parents knew what she did for a living, she'd be locked in their basement. Even her best friend doesn't know the name or location of the dungeon where she clocks in.

E&L: Describe a typical work day for you...

J: A day shift starts at 11:00 a.m., so I get there about 9:30 or 10:00 and get the place ready. Fresh garbage bags, make sure the rooms are all clean, make sure we have all the supplies we need (mainly condoms and KY).  If you are not seeing clients, the day is pretty mundane. You can't really leave once you are there (to avoid meeting clients on the street) so it is a lot of reading and watching movies on TV. 

E&L: Is there a difference between the kind of client who comes in at 11:00 a.m. and one who comes in at night? 

J: Definitely a difference--the day clients lean more toward "blue collar" guys and first-timers. The evening clients are the guys that have just put in a 14-hour day and are looking for a release.

E&L: You have regulars, right?

J: I definitely have regulars; I think it is a sign that you are doing your job well!

E&L: Any you're particularly fond of?

J: I adore the guy that comes in for "horse training" and always brings in his own little fruit cup, to be given out to him when he behaves. And there is a foot fetish guy that has been coming to me for almost three years now that is hysterical. And he has tripled my shoe collection in the process!

E&L: Have you ever had to work with someone who just really annoyed you or grossed you out?

J: Yes! The "first-timers" can be somewhat annoying because they are so unsure about everything from the start.  They often change their minds about what they want mid-session and it throws off the whole mood. Grossed out--absolutely. I have seen a lot but the one thing that really grosses me out is when I get men who smell like they haven't showered in weeks. There are no windows so it gets pretty hot in there.

E&L: What's the last conversation you had around the water cooler with a colleague?

J: Umm, I think we were discussing what movies we have seen recently. Not earth shattering conversation!

E&L: Do most of your friends know what you do for a living?

J: No! Only a very select few know what I do for a living; it is not something I am open to sharing with everyone in my life. Even my closest few friends do not know the location but they know everything else. And I do mean everything!

E&L: What about your family?

J: If they knew, I would not be doing this interview. I would probably be trapped in my parents' basement for eternity.

E&L: Would you ever tell anyone the name of the dungeon where you work?

J: If I had a very long-term committed partner I would consider it. Up until that point, no.

E&L: How does your job affect your dating life?

J: It has definitely made me more confident in my dating life. When you realize that you can hold that much power over someone it gives you an amazing sense of self-confidence.

E&L: When you start dating someone new, at what point do you give them a hint that this is one of your jobs?

J: It depends on how I feel about the guy. If I like him and think he may be around for a while, I will start hinting early on to see what kind of reaction I get.

E&L: And how does that tend to affect the dynamic in the relationship...do they suddenly expect you to take much more responsibility in the bedroom, for example?

J: I have gotten varied reactions, from one guy wanting me to actually dress up for him to another one that was okay with it but didn't want to know anything about that part of my life. If it is a guy that I am not too serious about I won't bother telling him. As for the dynamic--it doesn't usually change things because I tend to gravitate toward dominant men.

E&L: And how does all this affect the actual sex in the relationship?

J: I am actually pretty "vanilla" in the bedroom, which is funny considering the answer I gave above. I think that because I spend so much time being the dominant one, I don't mind being somewhat submissive in my own life--although not 100% submissive!

E&L: How did you get into doing this?

J: I had lost my job a few years back and was in a real tough financial situation. I saw an ad online and went in and spoke to some people and started a few days later.  

E&L: What do you think would surprise people most about this job?

J: I think most people would be surprised by the fact that all the mistresses I work with (myself included) are all well educated, normal girls who are med students, fashion designers, and MBA candidates!

E&L: What's your favorite thing about being a professional dominatrix?

J: Receiving gifts from my regulars! Things like clothes, shoes, mani/pedi gift cards, etc.

E&L: And what's your least favorite?

J: The clean-up!

E&L: We're guessing that some people probably make all sorts of snap judgments about you, based on what you do for a living...

J: Some people, when they first learn what I do, think I am some kind of sex worker. I usually have to explain that in this line of work there is no nudity on my part--I remain fully clothed the entire time.

E&L: So most people assume that what you do has a lot more to do with sex than it actually does?

J: Almost everyone assumes that. They are surprised when they hear that there is no sex involved!

E&L: What won't you do in your line of work?

J: No brown showers and no rape scenarios. Way too disgusting for me.

E&L: How much longer do you think you'll do this for?

J: Maybe another two years. It has already been three for me.

E&L: And what would you like to do next?

J: I think that is it, I will retire my riding crop and handcuffs!

E&L: When's the last time you were truly embarrassed?

J: A few weeks ago. I was at a bar, wearing a shirt a little too big for me, and as one side fell down I flashed almost the whole bar. Oops.

E&L: When's the last time you had sex, and how was it?

J: Monday morning and it was great!