Negotiation, in the context of BDSM, is the process by which the terms and features of a BDSM relationship are decided upon. During negotiation, each participant’s responsibilities, preferences, and limits are considered. Negotiation might concern a specific scene, the participants’ wider views on BDSM, or the dynamics of their relationship.
Negotiation is an important part of all BDSM relationships, both in encounters between people who’ve just met and those in long-term relationships. It’s important to a successful negotiation that all participants feel comfortable to speak up. During negotiation, dominants and submissives are on equal footing.