SELF's Bootblack Academy — A Three-Year Intensive Program
Have you always wanted to learn to bootblack and didn't have anyone to ask? Do you need to brush up on your basics? This is the intensive series for you. In the course of SELF event weekend, we will spend time reviewing the contents of a basic bootblack kit, types of leathers, cleaning boots/shoes, conditioning of both oil tan and polishable boots, a basic shine, and a high shine.
For Bootblack Academy 101 - Join us Friday as we explore different types of leather, basic bootblack kit supplies, caution in handling leather, key questions to ask, and listening to the client in the chair. On Saturday, we will delve into how to use the tools in your kit, how to fully inspect boots, how to wash boots, and how to pick a conditioner. Finally, on Sunday, we will get down to the nitty-gritty of the shine. We will start with the basics and work our way up to a high shine for boots that need them. Bootblack Academy 101 is an 8+ hour intensive!
For Bootblack Academy 201, we will explore managing a queue, connecting with clients, all things lacing, repairing minor and moderate damage commonly found on boots, dealing with bodily fluids on leather, general leather toy care, and erotic bootblacking. Bootblack Academy 201 is a 9 hour intensive!
For Bootblack Academy 301, we will cover Dyeing and Patina, managing mold and mildew, and care of non-leather items including latex, rubber, canvas, and more. The weekend concludes with a roundtable discussion to help the next steps in your bootblacking journey.
SELF's Bootblack Academy is a multi-year endeavor which fully supports Bootblacks and their education. Bootblack Academy 301 remains part of the three-year program, but this year SELF is offering only Bootblack Academy 101 and 201. Take the journey and be part of this progressive learning experience.
Your Academy Educators
Bootblack Academy Educators come from around the country to teach the next generation of bootblacks from their wealth of knowledge.
Bootblack Academy 101:
Bootblack Academy 201:
Bootblack Academy 301: not offered this year
Limited Seats — Buy Yours
| Bootblack Academy 101 This intensive is where your Bootblack Academy journey begins. Cost for this 8+ hour seminar is $50.00. Seats are limited. Successful candidates will receive completion patch. |
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| Bootblack Academy 201 Cost for this 8+ hour seminar is $50.00. Seats are limited. Successful candidates will receive completion patch. |
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| Bootblack Academy 301 — Not offered this year Cost for this 8+ hour seminar is $50.00. Seats are limited. Successful candidates will receive completion patch. |
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Schedule
Bootblack Academy 101
TBA
9:00am to 11:45am
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Room ATL 1
Bootblack Academy 201
TBA
Friday 12:00pm - 2:45pm, Room ATL 1
Saturday 12:00pm - 2:45pm, Room ATL 1
Sunday 9:00am - 11:45am, Room ATL 2
Bootblack Academy 301
SELF’s Bootblack Academy 301 was first offered in 2026 and is not offered this year.
Bootblack Academy History
Lady Catherine dreamt of creating a comprehensive, ongoing, solid educational program for bootblacks—something unlike anything available in the country previously. Her vision went beyond the standard 101-level classes often squeezed into hour-and-a-half formats at various events. She saw the need for a deeper, broader experience, with a curriculum crafted to build a mastery of skills over time. This dream included multiple instructors from across the nation, each bringing expertise shaped by their unique regional climates and needs, fostering a rich and varied learning environment.
At the heart of this vision was the recognition that, while SELF (SouthEast LeatherFest) has a proud tradition of highly skilled bootblacks, this endeavor would reach far beyond the Southeast. It would be a national—and, hopefully, even international—endeavor, uniting bootblacks from diverse backgrounds, intersections, and experiences to share their knowledge and elevate the craft together.
To bring this vision to life, Lady Catherine created a structured, multi-tiered program that offered a depth of education previously unseen in the community. The foundation of this structure was a nine-hour instructional weekend, an immersive experience where participants could develop their skills in a focused, hands-on environment. The program would span three years, with hours of instruction each year, providing a comprehensive, multi-year path to attaining vast skills in many areas.
She named it Bootblack Academy and reached out to some of SELF's finest and most respected bootblacks. Together, they began the journey of turning this ambitious vision into reality—a program built on passion, dedication, and a shared commitment to advancing the art and craft of bootblacking.
The people who put the meat on the bones of the structure were Tidbit and Ms Tori. The outline of what would be studied was created, and the training program was assembled. Ms Tori gathered a stockpile of practice boots while Tidbit built the syllabus. Tidbit, Ms Tori, and Lady Catherine selected the bootblacks who would participate as instructors for the first SELF Bootblack Academy 101. Our instructors were Ms Tori, Tidbit, Goldie, and SpankCake. We sold out in our first year with 27 attendees and had many requests for BBA 101 to be held again. For SELF 2025, last year’s graduates will move on to 201 with a new set of more advanced classes, and we will bring in a new class of 101 bootblacks. It is the first of it’s kind and no one has provided continued and on-going education which builds upon the skills of prior years.
2026 — First Bootblack Academy 301
2026 marked the first time SELF offered Bootblack Academy 301 and completed the original three-level vision for the Academy. The advanced 8+ hour intensive was designed to deepen skills and support continued growth. Bootblack Academy 301 is not offered this year.
Daisy Blue revisited the foundational principles of Dyeing and Patina taught in their 2025 Bootblack Academy 201 class and provided expanded hands-on practice. Alistair—Bootblack Europe 2020 and International Mr. Bootblack 2022—joined virtually to provide expert guidance on managing mold and mildew.
Keriis, Southeast Bootblack 2024, covered care for non-leather items including latex, rubber, canvas, and more. The weekend concluded with a moderated roundtable led by Daisy Blue, “What’s Next,” which helped participants consider the next steps in their bootblacking journeys.
2026 instructors: Daisy Blue, Alistair, and Keriis.
