According to StL3's 'Beat Me in St. Louis' FAQ page, "We expect to have demos, seminars, and workshops covering caning, flogging, single-tail whips and other hands-on demos and seminars suited for people who are relatively new to the lifestyle as well as for those with a great deal of experience."
Yuck, they make it sound like some deviant version of a Tupperware Convention, with seminars, workshops and "hands-on" demonstrations.
Note the 'cherries'. Coincidence? I think not.