Welcome to the forum subboyy.

IMHO, I do not thing the first thing you should do is try to drag him into a public enviroment to start out in the bdsm livestyle, expecaly if he is not sure that this is what he would like to do. A large bdsm event is not something to be treated like a costume party, as far as i know, it would not be apropreate to just "dress the theme" and show up. I am sure that sooner or later, someone will relize that your partner is not into his role, and this could lead to an uncomfortabe situation for all parties involved.

I believe that he jokes the way he does because jokeing about it is non-thretening to him. If he were to start something bdsm like, then deside he did not enjoy the experience, then he could easly back out by saying he was just kidding.

My best advice is to be honest with him about what you would like him to do, and see if he is willing to do so. I personly do not thing a good Dom can be made, but it is an urge that he must have in order to act in this manner.

Try to get him on the forum, or the chat, to see how he reacts to things, whether or not the idea of being a Dom excites him. Try one of the "BDSM starter kits" that you can find online or in any sex shop. They have a few thins to start with, but you never know where that simple start could lead
!

You could also try the Hard Limit Questionair that is listed here in the forum, see what he likes and what he does not. This would give you a good idea of what he is willing to try now, and what (as of now) he will not try.

Lastly (that i can think of right now) you could do what my sub did for me to start me off. Get a cheep pair of cuffs and some rope or chain, and leave yourself as a naked present on the bed one day. I canot imagin that he would be able to resist that one!