Michael Christian is one man who's not afraid to kiss and tell.

Students filled the Courtyard Café Saturday to witness six couples demonstrate the "Art of Kissing" — led by Christian.

The six couples were students from different areas of campus

, some from the Greek system and a couple from the Xtension Cords, said Melanie Rubin, Illini Union Board area coordinator of progressive programs.

"Some of the guys were a little harder to convince than others," she said.

Christian taught 30 different romantic kisses, what guys and girls enjoy in kissing and addressed how to remove a hickey. The Art of Kissing, Christian's book, written under the pen name of William Kane, has over a quarter-million copies in print.

Christian taught English at Boston College for 14 years before moving on to make a career out of making out.

He said he decided to give lectures on kissing because he simply loves to kiss.

"Maybe when I was growing up I was orally deprived," he said.

The couples onstage enacted different scenarios to use different types of kissing — including the case of the attractive dentist. The men slipped on lab coats to fit the role as the women took on the part of 'patient.' In a situation like this, Christian said to lock lips using the "upside-down kiss," which would be performed with the 'patient,' their head back, facing the 'dentist.'

Other kisses included the "vacuum kiss" — where the air is sucked out of the partner's mouth and "lip-o-suction" — where both partners nibbled on each other's lips in turn.

Christian then had two of the volunteers wear red pillowcases over their heads to model tongue movements. The tip of the tongue is the most sensitive part, so that is where to concentrate, he said.

He then returned to removing hickies, and the bottom line is — you can't.

"A hickey is a bruise, and it has to heal on its own," he said.

He directed some advice at guys, the minority in the almost 200 strong audience: "Trust me, romance is the way to go."

For those who didn't have a date to bring to his lecture, Christian suggested ways to practice the different kissing techniques.

"Use a doorknob, a pet or you can practice kissing on your hand," he said jokingly.

But, Christian said, the best way to practice is to use your imagination.

When it comes to kissing, he said, "If it's done right, it's bliss. If it's done wrong, it's potentially life threatening."

Rubin said it seemed like everyone had a great time and Christian's show was fun, as well as educational.

"Everyone can learn a little from him," she said.

Pete Mockaitis, sophomore in business, learned from Christian that women like a kiss on the neck 10 times more than men.

"In addition to taking four pages of notes, it was really entertaining," said Mockaitis. "(Christian) was part expert, part comedian and I think I may have picked up a few things," he said.