Play Party Etiquette

Tomorrow I am co-hosting a play party with a fellow, more experienced kinkster.  This will be my first time in a hostess capacity.  And yes, I have pre-party jitters!  I've booked a rental apartment as this arrangement has worked well for other local parties.  I've posted an event page on Fetlife and both me and my co-hostess have been promoting it locally.  The idea is to get some local kinksters out and perhaps to encourage a few newbies out of the closet.

To foster an atmosphere that is comfortable, safe and pressure-free, my co-hostess and I have also posted "house rules" or "party etiquette" on the event page.  Participants are expected to abide by the rules as set by their distinguished hostesses.  <swings single tail for emphasis>  This is how they read:

Please arrive in your street clothes or have your fetish wear well disguised/hidden. You can change into your gear once you arrive. Best not to attract attention needlessly (especially attention we may not want - like party-crashers).

This is a dry event. No alcohol is permitted as intoxication and BDSM don't mix well and we don't need any major emergencies or accidents. No extra curricular herbals or pharmaceuticals either. If we think you are high on anything other than your body's own biochemicals, your scene will be stopped. You may be comfortable playing with intoxicants around; however, we are not. As your hostesses, we ask that you respect our wishes.

You can bring munchies and non-alcoholic beverages for aftercare and general social consumption. The venue will have a small kitchen complete with fridge. Bring napkins, and disposable glasses, plates, etc. as needed (unless you want to be washing dishes before you leave). :-)

Sex is awesome; however, some folks have psychological responses to it that we really don't want to trigger in a social context. As a result, save this for afterwards at your own home/car/etc. For the record, "sex" is defined as penetrating anyone with anything (cock, finger, watermelon, etc.) or anything that could be defined as oral sex (including rimming)

Respect others' spaces:
1. Keep your toys together in a bag unless you are actively playing.
2. If you are under-dressed or intend for you or your partner to be this way, please bring a towel to sit on to prevent an unintended body-fluid exchange with the furniture.
3. No scenes in the bathroom.
4. When people are playing, don't talk to them and avoid talking around them. The main living room will be the social area where you can talk and ask questions afterwards. Remember scenes are not demos.
5. You are welcome to bring music for your personal scene. When done, put the house music back on. (Bring a USB stick, IPod, CD, etc.)
6. Clean up after yourself.

This is a no pressure social situation. If you are feeling pressured in any way to participate in a scene, please talk to your hostesses. We will back your decision not to scene.

No cameras or recording devices of any kind please. This is non-negotiable. The reason why should be obvious. This is a play party and folks should not have to worry about their face accidentally showing up on someone else's Fetlife profile, on facebook, etc.

What can you expect to see here? Hopefully lots of happy kinkiness. You will see bondage, flogging, CBT, trampling, foot worship, power exchange, etc. Needle play is permitted if you bring your own sharps disposal container. If role playing is your thing (e.g. Gor, animal, French Maid), great. You are never forced to watch a scene. If you see something you'd rather not, feel free to withdraw to the social area and take a break.

We intend to set up each of the two bedrooms in the suite for different types of play.  The kitchen and living area will be reserved for socializing.  The party will run from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

While what happens among kinksters will of course remain confidential, I intend to report back on my first experience as a party hostess.  Wish me luck!