quote:

ORIGINAL: undergroundsea

I am sure the idea would invite interest of some people but it does not resonate with me. Here are my reasons for why the idea does not call to me.

I have declined invitations to serve where all submissives serve all dominants. I prefer to serve women and do not wish to serve men. For sake of discussion, let's consider a femdom group only. The text suggests that at the end of the meeting dominants would state their financial or labor needs and the submissive would meet them in a no-strings-attached fashion. For me, service is not only for the sake of the act and the person to whom the service is given matters. The no-strings-attached service still requires a want to give such a service to whomever it is being given.

The idea of finances (pay $100-$200 a meeting and then take on financial needs of dominants) also does not appeal to me. I find no appeal in giving money to random people. Also, I could not justify going to a meeting where you pay $100-$200 when the same type of gathering occurs commonly without any such requirements. Furthermore, if one does provide no-strings-attached service of a nature that is desired, the forces of supply and demand are different than what they are in the femdom scene in general.

I am unclear about the part about business networking versus BDSM. I think because the reason the people are coming together is BDSM, a BDSM focus would more likely be wanted. Also, if I sought to join a business networking group (or a computer discussion group or whatever), I would choose demographics that were most relevant to what I sought rather than try to seek such persons within a limited pool of the population.

My two cents.

Cheers,

Sea

quote:

ORIGINAL: BeachMystress

This sounds like a great fantasy idea, but I do not believe it would work in practice.

Actually, the Club FEm in southern California did try charging for membership. It didn't work. The male subs came to the first free munch and looked over the selection of FemDom. If they liked one of them they started harassing them via private e-mail. They didn't show back up and pay money. And our Club FEm had the concept of club subs, available to all the Dominants.  If most of these men are willing to pay money, they go to a pro.

As for the rest of southern California, you do not pay for munches or discussion groups. Our Dungeons are $10, $30, $30 and $20 cover charges. (I don't know the door charge on the fifth one, as I've never been.) Just because we live in Cali doesn't mean we don't find paying $100 for a meeting outrageous.

quote:

ORIGINAL: alwaysforward

So, the part about business networking or other non bdsm related topics is that I feel the scene is to insular in that sense.  I'd be interested in a group that might interest people who are dominant or submissive but not necessarily into the art and culture of it.  I think the bdsm scene has become so much of a scene that there's not enough focus given to the act itself.  I'd want to encourage people put off but the ritual, the dress and the reiterated topics of play to come in and be able to participate.  To widen the pool.