sincityprincess
Posts: 59
Joined: 4/3/2007
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I commend you on wanting to do this. There aren't very many places that offer public dungeons and I know there are a lot of people who would love this. I can give you a little bit of insight to some of the obstacles you may run up against. My former Master and I actually considered investing in a similar venture in Las Vegas. You would think in Sin City that it would be the easiest place to open a business of pleasure, but there are a lot of things that made it just not a good business venture for us.
--the first and hardest to overcome is that, even though it would seem to most here that it would really just be a grown-up playground, it is hard to convince your local city planners that it is not a place for people to have sex. The fact that even though actual intercourse isn't part of what you are charging for is of little meaning to them--at some level it is inevitable that the PTB's (powers that be) will know that people do obtain sexual gratification from the activities taking place in your establishment. Once you start mixing money and anything related to sex, you are essentially running a brothel.
--in the event you cross hurdle #1, you then have the monumental task of getting it insured. A place of business where people are paying money to partake in activities that have even the slightest possibility of injury or worse is a very hard sell to an underwriter. In this economy an insurance company is going to be even more cautious about entering into a contract with a business that at some point will almost certainly have litigation involved. Additionally, if you have professionals operating the more dangerous equipment like Electro-Stims or suspension bondage apparatuses or Pro-Dommes on site you now have what the po-po see as hookers; plus as employees they would be subject to OSHA standards and entitled to Workman's Comp if they were injured on the job--pretty interesting picturesque to imagine having to fill out an injury report explaining how you wrenched your back while riding a Congressman during Pony Play.
--Because of the fact that there is the possibility of bodily fluids being exchanged (even sweat and/or saliva like at a gym or spa) you will have to get licensed by the health department. If you have no way of regulating the sanitation than they probably won't even give you the time of day either. You would have to determine how to keep your toys clean & sterile when you wouldn't always be able to know where they have been. (Shudder!  )
--At this point, you have to consider if the dungeon itself is enough to sustain a full time business? Many people who try this kind of business realize that it is pretty hard to find a hearty enough group of kinksters to keep a business like this above water. They either prefer to play in private and have their own equipment at home or will easily tire with driving across town (or further) to try out a St. Andrews cross then have to drive all the way back home to have sex. And if you provide a place for them to have sex, well, then you are back at square one. Places like Vegas have tried to cater to tourists who want to "live out their fantasies" while on vacation, but usually tourists want to "look" not pay to participate. Plus, if it becomes known as a "touristy" place then the locals really stay away, and tourist season even in a place like Las Vegas only lasts part of the year and must be supplemented with a strong local clientele to thrive. Some have tried to combine a dungeon with bar or restaurant but then you have even more liability issues to deal with and it becomes a mess.
--There are places who opt for the "private club" atmosphere which allows you to skirt some of the red tape involved with a regular walk-in type of business, they are disguised as health clubs, spas, members only places or even therapeutic reliefs. But it won't be long before the PTB's get wise to you and start staging sting ops to catch the first thing you ever do wrong. For instance, you can't charge a cover charge for a private party--only accept donations--but then you are at risk for a bunch of looky-loos who don't want to pay for showing up & getting their rocks off. Problem with having a "private" club is how to advertise and get patrons. You often have to rely on free liquor store newspapers and internet ads. If you advertise too much you will either eat up your profits in advertising or it would only convince the PTB's that you are actually a regular business. If, heaven forbid, you had a psycho-path show up and some girl ended up kidnapped or raped, you could be liable. And, because hookers know where to find horny men they would likely begin conducting business in, outside or nearby your business and the cops and local bible beaters would likely pen you as the cause of their activities not the landing point of activities that would be going on anyway.
--If after all of this, you could figure out a way to get the doors open there would be an added expense of maintaining the equipment and replacing things that would inevitably wear out quicker when you have several dozens of people using things that are usually constructed to be used by only one or two.
--I have seen some Bed & Breakfasts that have "theme" rooms, namely dungeons. This seems to me like the easiest way to get your business off the ground but then you have a quantity issue. You would only be able to accomodate however many people could sleep in your home at a time and would have to charge a pretty penny to turn a profit at that rate. Then you face the challenge again of how to attract a very slim niche of the population. Even kinksters would rather have a 4-star resort for $300 a night than to sleep in your guest room just for an opportunity to spank their girlfriends on a real spanking bench.
I really really am not trying to be a Negative Nelly; I would love to see you succeed in this business venture. I am just giving you some things to consider from someone who has been there. Great concept on paper...a lot more difficult to turn into reality. But truly best luck to you.
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