A play party, is a social event in which people gather to practice BDSM and socialize with like-minded people. The organizers provide bondage furniture, safer sex supplies and refreshments. Play parties may take place in a dedicated dungeon (run by a professional dominant), a private home or a rented space.

Some play parties have open invitations, others are restricted to members of a BDSM club or people known to the organizers. There may also be a dress code (such as no street clothes), or restrictions on admission such as couples only or no unattached males.

Play parties generally have a list of activities that are prohibited, posted in plain view. These rules are enforced by dungeon monitors (DMs), who monitor the play and wear some kind of identifying item, like a red arm band. Some types of play may be restricted to certain areas; e.g. play involving blood can only be done in an area with a clean tarp.

It is not mandatory to play at a party; some people prefer not to play in public, and only attend to socialize and watch. People may play only with the people they came with, or they may play with people they meet at the party.

The amount and kind of sexual contact allowed varies from party to party and city to city, depending on local laws regarding sexual contact, "bawdy houses" and public nudity. At some parties, penetrative sex may be allowed, while at others full nudity may be banned. Parties have been invaded or harassed by police for alleged violations of these laws.

Etiquette

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