Dungeon

A dungeon is a room or area that is used for a public or private play space to conduct BDSM activities.

Dungeon Monitors

A Dungeon Monitor, or DM, is a trained safety expert in many common forms of BDSM that is assigned by the venue owner or event host. Often they will have additional medical training as well, but not necessarily.  Generally they are well-respected, well-vetted members of the community who walk the dungeon(s) at events to ensure rules are being followed, nothing patently unsafe is occurring and that consent is being respected. They keep a trained eye on various scenes and observe to help ensure that everyone is safe.

Unlike most individuals, dungeon monitors have the privilage to interupt a scene (for safety purposes) as well as other liberties, though the specifics and scope of their powers may vary from venue to venue.  If you see something you believe to be patently unsafe, report it to the dungeon monitor, and if there is not one present, the host or venue owner.

Ten Tips for Dungeon Monitors

The following best practices suggestions were made by Jay Wiseman of greenery press [1]

• Know the party rules and the house rules.
• Don't play or overly socialize while on duty.
• Circulate. If an area hasn't been inspected in the last fifteen minutes, go look at it.
• Don't act with bias (positive or negative) to anybody.
• Intervene sooner rather than later.
• Intervene gently and diplomatically.
• Be ready for emergencies.
• Have proper training and equipment.
• Help provide minor assistance with matters such as food, trash, and music.
• Debrief after the party.

Dungeon Events

BDSM events of all kinds occur at dungeons. Check to see if your dungeon of choice has a website, online calendar, or other methods of posting local events. If you aren't sure where the local dungeons are, consider attending a Munch, usually the more experienced members will know how to put you in touch with local dungeon owners.  Be sure to make contact with dungeon staff before arriving, many of these venues are not open to the public and have special entry requirements.

Play Parties

Play Parties are scheduled, generally private events, that are conducted in an area designed for play, often where several scenes may be conducted at once at different play stations. Generally a medium or larger sized play party will have a Host, Medical Staff and a DM.