Oddjob0226
4th Level Indigo Feather
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- Apr 22, 2001
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(It never ends! BTW - I have posted this in a few places, and e-mailed this to a few of you, so you may actually see it more than once.... I will need your feedback. Onward - )
Well, I thought the Dallas tickling gathering for February might have been dead. This is my last ditch attempt to revive it.
Our biggest problem has been finding a play space. Our really nice bondage dungeon The Sanctuary is simply too rich for my blood this year to rent (next year it will probably be fine....). Also, since it was a big giant room there were some lack-of-privacy issues. Also, we could only have the place on Friday for a few hours. However, I have looked into local hotel space and, despite my fear of noise giving us away, I might have come upon a better solution.
On the highway literally next to where I live are 3 nice and fairly affordable hotels.
The Holiday Inn has rooms at a rate of 79.00 + tax per night, and suites for $120 a night. I was thinking the last weekend of February possibly renting 2 rooms starting Friday afternoon and checking out Sunday noon. This would give us about 2 full days of tickle play and non-tickling socializing to get to know one another and be comfortable (there are lots of bars, restaurants, museums, theaters, etc. around) . And since my apartment is right next door, this would give us a 3rd place. The total would be $316 plus tax for 2 rooms of 2 days (and my own place which would hold about 5 people comfortably for play &socializing. More are welcome but it will be a little crowded). 2 suites would be $480.
The Marriott Courtyard is newer and has rooms for $59-$99, suite running from $109 to 129. The cheaper end would be $240 for 2 rooms/2 days, $440 for suites.
Both of these places have 2 Queen size beds in the rooms ( or 1 king, but I think the 2 beds are better....)
The Marriot Residence Inn is an "extended stay" hotel, where the rooms are like small apartments, nicer than a traditional hotel and probably afford the most privacy. I can't find where I wrote the rates down, but I think they were about $80/a night for a 1 bedroom suite w/sofa bed, for a total of $320.
There is one other option that I almost hate to bring up, but I might as well. There are the small old motels that rent for about $25 a night or less. These are the types of hotels that people live out of. They are in the seedier, older parts of town, but I don't think there would be any problem, really. The rooms are VERY tiny, but we could rent something like 5 of them for 2 days for a total of $250. It's just one more option to mention. People who tie other people down to tickle them helplessly might just fit right in.
Very distinct advantages: Cheaper than The Sanctuary, and instead of playing for 6 hours, we can play for 2 DAYS (Friday evening to Sunday noonish). You can come for a few hours, leave &come back, or come for 1 day, or both days, whichever works.
Also, with separate places to play, there is a little more intimacy for one on one, 2 on one tickling scenes..... AND these hotels are right across the highway from me. As mentioned above, my apartment is about 1 1/2 miles away, close enough that my apartment can be used as another, separate play space (with no noise worries) So in a way we are getting 3 play areas for the cost of 2.
Another good advantage is that all these places (except the cheapies) are on I-75, the major freeway running N-S though the center of Dallas, so getting lost won't be much of an issue, unlike last year.
Disadvantage: really, just the noise level. Others who have had their gatherings in hotel suites swear they have had no complaints, so there may be no issue here at all - the worst thing that happens is we may get a call to keep it quiet... But still, my paranoia eats at me.
A lesser disadvantage is that there would be NO equipment and toys and we would have to provide 100% of our own.
DO remember: These prices are only for the "play" rooms/suites. If you are coming out of town you'll have to get your own room. But then, your own room in the same hotel now becomes yet another private play space. If enough people are interested I can see if there is some kind of group rate discount. Most of these places do take AAA or various club discounts. In fact, if anyone has these types of discounts, we can get the room in your name and we'll get an even better deal.
And please keep in mind, while I'd like everyone to be able to play, I cannot guarantee this will happen. It does feel terrible to be at a tickle gathering and feel left out, but there are always more men than women there. Still, with two days to play, maybe we can get to know one another a little better, and that will help break the ice near the end of the gathering, or at least for the next one..... All I am saying is there are no guarantees for play...
What I need to know: The big question is: for you out of towners, or for anyone, is this too short of a notice to make the February gathering a reality? Should we push it back to March? Or just wait until we get the $$$ for The Sanctuary? I'm looking to do a February gathering just because after February my work schedule gears up and I'm not sure what my schedule will be like..... Who might be showing up? Who would be willing to donate to rent the rooms ($20 or so, maybe less if enough people commit. We aren't making a profit on this, just trying to break even.)
And I am still hoping to do a late August Houston gathering as well.
Well, I thought the Dallas tickling gathering for February might have been dead. This is my last ditch attempt to revive it.
Our biggest problem has been finding a play space. Our really nice bondage dungeon The Sanctuary is simply too rich for my blood this year to rent (next year it will probably be fine....). Also, since it was a big giant room there were some lack-of-privacy issues. Also, we could only have the place on Friday for a few hours. However, I have looked into local hotel space and, despite my fear of noise giving us away, I might have come upon a better solution.
On the highway literally next to where I live are 3 nice and fairly affordable hotels.
The Holiday Inn has rooms at a rate of 79.00 + tax per night, and suites for $120 a night. I was thinking the last weekend of February possibly renting 2 rooms starting Friday afternoon and checking out Sunday noon. This would give us about 2 full days of tickle play and non-tickling socializing to get to know one another and be comfortable (there are lots of bars, restaurants, museums, theaters, etc. around) . And since my apartment is right next door, this would give us a 3rd place. The total would be $316 plus tax for 2 rooms of 2 days (and my own place which would hold about 5 people comfortably for play &socializing. More are welcome but it will be a little crowded). 2 suites would be $480.
The Marriott Courtyard is newer and has rooms for $59-$99, suite running from $109 to 129. The cheaper end would be $240 for 2 rooms/2 days, $440 for suites.
Both of these places have 2 Queen size beds in the rooms ( or 1 king, but I think the 2 beds are better....)
The Marriot Residence Inn is an "extended stay" hotel, where the rooms are like small apartments, nicer than a traditional hotel and probably afford the most privacy. I can't find where I wrote the rates down, but I think they were about $80/a night for a 1 bedroom suite w/sofa bed, for a total of $320.
There is one other option that I almost hate to bring up, but I might as well. There are the small old motels that rent for about $25 a night or less. These are the types of hotels that people live out of. They are in the seedier, older parts of town, but I don't think there would be any problem, really. The rooms are VERY tiny, but we could rent something like 5 of them for 2 days for a total of $250. It's just one more option to mention. People who tie other people down to tickle them helplessly might just fit right in.
Very distinct advantages: Cheaper than The Sanctuary, and instead of playing for 6 hours, we can play for 2 DAYS (Friday evening to Sunday noonish). You can come for a few hours, leave &come back, or come for 1 day, or both days, whichever works.
Also, with separate places to play, there is a little more intimacy for one on one, 2 on one tickling scenes..... AND these hotels are right across the highway from me. As mentioned above, my apartment is about 1 1/2 miles away, close enough that my apartment can be used as another, separate play space (with no noise worries) So in a way we are getting 3 play areas for the cost of 2.
Another good advantage is that all these places (except the cheapies) are on I-75, the major freeway running N-S though the center of Dallas, so getting lost won't be much of an issue, unlike last year.
Disadvantage: really, just the noise level. Others who have had their gatherings in hotel suites swear they have had no complaints, so there may be no issue here at all - the worst thing that happens is we may get a call to keep it quiet... But still, my paranoia eats at me.
A lesser disadvantage is that there would be NO equipment and toys and we would have to provide 100% of our own.
DO remember: These prices are only for the "play" rooms/suites. If you are coming out of town you'll have to get your own room. But then, your own room in the same hotel now becomes yet another private play space. If enough people are interested I can see if there is some kind of group rate discount. Most of these places do take AAA or various club discounts. In fact, if anyone has these types of discounts, we can get the room in your name and we'll get an even better deal.
And please keep in mind, while I'd like everyone to be able to play, I cannot guarantee this will happen. It does feel terrible to be at a tickle gathering and feel left out, but there are always more men than women there. Still, with two days to play, maybe we can get to know one another a little better, and that will help break the ice near the end of the gathering, or at least for the next one..... All I am saying is there are no guarantees for play...
What I need to know: The big question is: for you out of towners, or for anyone, is this too short of a notice to make the February gathering a reality? Should we push it back to March? Or just wait until we get the $$$ for The Sanctuary? I'm looking to do a February gathering just because after February my work schedule gears up and I'm not sure what my schedule will be like..... Who might be showing up? Who would be willing to donate to rent the rooms ($20 or so, maybe less if enough people commit. We aren't making a profit on this, just trying to break even.)
And I am still hoping to do a late August Houston gathering as well.
