Back in 1999 when I wrote the Janus history (and I'm planning to do an update of it this year), one of the people I interviewed was a part-owner of a one time public play space. He spoke to me of the "hassles" of running it, that it wasn't so much dealing with "getting raided" by the cops, it was more people complaining about the heating not working, the music being too loud or not the right type, or different personalities clashing on the dungeon floor, and so on.
I hear often of playspaces across the US closing down either due to local pressures (ie non-kinksters finding out about a space and having it shut down), or to the dreaded lack of money to keep them open. In the last decade here in San Francisco, I've seen 4 or 5 spaces come and go. In fact, the Scenery (which was a playspace here in the San Francisco Bay Area and billed itself as "the largest dungeon in America") recently went on hiatus, when the landlord of the space The Scenery was renting decided not to renew their lease.
So why is it that dungeons seem to come and go so quickly? My friends August & Phil whom I've mentioned in previous columns, are now part-owners of a new space in San Francisco called The SF Citadel. Even though the space just opened in mid-December, they and the other owner have already had to deal with people who either have complaints about the place (not enough close by parking, "one floor isn't wheelchair accessible," etc.) or people who eagerly want to "offer their advice" in ensuring its success.
I recently sat down with August and asked her to describe what it's like to be running a space, both the advantages and disadvantages of it, as well as what she and her fellow co-owners plan to do to ensure the space becomes a long-term one.
As far as "advantages" to running your own playspace, August says that first she "gets to hang out with her friends, as well as meeting new folk. You also get to find out what people are into," as well as getting insights into the various different communities (like the women's and men's leather scenes, as opposed to just the so-called "straight" community). She also says you get to explore new ways of playing, things you might not have had the opportunity to explore previously.
As far as "disadvantages," August readily admits that she and Phil are "always tired," which makes a lot of sense. August and Phil both work full-time, then open a playspace on the weekends (or sometimes on weeknights for classes or group meetings), which leaves very little free time for anything else. As she puts it, "there are times when we'd love to be able to sneak off and see a movie some evening."
As far as ensuring the long term success of the space, August says "It's all about support. The community has to feel like they WANT to support the space. If the women's and men's communities come here and share their energy with all of us as well, it's a win-win situation for everybody. What helps ensure the success of the space too is that the owners always project a positive attitude when you walk in the door. Any of us may have our own issues going on, but we have to keep them private until a time comes when they can be "talked out" and resolved. Also, we rely so much on volunteers coming in and helping us out, be it by working a door shift (door people let attendees in or out of the space), or a DM shift (Dungeon Monitors watching the scenes going on to ensure all dungeon rules are being followed), or even doing set up of food and dungeon furniture before the party or party clean up at the end of the evening."
August also adds that in running the space, "We are in service to the community," as opposed to the other way around. I know that while I was interviewing her for my article, she and I shared a laugh about the old term "giving back to the community" which both of us feel has been grossly overused. I have to admit I like her way of phrasing it, because a space like the SF Citadel is a benefit to everyone who either attends a function there or has the opportunity to scene there.
There have been a handful of spaces over the years in San Francisco that did survive for quite a number of years, Shotwell in the 1980s being one of the longest before the owners turned it into a paintball store, as well as Castlebar which survived in a couple of places for a few years.
From talking with Phil and August, I got the sense they want to "do it right," and here's to hoping they succeed in their goal. If you're planning to visit San Francisco in the near future and wish to check out the Citadel, there is a web site at http://www.sfcitadel.org, which the owners plan to have up and running by the time this article appears.
Until next time,
LS