Blog
July 21, 2010
6:33 pm

Made it to the Dark Paradise Ranch a couple hours ago. Another long drive finally done. Gotta admit, the long drives are getting to me just a bit. Still they are nice in some ways too. I can sing at the top of my lungs without reserve. I really like to do that when I have my earphones on cause then I sound every bit as good as the recording artist doing my favorite songs. I start believing I really do sound that good once in a while, so I pull one earphone off my ear so I can hear my own voice...then I get a quick dose of reality, blush a little to myself, then put the earphone back down....then sing at the top of my lungs again...lol

Anyway, the ranch here really is beautiful. Texas has it's charms and beauty is in the eye and all that...but really...give me trees n green and water and wildlife anytime. Minnesota is as green as my home in the PACNW. Just different types of flora a fauna. Was just sitting outside under leaf dappled sunlight smelling the clean fresh air....and got bit by a skeeter...lol. Ok, everywhere has some bad with the good right?

So I came into my lil trailer to write. Yes, thank the skeeters.

Foxy Davis, my partner here, gave me the 50 cent tour....ok, this is a big place, it was more like a 2 dollar and 50 cent tour. Big barn, cool dungeon above it. Teaching classroom on the other side of it. A view of the 160 acres meadow and forested land. Supposed to be a lake on the back 40...with fish in it no less! Might have to grab my pole and check it out before the weekend is done.

Another barn is where the "Ho-down" will be. I'm pretty sure that means big, exciting barn dance. That barn has a sliding pulley system through the ceiling for piling hay that goes right out through the opening 37 feet above the ground. Foxy says it might be fun to slide suspended subbies in n out of the barn that way. I think that might be fun too.

The place has a sauna, a hot tub, outdoor showers, trees all over the place to suspend girls from and enough field place for a hundred tents easily.

Now...how to get more people here next year.

This year? 6 or 8 paying attendees at most. :(

We didn't expect much...what with the late start and all. And it being out in the middle of nowhere northern Minnesota. But now that I'm here it really is a very cool place to have a big outdoor bdsm party.

Problem...how to get more people here next year.

Average airfare around the country...$200 to $400... Event $350 per couple, $220 per single. But that includes food and if you bring a tent and a sleeping bag, it includes lodging too. Logistics for something like this say that at MOST half the people might staying hotels. 4 day event...that adds another $200 to $400.

So a 4 day event here will cost some people only around $400 total! Others...a grand. :(

What do you get for that money?

Two meals per day, a brunch and a big BBQ! Unbridled, outdoor bdsm fun! No door Nazis! Sex wherever you wanna have it! No dungeon Nazis!! Classes and demos by me and Foxy. Foxy is pretty good at a lot of things. He and Sherrifox are quite the pony play team. Medal winners and all that. A bonfire every night, drum circles, Barn dance, play in a cool dungeon above the barn. Did I say no dungeon or door Nazis?

Foxy and I both hate the power tripping people who volunteer for those positions just so they can boss people around unnecessarily. It's one thing to do their job or oversee for safety an or emergencies, but so many are so intrusive and they cop an attitude that bums everyone out. Is "copping an attitude" a DM class these days? I swear!!

Anyway....I digress again. Where was I?

Oh yes...what do you get for your money. Nice thing about writing is that I only have to read back to get my place again. Many of you know its not that easy for me when talking or on the phone...lol

You can stake your lover out in the grass....you can scream as loud as you want OUTDOORS and no one will come to your rescue!! You could try out pony play. They have extra carts here and I'm sure Foxy would help show you how to rig a pony. I hope to show people how to throw a lariat. Foxy may throw one better than me. I think he is a real cowboy. I sure hope so.

What else...

You could just relax. Its so far off the beaten path....so quiet. I'm so happy to be away from the hustle n bustle of city type living.

I really like that relax part.

Oh and finally met Gwen, the proprietor of the Dark Paradise Ranch. Very sweet woman...hot too!

Downside of this venue?

It's way out in the middle of nowhere. I've been talking to a lot of event people and they all unanimously agree that most events are supported by locals. Some people will travel a ways...or by air to get to a favorite event but MOST by far...are supported locally.

So for bdsm events...I doubt this will grow. There are other outdoor events thrown around the country that have a strong local community that will attend. Not so in northern MN.

Bondage industry? Possibly. Most industry people go to Fetishcon and they are getting tired of hotel shoots. Industry people fly to the event, pay for the event, pay for hotel and for food. That adds up! On top of that shooting in a hotel sucks. Here in MN there are many possibilities for outdoor shoots, barn shoots, dungeon shoots, tied to a fence, hung from a tree, staked out...

Here industry people would pay for airfare and event. But would they stay in tents? They couldn't possibly bring camping gear on the plane along with their bondage gear, 4 days clothing, camera gear... Maybe if we promise to supply tents and sleeping bags? Mayyyyybeee...

Well, going to take lots of pics. Take the pics and a lil hype to Fetishcon and see if people are interested for next year.

That's all I can do right?