Mods: Can you let this stay on the GD as I would it to get more responses due to more visibility please?
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I just recently found out one is being planned for the Baltimore/DC area and I would like to attend. Can someone tell me about them as I have never been? How long are they? Are they normally held during the week or weekend? What is the usual dress code? How many people usually show and what is the guy/girl typical ratio?
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I appreciate anyones feedback and past experiences either running one or attending! Thanks in advance!

…Invite a buncha people who aren’t in the hobby.

Would be to seek out a gal that has some history of attending M & G's and have her escort you to one she has either been to or certainly feels comfortable being at one....that way she can fill in the blanks.....Also---generally it seems that someone is the person who is putting it together and all of those question could be answered by the organizer !

Unless you are talking about the Phoenix debacle maybe? Enlighten me.

lol yeah that’s just my snark and sarcasm, my snarkasm getting in the way. Yes, a reference to what happened in the PHX area recently. I thought everyone had heard about that.  

I've been to many Meet & Greets in Florida and one in Dallas and one in Atlanta last year. The two singular M&G's were kind of informal. Each attended by about 20 to 30 people in a restaurant where civies were all around us. The one in Atlanta was set up by a long time Provider who is a legend in that city. The vetting was not overly intrusive. Since I had seen a couple of the ladies attending I was easily granted access. In 2012 in Dallas,  I think it was even more informal.

I enjoyed the snark. First thing that popped in my mind

But the ones I was involved with as a guest and organizer in NY and LV generally included around 100 people, half mongers and half providers. They were usually held in a suite in an upscale hotel and ran between 7 pm and midnight. They were always held on weeknights because it's easier for guys to say they are working late or attending a business dinner. The host provides liquor, soft drinks and finger food. Men were charged $50 to $100 and women got in free. They were loads of fun and I met a lot of great women I later had sessions with. I wish anyone organizing one the best of luck.

It held 100 people? Dang. lol.

so all attendees were never there at the same time. Also, a few of them would disappear into the bathrooms for, um, "recreational activities."

I'd be interested to attend, but also very concerned there would be unknown pics/videos taken.

I have never been to one, however, I knew one young provider who attended her first one in NYC at a hotel.  She explained it as a dinner party/mixer where the guys met any or of all the ladies in attendance.  They could arrange to meet either after the party ended or at another time.  This girl had her own room she could use for meeting with clients.  Food and drinks were provided and dress was business casual.
Another M & G by a different group of providers was more like a dinner party with a provider swap. The number of guys was limited and smaller than the number of ladies.   Large space with various rooms available for various hookups in various forms, people coming and going from the various rooms  Pun intended!

Such a good point about the visibility. I had been using TER for months before I even found the meet and greet board, since it’s not linked on the main page that shows if you click discussion boards– you have to select it separately from the drop-down.

I appreciate the time you took to write it and all your experiences so thank you!
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Just a small clarification: this is def not MY event.  (You may not have meant it that way George but I dont want anyone to think I am stealing MZ's thunder here. lol.)
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It is still in the initial planning stages, per Master Zen, who is trying to put this thing together. For those that dont know, MZ has run several VERY successful M&Gs in Philly, and he has a pristine reputation with many providers and gents.

It would be amazing if you could attend! As you know, I have been dying to meet you for some time now.

At every single one did not allow pics and school of thought regarding this infraction was the person would be banned from attending any others.  

Privacy and security are #1.  

No more questions your honor. The prosecution rests but one last thing Zen...the line starts BEHIND me.

Many of the providers are face in. I’m sure none of the clients want to be outed. From my experience attending kink and sex parties, the prohibition on outing fellow attendees is ironclad. Everyone in attendance understands that such events are only possible with the strictest privacy norms.

Hopefully a general area of the venue would be made known ahead of time so travel could be planned.

There was a M&G a few years back in NYC where the host (unbelievably) invited a reporter.  You can only imagine the mayhem that ensued.  The host disappeared and his username has not been seen since.

But in fact the host did not completely disappear and he has posted here on several occasions. He did, however, get out of the M&G hosting business.

The couple of M&Gs I attended way back in the early to mid aughts were strictly vetted; if I recall correctly, information was shared via TER messaging only.  Each event was also private--either a private room in a restaurant/bar or (if you can believe it) a small house that a couple of ladies used as a meeting place.  

Discussion makes me miss one of my favorite ladies of all time. She excelled in the type of thing. Went to several gatherings like this that she hosted. Everyone felt safe and welcome and had a great time.  Depending on the area and interest there would be a meet and greet, then a smaller private party later in the night or the next day. Always went off without a hitch. Missing her a lot now.

I seem to remember it as being a while back and the article the reporter published was highly unflattering. I do miss the NYC M&Gs.

I really miss the ones in Tampa, and SS and her co-hostess threw parties I really felt sage attending. And STs were epic in S Florida.  

I attended one years and years ago in Minneapolis.  it was in a suite in a hotel.  Fair number of ladies, quite a few gents.  Usual cocktail party atmosphere.  A little weird seeing other hobbyists.  I think we had the option of pairing off and spending some time in adjacent rooms.  All in all, I was a little underwhelmed, but glad I did it.

If the host is known to you and has a reputation for throwing secure M&Gs. You also know what vetting you've been subjected to, so you know it's almost certainly the same for everyone if the host has been reliable. I attended more than a dozen M&Gs over a period of years in NY and LV, Bond007 ran a bunch of well-regarded gatherings over many years and there was NEVER a problem with any of them. The one exception being the one in NY where the host breached confidence by inviting a reporter. But even then there was no risk of LE. And no one was required to give up private information. You simply had to have a known presence in the mongering community and be vouched for by other reputable mongers.
PS: All the M&Gs in NY were in hotel suites and all except one in LV was. The exception being held in a private residential compound. I never saw any cameras.

Do tell 😉

Thanks for the thread and discussion. M&g’s have been on my mind for a while now. Chicago lost its m&g host last year and I didn’t make it a priority early enough to attend. There’s a part of me that’s curious to step up and see if the shoe fits. So much to think about to make it successful and safe.  I appreciate the knowledge and advice.

I post this every once in while.  It is geared towards hosting a M and G.  Hope it answers some questions.

I am very much considering it, given enough interest. Yes.

You have some experience as I recall. It would be good to have  m&g's started up again.

They were held in more club/large bar type places in private rooms. I really enjoyed them and the food was really good. I miss NYC M&Gs.

If the event was private and not at a public bar or something 🤗

Have been to pretty much to all bond007's TER M&G and never saw issues.
Good vetting is key and having people have his back even worked better by looking out after him and the
party attendess.
Met alot of great fellow TEr mongers and still to this day we keep in touch.

If you are invited to one at a public bar or restaurant, don't go.

and the venues being considered are all private.

I was never in LA when they were going on. We did have a number of LA types at the M&Gs some friends and I hosted in LV. I remember meeting a hot little LA number at one who called herself "Italy Santoya." I had a really nice session with her a few days later.

My events were private.  Whatever venue I used, was bought out for the evening.  Which meant I had to guarantee a certain amount of $ to the establishment.  I wouldn't book the venue under any other circumstances.  I also had security at the front for my later events when they got very large.  Their main job was to boot out anybody that was not on the master list unless ok'd by me.  I think it worked pretty well.

I would generally be concerned with privacy these days & public busts. I don't think as a provider investing in traveling to attend any M&G's in hopes to get a booking is beneficial. I have escorted dates & that works if I know who is throwing the event. Due to recent failed attempts I think these days are over. When I do attend Bonds party it was not inviting for me personally. If no one offers to buy you a drink and you drive hours, pay for a hotel and don't meet any real gentleman it's a waste of time. I did enjoy making out with several sexy providers at parties that was the best part! 🥰

First, there are no guarantees for any M and G no matter who is hosting.  I knew many ladies who booked several appts from my parties.  Conversely, many didn't.  Nobody knows how far you have traveled or what expenses you incurred.  To infer there were no real gentlemen at a party  because a dude didn't buy  you a drink or booked a date with u is a bit much.  I know you came to several of my parties  Nobody forced you.  Anyway, I always thought you were a class act.  Too bad you had the opinion that the guys who attended my events were not "real" gentlemen.

So like, the more drinks offered per hour, the more of a gentleman a man is?  

I appreciate your experience and you sharing it with the class. lol. Those must have been great times and I am sure you must have a few great stories. Thanks again!

It's been more than ten years since I was involved in M&Gs but my best recollection is that ours always had an open bar with no charge for drinks. It was considered part of what guys paid for as an entry fee. There was generally a bar tender and guys were expected to give him/her a tip of a couple of bucks for each drink poured. But that was optional. The people who attended the NY/LV M&Gs were responsible adults who could hold their liquor.
Does that square with how you did it?

No.  I charged a $40 entry fee for the gents.  No open bar.  Many people did not drink (including myself).  I didn't think it would be fair to them to charge a higher entry fee since they didn't drink.  Also, if it was open bar and somebody got toasted and left, hit someone or something, in CA, I could be held responsible.   Also, that rate included appetizers and raffle gifts  

Maybe we were just lucky but M&Gs attracted an older crowd and no one drank heavily.

You are correct in that tea totalers resent them. I am a light drinker, and dont have a big issue with an open bar personally, but I know many do.  
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And yes, the odds that someone will get inebriated goes up sharply with an open bar, as some have that all you can eat buffet mentality, in that they feel the need to "get their moneys worth."  Great points Bond!

Why would making dates be forbidden as long as the talk was not explicit?

U do not discuss business(as in a date) at a M and G because if somehow the wrong people found out it was happening at your event, a case could be made that you as the organizer are acting as a Pimp.  If you want to discuss business, do it outside or further.  Exchanging phone numbers and/or emails is the preferred method.  No more than that.

This might ‘technically’ be true in some jurisdictions, but it’s far more likely that you’re struck by lightning walking into the event than that you’re charged with pimping for setting up a date at a M&G.

I attended two or maybe three of the Chicago Meet & Greets. They were always very well organized. Costumes were encouraged for the Halloween one I went to. Dressing up was lots of fun!

But that did not take place during the M&G. It was during a private party the following night. And if you think bringing it up again bothers me, think again.

Okay folks — it’s happening. Not “maybe,” not “we’ll see,” but actually happening.

I'm sure you and Steph will put on a great event!

If a provider is making free time to show up they should get a free drink, or two. This helps them mingle more with the people who attend. I believe providers invest on attending M&G's. I have been to, so many and these do not have to be alcoholic beverages. I recall attending a M&G's when I was pregnant that's how much I love this hobby lifestyle. 😆

No.

We’re calling it The Charm City Social — because “Baltimore’s Cocktail Party for People Who Still Know How to Have Fun” was too long for the graphic.