reserving a dungeon

(cross post from MF)

When arranging a session with a Domme in NYC for the first time recently, I was taken aback when it became clear that she wanted me to reserve the dungeon space. In 12 years of sessioning, I've never been asked to do this. Do indi dungeons even rent to subs? I just assumed they formed relationships with trusted Dommes. Needless to say this through a monkey wrench into the booking process. You love to hear opinions from both Dommes and subs.

When I ran a Dungeon I would occasionally have a sub contact us to rent space for him and his Domme. Usually this was a Domme that didn't live in the area and the sub was well known to the Domme - maybe they were traveling together. In My experience it is not typical but not unheard of. As a sub that didn't know the Domme, I would find it off putting.

I get the request frequently from subs to rent for their Domme or play partner, but I won't rent to them unless the Domme contacts Me-- I want to talk to whoever is in charge of the session, which is obviously NOT the sub! I usually respond by asking for them to have their Domme contact Me directly, and half the time it never happens. On one hand I can see where it would be a service request from a Domme but for Me its kind of a red flag, it shows they don't know protocol and it just adds another step and another chain of emails that are unnecessary. The situation Mistress Ayn described is more understandable.

It's not normal, but she may have her reasons (less work on her part / maybe she thinks it shows you're more serious about seeing her).

As someone who has rented their space before, I'd also want to talk to the Domme since she's in charge of the session. If A ProDomme didn't want to rent from me directly and is doing it through their sub I'd honestly assume the worst (bad history in the community, bad renting reviews, doesn't want to screen, ulterior motives, is irresponsible, etc). I'd probably wind up denying you both the request or screening you both twice as hard.

I find this strange. I would never ever ask a client to book a studio for me.

Did the Domme tell you why she wanted you to do it? The only things that makes sense is that she either wants you to show you're serious by putting down the cash for the space (i.e. you won't flake on her) or she doesn't want her name associated with it somehow? Still, neither of those are things I would personally worry about. I would also imagine that the studio might prefer to work with professionals and not random clients since they don't know if a client is doing something shady.

Thanks for your insight. Always appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who replied. Like most of the responses, this felt like a red flag to me. I got her introduced to a dungeon owner, who ended up turning her down for lack of references. After that I decided not to pursue the session.

Logic and safety prevailed... this time.

It sounds like she may have known she would not get the green light and maybe that's why she asked you.

Anyway, if there was a bullet there, you dodged it.