i have never been to a kink con before. what should i expect?

we’re stoked you’re thinking about getting social with your kink. we’ve got some practical details in the questions below, but check out our what to expect page for more.

how many people will be there?

we’re not quite sure what the numbers will be for this year - but we’re definitely not going to expand. (last year we had right around 200 people.) there’s so much focus on “more” in the world - things are always getting bigger, usually at the cost of both quality and community. we want to take this year to focus on reworking some of the issues we had last year, so that the people who attend have an even better experience.

we’re hoping to strike a balance between keeping things communal and offering more community space, while making sure everyone has physical space for all the sexy shenanigans they’d like to get into.

we also get that folks may still be feeling some anxiety around larger groups right now. track our covid policies here.

to keep things communal, cozy, and manageable in our first year, we capped attendance at right around 100 people, including attendees, presenters, and staff. we expanded in our second year to 150ish all told, and again in year 3 to 200.

what is the minimum age?

unabashed is for adults 18 and up. you must be 18 before the start of the event to attend.

what’s the schedule like?

we’ll release a full schedule ahead of time, but the hours of the event are roughly:

Friday: 3p-1:30a, with events from 6p-1:30a
Saturday: 9a-1:30a, with events from 11a-1:30a
Sunday: 9a-11p, with events from 11a-8:30p

what should I bring?

your government issued ID will be needed for registration. bring a water bottle and, if you plan on getting cozy with the coffee bar, your favorite coffee mug/tumbler. many people like to bring notebooks and pens for taking notes during sessions. for the parties, bring your toys, safer sex supplies, and aftercare gear, plus any towels or tarps you need to keep the space tidy. there will be spots to keep clothes and gear if you plan to get ready at the venue.

we’ll have some accessible seating again at the venue, and we’re looking into ways to get even more for 2024.

what is the dress code for the presentations?

we want you to feel good in your skin. please wear whatever that means for you. folks have worn everything from jeans and a tshirt to tie-dye jumpsuits to a long jean vest with a rope chest harness and a tail butt plug.

we only ask that you keep it street legal when you are outside the building, and that you sanitize seating before and after sitting if you plan to be naked.

what should I wear to the parties?

we are enthusiastic about seeing all your fetish and kink outfits, but our number one goal is for you to experience the party in whatever outfit makes you feel the best.

is this a sex positive space?

yes. our venue is a sex positive space.

we understand that not everyone wants to be in a space where sexual activities are occurring, so there will be an area where sex is allowed and an area where sex is not allowed.

we are working on solutions for the no-sex space this year that make sure the space is available for folks while leaving room for what emerges in community.

i am queer but my partner isn’t. can they come?

while we appreciate and acknowledge our straight allies, this space is not for them.

why isn’t unabashed a hybrid online/in-person event?

while we have been known for throwing steamy online parties during the off-season, there are a couple of reasons why we haven't made the con a hybrid online/in-person experience. firstly, hosting a hybrid event requires a different infrastructure, staffing, and agreements with educators and attendees about the vulnerable nature of sharing online in a world of screenshots and recording.

secondly, as a small con, streaming all or some of the workshops would require additional resources that we do not currently have at our disposal. who knows! as we continue to grow and expand, there may be a right time to make this happen. for now we’re focused on a delicious in-person experience.

we apologize for any confusion over the use of the word “hybrid” for combination presentations (ex. discussion + demo) delivered solely in person. we will not use this language in 2024.

what’s up with the people of the global majority (PoGM/BIPOC) play space?

in previous years, the con featured a segmented dungeon with affinity spaces each night. we offered a PoGM-only play area on the first night of each event.

we received feedback in 2023 that some PoGM attendees chose not to use the affinity space because they couldn't share the space with non-PoGM play partners. for the 2024 con, we will release a poll to ticketed attendees specifically asking PoGM ticket holders about their desired outcome and use of the space.

our aim is to center and uplift PoGM play experiences based on direct feedback. an announcement will be made prior to the con about the affinity play space.