Happy hour for business owners who are "alt-lifestyle-friendly"

Business networking for/with the kink+poly community.

To rsvp for this event does not signal anyone that you ARE "kinky" or have an edgy "alternative lifestyle."

I have a desire to grow and support my community. I believe that this event does that by bringing people of like-mind together as well as those who are open minded and open hearted to work with or serve the people of my community.

This does not connotate a need to have a kinky lifestyle - it just means that you are cool with doing business with those that do.

This event is great for Seattle area business owners who are interested in growing their client base in the bdsm, kink, poly, glbt and other alternative lifestyle communities.

honestly - it's difficult to name-tag this event. I want anyone can attend no matter what thier lifestyle. I desire to attract people to this event who are of open mind and spirit.

For all paths are truly ... perfect as they are. :)

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  Posted by Leila Anasazi, Seattle, Washington | Nov 07, 2006

  Sierra,

  In the past there have been several conversations on Biz Talk about walking the line between appropriately "professional" and too "personal". By RSVPing for this event, I'm pretty much declaring to the world that I am "kinky". Do you see that as getting "too personal" in the realm of Biznik? Do you see it as furthering the pursuit of being authentic in business? Or, how do you see it?

  Writing a book about real sex with real people
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  Posted by Chris Haddad, Seattle, Washington | Nov 08, 2006

  Personally, I think this is an awesome idea for an event (and I'm pretty decidedly un-kinky. Just give me a box of cheerios and a blow torch and I'm happy.)

  In other words: Seems to me it's in the pursuit of being more authentic in business.

  Good on yea, Sierra.
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  Posted by Sierra Faye Kennedy LMP, Seattle, Washington | Nov 08, 2006

  well maybe...

  My first thoughts when this idea hit me about a year ago was to have kink-friendly biz owners to get together and network. I had a vision of people who have bdsm or poly/swinger lifestyles with businesses being able to basically gel and come together to make the community stronger. I also was thinking that people in the kink/poly communities want to support or even prefer to work with others that accept their unique paths.

  sometimes judgements get in the way of people doing business with others - or being comfortable with it.
  I wanted this event to strengthen the referal network amongst the business owners in the local "lifestyle" scenes. I plan to do it every month for the next year or two and so on. we shall see if it works.

  consider massage to make your life better now
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  Posted by Bruce Alexander, Seattle, Washington | Nov 14, 2006

  I think this a GREAT idea. I am always delighted to build community and biz in the Grey :)Northwest, especially with those in the kink/poly communities. Thanks Sierra!
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  Posted by Sierra Faye Kennedy LMP, Seattle, Washington | Nov 20, 2006

  honestly... I'll let you all in on a big secret...

  I started this event for purely selfish reasons...

  My business is called MASSAGE FREEK. I have made a niche to cater to the bdsm and "freak" crowds - respectively - so that I can focus my marketting strategies and work with people I think are fucking awsome.

  This event is to get ME and my business more visible. That it speaks of open kink and sexuality is well... a somewhat distant second to just

  MAKING MONEY yo! it's just easier to niche... my niche just happens to be kink-friendly.

  so really... this event is all about me making money and making connections and growing my business. I mean if you think about it, it makes sence that I would put something on like this.

  Without a doubt I want totally open kinsters there to promote thier businesses. but the truth is I want people who are of open mind to make themselves visible to my community so that we can find honest and honorable human beings to give our money to.

  I would much rather give my business to someone who I know accepts and honors me then some dude that MAYBE I could be myself around.

  It seems like a waste of time to me to have friends that don't fully accept me... the same is pretty much true for business as far as I'm conserned.

  so yeah. it's all selfish really and it's a happy hour for god's sake! pass out your card! get visible! do it for money.

  consider massage to make your life better now
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  Posted by Mark Dalton, | Nov 20, 2006

  Sierra is a remarkably open-minded, receptive and authentic person... Seattle is a very rich and culturally diverse community - alternative in every which way, and I'm pleased to be a part of Sierra's circle... uptight, middle-aged musician tho I may be!
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  Posted by Ray Misra, Seattle, Washington | Nov 27, 2006

  This was the best Biznik event I've been to yet, and here's a big MWAH! to Sierra for making it happen. I'd love to see it happen again, though I hope it gets rescheduled to some night other than the 3rd Monday of every month. That way, I wouldn't have to leave early to catch "Kung Fu Grindhouse."