Top 10 things (Part 4) that have changed in swinging in the past 25 years

Part 4: Tantra & Teamwork

This is part 4 of our series of Top 10 things that have changed in swinging in the past 25 years. This week’s top 10 list takes us to numbers 6 and 7: Tantra & Teamwork.

If you missed Part 1, you can click here to go back so you can start from the beginning.

If you missed Part 2, you can click here to go back so you can read all of the series.

If you missed Part 3, you can click here to go back so you can read all of the series.

6. Tantra

Another thing we never saw at lifestyle events was training in Tantra methodology and techniques. We were always fascinated by the far east and Indian teachings on sexuality. The Tantric energy and even spiritual concepts. Tantric techniques including breathing, yoga, and meditation can then increase sexual energy. 

We hired our first Tantra Instructor in Key West when we were doing Couples Fest in Key West. The classes were very popular and we saw how much people really wanted to learn how to have better sex and be better lovers. Our events had diverse music and entertainment, but we needed more diversity in our classroom and so the Tantra educational track was born.

Our Tantra Classroom

One-third of our current curriculum is centered around Tantric teachings and other educational training that teaches couples how to be better lovers, how to get more out of sex, have bigger, longer, more intense orgasms, and learn more about their own bodies.

Since Key West, we have found an incredible list of teachers, sexologists, Yogis, and masters in the science and spirituality of sex. What we found out is that, for the most part, people are not born good lovers, it’s something we learn. We developed a great responsibility to give back to the community through education.  If nothing else, we hope we are remembered more for bringing knowledge and acceptance to the lifestyle community rather than simply being known as the couple who threw really big sex parties.

In the end, what we created at our events and cruises was not only the most diverse place on earth for people to explore their sexuality, we created our “Perfect Playroom”. Since we had interests in BDSM, Tantra, bisexuality, interracial and group sex, we just kept making a place where we would want to dance, play and have fun.

It turns out there are a lot more people, other than ourselves, who had these same fantasies and similar interests.

7. Teamwork

When we started this business, we had a team of two (Tess & Bob) and we tried to do it all ourselves. In fact, most clubs and events were little more than Mom & Pop businesses with one couple responsible for most everything.

We put the programs together, did all of the marketing, put together the welcome bags, made the nametags on our computer, and we spent late nights making decorations. It was a lot of work and we didn’t understand “it takes a village” until we got into event planning.

Today, things are so different. Tess has an office manager who helps her with all of the registrations and hotel rooms. We have a social media manager who also puts together our newsletters. We have people on staff who source and edit photos, create content and blogs and so much more. We have someone in charge of sponsorships, and another person to handle the classes and educational tracks. We have a team now and it wouldn’t happen without them.

We now outsource all of our printing, from badges to programs to signs and banners. We use production companies to handle our lights and sound and musical/DJ lineups. We now have a huge warehouse to store all of the props, decorations, beds, curtains, and other things necessary to put on our events.

At our events, we have up to 80 volunteers (Ambassadors) who work in exchange for reduced or comped event passes. Without them, there is no way the event could succeed, there is simply no way we could be everywhere all at once because we just have too much going on at the same time.

The Naughty Team at our annual Christmas Dinner in New Orleans

What was once a couple of Mom & Pop events has now grown into an industry. We are very pleased to be part of that industry and proud that we have helped move the needle forward when it comes to professionalism. Today, we have attended some amazing events with top-tier production values at the Champagne Club and Secrets Hideaway in Florida and so many others around the world.

To see more of our top 10 list, stay tuned… Next up “Music & Production”.