How We Do Things -- Our Rules


Facility Rules

Absolutely...

  • No Minors
  • No Alcohol
  • No Illegal Drugs
  • No Firearms (whether you have a concealed-carry permit or not)
  • No Smoking or Vaping
  • No Solicitation in Any Form (to include prostitution and professional BDSM services)

Violators will be required to leave The Mark immediately, forfeit any fees paid, and may lose their membership.

Play Rules

The Yeses

  • Be Consent-Minded -- Consent and intent are what separate BDSM from abuse and assault. Ask permission, negotiate play, and take “no” as a complete sentence with no explanation required.
  • Think Kink-Positive -- We do not tolerate “kink shaming”… If you don’t like something you see in a scene, don’t watch, look elsewhere, or move to another part of the facility. Do not giggle, laugh, point fingers, make derogatory comments, gestures, faces, etc. In other words, “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum!”
  • Think Sex-Positive -- The Mark has a permit to operate as a “sex club”. Although sex is not necessarily the focus of what we do here, we also don’t get in the way of our consent-minded adult members/guests who wish to engage in sexual activities – however they might define it!
  • Think Body-Positive -- At any given event there will likely be someone younger than you/older than you, larger than you/smaller than you, trans/cis, gay/straight, etc… We work hard to maintain an inclusive space and highly value our diversity. Help us keep The Mark welcoming for everyone!
  • Be Prepared -- If you have properly planned, organized, and equipped, your perfect scene will go just the way you wanted it to... and the less-than-perfect scene won't be so bad!
  • Watch and Learn -- Most of us are visual learners… Respect scene spaces and learn from the play. But, feel free to ask questions – after the scene is over!
  • Put Stuff Back -- Feel free to move furniture or adjust equipment… Just leave it as you found it – which includes returning chairs to where you found them!
  • Clean Your Equipment -- Clean-up after yourself and clean-up properly. Don't know how to do so to our satisfaction/expectations? Ask us and we'll show you!

The Mark is a safe, sane, and consensual community space for all who utilize it.


The Noes

  • No Uncontainable Scenes -- Scenes must be limited to those who have negotiated to be in them. We don’t, for example, allow play which involves urine/feces/vomit, burning incense/sage, etc. as these have an odor component that cannot be easily contained.
  • No Unconsciousness -- Although we allow breath-play, we draw the line at unconsciousness. If your intent is to have your partner black-out, save that for home where you have lots of cushions, pillows, and such for them to fall on (rather than our concrete floor.) Similarly, we don’t allow nooses, zip-ties around the neck, collars fixed to hard-points, or unattended bondage as such play can become extremely dangerous before a Play Space Monitor (PSM) can intercede.
  • No Invasive Edge Play -- We define “edge play” as that play which causes concern with other experienced members… and ask that edge-players discuss their scenes with the PSM beforehand to set expectation and review rules. Edge play that exceeds issues of mere comfort and makes The Mark feel less safe for observers becomes invasive and unwelcome.
  • No Loud Conversation -- Loud conversation can disrupt scenes or aftercare in process. People often come to The Mark for a unique headspace available no where else… Please help keep conversation levels down in the play space, as our background music can’t cover all conversations.
  • No Cellphone Use -- Frankly, we don’t want to hear those calls! If you are on-call or need your phone in case your sitter texts, put it on vibrate and leave it in your pocket or on your person, taking the call/text in the social space when it buzzes.
  • No Audio/Video Recording -- Nobody should be recorded without their permission. If you want to take photos ask the PSM for permission and guidance or wait until a designated "Photo Night".
  • No Glass Containers -- Glass breaks and the splinters can get in people’s feet.
  • No Food -- Food is not allowed in the play space unless you have informed the PSM that it is needed for a scene or is a medical necessity.

The above are prohibited in the play space without the explicit permission of the Play Space Monitor (PSM) or Manager on Duty (MoD).

Attendance

The Mark is a private, members-only club and as such only CPI members and their guests may attend. Current members in good standing may sponsor guests (as many as they feel comfortable being personally responsible for) and subsequently sponsor memberships for their guests. When members are expecting guests to arrive, they should alert the desk attendant to add their guests' legal first names to the night’s official guest list. Guests cannot enter The Mark (beyond the front lobby) unless they are on the guest list, their government-issued photo ID matches the name on the guest list, and the member inviting them is present to vouch for them personally and sign their guest form... So it is best if guests arrive with or after the members who invited them.

In addition, nobody under the age of 18 is allowed inside The Mark for any reason and access to the Play Space is prohibited to those who have not signed the standard CPI consent form whenever play is in progress or expected.

Membership

There are two classifications of membership. New members begin as "provisional members" for a period of six months and will be extended the offer of regular membership once completing the probationary period without incident and/or are voted in as "regular members". In addition to inviting guests, membership offers discounts on events, the ability to pay membership dues and entry fees by check, reciprocal membership with sister clubs, non-business voting privileges, and other perks. Regular members are granted additional voting rights as determined by the CPI Board of Directors.

Along with completing the required consent/membership form and paying the membership dues, the potential new member must supply the name of a current member who will vouch for their character and sign the membership form as their sponsor. If no such person is available, members of The Mark's management may volunteer to serve this function, based upon references provided or their past experiences with the potential member in question. (This is neither an automatic process, nor a hazing ritual, but serves as an important firewall for the security of our membership.)

Please note that there is, by Metro Nashville ordinance, a 48-hour waiting period between the submission of a membership application and the membership becoming effective.

All records kept at The Mark include only member names and member numbers. Cross-references to legal names and signed paperwork are removed every weekend and ultimately reside outside the state of Tennessee. Please do not try to conduct CPI membership business using your legal name.

Fees

The fee structure at The Mark is as follows:

  • Membership Fees: $30/six-months (or $60/12-months, etc.) or $600/lifetime.
  • Entry Fees for Weekend Parties : Members - $15, Guests - $20. ($10 and $15 for Tuesday parties)
  • Class Fees: Free! (Since we believe that education should be open to all, we do not require payment for classes. We do ask, however, that those who can help defray our expenses do so through a $5 or $10 donation.)

Fees may be paid with cash, personal check (if a member in good standing), by PayPal (using the payment address of "donations@themarkbycpi.com"), or by credit/debit card whenever the front desk is open.

Membership renewals and event fees may be paid offsite and in advance of events via PayPal... Please include an extra $1 (for every $15 spent) to cover our PayPal costs and BE SURE to include your member name and/or number so that we credit the correct person.

Reciprocal Membership Agreements

CPI has entered into agreements with several groups to honor each other's memberships and thus, accept their vetting. These agreements allow any current card-bearing member of one group all the perks and privileges of membership in the other group when traveling to:

We are always looking for new opportunities, and encourage those running facilities similar to The Mark -- and within a day's drive of Nashville -- to contact us if interested in setting up a reciprocity agreement with CPI.

Hours of Operation

Unless otherwise posted, The Mark holds a party every Friday and Saturday night from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. (Tuesday and Sunday parties, when we hold them, are from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) Arrive early and you risk sitting in your car until the MoD arrives to open. Arrive within two hours of closing (when the front desk shuts down) and you will not be allowed to enter. Everyone should plan to leave by closing unless prior arrangements have been made with the MoD. So, don't start a scene that won't finish by closing, as that is rude and disrespectful of our volunteers who staff the party (who won't hesitate to turn off the music and HVAC... and turn on the bright lights!

Classes, meetup groups, discussion/support groups, etc. meet all through the week and at various times throughout the day in an effort to provide educational opportunity and community interaction with as many people as possible. Please check with event management or individual event posts for scheduling details.

Dress Code

Enforcing a specific dress code can stifle creativity, culture, and individuality. Instead, we simply ask that you help make The Mark a special place to be by wearing whatever makes you feel special! Also, although we do encourage folx to participate in our occasional costume/dress-up parties, it's never required.

Miscellaneous

Remember that no food is allowed in the play space, when play is allowed, unless medically necessary or prudent. Beverages are allowed, but only in non-glass containers. Please be careful where you place your beverages, try not to spill them, and dispose of your cup, can, or bottle appropriately.

Smoking/Vaping is allowed only in the designated outdoor smoking area on the north side of the building -- which is out the front door and to the left. Please pick up after yourself, use the ashcan and trashcan provided, and keep the area clean.

Please park efficiently and courteously. Do not use the designated handicap parking spaces unless you have a valid placard or tag. During larger events, please obey the parking attendant, if we have one. If not, those members arriving earlier in the night should try to park further from the front door if at all possible and leave the closer spaces to first-time guests, out-of-towners, and those who could benefit from a shorter walk. All are welcome to drop-off riders and bags first before moving their car elsewhere and we are happy to escort anyone to and from their car for whatever reason. (The parking lot is under continual camera surveillance.)