House of Scorpio > How to Attend
See the table below for HoS event attendance requirements (as guideline: social, dance & educational events are more open, but the more physical an event might get, the more requirements are in place). Most events don't require membership, but members get perks on all events -- like discounts, no ticket fees, having their name & card already saved in the system, etc. Once you log in as member, any events and ticket levels you're qualified for will appear on the membership page.
| HoS event requirements | ||||
| Event name | Membership | Dress code | PAL | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taste The Rainbow (every first Fri) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Sinema Club (every second Sun) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bedroom Badass (beginner every 2nd Wed; advanced every 4th Wed) |
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Dark DecaDance (every 4th Fri) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fierce! (rotating on 3rd Fri) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| FemFlirt + MeetMarket (rotating on 3rd Fri) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Saints & Sinners (rotating on 3rd Fri) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lip Service (every 2nd Fri) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Countdown (every 4th Sat) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Persephone (annual Halloween) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
In addition, our code of conduct is a requirement for ALL events. If you are not familiar with our rules when you arrive, you could be turned away at the door...even if you have tickets. There are no refunds if you get turned away due to failing to read and follow rules.
We *strongly* prefer advance ticket sales, as it makes check-in faster and smoother. Plus, if people register at least a week in advance, we can plan staff, supplies, extras, etc. Online event registration remains active throughout the event unless we reach capacity. We highly recommend the Wild Apricot app for fastest on-the-go ticket purchase, available for Apple and Android devices.
We have coat racks and shelves for your personal items, but no staffed coat check. No BYOB, please.
Any relevant event updates are posted on the events page, as well as to the Facebook pages for each event -- always check at least the website before a party. Urgent updates are emailed to all ticket holders -- another reason why pre-registering for events is a good idea. Join the FB group and RSVP to the events there to get the updates on that platform. It's also the best way to connect to other guests, if needed.
Attendance & membership FAQs
Do I need approval to attend? Check the chart above or the "HoS rules" section of the event you're asking about. If it says approval is required, yes, you do. Approval instructions are below this section.
How do I know if I'm already approved? You will be able to see tickets to an approval-required event after logging in.
Do I really need a membership? I just want to attend one party! Check the chart above or the "HoS rules" section of the event you're asking about. If it says membership is required, yes, you do. But: membership is instant, and doesn't require prior approval or minimum duration. Base membership level is $5 (Buddy), though you may want to consider the $15 level (Friend), as it lets you add two guests to your registration and gives you $5 off all events.
How does the monthly membership work? Memberships activate instantly for the calendar month during which you sign up. So whether you sign up on the 1st or the 20th, it will renew on the 1st of the following month. We host 6-9 events each month, so if you're interested in even one, we recommend signing up as early in the month as you can. You have to be an active member to buy tickets AND on the date you attend the event. Please make sure your membership is current before an event date.
Do monthly memberships get prorated mid-month? No, the cost is always the same, $5-55. It's done this way because all perks and ticket discounts are instant. Don't sign up at the end of the month after the last party has passed...you will get charged again on the 1st (but we'll refund you if that happens).
Can I sign up for membership at the door? No, that slows down check-in for everyone. Please sign up online in advance, add a card to your profile, make sure your log-in works, etc. If you can't put a card on file, you can pre-pay for at least three months of an existing membership through these two options: 1) email us to make arrangements via Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, etc. 2) pay at the door in any format.
I'm a member. Can a buy a ticket for my non-member guest? If you're a Friend level and above, one of your perks is the ablity to buy up to two guest event tickets. Please book all tickets at the same time, otherwise you'll need to reach out to admin [at] houseofscorpio to alter your registration (please include all guest names).
I missed an event I had tickets for. Can I get a refund or credit for a future event? There are no refunds unless we cancel an event, but Friend With Benefits members and higher get credit in the system towards any future event of their choice. If you're a FWB member who missed an event, reach out to admin [at] houseofscorpio to set this up.
How do I change my membership level? Follow the instructions here.
How do I cancel my membership? You can stop payments anytime, which stops your membership at the end of the last calendar month you paid for. After logging in, click the Invoices and payments tab, then click Stop recurring payments button beside the membership renewal transaction. All unpaid memberships are automatically suspended on the 15th of the month, but if you'd like to stop the reminder emails sooner, you can drop a line to admin [at] houseofscorpio with the request. There are no refunds for paid memberships, since control over payments is in your hands, and membership benefits are active as long as the membership is active.
Event approval instructions
- Only some events require approval for ticket purchase: see the chart above or the "HoS Rules" section in each party invite.
- Basic requirements: 1) You must have a PAL ready to vouch for you. Please CC your PAL when you apply. 2) You must be an existing member, so we can update your status in our system. This means your (and your PAL's, if we're updating their status) emails need to match the emails in the membership system.
- Tip: Friend+ level members can buy up to two guest tickets for any event. So while we still need to see your PAL cc'd when you apply, once you're considered "approved" in the membership system and are a member in good standing, you can bring up to two guests of your choice to any event if you're Friend level and above. So for example if you're a couple who wants to invite another couple to a play event, if you're each Friend+ members, you can add those guests to your registrations without them having to be approved individually, joining as members, etc.
- The easiest way to get approved is in person at Lip Service -- ask any event staff for assistance. We STRONGLY recommend attending LS before jumping into anything appproval-required anyway, and LS is the ONLY party where you can get approved in person.
- To apply online: email us with *direct links* (not just name or handle!) to yours and your PAL's *most complete* social media profiles. No scene profiles, please: we don't care about your kinks. We care about your personality, political & social views, and what you do in the world: House of Scorpio is a community first and foremost. Facebook is best; OKCupid is OK; FetLife or Instagram only if your profile contains the info we just named; LinkedIn will make us judge you.
- Your profile must have your *real name & photos* that match the info in our secured membership database. We do not share your info with anyone, but need it on file to know the real human we're dealing with, for safety and protection of all members. You can use any name you prefer at the events themselves, as long as we have your real name linked to your ticket purchase in the membership system.
- If your main social media profile is locked down for privacy, you can either unlock it until you get approval or send a screenshot of how you see your profile. If you don't use socials, you can send pictures of you & your PAL plus info about yourselves -- but remember that we have to see a match between your email/names/screen names, so we can know it's really you.
- Please allow at least two work days for approvals (i.e. if you email on Friday, don't expect to hear back until Tuesday or Wednesday). If you email us within 24 hours of an event, you will likely not be approved in time to attend. Tip: don't wait for a specific party. If you have a permanent partner, get approved now, and you can attend any event in the future without the stressful last-minute approval wait.
- Approval requests anywhere other than our email inbox will not be considered or replied to.
- Even if you've attended previous HoS events as someone's guest, you are not considered "approved" until you go through this process.
- Once your status is changed to "approved" in the membership system, play event tickets will appear on the member ticket page alongside all other events. If you've been approved prior to the Wild Apricot system, but the tickets aren't showing up after you sign up for membership, please email us, and we'll update your approval status.
Approvals and gender balance
In the heteronormative world, it tends to be the man taking the initiative for sexual exploration. In our world, when welcoming hetero couples, we *strongly* prefer that the woman reaches out and CC's her male PAL: that way we know for sure she's interested and not just being dragged along. Also, since it's frequently one Friend member buying multiple tickets, we prefer that it's *women* that become approved members, so that in the future they can make the choice of which guests to bring with them. In everything we do, it's women, queer & trans folks to the front, and if hetero men or couples have a problem with that, they can skip our parties. In fact, if you don't understand the basic concept of feminism/gender equality and why it's painfully necessary for ALL genders, don't bother applying.
COVID and other respiratory diseases safety plan
- We will never oversell our events. Expect a lot of room in our 5k sq ft Loft.
- Proof of vaccination is required to attend and will be added to your member profile for future check-ins. We recommend the official NY State Excelsior app, but you can also show your original vaccination card or photos of it, along with your photo ID.
- We use our ticketing system for contact tracing in an unlikely case of infection: please register for events in advance if possible, so we can inform you of any health or other situations after an event.
- Two hospital-grade UV air purifiers (Airpura UV 600) will cycle the air, each rated for 2k sq ft/hour turnover.
- No masks are required for our vaccinated & ventilated gatherings, but you're welcome to still wear yours if you'd like.
- All G&S staff have been vaccinated, but may still choose to mask up as well.