Can We Please Make Platonic Cuddle Puddles A Thing??!!

TisDoneyTisDoney
in General

So if you have never attended a giant cuddle puddle... DO IT! It is full of laughter from great jokes, consent and respect, comfort and sympathy, and honestly, it's a grand ol' time. The best part is if you have some who gets everyone laughing... the whole puddle becomes an earthquake.

I have participated in two formally informal ones and am about to host one before I go on a road trip across the US for a couple years (starting this January). I mean, I would LOVE to make these a thing. Seriously. So how do I do that? Suggestions totally welcomed.

I will be traveling in a 10' x 14' tent with air mattresses, lights and music, but I don't think that is something everyone would really feel comfortable with, let's be real. Or would they? Hmm.

What do you think would be people's concerns? What would make it feel safer? Comfortable? Etc.

Oh please do take the time to reply to this post discussion.

Comments

  • hogboblinhogboblin

    What is a “cuddle puddle”?

    Is it like a meat mountain?

  • BenMacBenMac

    I'm not sure. I think ladies would be the ones most concerned about safety. Having a group should limit the danger. Though, it depends on if the meeting is in the middle of nowhere, or a well known location. Like a camp site or park, where people are more likely to feel safe.
    It depends on the people. Vetting everyone could be challenging, if you wish to vet people. I suppose that charging an entry fee might help. Like $20, to limit the number of questionable people.

  • UKGuyUKGuy
    edited December 2018

    I would only be comfortable cuddling one on one with someone I'd gotten to know a bit beforehand. A cuddle party with random strangers would be the last thing I'd want to get involved in. I'm an introvert and we don't function well in groups. Good luck with your enterprise, but it's not for me.

  • alexb2alexb2

    I would like to try one of these. Never heard of any happening in the UK though. I think the key is arranging a very public place for them to happen, maybe book a hotel conference room or something.

  • Brant76Brant76
    edited December 2018

    @TisDoney Check out cuddle party and maybe get certified as a facilitator. I’ve attended a few cuddle parties here in the Seattle are and it was a positive experience despite feeling a bit hesitant going into it. They are generally three hour events with the first 30 minutes focused on talking about consent.

    On a side note, since you are female and a professional cuddler, I think it is more likely you will get a favorable response than if you were a random guy with a tent asking to start a cuddle puddle. If you make it up my way around Seattle, Tacoma or Olympia, I would be up for taking part. The oxytocin high from a group cuddle is off the charts.

  • [Deleted User]Spoonie (deleted user)

    Come on down to LA!

  • jaekast11jaekast11

    The guys should wear groin cups or tape their members back. Morning wood is a real thing.

  • ChocolatetreatChocolatetreat

    Would there be a fee?

  • ColouredCrayonsColouredCrayons

    I would suggest not to do it in a tent. I find that people get very uncomfortable when there is a perceived barrier to exit. This is especially true when people are potentially uncomfortable. Imagine you're away from the exit and and for some reason decide you want to leave. It's very difficult to exit as you have to step over multiple people and your exit is incredibly obvious . Anyway, it could be done by moving the mattress outside and stringing a tarp over top. That way people could take a break from cuddling without disrupting the group. Good luck on your trip and if you make it out to the Midwest, I might be willing to join if I'm in town.

  • acuddlefanacuddlefan

    Very cool idea! Cuddling in puddles of kind strangers under the stars/ in tents is amazing! I've done it at a few local burns (mini burning man experiences).

    I'm in Chicago. I am a well trained facilitator who has facilitated group cuddle experiences for several years (mostly inside but I've done a few outside). I would be happy to help organize this locally/ offer tips for those doing it in other areas.

    BenMac, you bring up a good point. Having people purchase tickets in advance requires a bit more disclosure, since people have to input their basic info into the ticketing website. It will also give us a clearer idea of who was actually coming since fewer people are likely to cancel/ change their minds after purchasing a ticket.

    Jaekast11, is that a joke? Morning wood and other forms of involuntary erections are definitely possible in a group cuddle experience. Still, there are other options for addressing this concern. First, it doesn't have to be an overnight event. Also, simply switching positions could help. There are lots of comfy positions besides very close spooning. Erections and other natural responses are discussed at the start of cuddle parties. You can do some googling to find some articles on the topic.

    Here's one featuring yours truly: https://m.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/01/06/embrace-the-life-of-a-professional-cuddlerspooning-massages-awkward-erections-and-all

  • MizzKittyMizzKitty

    Hi everyone! @TisDoney, sounds fun! I'm a professional cuddler in southern California, if you do any out here, I'd be interested in going. I haven't been to any yet but I'd love to give it a try. I think the other made good points about being a well known or public place, maybe not somewhere that you wouldn't be afraid to go to as a woman alone at whatever time of day or night, so maybe yeah, like not too far into the woods, and hopefully easily accessible convenient restrooms.

  • KnudKnud

    Hi there!
    I love cuddle parties, and regularly attend them in my home town. We have a great cuddle party organizer, usually spend the first half doing awareness exercises both single and with partners or small groups (dancing was a great topic for that). This helps getting in touch/contact with people before cuddling: how do I want to enter contact to this person? Just eye contact, a pat on the shoulder, a hug? It's important to understand one's own boundaries before cuddling. It's also playful, and allows you to figure out with whom you want to cuddle later. After a tea break and snacks, the "cuddle heap" begins.
    It all creates a safe atmosphere: knowing that the instructor has an eye on the dynamics of the group, has laid out common rules for everyone, and that it's perfectly fine to withdraw from an interaction because you want to cuddle with someone else or be alone for a bit.
    It is actually about cuddling.
    It also takes away a lot of arkwardness on this site: the need to talk in advance to create a safe atmosphere, which gives it such a dating site character, for example.
    Good luck with your endeavour!

  • spookyspooky

    Any cuddle puddles in Orlando?

  • mickcuddlemickcuddle

    I am not connected with this event or its sponsors, I just looked at their Meet-up once and now I’m on their email list. It is a cuddle marathon in celebration of National Cuddle Up Day on Saturday January 6 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm at a private home in the city of Chicago. The group, Cuddle Party Chicago sponsors permission training and other events in Aurora, Illinois and probably some other places. That’s about all I know, there is a web address [cuddleupday4.eventbrite.com] They say it is a 4th annual, but I’m unclear whether this is the 4th National Cuddle Up Day, or that group’s 4th observance of the “holiday”

  • mickcuddlemickcuddle
    edited December 2018

    I read more of the invitation. A correction to the above. While the notice came to me from the Chicago Cuddle Party Meet Up group, the event is not sponsored by them. With further reading, I learned that Cuddle Party is a trademarked or copyrighted format, each event follows a specific agenda. The facilitator/sponsor for this event has been trained by the Cuddle Party folks, uses pretty much the same rules and agreements, but frames events outside of the official format, though it will look similar. The fee for this event is simply a donation - you decide how much. And they welcome all races and nationalities, and all gender identities and expressions.
    I won’t read anymore, so I won’t post more corrections ??‍♂️

  • safespacesafespace

    Adding my voice to the recommendation to look into Cuddle party.org and it's facilitator training. I'm in the training now and will begin hosting CuddleParty in Portland OR in the new year. It seems we will be ships in the night - perhaps we can connect before you leave the area! Feel free to reach out to me.

  • [Deleted User]teapot (deleted user)

    I've been able to acquire this on FetLife in NJ. (There are platonic sects of that site, because it's one of the few havens for asexual people's). I wish Cuddle Comfort had a group function, do we could schedule things like this on a more local scale.

  • paulwinpaulwin

    YES, YES.
    I could not agree with you more. I have been to official cuddles. But it would be great to here. I could host. So if you are ever in San Francisco let me know. All the best in your travels, Paul

  • russ333333russ333333

    i used to attend these from time to time in my area. They are amazing. probably one of the single best experiences of my life was cuddling with 20 or so others.

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