THE GATE
by Tokyo Kink Society


Staff Guide



This page is a guide for all staff, performers, artists, shopsellers,
DJs/VJs and others associated with the running of the TKS nightclub event, THE GATE!




Welcome!

Thank you for offering to help us at THE GATE, a Tokyo Kink Society event!

THE GATE is one of Tokyo's largest and most famous specialty club events and is by far one of the largest staffed events of its kind in the city. On any given event night, approximately 60--75 people are required to run THE GATE, its shops, entrance, performances, galleries, VJs, DJs, and playroom dungeon spaces.

Despite its reputation as a rather notorious underground fetish club party, THE GATE is one of the smoothest running club events in Tokyo. Even when compared to "normal" nightclub parties, disruption and disturbances at THE GATE are extremely rare due to the maturity and politeness of the types of guests who attend.

Please read your section below for a guide on how to find things and do your part the night of the event!


Points for all staff members and performers


Safety


If you see anyone acting dangerously, either in the dungeon, or in regular event spaces, please tell the staff to stop the activity at once. If you do not feel comfortable to handle this on your own, please notify someone with an orange staff tag immediately or if you are "staff tagged", get other TKS senior staff members for assistance.


Dresscode

THE GATE is a strict dresscoded party. This policy is real. THE GATE is a fantasy party, and to see the art and fantasy, guests also have to be a part of the art themselves.

On any given night, about 20..40 people are refused entrance at the door for arriving with only streetclothes. If you see anyone who is not meeting dresscode (ie. wearing streetclothes) and does not have a staff tag, please notify an orange tagged TKS staff member and we will take care of it.



Friends and guests -vs- dresscode

Please tell your friends about THE GATE. But note that everyone (guests,friends..etc) MUST ALSO MEET DRESSCODE, or they will not be able to pass security at the entrance, nor will they be able to enter the event and see you / your show..etc. There are no exceptions! Please make sure your friends arrive dressed appropriately to avoid any difficulties at the door.



Illegal drugs policy

Drugs and SM-fetish do not mix. TKS and THE GATE have a zero tolerance drug policy!

Fortunately, incidences of drug use at TKS parties are extremely rare. If by chance you see drugs / drug use by *anyone* in the club (not just guests, but other staff, performers or even club employees), please notify Charm or TKS staff. Anyone caught with drugs at THE GATE or any other TKS event will be ejected, banned and possibly turned over to Tokyo Metropolitian police. Drugs are absolutely not welcome at TKS events.



Camera and Video policy

There are no cameras / video in the party space (outside the studio room). There *NO EXCEPTIONS*. Do not accept any excuses. There are no such thing as 'staff cameramen', professional cameramen with 'press passes' or 'permission cards', or cameramen wandering the party with 'permission from TKS'..etc. There is no camera or video period, in THE GATE, outside of the designated studio room on B1.

If you see ANYONE in the party space with a camera or cameraphone out, have them put it away, or lock it in the cloakroom. Watch them and if you see them out with it again, notify Charm or other senior TKS staff.




Regular event staff

So that everyone can enjoy the event, and no one gets stuck at their shift, please arrive at your shift location at least 5 minutes before you are scheduled to start. You will be instructed by TKS staff on how to perform the job of your shift (door greeter, costume check, event safety..etc).



Performers

The Staff room will be shown to you by TKS management. There is dressing room space, and a professional make up artist is available. As there can be many staff and performers, please try to use as little space as possible, and be kind to other performers who are also doing shows and using staffroom space that night. Although the staffroom has been secure in the past, THE GATE is a big public event. So please keep all valuables in available lockers.

Please discuss your show with TKS management before your performance for stage, sound, lighting requirements. Soundtracks should be mixed on a burned CD-R (do not bring original store bought music CDs) to be given to the DJ with instructions.

Please know your showtime schedule (it will be posted in the dressing room), and be ready on standby 15 minutes before the start of your performance.

**Fire or candle play of any kind is NOT ALLOWED in any show
without direct approval from Charm, the executive director of TKS**

**Suspension shows must be approved by Charm, the executive director of TKS**




Art exhibitors / Art gallery staff

Your space will be designated for you by TKS management. Tools for display of your art (stands, lighting, tape, extension cords..etc) are your responsibility. Please ensure that you bring all materials required to set up and display your art properly.

Management of THE GATE is not responsible for loss or damage during the event. So please ensure that any valuable pieces of art are watched by your staff at all times.



Shopkeepers / Fashion Designers

Your space will be designated for you by TKS management. Tools for display of your goods (stands, lighting, tape, extension cords..etc) are your responsibility. Please ensure that you bring all materials required to set up and display your goods properly.

Management of THE GATE is not responsible for loss or damage of goods/money..etc. during the event. So please ensure that any valuables are watched by your staff at all times.



Dunegonmasters

THE GATE has Asia's largest nightclub event dungeon playroom and is equipped with a lot of dungeon playroom furniture. Safety of guests playing in the dungeon is very important, so everyone must do their part.

Please be familiar with all the equipment in the dungeon, and how it should be used. If you have questions, please ask a senior TKS member, or the senior dungeon master.  If any of the items in the dungeon breaks, please get a senior TKS staff member to come fix the equipment or take it out of service for the evening.

If you see anything that seems "unsafe" in the dungeon, it probably is. In that event, please ask the guests to refrain from that behavior. If they do not comply, please get an orange tagged senior TKS staff member to handle the situation.

Among things banned in the dungeon room:
  • Any sort of suspension play (with equipment, or ropes..etc)
  • Any fire play or candle play
  • Any choking play
  • Sexual acts
  • Abuse or Misuse of any of the equipment in the dungeon room
  • Disobeying any TKS safety staff members' instructions
  • Any other unsafe behavior that is not in your eyes "safe, sane or sensible"

Photographers / Photo Studio Room

All THE GATE event and party spaces are no-camera / no-video zones. This policy is strictly enforced!

However, there is a seperate photo studio room where professional photography is allowed by photographers who have registered with Tokyo Kink Society to take photos. You (or better, your assistants) may recruit people from the no-camera party space to the photo studio to get their pictures taken (this actually, is not so difficult).

Conditions for taking photos at THE GATE photo studio room are:
  • You must register with Tokyo Kink Society (email us before the party please).
email

  • Camera equipment is permitted only in the photo studio room. It is not permitted to wander the party with cameras/video equipment, even if you are not taking pictures. If we see a camera in the party space, we will take from you. Do not bring your cameras into the event space.
  • Any photos / images which you do take in the photo studio room, you give Tokyo Kink Society the right to use freely without charge as we see fit to promote Tokyo Kink Society events and parties. This is a condition of being able to use our photo studio room and be a photographer at our party.
  • You must meet the other conditions of entering THE GATE (ie. the dresscode also applies to YOU too if you have not been given a staff tag by TKS).
  • Have not had any prior incidences of photographing in no-camera zones at THE GATE or other events around town. Such behavior will result in a permanent ban in photographing (and attending) our events as well.
  • Note: Video is not permitted anywhere in THE GATE, including the photo studio.

DJ's / VJ's

It is your responsibility to bring needles, headphones as well as connectors for any electronic equipment that you bring. Please know your DJ / VJ schedule (it will be on this webpage below) and arrive for your shift at least 10 minutes before you are scheduled to start. If you are using PCs as part of your show, make sure you prepare and understand how to connect your equipment to the club systems before the doors open for the evening.





THANK YOU!

If you have any questions about your place in THE GATE, please let us know and we will be glad to answer any of your questions! And again, thank you for all your help in putting on one of Tokyo's and Asia's most exciting and famous nightclub events!

Finally, if you are not yet a staff member or performer, and are interested in
exhibiting at or helping us produce THE GATE, just let us know, we would love to have you with us!



The TKS Management Committee

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(www.tksociety.com)