By Nancy Reardon

Despite its name, Flesh Theater is not about nudity or sex. It’s a place where people can feel comfortable about their unusual desires. These fetishes may involve a certain appearance, such as a costume or uniform fetish, or a physical behavior, such as whipping.        

Fetishers go to great lengths to explain that pornographic images of human bondage or sado-masochism (S&M) should not be confused with the fetish party theme. “S&M is more about feeling than what’s in the mind,” said Master Steelow, the founder and owner of Fetish Theater. “Fetish is all about desire.”

That’s a polite way of saying that S&M is about sex, and fetishers are more interested in the kinky and sometimes painful foreplay, whether it leads to sex or not. (Intercourse is not permitted at Steelow’s fetish parties.)

Flesh Theater opens its doors to people from all corners of the city every Wednesday and Thursday night at its Second Ave. location just below 14th Street. Many of them are regulars, and they keep coming back because the fetish parties allow them to express a part of themselves they keep hidden from society.

There’s the guy who had a teddy bear fetish. Steelow said he would come to the parties dress head-to-toe in a bear costume, also sometimes known as “Plushies.” Or the more subtle high heels fetish. One heterosexual man would attend wearing regular male clothes accessorized with a pair of pumps.

“I get so used to it that I hardly notice anymore,” said Steelow. “I would hold regular conversations with that guy wearing the bear suit, and I barely noticed it.”

Of course, at Flesh Theater, the accessories make the outfit. Many partygoers come equipped with their own whips, chains, handcuffs and rods. The bar has three St. Andrew’s crosses, wooden X-shaped structures with straps for tying down fellow guests.

But even with all leather and metal, Flesh Theater isn’t a dark dungeon of sexual depravity. It looks like a regular bar, complete with stools, dance floor, and the basic beers on tap. Partygoers told NYC24 that the DJ often spins 80s tunes – their favorite.

And just like the mainstream club and bar scene, fetishers take a while to loosen up and feel comfortable. They follow a policy of always asking permission of other people to participate in their fetish. One partygoer asked this NYC24 reporter if she wouldn’t mind helping him out. (She politely declined.)

The young man had a fetish for “carpeting.” He liked to lie down on the floor while another person walked on top of him. Steelow later talked more about this particular fetish. “Sometimes you’ll see them lying down beneath the bar, with people standing on top of them and having drinks,” he said.

And as strange as that may seem, it just doesn’t matter at Flesh Theater. There is no judging or teasing. It’s all about what the fetishers want.

Courtesy of www.fleshtheater.com

NYC law prohibits sexual activities (i.e. intercourse or oral sex) in public bars/clubs. Be respectful or you will be ejected from the party.

Do not expose female nipples, do not expose M/F genitals.

Be considerate when playing. Don't do it where people are dancing, near the dance floor or near heavy traffic hallways. No fire play.

If two people are engaged in a fetish or S&M scene, do not touch without asking permission.

Do not interrupt a fetish or S&M play scene unless requested by the participants.

Whipping, spanking, electric play is ok.

Leather, latex and PVC accessories are subject to the 50 percent rule, as well as jackets, hats, and dog collars. These do not count as completely dressed.

No blue jeans, khakis, flannel shirts (street wear) other than head-to-toe black dress will be admitted. Remember, you are what makes the energy of this party, so dress to thrill.

The scene is a very tight knit society. Being identified as one(s) who put the Club in obvious jeopard by breaking the rules will become know to the scene.