On March 8, cross-town San Francisco drivers stopped at the busy intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Bush Street watched as a man, probably in his 60s, crossed the street to go to the Regency Hotel Ballroom, wearing an all-pink outfit consisting of a latex corset, tutu, thigh-high stockings, 8-inch stiletto go-go boots and a feathered Mardi Gras mask.
While leather and latex outfits are standard attire on any given Friday or Saturday night in San Francisco, those who were dressed up for the seventh annual San Francisco Fetish Ball literally stopped traffic.
Paige White's Uber Ego Productions has produced the Fetish Ball since 2003. Paige's fiancé, Tchukon Hunter-son of Mr. S Leather founder Richard Hunter-produced the first ball in 2002 as an annual promotional event for Mr. S Leather.
"The first S.F. Fetish Ball originated as an annual Saturday-night event held at the DNA Lounge that drew 400 people, with a pre-ball Thursday-night erotic art gallery showing that was held at Mr. S Leather," White said.
In 2003, the Friday-night pre-ball party "Club Enslaved," which White likened to a London Underground party, was added to the schedule, making the Fetish Ball a three-evening, internationally acclaimed event that has grown every year, hitting a peak attendance of 2,100 in 2006.
White, who also is the marketing manager of Mr. S Leather and Madame S, said she chose to not put on a ball in 2007. Mr. S and Madame S had only been in its freestanding 30,000-square-foot retail and production facility for a year when it was time to start production on the 2007 event, but time constraints kept the event from coming to fruition.
"Putting on a three-day event is exhausting," White said.
When the ball returned from March 6-8, 300 people attended the erotic art gallery showing at the DNA Lounge, 600 attended "Club Enslaved," and 1,600 attended the ball.
The event was sponsored by Stockroom, Wet, FetishMovies.com, AdultDVDEmpire.com and Rock Star Energy Drinks, among others.
While the 2008 ball's attendance showed a downturn from the high of 2006, White said she is not disheartened. Since Mr. S and Madame S remain her priority, their expansion-including the recent launches of several big affiliate programs and the completion of final touches to new studios on the top floor, where adult video content production will begin in April-almost kept this year's event from happening.
Production for this year's Fetish Ball came together in 60 days, featured more than 40 leading fetish models, three leading DJs and an elaborate stage show by London's Pretty Purvy. It was produced with the support of 30 volunteers and five key staff members, who did everything from help choreograph stage productions to help market the event.
Despite a dip in attendance, the ball was a tremendous success, with 15 percent of the international attendees coming from as far away as Europe.
Prior to the Fetish Ball, Mr. S and Madame S are as much of a destination as the ball itself, drawing an increase in sales that is second only to the increase seen before the Folsom Street Fair. Since attendees often try to out-primp each other, international attendees often arrive in San Francisco several days early to purchase their outfits.
"People plan their vacations to San Francisco around the Fetish Ball," White said, and Mr. S and Madame S are on their itinerary "just like the Redwoods, Wine Country and Vegas."
Pictures from the S.F. Fetish Ball are available by clicking here .
