Frequently Asked Questions
At MELD, we take every piece of feedback seriously — it shapes how we grow. This document addresses the questions and suggestions we hear most often: some we are actively working on, others that fall outside our control, and a few that reflect deliberate choices rooted in our core values of Safety, Unity, Service, Growth & Development, Respect, and Inclusion. Every decision we make comes back to those values and to our mission of building bridges, not islands. We want to be transparent with our community, so you understand the thinking behind how MELD is built.
What is MELD?
What is MELD exactly?
MELD is an annual 23-day immersive kink convention held each September — where performance, power exchange, fashion, discussion, and shopping intersect. It is a unique opportunity to learn from the community and connect with like-minded individuals across the grid, in a supportive environment grounded in the principles of power exchange and lifestyle culture.
Who is MELD for? Everyone in the lifestyle community.
We welcome all members of the BDSM and kink community: Dominants, submissives, switches, fetishists, and everyone in between — along with allies and anyone who is vanilla or kink-curious. No one should feel there isn't a seat at the table.
How do I attend?
There is a public/free area and a private/paid area.
The free area includes lifestyle shopping, a performance space for music and product demonstrations, and a social area — with free gifts from some of our designers.
The private/paid area includes the full event schedule: play parties, lifestyle education, workshops, fetish play areas, the pony show, games, and additional curated experiences.
An ALL ACCESS pass for all 23 days is available by joining THE MELD KINK CONVENTION group for an L$500 donation that helps ensure MELD returns
next year.
Is there BDSM protocol expected?
We provide an event titler so attendees can interact as an Observer or Participant. For Participants, protocol is minimal: s-types are asked to avoid furniture and use honorifics unless otherwise permitted by their Dominant. Any additional protocol between attendees is strictly by consent.
A Code of Conduct is provided to all attendees — it essentially comes down to respecting one another. Beyond that, we want you to enjoy yourself, ask questions, make connections, and explore.
How We Lead, A Note on Our Organizing Philosophy
MELD is built on a leadership philosophy that may look different from what you're used to — and we think that difference is worth naming, because it shapes everything about how the convention feels and functions.
We don't lead through position or title. We lead through service, contribution, and values. Every decision runs through our six core values: Safety, Unity, Service, Growth & Development, Respect, and Inclusion. Those values hold authority here — not any individual, not any role. That keeps us grounded and accountable to the community rather than to any internal hierarchy.
What does that look like in practice?
It looks like no ladder to climb and no seat at the top to angle for. Legitimacy at MELD flows from one source: who shows up and does the work. The people who have shaped this convention into what it is didn't inherit their roles. They showed up, contributed, and built something — year after year. That is the only currency that has ever mattered here, and it is available to anyone willing to invest it.
It looks like collaboration that is structural, not decorative. When we say we don't compete, we mean it practically: other creators, venues, and communities are not rivals — they are part of the same ecosystem we are trying to strengthen. This is why FCC has 34 affiliates instead of 34 competitors. When one part of this community grows, the whole community benefits. A rising tide lifts all boats, and we build accordingly.
It looks like service as the measure of leadership. MELD exists because a group of people asked: what does our community need, and how do we build it? Not: what can we extract, and how do we benefit from it? The annual convention, the FCC network, the Campus, the open volunteer structure — these are not products. They are investments. FCC is not-for-profit by design. Stipends are modest. The work is largely volunteer-driven. Every year we reinvest what comes in back into the community that made it possible.
It looks like decisions made transparently and explained openly. This document is an example of that. We explain our reasoning, name our values, and are clear about what will and won't change — not because we owe anyone a defense, but because we believe a community deserves to understand how it is being led.
It looks like safety and inclusion as the first question, not the last. Before any decision is finalized, we ask: who does this serve? Who might this leave out? Is this consistent with who we say we are? Centering those questions changes what gets built — and it is part of why MELD feels different from other events, even when people can't quite put their finger on why.
So we'll ask plainly: what have you done for your community lately? Is your focus extraction — visibility, positioning, claiming something you haven't yet built — or is it investment? Are you contributing to something sustainable, or looking for a structure that doesn't exist here and never will?
MELD is not a ladder. It is a table. Everyone who shows up to build it earns a place at it. That has always been true, and it will not change.
MELD's Identity: Built By The Community, For The Community
What is MELD's identity now?
MELD is a community convention — developed by the people who showed up to build it, and shaped by everyone who has walked through its doors. That has always been true, even when the community it served was smaller. As the community grew and diversified, so did MELD. That growth is not a departure from what MELD is. It is proof that what MELD is actually works.
Where did MELD come from?
MELD was founded by women in the Femdom community who saw a need and decided to meet it. That origin matters — it gave MELD its values, its standard of care, its commitment to consent and intentional design. We don't erase that history. We're proud of it. It is the foundation everything else is built on.
But a foundation is not a ceiling. What those founders built was never meant to stay small. It was meant to grow into something that could serve the whole community — and that is exactly what is happening.
Why the shift from Femdom to kink convention?
Because the community that showed up was always broader than one dynamic. Creators, educators, performers, and attendees came to MELD from across the spectrum of kink — and they brought real value with them. Limiting the scope of MELD would have meant turning away the very people who were already helping build it.
We didn't replace Femdom with kink. We recognized that the community we were serving had always been larger than one label, and we adjusted our messaging to reflect that honestly.
Does that mean Femdom is less visible or less valued at MELD?
No. Femdom remains part of MELD's programming, its culture, and its leadership. What has changed is the frame — Femdom is now one powerful voice in a wider conversation rather than the only voice in the room. That is not a demotion. That is what it looks like when something that started in one community grows into something that belongs to many.
What does MELD's identity actually center now?
The community. Specifically: the values that make community possible. Safety. Consent. Inclusion. Collaboration. Contribution over position. Service over status. These are not Femdom values or kink values — they are the values of any community that wants to sustain itself and grow.
MELD just happens to have been practicing them since the beginning, and that practice is what makes the convention worth attending, worth supporting, and worth building.
The goal now is not to preserve what MELD was. It is to expand what MELD can be — and to do that alongside every part of this community that is willing to show up and build it together.
For Male Dominants
Am I welcome at MELD as a male Dom?
Absolutely — and not as a guest. MELD has been women-led since its founding, and that leadership shaped something worth being part of. But MELD has never been a closed house. It is a community convention, developed by the community, for the community. That means you — your presence, your perspective, and your contribution — are part of what this is and what it becomes.
We are not offering you a seat at someone else's table. We are inviting you to help build the table.
Will I be valued here?
Yes. MELD creates space where male dominants who are grounded, secure, and collaborative can do real work alongside some of the most thoughtful people in the kink community. This is not a power struggle environment. Dominants who thrive here tend to appreciate strong leadership in all its forms, understand the nuance of consent and authority, and want conversations about power that go deeper than roleplay tropes. If that describes you, you belong here.
Will I be outnumbered or uncomfortable?
You may be outnumbered. You will not be unwelcome. Many male Doms find it genuinely refreshing to be in a space where authority is respected, consent is centered, and power dynamics are explored with intelligence and intention. If that kind of environment sounds good to you, MELD is your event.
Does the history of women-led leadership mean I have less standing here?
No. The history of women-led leadership means there is something real and well-built here to step into. The people who shaped MELD didn't do so by holding the door closed — they did it by showing up and doing the work. That same door has always been open, and it still is. What you bring to this community is what earns your standing here. Not your identity, not your role — your contribution.
"It's not a real kink convention without male leadership. Where is your male leadership?" MELD is built by the people who show up to build it.
Volunteer and leadership roles are open to the entire BDSM community every year — including male dominants. Those opportunities have always been there. The people who shaped MELD into what it is today didn't inherit their positions. They showed up, did the work, and built something from the ground up, year after year. That is the invitation being extended to you now — not to observe what others built, but to help build what comes next.
If male leadership has been underrepresented at MELD, that is not a gap in our structure. It is a reflection of who chose to participate — and an opening for something different going forward.
We'd also push back on the premise. The measure of a kink convention is not who holds leadership positions. That framing mistakes hierarchy for legitimacy. MELD doesn't operate on a hierarchy — it operates on contribution. Leadership here is earned through service, not claimed through identity or role.
We are genuinely disappointed when the response to an open invitation is "where is my seat at the top?" rather than "how can I help build this?" That energy is not what MELD is built on — and it sells short what male dominants who are genuinely community-minded are actually capable of.
If you want to be part of the leadership of MELD: show up, do the work, and lead alongside us. That door has always been open, and we mean it.
Our Co-Producers
Who are the co-producers?
MELD is co-produced in partnership with aika and Backbone, alongside our internal leadership team. Each brings distinct strengths — hosting events, cultivating kink culture, sustaining long-term community engagement, and high-quality design. They expand our network while respecting and building on the founding framework MELD was built on.
Does bringing in partners change MELD's identity?
No — it strengthens it. Collaboration doesn't dilute leadership; it multiplies capability. MELD remains women-led. Our co-producers expand what's possible in scale, immersion, and reach. As MELD grew beyond a niche gathering, it required broader technical support, design capacity, and operational resilience. Strategic partnerships allow the convention to mature without burning out its core team. It's not about surrendering control — it's about building something that lasts.
Ticket Pricing
Why did ticket prices increase?
MELD has grown — in scale, production quality, partnerships, and duration. This year includes expanded co-production partnerships, higher-end immersive design, more structured education tracks, elevated social and performance events, a more integrated convention flow, and thirteen additional days of programming. Ticket pricing now reflects the true scope of what's being delivered. We are producing a 23-day curated convention experience — not a small niche gathering.
Is this about profit?
No. Ticket revenue supports region builds and immersive environments, technical support and scripting, event management, marketing, speaker and performer honorariums, and year-round infrastructure like MELD Campus. Our goal is sustainability, not extraction. FCC is not-for-profit — funds support events and future growth, kept minimal and reinvested forward.
Will higher prices make MELD less accessible?
We are mindful of accessibility. We continue to offer tiered sponsorship opportunities, free or low-cost public sessions where possible, and year-round community engagement outside the convention. The pricing reflects value, not exclusivity — and for under two real-life dollars for an all-access pass, we believe the experience delivers. If you're looking for a casual drop-in event, there are many free spaces in Second Life. MELD is curated, and curated experiences carry value.
Community Feedback We'd Love Your Help With
These are areas where your direct involvement makes the biggest difference.
I'd like to see more Femdom communities and venues participating.
We'd like that too. Each year, we personally reach out to all of our Affiliates with invitations to plan, participate in, and attend MELD. If there's a specific community or venue you'd like to see represented, we encourage you to let their leadership know — a direct request from their own members often makes more difference than one from us.
I'd like to see more or different presenters.
We'd love new faces and fresh perspectives. Presenting at MELD is open to the entire BDSM community, and we actively encourage people from all backgrounds to share their knowledge and experiences. If you or someone you know would be a great addition, join the MELD Campus group in-world to stay informed about when sign-ups open.
I'd like to see more EU/AU-focused content in my time zone.
We'd like that too. All MELD volunteer roles — planning, hosting, performing, presenting — are open to the global BDSM community, no experience required. If current programming doesn't reflect your experience or availability, we invite you to get involved and help shape it. Join the MELD Campus group in-world to stay informed about sign-ups.
I'm uncomfortable with nudity at MELD.
We understand nudity isn't comfortable for everyone. MELD takes place in an Adult region where we embrace nudity as part of our sex-positive, kink-affirming culture. If someone's appearance makes you uncomfortable, the derender tool lets you remove that avatar from your view and tailor your experience.
Male dominants should not be allowed to host events at MELD.
We appreciate you sharing this, and we understand where it comes from.
MELD was built on six core values — Safety, Unity, Service, Growth & Development, Respect, and Inclusion — and those values are non-negotiable. They are also the only criteria that determine who gets to lead, host, and contribute here. Not gender. Not role. Not dynamic. Alignment with those values and the willingness to show up and do the work.
MELD is committed to building bridges, not islands. That means we recognize that knowledge, wisdom, and shared experience exist across the whole community — and that excluding people based on identity rather than conduct would contradict everything we stand for. The people who host and lead at MELD have earned that place by demonstrating who they are through contribution, consistency, and care for this community.
We have all experienced moments in this community where someone was dismissed or devalued unfairly. We know how damaging that is. Which is exactly why we don't replicate it. We choose instead to lead by example — holding everyone to the same standard, and welcoming everyone who meets it.
That is not a compromise of our mission. That is our mission.
About Femdom Community Connections
What is Femdom Community Connections?
Femdom Community Connections provides free advertising and networking opportunities for the lifestyle community in Second Life. We have around 1,800 members and 34 Affiliates spanning Femdom and Femdom-friendly venues and stores. Resources include a weekly Open House on Saturdays at 3:30pm SLT, and the FCC HUD — which gives you access to all affiliated venues and stores, the FCC Community Calendar, and direct teleports from anywhere on the grid. Learn more by visiting the kiosk at MELD Campus or via our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/FCCinSL
Where does MELD fit within FCC?
For years, our community asked for an event that brings us all together. MELD was born from that desire — founded on safety, consent, and respect, and built on FCC's core goal of building bridges, not islands.
How can I support FCC and MELD?
We are always looking for LSL scripters, meshers, builders, planners, and motivated community members. Contact the team at the FCC Kiosk at MELD Campus. Monetary donations are welcome via tip jars throughout the event. And one of the most effective ways to show support is simply to visit our Affiliates — get out on the grid, be present, participate, and foster connections.
MELD is a labor of love from your lifestyle community, its volunteers, and your allies. Thank you to everyone who helps make this happen.
Born from Femdom. Built for everyone.
Step Into MELD
MELD Campus is the year-round extension of the convention — a shared space for community, collaboration, and connection in Second Life.
Whether you’re curious about MELD, considering participation, or simply want to spend time in a community-centered kink space, you’re welcome to visit.