A Cuddle Party Is Not an Orgy, But It's Intimate and Profitable

By - September 18, 2014

At "cuddle parties" people pay to enter someone's home and snuggle up with a bunch of strangers in pajamas. Now maybe that isn't worth $30 or $50 to you, but what if you were the one collecting the money? You can make good money as a cuddle party facilitator.

(Flickr photo by John Johnson)

In a previous post we looked at being a professional cuddler and charging $60 per hour to spoon with strangers. But that's a one-on-one experience. For some people, one snuggle partner is not enough. They want to hug and cuddle with a room full of strangers.

Of course someone has to arrange this little gathering, and keep it under control. Pajamas must stay on, after all, and hands have to be watched. That's where you come in, if you decide to host cuddle parties.

But let's back up a bit. What exactly is a cuddle party? No, it's not an orgy. As CuddleParty.com explains:

A Cuddle Party is a playful social event designed for adults to explore communication, boundaries and affection. You can come to a Cuddle Party to meet new people, to enjoy amazing conversations, to touch, to be touched, to have fun, to practice asking for what you want, to practice saying "no" to what you don't want - all in a setting structured to be a safe place for exploration and enjoyment.

Of course there are rules. Pajamas stay on, nobody has to cuddle if they feel uncomfortable, alcohol and drugs are not permitted, and "You must ask permission and receive a verbal YES before you touch anyone."

The Cuddle Party FAQs will give you a better idea of what to expect. Perhaps the saddest question there is "What if no one wants to cuddle with me?" (Answer: see the facilitator for support.)

Attendees are young and old, male and female, married and single. And then there are the "Varsity Cuddlers," who "dive right to the middle of the puppy pile, are comfortable and relaxed from the start."

Now that we've cleared that up, I'm sure some of you are wondering...

Where's the Next Party?

There are cuddle parties all over the United States and Canada. Just click one of the cities on the "Upcoming Parties" on CuddleParty.com.

There are regular parties in Calgary, Alberta for $26.62 including tax. In New York City the going rate is about $30. In Santa Rosa, California the latest party had an entry fee of $50 for men and $30 for women.

There are cuddle parties in Washington State, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, Illinois and the province of Ontario. But the big question is: Will there be one in your home?

How to Get Certified and Host a Party

To get certified as a cuddle party facilitator you start with "Foundations of Facilitation" training in Richardson Texas. This step takes several days. It costs $595 for this is hands-on training.

Then you can complete the certification process online for an additional $995. That requires about ten sessions over several months, and three "review" parties where your guests will evaluate you.

Once you get that certification you can start hosting regular events and have them listed on the Cuddle Party website.

Time to Party for Profit

How much do you charge? That's up to you. $30 is a common charge for events listed on CuddleParty.com. Some facilitators aim for a gender balance, and that goal appears to be achieved by charging higher fees for men.

In a 2009 CNBC story on CuddleParty.com, staff member Len Daley said they had already trained 50 facilitators in the U.S. Canada, Australia, and Denmark. They expected to have 500 trained by 2014.

Technically, the organization is run as a non-profit, but as a facilitator you're free to run your parties as profit-making businesses. CuddleParty.com will help you find customers and make reservations and doesn't charge a commission. There is, however, a $195 annual fee to remain professionally affiliated with the website.

At $30 each, if ten people show up for your first party you'll have covered your annual fee and still have a profit of about $100. After that you might make several hundred dollars from each event.

Of course, you do not need to be certified or associate with CuddleParty.com. This business hasn't been around long enough to be regulated, so you could go out on your own and skip the expensive training. But then how will you know if you're cuddling properly?

Your Turn: Would you consider hosting cuddle parties to make some extra income?


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