Event Etiquette And Rules

Safety is All Tied Up San Diego's top concern!

Our events are designed as structured, instructor-monitored environments where participants can learn, practice, and refine rope-based skills.

All participation follows a prerequisite-based system to ensure safety, communication, and readiness. Events are cooperative, non-competitive, and focused on skill development, body awareness, and partner coordination.

All activities are cooperative and non-adversarial, with no competitive or performance-based elements.

Updated March 2026

General Event Etiquette

All participants must be physically and mentally prepared to engage in structured partner-based training. Participation requires clear communication, awareness, and the ability to stop activity at any time.
All events are conducted in a strictly sober environment. Alcohol, drugs, and any altered states are not permitted. Participants must be fully aware and capable of communication and consent at all times. This policy is actively enforced by leadership.
Be respectful of all others present.
Be responsible for yourself, your belongings, and your behavior.
Be aware of the environment around you.
Be able to communicate effectively.
Take your shoes off when walking around the tying areas.
Don’t walk on someone else’s tying area without permission.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you would like, and don’t be hurt if the answer is no.
Use inside voices – no loud conversations.
Keep all socializing away from the tying areas.
Keep provocative or highly charged topics of conversation out of the event.
All Tied Up leadership and/or designated representatives will be monitoring every event. If you see something that you feel needs to be addressed, please talk to the leaders present at the event first.

General Class, Practice, and Event Rules

Practice sessions are designed for participants to apply previously learned skills in a structured and monitored environment.
All activities must remain within the scope of rope-based instruction and approved applications. Activities must be conducted in a manner that prioritizes safety, communication, and respect for all participants.
Any complex or higher-risk activity must be reviewed with event leadership prior to execution.

The Following Rules Are Ropetastic Romp Specific Rules

Advanced Practice and Community Training Session Rules

Events are supervised by Designated practice area Monitors (DMs), who have the skills and training to oversee the session's activities.
Some sessions may include additional approved activities that are integrated into rope-based training and conducted under the same safety, supervision, and communication standards.
All permitted and prohibited activities are defined and enforced by leadership to maintain safety and consistency with training standards.
A complete list of session rules will be provided at the event and clearly posted at the event.
All activities must be conducted within the designated practice area, not in the front lobby or patio areas. Attendees are responsible for cleaning up their area after the structured partner exercise. Leave the space ready for the next participant to use safely. 
Phones, watches, or objects with audible tones must be set to silent. In the designated practice area phones may ONLY be used to take photos. Photos are to be taken only with consenting individuals in the picture. Otherwise, phones may be used in the front lobby area, please be courteous to other attendees. You will be removed if you’re on your phone inside the designated practice area.
Any structured partner exercise that is complex or may increase risk needs to be cleared with event leadership PRIOR to the event. If you have any questions about what you are going to do, check with leadership prior.
All doors and curtains must remain open at all times.

The Following Rules Apply To All Events

Suspensions  

Suspension and load-supported activities are limited to experienced, pre-qualified participants and must follow all established safety standards. These activities are considered advanced and require demonstrated competency, appropriate equipment, and active supervision.

All suspension and load-supported activities must comply with defined equipment standards, supervision requirements, and safety protocols as outlined below.

For clarity, the terms “Top” (participant applying rope) and “Bottom” (participant receiving rope) are used to describe instructional roles.

When Are They Allowed?

At the Open Practice, LAB, and Romp events, suspensions are allowed for qualified, experienced individuals. Suspensions – full or partial – come with increased risk of serious injury, therefore, we have some rules and recommendations.   

Increased Risk

We want to be very clear. Suspensions, full or partial, can cause severe injuries, including nerve injuries, loss of sensory and/or motor function, and fatalities. We do not recommend engaging in full or partial suspensions without proper training, for both Tops and bottoms.  

Suspension Rules

Every Top wanting to suspend must first be approved to suspend by leadership.

Bottoms wanting to be suspended may sign an additional waiver clearly acknowledging the risk and responsibility they are taking.

To request to be able to suspend or be suspended please contact us PRIOR to an event. Requests received at an event may or may not be reviewed. All decisions are final and at leadership's discretion. 

Contact
 The main support line (the primary line connecting the bottom to the hardpoint, made up of the rope itself and the connecting hardware) must be either 6mm+ reinforced jute, 6mm+ synthetic fiber (for example, nylon or Hempex) or P.O.S.H. rope.   
 The main support line should be run UNDER THE CUFF OR HARNESS OR THROUGH A DOUBLE TWIST BIGHT,  not through a single line bight. 
All fixed hardware (carabiners, connectors, rings, etc.) used with the main support line must either be made of aluminum climbing rated to 20kn+ or must be made of steel.   
Safety Shears/Cutter must be VISIBLE and readily available at all times. 
Self-suspenders MUST have a designated spotter prior to self-suspending. 
Tops are responsible to know their limits. Suspensions are risky, whether you are new or experienced having another pair of eyes and hands available is not only wise, it shows you truly understand the risks.      

Suspension Recommendations

Unless you have a structural engineering background you may never know if a hardpoint is sufficient or not. However, there are things you can do to evaluate a hardpoint prior to using it. Both Top and bottom should perform a visual inspection looking for any signs of wear, stress, cracks, or anything that appears to be unusual prior to tying.
Spotters are required or strongly recommended depending on activity complexity and risk level 
All fixed hardware (carabiners, connectors, rings, etc.) used with the main support line must either be made of aluminum climbing rated to 20kn+ or must be made of steel. 
We recommend mats be used to provide some cushion on the floor in case the bottom needs to come down quickly. Make sure the mats do not cause a tripping hazard for the Top.
Participants should not engage in suspension activities without sufficient prior experience and demonstrated competency, so that they are acutely aware of their bodies, their limits, and when and how to speak up, without hesitation. Active bottoming is an acquired skill and one that takes time to learn through experience and education.  
We also recommend everyone have a safety plan and be aware of their own risk profile for any tie, but this becomes even more relevant with suspensions.  

Additional Questions

Top Questions

  • How am I going to keep my bottom’s head from hitting the ground?
  • Where is my cutting tool?
  • What will I do if my bottom passes out?
  • At each step of the tie, ask yourself, if the participant requests an immediate stop (e.g., “stop” or equivalent signal) right now, what is the safest way to get the bottom down to the ground?
  • What are the signals that your bottom is in distress?
  • If you are trying something new, what is the worst thing that can go wrong if it goes completely wrong? Can you live with the results?
  • Am I proficient in the anatomy of this bottom to understand where rope should and shouldn’t be on this specific bottom?
  • Have I negotiated for a spotter or two for this tie?
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              Top & Bottom Questions

              • Am I willing to harm / be harmed?
              • Am I hydrated?
              • When did I last eat?
              • Am I in the headspace to tie/be tied today?
              • Did I get enough sleep/rest in the last few days?
              • Have I been sick recently?
              • Do I need to use the restroom?
              • Am I physically and emotionally ready to tie/be tied?


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                        If you have questions about any of these rules or recommendations, please ask leadership in advance.

                        All Tied Up leadership reserves the right to interrupt any activity at any time to perform safety checks or address concerns.

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                        All activities are educational, consent-based, and conducted in a structured, supervised environment. No alcohol or altered states are permitted. Participation requires adherence to safety and communication protocols. 

                        Your participation implies you have read the Event Etiquette and Rules and signed our event waiver.

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