Tupperware, Longaberger Baskets and Pampered Chef equipment are the traditional products around which groups of women gather to pine over and purchase while munching on miniature cheesecakes and cucumber sandwiches. Now these in-home sales-slash-parties are moving out of the kitchen and into the bedroom.
Mimicking the concept of Tupperware parties, passion parties bring a group of women (and/or men) together at a host's house where a passion consultant sells sensual products (i.e. sex toys, lotions, etc.) to the host's group of friends. And, in another twist, classic hors d'oeuvres are often replaced with copious amounts of alcohol.
"It's a genius idea," said Rebecca Armendariz, a senior in the School of Communication and former Eagle assistant music editor who recently attended a passion party. "You get people drinking and then they'll buy things they would normally be too embarrassed to consider."
Michelle Carnes, who consulted the party Armendariz attended, is a Women and Gender Studies professor at AU who got her start doing programs about sexuality and safe sex while in college at Purdue University. She went on to work as a sex educator at the AU Wellness Center, coordinating programs like "Sex, Milk and Cookies," which takes sex ed to different dorm floors. Now she teaches classes on weekdays and consults passion parties on the weekends.
"I approach parties and my classes in similar ways: make it interactive, start a conversation about topics people don't usually get to talk about and make it a comfortable space where folks can ask questions," Carnes said.
Alyson Langon, a senior in the School of Communication, also attended one of Carnes's parties.
"She started with massage oils to warm you up for the weird shit," Langon said.
Carnes explained that she always starts out slowly with bath products and pheremone oils. "All the good-smelling stuff ... gets us in the mood," she said. "We have to feel good about our bodies before we can get into a sexy frame of mind."
After people begin to feel comfortable - or drunk - Carnes brings out the serious stuff, like vibrators, sex toys and something called a "nipple nibbler." And unlike ordering online, or buying from a store, people at the party get to learn how everything feels (as far as lotions and oils go) and how everything works before purchasing it.
"At these parties, you know what you're getting," Carnes said. "I think that's why the parties are so successful - you know you're buying items you like and will use, you know how to use them and it's all completely confidential."
At the end of a consultant's demonstration, party guests who wish to purchase items are taken into a private room where they can order whatever they want confidentially, so no one else will know how their sex life will be improving.
"There is no reason not to have a fantastic time and enjoy a healthy, fun sex life," Carnes said. "Whether you're single or partnered, male or female, gay or straight - sex is fun, sex is healthy and the possibilities are truly endless."
Product, party and booking information can be found on Carnes website, at www.mpassioned.yourpassionconsultant.com.
