IML Experiences

[Businessguy]

I wasn't able to attend this year's IML weekend in Chicago. Did anyone go? Was it a good time? Care to share any of your experiences? Curious minds want to know!

[raulgmanzo]

I wasn't able to attend this year's IML weekend in Chicago. Did anyone go? Was it a good time? Care to share any of your experiences? Curious minds want to know!

 

Didn't have a chance to attend the contest or much in the way of official events this year. But I did spend a little time at the host hotel and as usual it was transformed into the quite the enormous leather (and much much more) bar and worlds largest bathhouse. Always get a kick out of seeing hundreds of guys in chaps, dog suits, various forms of bondage, dog suits, nothing but jock straps etc in EVERY public space in the hotel (and many outside the hotel). Simply taking the stairs results in offers of cock sucking and sometimes a bathroom with usually 2 urinals will have a third sitting between the two with a smile on his face. Of course there are every imaginable demonstration, activity, discussion, lecture, meeting going on in the various meeting rooms and ballrooms and the vendor area which takes days to get through. Of course some of this debauchery overflows to other hotels and venues.

 

I'm always impressed at how the hotel staff seem to remain professional and courteous with that and more going on around them.

[nate_sf]

I'm always impressed at how the hotel staff seem to remain professional and courteous with that and more going on around them.

 

I was impressed with the hotel staff too, given how totally over-the-top the whole thing is. Signs in front of both Hyatt towers notifying that the ENTIRE hotel is closed for a private event. This was my first time at IML, and although I expected it to be a huge scene, the complete take-over of such a huge venue was something I'd never seen before. To anyone who works in hotels, are the employees given guidelines or instructions beforehand? Or maybe they're just seasoned veterans by now. But as Raul says they were professional and courteous through it all.

 

Like I said, this was my first IML so don't have anything to compare it to. But seemed well attended and I had a great time. On Friday night a bunch of us met at the crowded San Francisco party in the hotel (hosted by the Folsom Street Events people), Saturday was our off-site venture to Jackhammer, and Sunday was a totally packed Victory Party at House of Blues. In fact, it was so crowded we ended up leaving to go to Boystown.

 

The market had something for everybody and then some, and I went a couple of times first to take it all in and then to go back and buy stuff. The guy I bought my mini-flogger from said business seemed down slightly from last year, but was still decent.

[Romann]

Nothing to really write home about...

 

This was my first time at IML and I was very excited, initially... sadly, the fantasy was far better than the reality. That and I had family all the sudden want to pass through Chicago which required my attention. Having said that, I was able to connect with some new faces and catch up with people I've met in the past plus get to see some very nice, authentic and original pieces of leather on a handful of people who were more than happy to entertain my questions with interest.

 

Maybe it was just me... who knows. I think the storms that started the day of and pretty much through the majority of the weekend dampened the event. People I knew were going to 1 or all the parties decided to back out of a couple because leather and rain just don't mix. Here is to next year!

 

It's a very eye opening experience talking to someone about a leather item that was currently on their person while standing in backless leather chaps in front of them with a leather jock draping down the front.

 

I was able to attend the Chicago luncheon which proved to be better than the actual weekend events! Thanks to all those that were able to come and share in the holiday weekend!

[raulgmanzo]

The great thing about IML is that there are several simultaneous official events in the hotels 3 levels of ballrooms and function rooms. There were of course dozens of unoffical events in the hotel and elsewhere at any given time.

 

Lots of clubs, committees, and special interest groups had meet and greets, demonstrations, discussions, and dances etc. So if for example if you found the San Francisco party in the Crystal Ballroom a bit tame you could head over to Ballroom B for the Gear Blast or Ballroom C for the Uniform Event which were all happening at the same time. All without even getting on one of the shuttle buses running continuously between the hotel, Boystown, Andersonville, and Rogerspark.

 

So it would be difficult if not impossible to attend all or even most of the parties or events. But a good start next year would be to tell your family that you won't be home. They don't have to know that instead of out of town you'll be just a mile up the street at IML.

 

Though it can be a great time simply visiting the vendors market and hanging out at the Big Bar and various restaurants and 3 levels of meeting rooms at both sides of the Hyatt. Not to mention the inumerable parties in many of the Hyatts 2000+ rooms, not to mention several stairwells, nooks and crannies that seemed rather lively.

 

This was my first time at IML and I was very excited, initially... sadly, the fantasy was far better than the reality. That and I had family all the sudden want to pass through Chicago which required my attention. Having said that, I was able to connect with some new faces and catch up with people I've met in the past plus get to see some very nice, authentic and original pieces of leather on a handful of people who were more than happy to entertain my questions with interest.

 

Maybe it was just me... who knows. I think the storms that started the day of and pretty much through the majority of the weekend dampened the event. People I knew were going to 1 or all the parties decided to back out of a couple because leather and rain just don't mix. Here is to next year!

 

It's a very eye opening experience talking to someone about a leather item that was currently on their person while standing in backless leather chaps in front of them with a leather jock draping down the front.

 

I was able to attend the Chicago luncheon which proved to be better than the actual weekend events! Thanks to all those that were able to come and share in the holiday weekend!

[Romann]

Right!

 

But a good start next year would be to tell your family that you won't be home. They don't have to know that instead of out of town you'll be just a mile up the street at IML.

 

I opened a Pandora's box when bringing up the fact that the weekend they were intending to come through was in fact IML... While I was confident that was persuade them to choose alternate dates or skip this visit all together, it only seemed to invite questions and inquiries about various leather items, tools and toys.

 

Yikes!

[NYTomcat]

I opened a Pandora's box when bringing up the fact that the weekend they were intending to come through was in fact IML... While I was confident that was persuade them to choose alternate dates or skip this visit all together, it only seemed to invite questions and inquiries about various leather items, tools and toys.

 

Yikes!

 

You were not the only one. as I was at IML my mother was across the street in a different hotel at a different convention. Thank god she didnt walk out to find her son with 5 leather clad escorts walking the streets of chi in harness or vest etc... She liberal but...

 

Of course if she had wandered into the hyatt to have found me helping ty and Nate sf try portable swings with mirrors and modified reciprocating saw attachments (ouch) I think she might have keeled over. Then again mom was always an admireror of horseflesh and i think Tyger might have been just up her alley. LOL

 

Thank God we never crossed paths

[uwsman2]

Sounds like the ultimate challenge - take your Mom to IML! It's like "coming out" all over again.

[Diverdan]

I have never been to IML, but have several friends from around the country who will never miss it. They enjoy roaming the halls and stairwells, as Raul has mentioned, and have made some life long friends as a result of those encounters, as well as having some very HOT experiences during the weekend in many different locations. I think that Hyatt must do some special training for their entire staff in order to host this event. I can only imagine what the linen goes through after such a weekend, among other things. But, I am sure that Hyatt would not be available as the headquarters for IML unless they also made a lot of money in the process. It is just nice to see a major chain be willing to host this event.