Without consent it isn't BDSM
When Studvest visited our clubhouse, the story wasn't the equipment or the rooms — it was consent, respect and openness. Exactly as we believe it should be.
In January 2026, Studvest stopped by SMB to talk with two of our members about what Bergen's BDSM community actually is. The result is a portrait we recognise ourselves in.
Consent is the foundation
The piece's central message is something we repeat constantly: without consent, it isn't BDSM. Everything is agreed in advance, and any play can be stopped at any moment — "yellow" for pause, "red" for stop. This isn't an add-on to what we do; it's the whole basis for it.
A community, not a "meat market"
The interview also highlights something we're proud of: SMB is a place where people can be themselves without shame, and where new members are carefully vetted. The club is as much about friendship, safety and talking things through properly as it is about play itself.
Against prejudice and stigma
Much of the reason we opened our doors to a journalist at all is the wish to dismantle stigma. Pop culture's portrayal of BDSM rarely lands — the reality is about communication, respect and care for one another.
Read the full article
The complete interview, with some photography from our clubhouse, is published at Studvest (in Norwegian): "– Uten samtykke er det ikke BDSM".