Halloween is the one night a year when the rest of the city dresses up too. For men in the scene, that makes it an easy excuse to wear the gear out, go to a party, and see who else turns up in a harness.

It's also a night of crowded streets, heavy drinking and long waits for a ride home. A bit of planning keeps it fun.

Your gear is the costume

You don't need to buy a costume. Most kink gear already reads as one, and a small twist turns it into a character.

• Leather. Cap, jacket and boots make a classic biker or cop look. Add a toy badge and you're done.
• Uniform. Military, police, firefighter or mechanic. If you already own a uniform, Halloween is its night.
• Rubber. A full suit with a gas mask or hood reads as a sci-fi villain or a hazmat worker to anyone outside the scene.
• Pup. A hood and a collar need no explanation at a gay bar on Halloween, and they get a lot of affection.
• Sportswear. Kit and trainers make an easy athlete or wrestler, and they're warm.

Two practical notes. First, think about heat. Rubber and a full hood in a packed bar get hot fast, so plan when you'll take things off and where you'll put them. Second, think about how you'll see. A mask or hood that limits your view is fine on a dance floor and less fine on a staircase or a busy street.

Getting there decently

The party may have a dress code that welcomes anything. The street between your door and the party doesn't. Laws on public nudity and indecency apply on Halloween like any other night, and they vary a lot from city to city.

The simple rule is to dress for the venue and cover up for the trip. A long coat over a harness, trousers over chaps, a bag for the hood. You can change at the door or in the coat check.

That also protects you. A man walking home alone in obvious gear at 2 a.m. is more visible than he may want to be.

Finding a party

Bars and clubs in most cities run Halloween nights, and many fetish nights do a themed edition. Open the events calendar, tap This weekend, and add a scene chip like Leather, Rubber or Pup to narrow it. Filters lets you choose the kind of event and the crowd, so you know whether you're heading to a men-only night or a mixed party.

Tap Going to RSVP. You'll get a reminder the day before, and you can see Who's going, with the men you follow first. If the party is full, you join the waitlist and move up automatically when a place opens.

If you're going in a group, settle the plan before you leave: who's driving, who's staying where, and where you'll meet if you lose each other.

Drinks and the rest

Halloween parties run long and pour heavy. Pace yourself. Eat before you go, alternate with water, and know when you're done.

If you're playing at all, the rules don't change because there's a costume involved. Consent needs a clear head on both sides. A man who's too drunk to say yes clearly can't say yes, however good the outfit is. Drink, drugs and consent goes into where that line sits.

Watch your drink. Don't leave it, and don't take one you didn't see poured. If a friend suddenly seems far drunker than he should be, get him somewhere safe and get help.

Getting home safe

This is where Halloween nights go wrong. Rides are scarce and pricey after midnight, streets are rowdy, and you may be in gear that draws attention.

1. Book your way home before you go out. Know the last train, save a taxi number, or agree on a sober driver.
2. Charge your phone. Bring a small battery pack if you have one.
3. Cover up for the trip back. The coat that got you there gets you home.
4. Leave together. If you came with friends, check everyone has a way back before you split up.
5. Tell someone. If you're going home with a man you met that night, send a friend his profile and where you're headed.

Staying safe meeting people has the full list, and the safety checkup takes two minutes before you head out.

After the party

Post the best photos in your circles, with the faces of anyone who didn't agree left out. The Fetish Fashion & Gear circle is a good home for a costume built from gear, and every scene circle loves seeing its gear out in the wild.

Have a good night, and get home in one piece.