FF and a friend went to a club once and actually saw demonstrations of various tools and techniques. The people that were doing the demos were experts (and by experts, I mean theyd been using the tools and practicing the techniques for most of their lives) and either worked on their own partners or got participants from the audience.

Some of the demostrations were extreme, but none were unsafe.

The good thing about playing in a club is that, if the event is sponsored by a BDSM/kink/fetish society or organization, you can pretty much be guaranteed that the people will know what they're doing. Or if they don't, then other people will let you know.

I'd venture to guess that, when a submissive plays in front of a huge crowd of people, her limits are more likely, not less likely, to be respected and her safeword heeded if it is used. After all, assault and battery in front of a room full of witnesses is not very smart, now is it?

If a person at a club has questions about the people who ask her to play, then that submissive could easily enough ask other people there about the person or persons with which they are considering playing. If no one else knows them, then avoid them.

Better advice still: Stay out of the play parties and demos until after attending a meet and greet session and/or a few munches with the organization that sponsors the play parties (et al). That way, the new person knows who the older, more knowledgeable people are likely to be in the society.

If the club is just a fetish club and is not sponsored by an organization or society, then I would certainly recommend not playing there until enough time has been spent there to get to know some of the faces, techniques, and level of expertise.

Be safe, be smart, but don't let fear keep you from new experiences either.