Farewell to The Phoenix Forum

Hey all,

It is with mixed emotions that CCBill announces that we will not be producing The Phoenix Forum for 2020.
We thank our the industry and our many supporters for their backing, commitment and love since 2001.
The industry needs have evolved, and so must the trade events which support so many parts of our diverse community.
A special thanks to Kenny B, Jay and Nicholas at GayWideWebmasters for their support over the years – and we want to thank all the folks who have supported us and The Phoenix Forum over the years.
Whether you were a sponsor, an attendee, a panelist or simply a positive promoter – we are grateful for your support.

https://www.thephoenixforum.com/tpfn...-phoenix-forum

Wow ... that's actually sad to hear :( It was certainly one of the best forums to attend.

I had never been to a Phoenix Forum.

Phoenix is VERY expensive. Phoenix is not an attraction city (there would be no other reason to visit there).

PHX airport is not the hub that LAX, LAS or DIA are, just in that part of the world.

The host hotel rooms were more per night than any of us Talent or Affiliates earn in a day.

I have been to most of the AVN InterNext shows since 2014. All but this year, as I was in Bucharest.

I saw familiar faces year after year. I also realized many times, that faces that I had seen previous year or years, were not there again that year. Sad. Getting to trade shows is not cheap. Most discover that there is not a financial return on the cost of going.

The obvious thing about the InterNext "seminars," is that they were purposely crafted to create "celebrities" or personalities or people with the illusion of authority or credibility on topics.

When in reality, much of that was advertising or false advertising. Certain people were put on display - much like Hollywood - who had no other reason to be on a panel. Or were put on a panel to create an illusion of importance, when they were or still are not, important.

There's a lot of fakes in Vegas and Hollywood!

TES - The European Summit - shows are my favorite. I have been to many since 2011.

I am in Prague right now, but there's a strong chance I won't make it back to Prague for the September 2019 show. I have to balance travel logistics.

Prague as a city is a draw - like Las Vegas. I never made it to Sitges. Lisbon/Cascais was beautiful on the Atlantic coastline.

Up until the Sept 2018 show in Prague, TES was a bit overwhelmed and overwhelming with the Crypto currency hype. Since all Alt Crypto Coins busted between January and May 2018, the September 2018 show was spared from that crowd, and got back to its Adult Industry roots.

My over-riding observation of Trade Shows, is that they are incestuous events for the "Traffic" business - Traffic companies and Traffic affiliates.

I am a Talent, Performer, Studio, and Small Office Home Office Affiliate. To me, "Traffic" is shady. Buying and selling "Traffic" is gambling. It does nothing to create content for viewers.

I went to a Traffic seminar at InterNext around 2016 - I have never seen so many "non-adult" industry types in a room at InterNext or TES, or XBiz Berlin or AWS Amsterdam.

Those guys weren't there for the Porn, they were there for the Silicon Valley buy/sell/trade scheme of: "sourcing" some cheap ass content, putting it on a cheap ass webpage, buying traffic to sell traffic. And then disappear.

And when a Traffic company only has one sad "gay" ad to place, it's over!

And another Traffic company has the solid reputation for being the sole financial reason why many Russian Pirate sites are even in existence - and none of the rest of the Porn Industry will raise their hand and call out that crap.

Yet, there they are at Trade Shows.

What about us Talent, Performers, Studios, and SOHO Affiliates?

And when the Bucharest Summit show came to an end yesterday, we had a carnival, with Live DJ and Caribbean dance music!


Attachment 6344

And when the show came to an end, we had a carnival, with Live DJ and Caribbean dance music!

Attachment 6345

This was the best show I've ever been to! Most of the attendees were Talent or Studios.

Affiliates got to meet the Talent they could or should promote.