For those of you that went?
Was it worth the money you spent getting there? Make any new business deals? Learn anything new?
Let have the gossip from those of you who did attend on what you thought of the show :)
Regards,
Lee
Printable View
For those of you that went?
Was it worth the money you spent getting there? Make any new business deals? Learn anything new?
Let have the gossip from those of you who did attend on what you thought of the show :)
Regards,
Lee
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee
I want all the details. Preferably in dvd format that will arrive at my door in a plain brown wrapper. :noddy:
I'm still here, sitting in my hotel room, waiting for an evening flight.
I always come away with something from every show.
I got to spend some time with the Sureflix guys. I got stuck in an elevator with ten other people at the Roof Top Party. I got to meet Laurence from AsianBoyNation, which was very cool. And of course I saw Andy Dill again. Jasun looks as stunning as ever, but LA is wearing away the Canadian in him. Had a great limo ride with XonDemand Mindy and TopBucks Juan. And I got to hang a bit with the PrideBucks gang - always a pleasure. And always nice to share dirty little secrets with Chad and sweating by the pool with Patrick. And of course I can't forget xstr8guy, who was at home in Texas, on standby for late night chats to listen to all of my funny "dating" disasters. (Thanks Buddy.)
The gay side of the biz was under represented I found. The show floor was sparse. And this year they had cabanas by the pool, but I didn't find out until the last day of the show that there were another whole bunch of cabanas on the other side of the pool. This was a shame. The cabanas also split the traffic between the show and the pool. And if you went to the pool, you'd come back into the seminars and show a sweaty mess.
Found a couple of "new" billing solutions: http://www.payasyoucick.com and http://www.passwordbyphone.com. And there were a couple of companies marketing 2257 tracking software. Got some great new marketing options from the Flirt4Free guys. (Thanks AK.)
The gay seminar was initially refreshing that there were some new faces. But it was poorly attended. It was called "Building the Rainbow Bridge" or something like that, but there were maybe only 30-40 people there, so I guess most of the straight side of the business isn't very interested. There were problems with the audio, so that was distracting. And too much of the discussion was spend around the new venture between NakedSword and Club Jenna called Club Thrust. It was interesting at first, but it quickly became "please move on." And there was drama, as there always is - BORING.
I got some new traffic tips, which is always good. And the obscenity seminar was informative and interesting.
The Rooftop party was fun and the Cybersocket Boardwalk party was full of rent boys and strippers. I found a new appreciation for Latino men.
I didn't stay at the Westin because I booked too late. Trying to get cabs to go from the Westin to the Holiday Inn was a pain because it's just far enough to get you all yucky and sweaty if you walk, but not far enough that a cab driver wanted to do it. I arrived back at the Westin from a party at 11 pm and I wanted to get something to eat. I couldn't believe the restaurants were all closed. Security at the Westin was tight. You had to have your badge on to even get on the property. I guess last year there were problems with non-convention guests and their kids running around the Pussy Cash banners. So the hotel this year was closed to non-convention people. But then yesterday, they started letting them in, so the hotel requested people started taking down the "objectionable" signs at their cabanas. But the Westin is a beautiful hotel.
The AVN check in booths were under staffed and weren't open 24 hours as they were advertised, so this caused some problems for people.
I think if Xbiz were to put together a July or September conference that they could quite easily kill this conference. I'm not sure Ft Lauderdale in August is such a good choice. But the conference overall doesn't seem to have a lot of thought put into it.
At every conference, someone always dies. At the Phoenix Forum it was the Pope and Terry Schivo. This time it was Peter Jennings. And of course everyone is holding their breath on the shuttles re-entry. Leaving Toronto our plane took off and within seconds the whole left side of the plane was a buzz looking at the Air France wreck that was still in the ravine.
I miss my husband and my furry kids.
dzinerbear
Excellent wrap-up Michael. Thank you so much. :)
Had a great time.. I have to disagree that the straight side isn't interested in marketing to a gay audience.. I pretty much avoided most of the gay crowd and went to a lot of straight parties... I had lots of amazing converstaions about promoting gay sites and making gay galleries and such.. most of the people didn't want to bother with the seminar, because they told me they were just expecting drama & catfights and they just wanted info and business.
But I had a great time.. it was so great to see Michael again, and yeah.. I'm getting rather LA, I've been told.. maybe it's the abs.
I also got told my Rainey that she thought I was 26. I could have kissed her.. in fact, I think I did.. so just for the record.. I'm what we call "Pushing 40".
The Rooftop party was great, and I got to meet with so many people I love to hang with.. After, I skipped all the gay stuff and hung out at a couple striaght parties.. it's fun being one of the only two gay guys at a straight party.. they were all crowding around to see two guys make out... they were facinated and disgusted at the same time.. I think I have a new idea for a site.
Maleflixx put on a great warmup party on Saturday, where I had my first and second Red Bulls ever. I wish that someone had told me what they can do to a guy, because at the Cybersocket party I had my third and fourth Red Bulls ever...
So by the time I made it to the Brendon's Bucks party..
-Which I really want to say was the coolest venue, the best atmosphere and the most over-the-edge party of the whole show.. they should be really proud of what a smash that was-
.. I was a bit jumpy and giddy and silly and flying on 4 Redbulls...
Some chick ripped off her clothes, strapped on a dildo and fucked the snot out of some hot blonde straight guy on one of the beds while a cute tattooed guy blew him.
Yes, of course I got pics.
To all of those who couldn't make it.. you WERE missed.. there were hardly any gay people there, so I had to resort to making out with striaght guys who were trying to impress women..
Oh, although I did get into a fur pile in the pool with Jake Crusie, Andy Dill and Julian from Gay.com for the entertainment and horror of the straight people standing around.
I mean.. please.. I'm the Jasunator.
It's too bad that the biggest thing we're known for is drama.
dzinerbear
why don't we try at the next show to be known for making fur piles in the striaght end of the pool?
I had a great time at the parties, but I didn't like how this convention was setup personally. The whole point of conventions is to unite people so you have the ability to build relationships. How can you build relationships and network if everything is seperated and spread out. This makes networking a much harder task; if not imposible to do in a few days, with so many people there.
I also noticed that a majority of the convention was straight people. I think we deserve our own convention. This will also help with networking so you know who you are marketing to.
Other then that I had a good time, Phoenix is still my favorite! Can't wait till March! It was great to see you all. I ran into Jasun and Dzinerbear while I was there, thank you both for taking time out of your day to speak with us.
We didn't attend the actual show! But we did get invited to the gay parties. Friday's pridebucks RoofTop event was excellant and I was glad to meet many individuals that I have seen in a while! It was great to meet others that I have spoken to on the phone or in emails and chats and finally placed the face with the "chat" or voice.
Its always a pleasure to see Patrick from CCbill!
Dorian from cruisingforsex! :thumbsup:
Mark and his staff from intensecash!!! and his group of hot boys!!! :devil:
I finally got to meet Rainy from Pridestudios!!!! :D
The boogienightslive party event on Saturday was off the hook!!! One of my models Brad Star http://www.allboysvideo.com/bradstar.html had this girl fuck him with a strap on!!! What a pro!!! :groovy: And I got to meet Julian again from gay.com....he's the best!!!
It was great to meet many people and made new friends along the way!!!
We will be attending the Phoenix Forum this year and was told that its much better then internext and vegas!!! See you all soon!!!
Um, do straight guys know about douching? :uhoh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasun
I got video :) ( HD ) trade ya :)Quote:
Some chick ripped off her clothes, strapped on a dildo and fucked the snot out of some hot blonde straight guy on one of the beds while a cute tattooed guy blew him.
besides that it was great to put a face to the names and voices of many I have spoken to like the guys from live twinks cam, AJ and chip from gaybucks, the bananaguide guys and of course all the old regulars like badpuppies LIsa, who finds a spot and lets everyone come to her. Smart girl. Pridebuck and the cybersocket crews, A fun time and beleve it or not, with runing 2 webcam houses , a relaxing time :)
never did see Lee though :(
It was great to see you Zak and Casey. Wish we could of spent more time together at the party. I never saw you at the convention :(Quote:
Originally Posted by collegeboyslive
I want to come visit your casa and check out your operation. I have always wanted to do that. It would be like Charley wanting to go see Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. roflmao. ((hugs))
I met WAAAY too many people to remember, but here goes:
Rudy, The Live Twinks Guys (I just wanted to take Brandon home and keep him naked in my basement... and you guys never got your dvd's from me!), Desslock, Dzinerbear, Rudy, Peter Zaragosa, Harlan and Joe (of course), Patrick from CCBill telling me how good l looked, Aly, Michelle and Jake from Cybersocket, Andy & Rob, Lisa, Bill, David, ben and Jonathan from Badpuppy, and just about everyone who stopped by our booth. It was a fun convention for us, if a little bit of a mess due to the splitting of the booths/cabanas. A lot of people didn't even know there was a show floor. We did business and had a good time, even though we had a really shitty booth location.
Rocky
Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveTwinksCam
It was great to meet you too..
ANd yet again, I didn't get Juan Naked... had to settle for his friend.
things I learned in Florida...
9 straight Guys + 20 Malefilcks Balls + 5 gay guys + 1 Swimming Pool + lots of Margaritas = CONTENT
Jenna Jamieson, apparently, is a gay Icon.
It IS possible to smuggle a Slushie Machine under your coat.
Schmoozing can be fun.
Deslock and I have the same size Penis.
A Washington Apple Martini is made with COMPLETELY different ingredients on the East Coast.
There's still no consensus on what 2257 is going to do to the industry.
There's still no consensus on what 2257 actually means.
The Gay Industry is relying too heavily on Lawyers for Straight companies who never actually have to ask about the legalities of fisting, water sports, barebacking, tieing a fully clothed person to a chair and wood glueing them to it or many of the rather extreme stuff that Hustler and Playboy generally stay away from. To Their Peril.
Andy Dill looks great in bikini briefs.
Gay Men wear cock rings even in a swimming pool.
Some people just don't know when to shut up.
Gay Men will not enjoy watching a gay threesome if a girl tries to make it into a foursome.
The cameras are watching 24-7. Leave your pants on.
A really nasty hangover can be cured with Coffee, Bacon, cheese and a Pina Colada.
Red Bull is EVIL.
Allow 50 pornographers to watch hot young men fucking, and every one of them will critoque the lighting, the facial expression of the top, the colour of the bedsheets, the angle the top is getting and the hardness of his dick.
Patrick is all bark and no bite.. er.. well.. now he's got a bite mark or two.
you have my # :)Quote:
I want to come visit your casa and check out your operation. I have always wanted to do that. It would be like Charley wanting to go see Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. roflmao. ((hugs))
Hi Rocky,Quote:
Originally Posted by BeachBoi_Rocky
It was great seeing you also, I wanted to take you and lock you in my basement naked also, but I don't have one. I will just lock you in my bedroom instead. Thanks for the DVD offer, we never made it back to the convention Sunday. We spent Sunday together and just relaxed and then Ryan and I drove back to Tampa Sunday evening. I could use some good jo material also, those dvd's would of came in handy. hehehe.
Email me your address and I'll send out 7 dvd's for you and the guys.
:-)
Rocky
rocky@eonfilms.com
Bless your heart. Will do it right now.
Is that an open invite? :devil:Quote:
Originally Posted by BeachBoi_Rocky
If so, is there any chance i could substitute DVDs for the actual models j/k
Regards,
Lee
I'm 25, and until I found this out, I woulda bet money that you were younger than me. So this isn't surprising...Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasun
Whatever you are doing (or not doing), it's working!!
ok.. cool..
I'll keep drinking, smoking and man-handling the innocent.
oh, and being Canadian.
YAY.
:jasun:
Hmm, I don't remember wearing bikini briefs. Of course I do remember wearing even less when I went for a midnight swim with Dustin from Speciality Pubs and Jonathan from Bel Ami (though he kept his pants on).Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasun
Jasun, I really missed seeing more of you, literally. Now I know you were at those "mainstream" parties (If you were there they weren't "straight!") I just hope you stayed out of the ladies' room this time.
It was a great trip and I was glad to catch up with som many friends from the boards. I just wish I had more time to hang with more people. I'm not gonna name names but I love the guys (and gals) in this biz and Internext made me realize how lucky I am not to be working in tax consulting or industrial equiptment. How can you complain about an industry where you get in trouble if you DON'T watch porn at work!
I would echo the earlier comment about Phoenix Forum being better than Internext for networking and new business.
Internext was fun, good to see people I knew and meet those who I only knew from the boards.....but in terms of generating new business, I would say that overall it was not such a great show. And the way it was organized, there was really no centralized networking events.
I felt that the seminars were for the most part really lacking (and some were darn right awful!). Also, since the seminars and the trade floor overlaped in hours, it was imposible to go around the trade floor if you wanted to attend the seminars.
The highlight for me was having a lunch meeting -- in the top swimming pool! The waiter actually brought our food and drinks and put them on the ledge of the pool so we could continue our meeting as we ate lunch in the pool. If only all meetings could be like that!
For those of you who I did not get to meet up with while I was there, please IM me or email me so that we can at least say "hi" post conference.
Best,
BoyNation
I always love seeing my new friends at the shows, and believe it is important to have facetime with the people I do business with - many of whom were there. However, I must also say that I am bringing very little work back with me this time. This surprises me because last year's Internext Florida was unquestionably the best and most valuable show for me in 2004.
The setup of the show made it extremely difficult to network. There was a Berlin Wall style division between the Upstairs and the Downstairs. Either way you picked I felt like I missed something. The cabanas may have been a nice idea on paper - but in practice I think the sponsors got very little of their info out - because who wants to collect cards and papers poolside in the 96 degree heat? Plus you get three people in those tiny little hobbit holes and it's cramped for space.
Also after spending the entire first day at the pool, the sun did a great job at successfully sapped a lot of my energy for the evening.
This is the first show where I met almost nobody new.
Dzinerbear -- you know I had to scramble for a room at the Westin.... it is interesting to see that you had to stay at the Holiday Inn. Frankly, I cannot understand how they had every room booked.... but I guess they did.
Furthermore, maybe one day they will have a usefull gay marketing seminar. Everyone involved is very good at what they do. But the reason the gay marketing seminar was not attended is pretty much a vote of confidence by the gay attendees as to whether they think it would be useful. It is this kind of stuff that makes the smaller fry attendee really weigh and value the benefits of their $300 registration fee.
Steve
Quote:
Originally Posted by dillmedia
Yeah.. I'm not sure what made me call them that.. you were wearing Boxer Trunks.
Apparetnly, I'm not gay enough to know the proper names for under garments.
But you sure looked great in them.
Man from the feedback I'm seeing, I'm almost glad that I didn't attend. Thinking now that I'll forego Vagas and just attend Phoenix. I know I can network and have a good time there. lol Though I can do without losing another shirt!
AJ and Kelly and I had a great time meeting some of the folks we've never actually met before, reconnecting with old friends, and making some new ones.
I think the idea of offering the networking options by the pool was a really good one, but the 96 degree heat made it somewhat unworkable. And the indoor show floor was marred by these walled-up booth things that I am guessing was intended to make the show more intimate and allow business to be done better... but to me it felt more intimidating to wander into one of those booths than the ones that were open.
A lot of people have bitched that the event was mostly straight, but as far as I'm concerned that's pretty much the way it's always been, so that part didn't bother me.
The parties were a great way for people to meet each other, but WHEN will those running the events realize that loud music/overly loud drag numbers / etc are pretty counterproductive to a networking event? I have no problem with music or stage shows to keep things fun and interesting and provide atmosphere, but they should definitely be a side note so those that want to meet and talk to others don't need to be fluent in American Sign Language to communicate.
And I really, really, really hope that AVN will dump the Diplomat for another property next year. The Diplomat is beautiful, but the service, both this year and last, was abysmal. Restaurants opened late or closed early, staff was rude and unhelpful (with a few notable exceptions) room cleaning service either had to be beaten away with a stick (in spite of do-not-disturb signs) or pestered mercilessly to get them to show up at all, and everyone I know had bogus charges mysteriously added to their room bills. The worst part is the Diplomat management doesn't really seem to care, so I'm guessing that the disinterest in the guest probably stems all the way from the top level of management.
Was it worth the money? For us, I would say definitely yes. Could it be improved? Of course. But on the whole, I appreciate the gamble that AVN took in restructuring the show, and I think that with some refinement, the format shows a lot of promise.
Man, I hate that I missed this convention. Maybe I can go next year. I'll never make it to the Vegas shows with my vanillia job in the way. But I loved florida when I went to my first Internext.
And Laurence, I love your site btw. I'll take one of everything please, including your models ^_^