Anyone hear anything about GayVN Summit?

[gaybucks_chip]

Odd that I haven't seen any news/comments/reports on GayVN summit, other than one post saying the opening cocktail party was good. Has anyone heard anything?

AJ and I decided to skip it, seemed that few people were going...

[deanb]

I have read some stuff on gayvn online, but that is all I have seen or heard.

[gaybucks_chip]

Yeah, I was sorta hoping for some info that *didn't* come from somebody working for GayVN

[allboysvideo]

Hey Chip!

What I heard, from those that went, was that the summit was trying to compete with the gay phoenix forum but the gayvn summit was very unorganized and it was a waste of time going. It was very hard to network and it was all about the "big" studios and there models.

The only reason to go to the summit was for the gayvn awards and the awards party, which I understand that the studios that won are the studios that highly support AVN/GayVn. If your not a "BIG" pornstudio it was not worth going.

-David
D&E Productions

[chadknowslaw]

I am glad I didn't go ~

[Lee]

I am glad I didn't go ~

Im hearing that a lot the past 2 days.

The interesting thing about it though, im also hearing 'i shouldnt have gone' from a couple of people that did go, kinda makes you wonder just how bad the show was LOL

I beleive we'll have pictures of the show being posted soon too

Regards,

Lee

[Jasun]

We at Fratmen wanted to go to the show, but were awfully busy on a "new project" that we're working on.. we'll have more for you on that soon.

We were at the awards(nominated for Best Solo Video), which were phenominal and everything that a porn award show should be... and I saw plenty of people there and talked a lot of business.

I only made out with a few strangers and I didn't even dance naked ONCE.

I even woke up in my own bed...alone... with my clothes folded neatly on the chair.

Although for some reason I was missing my socks.

[LavenderLounge]

From LavenderLoungeBlog.com: http://www.lavenderlounge.com/blog/2...mit_day_2.html

GayVN Summit Day 2

What a busy day! Day Two of the GayVN Summit was great. I sat in all the seminars, while my guys were still trying to solve this hacker problem. It was held at the W Hotel, and I teased everyone,

"So, you're staying at the Y?"

"No, the W."

"Oh, the YWCA!"

During the "State of The Industry" seminar, there was a lot of talk about HD and DVD's and self promotion blah blah blah. Near the end, I finally raised my hand and said, "Nobody's talked about barebacking yet." I asked the panel why the studios aren't doing more HIV testing, and why the gay studios aren't following the testing policies used by the straight studios. I asked the people representing video distributors what the "real" numbers are regarding bareback sales. But then I blew everyone away when I asked what would happen if a studio changed its policy from "condom only" to "HIV Negative models only". The best response was from the moderator, Morgan Summer from Cybersocket who gave the pros and cons and then summed it up by saying, "It's gets so complicated I just don't want to think about it." Sadly, I think a lot of us, including myself, feel the same way right now.

Even more sad, a guy from an online store came up to me afterward and told me sales of bareback movies are 20 to 1. I think the big studios that are condom-only are getting worried about sales right now, and I fear that if they start to change their policies at some point, they may make some serious policy errors - both business wise and in the health and safety of the community. I want the big studios to remain successful and lead the way to protect their models and project the right influence on gay culture. There are a lot of very irresponsible bareback studios out there exploiting the trend, and I'd hate to have them set the standard. We need more of these kind of discussions!

But back to the fun. Falcon had a cute cocktail party in the hotel. I chatted with Eric Rhodes, and hugged Roman Heart just as he was giving a blow job on the video screen. I introduced myself to Cole Ryan, and confirmed that, yes, he WAS a virgin when he did the scene in Titan's "Closed Set". "I was a kid from the suburbs, and I just needed a way to get it over with.", he said. That's historic!

From there, we went to the Kink.com party at the old Armory Building. Got the full tour, it's amazing! I predict lots of great parties and Burning Man related events will be going on there.

And finally, I ended up at, where else, The End Up. Brandon Baker threw a RentBoy.com party there. I've lived across the street for a year now, and that was the first time I set foot in there. The last time I was at the End Up, the trees were skinny little saplings - but so was I.

But today is the big day! GayVN Awards tonight! Expect lots of pictures next week.

[Bec]

Although for some reason I was missing my socks.

...looking through my list of foot fetish sites for new content starring one Jasun ...

[Dick Hunter]

Personally, I had a lot of fun. I thought there were plenty of internet people to network with, and it's always nice to hang out with porn stars and directors, IMO. Not to mention SF is the bomb!

As I mentioned in another thread, the NakedSword post awards party was a total rager. I personally have never been to a party quite like that. Porn star go go dancers, Chi Chi Larue behind the turn tables, all in the middle of a midevil dungeon. Very cool!

My pics are here:
http://gaywebmasters.com/gallery/

[desslock]

Well as my trip was on paid behalf of PrideBucks and NakedSword, I cannot complain too much. I found the show itself to be pretty good. The panels could be punched up some more, but I left with some concrete take-aways for my websites. I can say it like this too --- compared to Internext Vegas.... it was a very nice improvement, with much more to offer if you are in the gay adult industry.

For me personally, there was an absolute bonanza of opportunities because of the movie studios that I promote. Raging Stallion, COLT Studio Group and Falcon Studios. I was taken to several absolutely fabulous dinners. The W Hotel is, without question, the hippest, nicest hotel I've ever stayed in.

I actually did very well from a business point of view. I met some studio owners/employees who I've only known on an email basis for years. (as usual, I don't think I talked to any porn stars this trip...)

Personally, I was exasperated because this was my first time in San Francisco, and I saw practically nothing of it. Much like the Internext Florida shows..... I get pulled into this show/hotel vortex and can't escape... no matter how much I try.

I also remember now why I also bring an associate to these shows, because Pickles helps schedule me to be significantly more effective with my time. I saw no bridges.... and the only time I saw the Pacific Ocean was on the airport shuttles which bookended by visit. The SF-MOMA was right next door which was advertising a comprehensive Picasso exhibit, but did I ever darken the door? Sadly no. I just passed the door on the way to the Subway in the Hearst Building for very quick lunches before I had to be at the next event.

Hell..... I still haven't been in a gay bar in SF!

At one point I tried to figure out the way to get to sex club.... but looking at Yahoo Maps, I was reluctant to really strike out in a strange city like that at 1 in the morning. And once I'm there, I'm uncertain how to get back to the hotel. And it seemed like they all closed at 4am. Weird new city, weird new rules. So.... the operating rule for me still holds... if I want to get laid at a show, I have to rent a car.

Anyways..... for me.... that was my exasperation.... my inability to take in the city I've heard about all my life as a visitor. It was not the show. The GayVN Summit was a pretty good show. And hey there's always next year.


Steve

[XXXWriterDude]

All things considered, I'd say the show went pretty darn well. It was, of course, the very first show of its kind, so inevitably the show is not going to be perfect, and there are going to be things that will need to be improved upon for the next time, but the W Hotel was a great place to have it (though, admittedly, it may have lacked in meeting space for those attempting to get business done without having to leave the hotel to do so), the awards show was frickin' phenomenal, and the convergence of Internet and video was fairly well represented in the seminars.

Everybody comes to these things with a lot of expectations and--let's admit it--skepticism. It's become fairly obvious that some of you enjoy kicking AVN around--even though you're still very quick to pick up that phone and call us whenever you want some press (wink wink)--but even so, the show was a valiant first attempt at bringing Internet folks and traditional brick and mortar people together--as that is the direction that this business seems to be heading in--and I'm very proud of our trade staff for putting together a show that was, by turns, thoughtful, exciting and entertaining. And Kathy Griffin ROCKED THE HOUSE as the host of the GAYVNs. I even got interviewed by Bravo for her TV show!

One thing, though: The Summit wasn't all about the big studios and their stars. That's just silly. It was about whoever decided to come and participate. If adult websites didn't show up to take part, then that is why they weren't represented in larger numbers, and not because AVN Trade skewed the show to the big studios. That needs to be pointed out.

Anyway, it was great to see some of you there. Thanx for coming out and supporting the show. It will be better next time, that's for sure.

[tonysparks]

For a fledgling conference, I say this was done pretty well! My question is, do we need another gay specific conference?

Seems like there's a show every week these days. Who has the time?

The awards show was actually the best part of the whole thing. Some very well-spoken acceptance speeches and Kathy was terrific.

Jasun, I have your socks!

xo

T

[XXXWriterDude]

For a fledgling conference, I say this was done pretty well! My question is, do we need another gay specific conference?

Seems like there's a show every week these days. Who has the time?

Well, considering there's only been one so far--and even that one was only introduced last year--I'd say there's at least room for ONE more gay-specific show. You don't want any one business to have a monopoly on the trade show market, do you? Besides, how many traditionally "straight" trade shows are there?

I suppose you could also say the same thing about any number of Internet porn sites. Do we really need another straight-guy solo scene site? Another reality-esque site? Another big dick site?

That's the nature--and the genius--of business, though, right? Anyone who has their own vision for something can start it up. It's a matter of offering a different perspective and overall experience to the webmasters.

[XXXWriterDude]

Personally, I was exasperated because this was my first time in San Francisco, and I saw practically nothing of it. Much like the Internext Florida shows..... I get pulled into this show/hotel vortex and can't escape... no matter how much I try.

I had the same exasperation. I LOVE San Francisco. Just being there makes me happy. I feel home in a way that I never have in L.A. I'm just a city boy at heart, I suppose. I love the hustle and bustle of the city life, the smell of the street vendors, the horns that honk in a way that's different and more appealing that it is in Los Angeles... it's just one of the greatest cities in the world. I only wish the weather was better and the rent was cheaper so I could move there!

But yeah, it kind of sucks to be in San Francisco and not be able to spend any quality time there. We did get to have dinner in the Castro on Thursday with Mary Gillis, though, so that was nice. And seeing the armory at Kink's party and then going to the End Up was pretty cool too. I got to spend a LITTLE time in SF. Just not nearly enough for my tastes. Next year I'm going to make them let me stay an extra day or two on my own.