2nd Annual Gay Phoenix Forum Removed from ’07 Show Schedule

[corvett]

Tempe, Arizona – March 09, 2007 - The Forums, LLC announced today that due to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming GAYVN Webmaster Retreat set for the fall of ’07, they would not proceed with plans for a 2nd Annual Gay Phoenix Forum in 2007.

The 1st Annual GAYVN Webmaster Retreat has been scheduled to take place in October, 2007 in Los Angeles; while the 2nd Annual Gay Phoenix Forum was set for September of 2007 in Scottsdale, AZ, just four weeks prior to the GAYVN event.

With these events ultimately targeting the same Gay Adult Webmaster Community, it was determined that the challenges associated with travel to each site might create a difficult scenario for companies wishing to send representation to both shows.

“As the hosting committee for the Phoenix Forum, it was our goal when we introduced the 1st Annual Gay Phoenix Forum, to create an event that would bring together Gay Online companies and provide benefits for this business community as a whole. It is our belief that having two gay-business focused events within such a short time frame will ultimately be counter productive to this goal, creating a situation which would serve to divide rather than unite this group. In order to avoid this negative scenario and keeping the best interests of this business sector in mind, we have decided not to host a separate Gay event in the fall of ’07,” said Ron Cadwell, CEO, CCBill, Cavecreek Web Hosting and DRM Networks.

“From our understanding of previously-written contracts between AVN and Epoch, AVN had named Epoch as an exclusive billing sponsor for their upcoming GayVN and AVN events, specifically prohibiting our participation. However, today both companies (CCBill and AVN) recognize that the best option for all parties is to work together to ensure the success of a truly productive event for the Gay Community and Adult Online Industry at large, and we are currently working with AVN management to determine how we can best support these initiatives with joint efforts moving forward.”

The Forums, LLC truly appreciates the support received for the 1st Gay Phoenix Forum, which took place in the fall of 2006, and are extremely pleased that the success of that show set the stage for similarly targeted events. We look forward to supporting the Gay Community throughout this year and those to come.

[LavenderLounge]

Sounds like an excellent solution to the scheduling conflict, and I hope that CCBill will be allowed to participate with the GayVN event.

[Lee]

The gay mafia strikes again

Its totally shamefull that one group of companies didnt feel there was room for more than 1 gay show, i really hope the gay webmaster community takes notice of what happened with all of this and lets it be known to those companies involved what a complete farse this has become for no reason other than pure greed and pettyness.

Shame on AVN and Epoch, and shame on the other companies involved in this pettyness against CCBill who HAVE supported them (and the gay industry) for MANY years often at great cost to themselves.

To try and divide the gay webmaster community in this way is shamefull and i hope others can see that this is ultimately what the GAYVN show was attempting to do.

But then again, there is no gay mafia and nobody plays 'politics' in the adult industry, its all just a figment of our imagination

Regards,

Lee

[IntenseCash.com]

Hum funny how CCBill started the first all gay forum and then Paycom stepped in and made their forum in the exact same month as the GFP, I am not happy about that. One thing I truly like about being in this business is how companies work together. I think this really could of been worked out so there would of been 2 gay forums not close together and I think Epoch really got nasty by making their gay forum in the exact same month as GPF. Thanks CCBill for being professional about the situation and I am sad there will be no GPF.

Mark

[gaybucks_chip]

I am very glad to hear that CCBill and AVN are working together. However, that said, it's exceptionally clear that various forces strongarmed and worked behind the scenes to force CCBill's hand in cancelling the show, which serves no purpose other than to enrich a few at the expense of the greater community.

Once again, CCBill has shown themselves to be the gentlemen of the community, the people who are working to unite rather than divide the gay community by gracefully bowing out rather than forcing webmasters to choose which event to attend.

I hope that everyone remembers that NOBODY was interested in a gay-only show until CCBill took up the task of planning, funding, and making GPF happen.

Supporting those who support the greater good for our community is a wise idea. I would encourage everyone who has any opportunity to do so to support the companies and individuals who want to create inclusive opportunties to grow our community rather than splinter it.

It shouldn't be hard to figure out which players are which.

[Lee]

It shouldn't be hard to figure out which players are which.

Especially as time and time again it is always the same small group of companies trying to fragment the gay community, cancel show buses, call the cops to other peoples parties, etc etc.

Regards,

Lee

[TropixxxStudios]

I hope that everyone remembers that NOBODY was interested in a gay-only show until CCBill took up the task of planning, funding, and making GPF happen.

It truly is a shame. I agree that the scheduling of the retreat was done to intentionally damage the GPF, and that truly is a shame. I had an amazing and productive time at the GPF and will miss it. I will have to think long and hard about attending the retreat.

[corvett]

I hope that everyone remembers that NOBODY was interested in a gay-only show until CCBill took up the task of planning, funding, and making GPF happen.

actually, please allow me to make a correction here, the sponsors for last years Gay Phoenix Forum were the ones largely responsible for funding the event, i am sure that the community appreciates their support very much:


Premium
Paycom
Corbin Fisher
BadPuppy
Cybersocket

Platinum
Pridebucks
Gunzblazing
AEBN
TopBucks
Hot Movies
Channel One
Intense Cash
YouLoveJack
Gold Access
PussyCash

Gold
Naked Sword
Dirty Boy Video
GayBucks
Bananaguide
Rainbow Revenue
Men on the Net
Buddy Profits

Media
Klixxx
XBIZ
FUBAR

[steven619]

Maybe we will see more gay companies in Phoenix in a few weeks...

If it is a choice between LA or Phoenix in October I would say both are great in October.

I wonder if CCbill (ie.."the forum") would have let us know months ago about the 2007 show maybe it would have been locked in place. I had a bet with the staff that Epoch would take over the gay version of the forum. After all, CCbill has never been known for their amount of Gay staff, executive, or support. Not to bash CCbill as we all use and trust them..but Pat was one of the only gay supporting staff people at CCbill before he left.

In any case...I'm very happy it will continue.
Since the PhoenixForum always welcomed companies that complete with CCbill I will only hope the new group will do the same.

[basschick]

once again, yet another company or group of companies has decided that out of a year of possible dates, starting an event at the same time as an existing event is the way to go. they feel muscular and competitive. i hate that - a lot.

i really like everyone i know at epoch and l.a. is more convenient for me, however i really don't like what was done here. we should be working together, not trying to knock out other events. i will have to think hard on whether i want to support such tactics.

sometimes competition is healthy, but i don't think this was. i would have chosen the gay phoenix forum over the l.a. event but since sponsors can only afford one event during october, i don't have a choice except to decide whether boycotting such tactics or going to something created to rid us of our choice is the better decision.

[gaybucks_chip]

I wonder if CCbill (ie.."the forum") would have let us know months ago about the 2007 show maybe it would have been locked in place.

CCBill DID make it clear that the event was happening again in October 2007. The only question was where it was to be located.

The event was cancelled because SOMEBODY ELSE INTENTIONALLY SCHEDULED THEIR FOR-PROFIT EVENT DIRECTLY AGAINST THE NONPROFIT GAY PHOENIX FORUM, knowing full well that it would splinter the community.

And, while I respect and appreciate Corvett's statement, I stand by my original statement. No one was willing to step forward and put their money up front and say "WE WILL MAKE THIS GAY EVENT HAPPEN" until CCBill took the plunge.

Yes, all of the sponsors (of which we were one) got behind it and provided the funding that ultimately made it successful, but CCBill was the catalyst to make it happen in the first place. AVN had not the slightest interest until CCBill had already taken all the risk and shown that the concept was viable.

I fucking HATE politics. And I fucking HATE the behind-the-scenes politicking and, I suspect, the withdrawal of support by a handful of key aligned companies that caused CCBill to make the decision to cancel the show.

I will say that CCBill has, both publicly and privately, been extremely conciliatory about it. They truly want to see a a great, successful event for the gay community, whether they or AVN or Epoch or somebody else runs it. And they have expressed their willingness to work with AVN and Epoch to help ensure that the AVN event is successful.

Now I guess we will get to see if the powers that squashed an excellent event truly want what's best for the community as a whole. If they do, they should be reaching out with widest open arms and actively court and embrace EVERYONE in the community, not just for financial support, but for planning, input, cooperation and participation.

If that happens, then I will happily admit being entirely wrong in my views and perceptions thus far. We (Gaybucks) join CCBill in remaining interested in participating, both financially and in planning and logistics, in events that bring the entire gay adult community together in a positive way. I suspect there are plenty of other companies that feel the same way.

[gaybucks_chip]

i don't have a choice except to decide whether boycotting such tactics or going to something created to rid us of our choice is the better decision.

Exactly. In an ideal world, those who squashed the event should have the opportunity to learn that, at some point, the community will no longer stand for such behavior.

[IntenseCash.com]

Btw CCBill I was planning on being a premium sponsor for the GPF this year.

[CamCruise]

So I guess we are out in the cold again. Since GAYVN Will not let Bareback in to there events. We had a place to network at GPF.

And This is all too late to now do the PF in a few weeks. The gay companies were told that we had our own PF to do. so many of us did not sign up for the main one this year.
I feel kind of pissed on.

[Lee]

at some point, the community will no longer stand for such behavior.

Whilst it would be nice, thats never going to happen, most gay webmasters dont care about anyone but themselves and if they think supporting one group over another group will get them seen to be with the perceived 'in' crowd, they'll forgive and foget, or at least pretend to

Its a shame to because it always seems to be the same companies who profess they want to bring unity to the gay community that always end up fragmenting it more and more to serve their own greed.

Regards,

Lee