Source: Adult Industry News
By: Tiki Pavelle
It’s easy for trade shows to blend into sameness, even in the adult entertainment field. Exxxotica 2010, held recently in New Jersey, set itself apart from the pack in refreshing ways. With a combination of appearances by top-notch adult talent, great parties, excellent presentation and a novel car show, Exxxotica was what one hopes to see when attending these functions.
Day one of the Expo revealed a well laid out and planned event, right sized for the facility hosting it, and thoughtfully laid out for the inevitable crush of humanity to follow. Interestingly, there was an extremely large swing to the right of the entrance as a feature point for models. With a swinging distance of roughly fifty feet, it created a striking effect although I never quite adjusted to the creeping feeling that I was going to get clocked by this thing every time I passed by.
The show also featured a very cool VIP lounge which I found perfect for work – comfy chairs, electrical outlets, generally good music, energy drinks and girls cage dancing. Remodeling of my office is in the planning stages as we speak.
Anchoring the other end of the Expo was the RIX Magazine XOTIC Auto and Bike Show, a fantastic adjunct to the main floor. Tribal Iron Custom Choppers featured a dozen or so motorcycles including a bike valued at over $150,000, which I was not permitted to “try out.” Over seventy custom and luxury cars were also on display. The balance this show provided to the main floors’ inevitable bustle lent the Expo a really good feel.
Additional features adding to the event’s success were found on the main floor itself. Myfreecams.com had an amazing Fantasy Island booth sponsored by CLUB magazine at which an unusually rich array of adult stars were found; Sunny Leone, Jesse Jane, Stoya, Amy Fisher, Lisa Ann, Jenna Haze, Tanya Tate, Lexi Belle, Alexis Texas among many others. One doesn’t usually see such a diverse mix of talented performers from different companies and genres and it made for a good presentation. Along one side of the Expo lay the Legends of EXXXOTICA booth sponsored by Genesis magazine and featuring; Brittany Andrews, Jasmin St. Claire, Vanessa Del Rio, Ginger Lynn, Mr. Marcus, Nina Hartley, and Sean Michaels, whom I was also not allowed to “try out.”
Day One’s attendance was very good, owing to the “Ladies Free” day and the attraction of the car show. “Tonight is huge. The turnout was amazing” indicated the pleased event publicist Brian Gross, of BSG Public Relations.
The afterparty held that night at the Sheraton was low key but pleasant, providing a setting where Industry could meet, converse and enjoy one another’s company well as interact with the attending fans. Despite its unassuming nature the event hosted an incredible roster of adult talent; Isis Taylor, Sarah Jay, Ron Jeremy, Mr. Pete, Karen Kougar, Nina Hartley, Julia Ann, Ginger Lynn, Trina Michaels, Flower Tucci, Roxy Reynolds, Lisa Ann, Pinky, Kelly Divine, Courtney Cummz, Vanessa Del Rio, members of the New York Fetish Tribe, and Brittany Andrews, who mentioned that “it’s awesome catching up with people I hadn’t seen in over a decade.”
Day Two saw an increase in bustle with a noticeable distinction: The presence of many more couples than one generally sees at these functions. I spoke to one such couple, Rosemarie and James Donohue from Hudson County NJ, who’d come to see their longtime favorite actress Lisa Sparxxx. James was clear that he “wanted to meet her and get her autograph” though Rosemarie expressed her own fondness for Juan Cuba and Ron Fontana as well as Vanessa Del Rio. “What I’ve learned from that woman” giggled a blushing Ms. Donohue. Regardless of marital status, many exhibitors and stars noted that the friendly and courteous nature of the Expo attendees helped make it a pleasurable event. LA Direct owner/president Derek Hay expressed his approval, saying, “Great show. Delighted to be here, [the event is] well attended.”
The after party on the evening of Day Two had its pluses and minuses, with a more typical arrangement of roping off most of the talent into a VIP section akin to a corral. The Sheraton security staff are an enthusiastic lot who take their jobs seriously – perhaps to a bureaucratic degree – but by the second night had a bit more familiarity with the attendees and approached their responsibilities with more realism.
Day Three felt typical of the last day of events, when everyone is under-rested, possibly hung over, with the standard sore feet and pockets full of errant business cards. Nonetheless, there were still fantastic offerings to be found. Seminars and panel discussions were ongoing throughout, and the entertainment stage hosted bondage demonstrations, contests, game shows and Q&A panels of stars, giving fans a chance to ask personal questions.
While attendance showed an increase of 30% over the previous year and topped twenty-thousand, the well planned staging ensured easy entrance and exit, travel through the aisles and little difficulty gaining opportunity to get autographs at signing podiums. Combined with the reasonable and friendly lodging, convenient shuttle services, wonderful attendees and extremely helpful event organizers, Exxxotica is a show I can heartily recommend attending and will certainly make a point of doing in the future.
My many thanks to all who supported, promoted, staged, appeared and attended this Expo. I also extend thanks to Brian Gross for his help in facilitating coverage of the entirety of the Expo; the man gets things done!
Future events will be held in Miami Beach in May 2011, Los Angeles in June 2011, and will return to New Jersey in autumn.
