Internext-Expo Day 1: Boobs, Tubes and 2 Live Crew

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.—Thursday was the official first day of Internext, but Friday was the day when the tops came off—both bottles and bodies—and the trade show began in earnest. Throughout the many-layered Westin Diplomat, people huddled in planned or impromptu meetings, and in the Convention Center the seminars drew engaged audiences. It was all in play as attendees from around the world arrived at the show, which is nearing its 10-year anniversary.

The debut of Ultimate Networking was packed and noisy, as expected. Show organizers had to turn away people who wanted to participate; disappointed, they get another shot at the popular networking event tomorrow, if they show up to register in time.

Industry attorney JD Obenberger started off the educational events with a legal workshop during which he spoke about the most important obscenity cases of the last few years, and gave, as he has done so many times in the past, an impassioned talk about the fundamental aspects of adult entertainment law.

J. Michael Murray, Diane Duke and Gill Sperlein also spoke passionately about the industry—this time with respect to 2257, the nefarious labeling and record-keeping law that the Free Speech Coalition is once again preparing to challenge in federal court. Murray, whose firm has spent the past 14 years fighting the feds over 2257 on behalf of Connections magazine, now takes over the FSC challenge, and he proved today that the FSC legal committee picked the right man for the job.

Lisa Weinberger packed the seminar hall for her workshop on organic SEO, walking the attendees through a list of things they need to know in oder to take control of their search enigine destiny.

Immediately after, YNOT's Jay Kopita led an energetic panel (and audience) in a discussion about tube sites, a subject that never fails to raise the temperature in even the largest seminar rooms.

Rounding out the schedule was the Google AdWords Marketing Strategies workshop, put on by Wildline! Moderated by Johnny V and supported by a power-point presentation (available on the Wildline! website), the fifth version of this well-attended seminar provided a insider look at how to successfully navigate Google's culture for optimum results.

As the last seminar ended, 2 Live Crew, in a gig down by the pool—arranged by D-Money at the last minute, and sponsored by LifestyleAmateurs.com—put on a set so hot the pool started to boil and women could not help but remove their tops. Indeed, what started out looking like a classic sausage-fest quickly turned into an inspirational boob-fest. Thank you, 2 Live Crew!

The Mix & Meet, featuring an open bar, also was packed, as sponsors and vendors held court at tables in the Atlantic Ballroom, and the cacophony of a happy crowd could be heard hallways away.

Yet to come is the Porn Poker Tour, and many dinners and smaller parties, as Internext Summer 2009, while not quite as large as shows past, fulfills its role as the ultimate summer networking event.