BERLIN - For the first time in its 12-year history, the annual Venus Adult Trade Fair will set aside a specific section for gay exhibitors during its October show dates. The 2,150-square-foot space will be easy for gay fans and businesses to find, organizers said.
"With an already popular web area and also a newly created fetish area, the gay area will for the first time in Venus history also appeal to the gay members of the public as well as professionals," Venus organizers noted in a prepared statement. "Apart from the booths of exhibitors, it also contains a stage area for live shows, signings and other model appearances."
The area devoted to the gay side of the adult industry is designed to give shop owners and other industry professionals the ability to see the studios they want to see without having to hunt them down among the hundreds of straight exhibitors in the vast halls of the fairground, organizers said.
"Historically, there has always been a lack of a dedicated gay area at Venus, even though the gay public has a great affinity to its adult industry, [with] porn stars often achieving real stardom and current films and porn topics being much more integrated in everyday lives than in the general public's," the statement noted. "Gay consumers are also traditionally willing and able to spend more money on adult entertainment than straight ones, so it only makes sense that a dedicated gay area pays tribute to this."
OTB Video and All Boys Distribution Europe are among the gay companies that have signed on to sponsor the dedicated gay area. All Boys president Rob Ragan said the development is long overdue.
"The guys at OTB Video have been working diligently on getting this done for all of the fans who have, over the years, requested a way to enjoy the show without having to search all over the huge fair with its hundreds of straight exhibitors," Ragan said. "For the first time this year, there will also be a strong advertising campaign aimed specifically at the gay public, to make sure the companies exhibiting in the gay area get the audience they deserve."
OTB's Andreas Mueller added, "By coming up with a sophisticated sponsoring concept and by closely working with construction companies and the Venus organizing company, we have managed to create a concept that makes [an area dedicated to gay companies and products] possible and also affordable [at the venue] where the whole adult industry comes together in Europe every year. In the past, exhibitors with relatively small budgets literally got tucked away into sad little corners, lost in the masses of booths oriented at the straight market.
"Also, the gay public was never specifically invited to Venus before. This year, we have changed all that. Even the smallest of budgets buys you a very attractive booth in a dedicated and specifically designed area of the fair, along with a great advertising campaign that'll make sure the public will show up as well.
"The gay area is almost sold out now too," he added. "Only very few booth spaces and sponsorship slots are left, so act fast if you'd like to join us in Berlin. It's a perfect opportunity for U.S. labels that would like to present themselves to the huge European marketplace. Selling in Europe is especially attractive for American companies these days, as prices there are traditionally high and with today's euro-to-dollar exchange rates, the money made in Europe is worth so much more for U.S. producers."
The organizers of the gay area said they are expecting big things from the new arrangement, and they plan to make it an annual event.
"We've always found that gay consumers, shop owners and other business representatives are much more comfortable if they have a dedicated section for the gay industry," the prepared statement noted. "The Venus fair is a very hardcore place, and not having to see all the straight material on show is a big plus for most gay visitors."
Mueller added, "We all do these shows for the business aspect and future possibilities we can create by getting new relationships, and of course strengthening old ones. The gay section will surely be a huge success for all who are able to get booths."
Information about booths and sponsorships is available from Andi at OTB. He can be reached by email or by calling +49-30-39408135.
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