LAS VEGAS - People just can't seem to stop talking about Internext Las Vegas. With several adult industry veterans calling it "the best show in years," the changes AVN Media Network made for the 2008 version were deemed a hit.
Starting with the location change to the Palms Casino and Resort, the show floor's move from a ballroom or meeting hall to the nightclub Rain had some skeptical at first. But the venue proved beneficial, with most participants saying they were able to conduct business in the more relaxed setting.
Another highlight was the change in seminar scheduling. Held each morning in the Palms Ballroom, seminars were limited to two a day, and each drew a packed house.
Seminar highlights include "Meet Your Consumers," where porn customers addressed the issues they have with finding and purchasing what they are looking for, and "Future Vision," which was moderated by AVN President Paul Fishbein and featured some of the biggest names in adult - including CCBill's Ron Cadwell, ClubJenna's Jay Grdina and AdultFriendFinder's Legendary Lars - discussing the next generation of the adult industry.
"Great conference, facilities, programs," said Scott Bain, legal counsel with the Software and Information Industry Association and a participant in the "Piracy Roundtable" event. "I attend a lot of business conferences, and, by comparison, this was very impressive and well organized."
Of course, Internext wouldn't be Internext without the parties. Each night, there were plenty to choose from. Sunday kicked off with the "GFY Welcome Party" sponsored by PussyCash and Brazzers in the Rain nightclub, while card sharks headed for the "Porn Poker Tour" sponsored by DatingGold, NetBilling, Eroticy, CamZ, EMC2 and IWantU.
Monday's highlight was the third annual "Customer Appreciation VIP Bash" in the Hugh Hefner Suite at the Palms. Presented by Adult Revenue Service, Webmaster Central and ElectraCash, the by-invitation-only event let attendees party in true Playboy style with great food, music and company. A techno DJ provided plenty of danceable music, while the chance to relax on the balcony and enjoy the great Las Vegas scenery was a huge plus for partygoers.
Tuesday wrapped up with the "Internext Farewell Party" in Rain, featuring the band Everclear. Following the well-received performance, band members conducted a meet-and-greet autograph session with attendees. Prior to the show, partygoers were treated to the decadent "Stockroom.com and Syren Latex Burlesque Fashion Show."
The platinum sponsors for Internext Las Vegas were PussyCash and Adult Webmaster Empire. The gold sponsors were CCBill, Video Secrets and Xtreme Revenue. The silver sponsors were Clips4Sale, Private Cash, Pornafia, Profit and World Wide Content. The registration sponsor was PussyCash, the seminar sponsor was Commerce Gate, and the show-bag sponsor was Video Secrets.
The next installment of Internext is set for Aug. 8-10 at The Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla.
