Pictured: Presley Hart at Smash Pictures booth; Kristina Rose at Jules Jordan Video booth; Jessie Andrews at Elegant Angel booth. Photo by JFK/FUBAR Webmasters.
LAS VEGAS—The 2013 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino started off yesterday with a seminar led by AVN editorial personnel. Called "Homeroom 101," the seminar informed new attendees about the different seminars that would be held during the expo and dispensed information gained from years of attending previous expos, including "Drink plenty of water" and "You won't be able to do everything."
"Don’t be shy," AVN Senior Editor for Pleasure Products Sherri L. Shaulis advised the newbies. "Introduce yourself. Video companies are making toys, and toy companies are starting to produce content. You never know where a contact will lead."
As the new attendees were getting their orientation, in the nearby Muse Hall exhibitors were putting last-minute finishing touches on their booths. At Evil Angel backlit DVD covers adorned the outside wall, with one cover hidden under metallic giftwrap. Performers Anikka Albrite, Brooklyn Lee, Kelly Divine, Lea Lexis, Skin Diamond and Francesca Lé are scheduled to sign at the Evil Angel booth.
Asked about the upcoming AVN Awards, Lee said, "I think it's Asa [Akira] all the way and I'm OK with that."
Across the aisle from Evil Angel, Jules Jordan gave AVN a rundown of the talent signing at his booth.
"We have Lisa Ann, Alexis Texas ... Alexis Ford couldn't make it this year; we're disappointed about that because we have her movie Alexis Ford Darkside up for a bunch of awards. Riley Reid—newcomer, fast-rising starlet, she's kind of our jewel of the show. We have Rachel Starr; she hasn't been working very frequently but she's come to us to do some interesting stuff. Brand-new smoking-hot young girl, Kennedy Leigh, 18 years old, deep throat extraordinaire. She can deep throat any cock. And Kristina Rose. That's our lineup, although there may be some surprises. I think the fans are going to have a good time this year."
Jordan has high hopes for the AVN Awards chances for Alexis Ford Darkside.
"it was a real turning point in her career; she hasn't done anything that extreme. That's an interesting movie for this year. This year I think I put out more titles than ever, so I'm hoping that as a body of work everything will represent me. I'm trying to shoot more volume than I have in the past and get the stuff I'm shooting out a little quicker."
Presley Hart (nominated for Best Actress in Smash's Diary of Love") and Julia Ann (nominated for MILF Performer of the Year) were signing for Smash Pictures—part of the entertainment planned at the booth, which will include a live DJ and an all-star lineup that also features Madison Ivy, Heather Starlet, Ryan Driller and Prince Yahshua (nominated for Best Anal Scene with Kagney Linn Karter in Smash's Prince the Penetrator).
"Were doing this for the fans," Smash Pictures Vice President Stuart Wall told AVN. "We have glossy fliers and each girl can sign her square as a collector's item. We'll also be selling DVDs."
The studio will be promoting its upcoming Secretary's Day 6, featuring Dani Daniels' second boy/girl scene and Christie Stevens' first anal scene. Secretary's Day 6 is set for a February 21 street date.
As we talk to Julia Ann and Presley Hart, veteran performer/director Ed Powers walked by. "The new All New Dirty Debutantes 374 comes out Thursday on HotMovies," he said as he heads to the HotMovies booth.
"We were thinking of doing live cams, but we'd have to do something unique," Girlfriends Films' Dan O'Connell said. "There's something about live camming that's so direct, that gives the girls a chance to connect with the viewer." Girlfriends Films has a full complement of performers, including Prinzzess, India Summer, Brandi Love, Lexi Lowe, Dana DeArmond and Aryana Augustine at their booth.
At the booth, Dana DeArmond was signing copies of a new DVD, Paint, written by David Stanley, directed by B. Skow, and distributed by Girlfriends Films. "Best Actress, right here," she smiles.
Elegant Angel's booth features life-size posters of Remy LaCroix, Dani Daniels, Jessie Andrews, Lexi Belle, Lily Carter and Allie Haze, all of whom will be signing at the booth.
"I'm really proud of the lineup of girls and we’re expecting pretty big crowds over the next few days," Elegant Angel General Manager Graham Travis told AVN. "It's going to be rocking." Asked about the chances of Wasteland at the awards, Travis demurred: "I try not to think about that kind of stuff. It'll be fun regardless. It's about being the best you can. If you're satisfied with your erforts, everything else is just a bonus."
In a penthouse suite overlooking the Strip, Wicked contract girls posed for press pictures before their booth opened in The Joint on Thursday. The suite is classic Vegas Excess, with a pool table, stripper poles and a large elevated hot tub a few steps from each other in one windowed-in corner of the suite.
"I'm planning new instructional videos for next year," performer/director jessica drake says. "Direct a couple of fetish videos, and my radio show is in a new professional studio. Just taking over the world," she added with a laugh.
Downstairs, in the Luxury Boutique showplace, Norwegian sex toy company Laid displays their upscale products. Made from materials like silicone and stainless steel, the objects have matter-of-fact names like C.1 and X.3 and have distinctive designs that combine simplicity and luxury. The main designer, Line Iren Andersen, has a master’s in industrial design. Two intriguing products are magnetic ben-wa balls that can be manipulated internally to exercise the kegel muscles, and a clitoral vibrator that looks like a cock ring, but the ring functions as a handle. The angled vibrator has different angles and surfaces to vary stimulation.
Njoy's Greg deLong had one of the company's large Eleven dildos on display at his booth. "We're just a one-product booth today." DeLong said with a grin.
Also in the Luxury Boutique area is Sexy Battery, new high-powered alkaline batteries for sex toys that retail for about $1 for AA and AAA sizes.
In the AVN Novelty Expo in Artist Hall, Rebecca Bardoux and Kiki D’Aire are promoting Biker Lube, a new product with clever packaging that looks like a cigarette carton holding 10 five-envelope packs with flip-top lids.
Back in Muse Hall, Sunset Thomas says, "I'm covering this for Robin Leach. I'll be signing tomorrow."
In the Digital Playground corridor just outside Muse Hall, signing desks are set up for contract performers Jesse Jane, Kayden Kross, Bibi Jones, Stoya, Riley Steele and Selena Rose. All six are in the upcoming release Code of Honor.
"I've been 13 years in this business. We grow and change," Digital Playground publicist Mike Moz told AVN. "I'm happy to be a part of the family, seeing everybody catching up."
Adam & Eve Public Relations Director Katy Zvolerin told AVN, "We'll have a booth, and Teagan Presley, Alexis Texas, Eva Angelina and Andy San Dimas will be there every day. We'll be having a party every night."
The studio has The Four, D3viance, Buffy The Vampire Slayer XXX: A Parody, Not Animal House XXX (a co-production with X-Play) and Dallas XXX: A Parody in contention at the AVN Awards. "We're looking forward to the Awards on Saturday," according to Zvolerin.
Immoral Productions is bringing "half a dozen models" to its AEE booth in Muse Hall according to company figurehead "Porno Dan" Leal.
"We'll have our contract star Rikki Six, Aaliyah Love, Britney Amber, Jennifer White, Alexis Love, and Lia Lor," Leal told AVN. "We'll be having games with prize giveaways. They can win anything from signed pictures of the girls to DVDs to T-shirts to hats to skateboards, which the girls will be signing and giving away. You never know what prize you'll win."
Today, The Joint opens up as well, and fans will begin streaming in. Best Non-Sex Performance nominee James Bartholet will be moderating the "Inside the Porn Actors Studio" panel at today (January 17) at 1:30 p.m., with panelists Amber Lynn, Whitney Wonders, Mimi Miyagi, Nina Hartley and Ron Jeremy. "Incredible lineup we've got," Bartholet told AVN. The panel will take place at Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Bartholet's Galaxy Publicity will have a booth with Misty Stone, Priya Rai, Emy Reyes, Joslyn James, Trinity St. Clair, Tia Cyrus, Cindy Starfall, Tatiyana Foxx, Prince Yahshua, Mike Kulich, and the participation of Reload male enhancement pills, for which Bartholet is the spokesman.
"We're looking forward to this," Bartholet said. "We're so proud to be there for the 30th anniversary for AVN. I'm honored to be nominated for an award, and we are honored to be there and meet our fans."
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo continues through Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Tickets are available to the public. Admission to the AVN Novelty Expo and Luxury Boutique is restricted to qualified retail participants.
