Some people in the adult industry say there are too many shows, and they’re probably right. But the 165 or so industry folk that jetted down to IWantU’s Costa Rica Bash definitely wouldn’t include it in the list of events they’d like to see disappear from the docket.
Though it consisted mostly of days on the beach and nights of partying, boiling the Costa Rica Bash down to a glorified vacation would be missing the point.
“People were rarely carrying business cards on them, but they had so many opportunities to sit and have a drink with other attendees that business was actually great,” says IWantU Sam, the organizer of the bash. “A lot of deals were made because of the different occasions to do follow-ups.”
An opening-night stay in San Jose, where fellow pornites gathered for dinner, drinks, and strippers, framed such occasions. The following morning, and the bulk of the trip, was spent on Jaco Beach.
In addition to similar activities and the 2bet Poker Tourney (won by Lori Z, TheAdultBroker), there were also the types of experiences that aren’t as easily forgettable as another party, namely Saturday’s jungle canopy tour and the Pirate Hooker Cruise, which came complete with pirates (DrinkingHard, WEGCory, etc.) and hookers.
The Cruise, sponsored by IWantU, GTS, and WEGCash, took riders on a two-hour trip to an island in the middle of the Pacific for swimming and whatnot. It was a microcosm of the bash itself.
“Everybody appreciated the fact that this was an all-inclusive event, and it also offered them something very different from regular shows,” Sam says. “They bonded a lot with other attendees, which makes a better party atmosphere and better business opportunities.”
Already plans are being made for a return engagement. The formula likely will remain the same, but organizers are considering locating the entire event in Jaco, instead of having the first day in San Jose, in order to reduce transportation time and make planning easier.
“We are basically keeping the same formula,” Sam says. “Everybody seems to have loved it.”
While the show landscape is changing, the Costa Rica Bash seems to have secured its place in the schedule for the foreseeable future. Axl Rose said it best:“Welcome to the jungle. We got fun and games.”
