FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—In an era and industry where many often fear change, even the mainstream press agrees that bringing Exxxotica to Fort Lauderdale was a wise decision. As Ben Crandell of the Sun Sentinel put it, “Moving the Exxxotica trade show, with its bevy of porn stars, sex toys, and nightclub afterparties, from South Beach to Fort Lauderdale may seem counterintuitive. But take it from an old hand at porn and Fort Lauderdale: It’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Crandell’s piece, reprinted with a salacious slideshow on Huffington Post, joins that of SouthFlorida.com and others in expressing support and enthusiasm for not only the expo, but for veteran performer Ron Jeremy, who appeared during the weekend, now recovered from his recent heart aneurysm.
“Jeremy may be unrecognizable at Exxxotica this weekend—He’s lost 30 pounds,” the destination site cautioned, reassuring fans, “But, he assures, certain parts of his body have retained their famous heft.”
Exxxotica organizers say that the event, which ran May 31-June 2 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, concluded its eighth annual show in the region with “strong attendance, big revenues for exhibitors, a slate of incredible parties and unprecedented media attention.” (Click here to see photos from the expo.)
Women took advantage of Exxxotica South Florida's "Ladies Free Friday." When it was all over, organizers claimed that more than 4,000 women had entered to enjoy the female-friendly stage acts and seminars, Fifty Shades inspired dungeon, over 150 adult stars and over 100 exhibitors in attendance at the show. Some longtime exhibitors are said to have reported increased revenue for Friday and the show in total.
"The Fort Lauderdale show seemed to be a much better turnout. Sales surpassed our Miami Beach average overall. We had lots of fun and met cool people as well! We're excited to do it again at the Broward Convention Center," Danny Bettan of Fetish Me Up commented.
Shirley of Chaturbate, a returning exhibitor and show sponsor, added, "Recruiting was definitely a success for us as there were hotties walking through non-stop. The Fort Lauderdale edition might be the best one yet!"
"The Fort Lauderdale show rocked! I was ecstatic to see all the ladies come out on Friday night to support us. The seminars were awesome, especially Evan Stone's 'A Day in the Life of a Porn Star.' Exxxotica and Florida are Sun-sational," observed Rita Daniels.
The area's media helped spread the word that Exxxotica was in town, running stories and interviewing some of the stars who made the journey to the show. One focal point was Farrah Abraham—MTV's former Teen Mom and the star of the Vivid celebrity sex tape Farrah Abraham: Backdoor Teen Mom.
The AEBN Entertainment Stage featured a diverse array of acts. Women could check out the Men of Adonis, while guys could ogle one of many eclectic burlesque troupes. Exxxotica staples like Rubberdoll and the Ms. Exxxotica pageant returned, while new features such as the Mr. Exxxotica contest and the Miss Pole Dance USA Competition were introduced. Sunday was Ron Jeremy Appreciation Day, honoring the adult icon with a "penis lookalike contest" hosted by Jeremy himself.
Seminars from the top names in adult and beyond were popular, with Ron Jeremy, Evan Stone, Kimberly Kane, Ryan Driller, Sean Michaels, Tanya Tate and Joanna Angel giving fans glimpses into their lives as they dished out advice and sex tips.
The South Florida nights heated up with official after parties happening all over the area at the top nightclubs. Passion at the Hard Rock Casino, Mansion and Cameo in South Beach, as well as Vibe Las Olas, Karu and Off The Hookah in Fort Lauderdale were just some of the hot spots with parties hosted by the likes of Farrah Abraham, Teagan Presley, Alexis Texas, Allie Haze, Jynx Maze and LA Direct Models.
"Exxxotica South Florida exceeded our expectations," commented J. Handy, director of Exxxotica. "The feedback from our exhibitors and sponsors is amazing and we received more inquiries than ever before from attending business owners who want to not only exhibit at the show next year, but also at our upcoming events in Chicago and New Jersey. We want to personally thank all of the exhibitors, sponsors, stars, the staff at our host hotel, the Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina, after party clubs and the Broward County Convention Center for making our first year in Fort Lauderdale a true pleasure.
“Most importantly,” Handy concluded, “we want to thank the fans for supporting us for eight years, and we look forward to bringing them Exxxotica for years to come. Our mission statement is 'We put our pants on just like the rest of you—one leg at a time. Except, when our pants are on, we make great events.'"
Next up for Exxxotica is the return to the Chicago area July 12-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Information is available at ExxxoticaExpo.com. For those interested in securing booth space and sponsorships for the expos in Chicago and New Jersey, email [email protected] or call (267) 909-9760.
Pictured above: Lisa Ann, Kristina Rose, Kimberly Kane, Tanya Tate, Natasha Starr, Amy Brooke, Raven Bay, Gianna Michaels. Photo by Morbid Thoughts/EMMreport.com
