Play on Player: Internext Party Coverage

With a past musical guest list roster that includes the likes of Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Ice-T (not Iced Tea) and Doug E. Fresh, organizes of the 2006 edition of the Players Ball could easily be hard pressed to find yet another sensational performer to headline the show.

Two words: George Clinton.

And so it was that the top dog behind Parliament / Funkadelic during the 1970s, George Clinton brought the proverbial funk to a crowded Players Ball Friday night at the Empire Ballroom, deep in the heart of Vegas.

The Players Ball is the longest lasting, largest webmaster event of all time. For the last 8years (18 Players Balls) has providing legendary artists, DJ's and celebrities performing in front of our elite private audience. The objective of the Players Ball has always been to celebrate with industry business associates while giving the spotlight to the credible, well liked webmasters who are setting the example for the industry.

I couldn't have said it better myself, which I did not because I lifted that text from their cool website.

Following the close of the Interenext convention on Saturday, gay webmasters gathered together for one last social hurrah in the form of two webmaster-hosted parties. Like on Friday, Cybersocket hosted another festive bash in their Venetian penthouse that found most of the webmasters in an enthusiastic – albeit exhausted –- euphoria. While there was some talk about the relative smallness of this year’s exhibit compared to past years, the consensus seemed to be that the Internext convention was a success. “I got to meet a lot of people and get some business done,” said Fratmen.com’s John Marsh. “I don’t know that you can ask for much more than that.”

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Click here to view the party galleries.

NakedSword.com’s marketing director, Reena Patel, said that she, too, enjoyed her experience at Internext, citing the success of this year’s theme of Convergence. “I think I really got to see Internet companies and video retailers come together for the first time,” she commented. “I think the line between the two is becoming more and more blurred.”

Later, many of the same webmasters gathered for a modest but festive gathering at Treasure Island, where GayWideWebmaster’s Lee Windsor hosted the second of two Gay Webmasters parties. Guests mingled about drinking and talking while overlooking a breathtaking view of Las Vegas, and basked in the afterglow of an exhaustive but rewarding week.

“By all accounts, this was a great convention,” Windsor said at the evening’s close, when just a few party stragglers remained around 5 a.m. I, however, took my leave of the bunch, as I had more important matters, er, “at hand” to take care of.

At the Maleflixxx Cock and Tail party held Friday night in one of the posh penthouses at the Venetian, the spirits were high as webmasters gathered together to converse about the industry and take advantage of networking opportunities.
preCharge co-founder and director of client services Howard Schecter said that he was making a lot of new business contacts at the convention. "A lot of people's eyes open up to how much business they can do thanx to the Internext convention," Schecter commented. "People who would not have met any other way have been able to meet and do business together."
Maleflixxx president Eric Johnson said that he, too, was enthusiastic about the convention. "I'm getting the affirmation that Video on Demand is at the very beginning of a very huge opportunity," he said. He also noted that he felt the show reflected the overall growth and maturity of the players. "I think the industry is changing from a rag-tag group of wannabes to a more focused and seasoned group of business people. While the show might be smaller, it's revealing a stronger industry."
Later, at the rather festive Cybersocket-sponsored bash also held in the Venetian, the festivities continued as the night wore on. "I'm achieving all my goals, which are to improve my relationships [in the industry]," said Naked Sword's president Tim Valenti, who did say that he was rather surprised by at least one aspect of the convention. "I'm shocked that there are a lot fewer people getting out of control at the parties."

Meanwhile, across town Todd Lewis hit the 365 Billing party, where the drinks were flowing Miami Vice style in the Venetian's trendy Vbar. Although Crockett and Tubbs didn't make an appearance the rest of the gang was in full effect, as is Todd Lewis's hangover today.

So until next time, rock and roll.

PARTY PHOTOS HERE!