Erotica L.A. wrapped up its third and final day with a big Sunday turnout featuring a burlesque show and a masquerade ball to close out three days of activities at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
“We had a good crowd and we had a lot of women and couples come out, which is what our goal was from the beginning,” said Erotica L.A. show manager Renee Johnson.
“This year we worked closely with LA.com and (radio station) Indie 103 to get the word out that this wasn’t just for men, but for women and couples.”
Although a final attendance tally won’t be available until late Monday, organizers were pleased with the turnout.
“We feel very confident that we’ll meet our goal of about 50,000 visitors,” said Cindy Cheer, marketing manager for Erotica L.A., which is produced by the AVN Media Network.
Crowds jammed around the Wicked Pictures booth where contract stars Julia Ann, Stormy Daniels, Jessica Drake, Carmen Hart and Kirsten Price signed DVDs, photos and posed for pictures.
Likewise, crowds surrounded the center stage where Shelby Jones performed a burlesque show, followed later by a lingerie fashion show featuring racy undergarments that left little to the imagination.
“I’ve never been to Erotica before, but it’s been a great experience to see all these hot girls and all this merchandise,” said Lisa Hanson of Torrance, as she modeled a risqué top she bought at a nearby booth.
Her husband Ron, said his wife convinced him to go after hearing about it on the radio.
“She loves Stormy Daniels and she wanted to meet her, so I’m here.”
Vendors like Camille Perrin of San Diego-based nutritional supplement firm, Nature’s First Law, said a steady stream of visitors walk to her booth where they sampled herbal supplements for impotence and other supplements meant to increase sexual pleasure.
“We’ve had some sales, but mostly people are finding out about us and the fact we have these products,” she said.
“They know we have legitimate products that they can see online and check them out or purchase.”
Others like Jason Wirtzer, owner of temp agency XFactor Personnel, said the event gave him a chance to show his company’s services firsthand to an eager crowd.
“We cater primarily to professionals like executives, doctors, lawyers and people like that who want to impress their clients with great-looking girls who can also work in an office,” he said.
“It’s a real niche. There’s nobody out there like our company.”
Jenny Silva, district manager for Michigan-based novelty chain Lover’s Lane, said she was pleased with the event’s turnout.
“We had a lot of people buying things and asking questions about our products and that’s what we wanted.”
But for production houses like Rockman Entertainment, the event was an unqualified success.
“We sold a lot of DVDs, got a lot of people looking in and checking out the girls, so I’m happy,” said company owner Brett Rockman, who had starlets Hailey Young and Lindsey Meadows entertaining fans at his booth, which was uniquely decorated with hanging DVDs.
Nearby, Leah Luv was signing for Anarchy Films as a constant stream of fans poured in, asking her for autographed copies of her DVDs and for pictures with her in her skimpy tank top and bikini bottoms.
“I get a little tired of signing, but I love having the fans coming up to me and asking for my autograph," she said.
Sin City contract star Hannah Harper also managed to smile despite the constant fans asking for autographs.
“I’m having a good time and everyone’s been very respectful so it’s fun,” she said.
But a tired Nikki Benz could only speak in whispers by the event’s final day as she continued to sign autographs and mouth gratitude to her fans.
“I’m just happy to be here,” she whispered while at the Screaming O booth.
Likewise, Sunny Lane, who was signing for Red Light District, said the event capped a whirlwind of appearances in the past two weeks that took her to adult conventions in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
“I don’t mind coming to these things because it’s about the fans. They’re the ones who buy our videos and come see us here,” she said.
“If not for the fans, where would we be?”
