Hell Puppy
06-14-2008, 03:50 AM
Nice to see everyone. I'll resist doing the cool kid shout outs...
The Hotel
"Reasonable accomodations" is a bit of a Cybernet trademark. Nothing swank, something everyone can afford. And typically something small enough to appreciate the business. I laughed when I saw size of my upgraded room, but hey it was comfortable, clean and had a good view.
I liked that it was cozy and it was very easy to find people. I initially grumbled about the location being so far from things like North Beach, but cab rides in SF are very cheap, and the cable car being right on the corner was a great short cut over to China Town, etc.
My whiny bitch list: As usual the bar never quite figured it out. Webmasters are in town, they'll drink almost 24/7. And WHAT THE FUCK was up with the pygmy shower heads?
Seminars
I've long since decided seminars aren't for me. I'm not the target audience. No one in their right mind is going to get on stage and tell a room full of people something useful that I dont already know. These things are for the newbs.
Not a whole lot of newbs at this show, but the handful I sat in on were entertaining. Big props to Kayla Quinn for really adding some personality and a huge dose of reality to every panel she was on. I wanna see the behind the scenes outtakes of a Dave Cummings and Kayla shoot.
Whiny bitch list? Same old subjects. Lots of panel members who were looking for work.
Sponsor Tables
This is one thing Cybernet really does right in my eyes. There's no point to a true "show floor" these days. ROI on trade show booths sucks. Instead, Cybernet gives everyone a table to put out their swag and information and opens it for just a couple of hours one evening. I like this because it funnels everyone into one place for a short period. My typical show floor pass is maybe 20 minutes at even the largest of shows, so this really works for me. Let me see who is there, get a business card for anyone who might have something I want to follow up on, done.
Best swag was Sexy Solo Girls or whatever Celeste is calling her program. Beer and titties, how can you go wrong?
Whiny Bitch List? None.
Parties
I didn't do the opening night party, too tired and I do virtually no business with gay sponsors, so I didn't go drink their booze.
Rock the Ball was excellent. I've griped about things like security and admittance bullshit at Players Balls for years. This one was dead on. Appropriate sized venue for the size of this show, we filled it up but fit nicely. Hot asian babes dancing, and a really really great mash up band. Finally D$ booked some music that appeals to grown up business folks instead od drunk college kids and white playas who wish they were rappers.
And Kink.com's party at the castle. Well, this was worth going to just to see what these guys have done with the Armory. Talk about a match of facilities to business needs, this is sheer genius. A venue that I doubt anyone could possibly justify due to makeover needs is perfect for these guys sets and studios. And it's freaking huge. Top notch party as well, lots of food, open bar and people fucking while a bunch of should-be pornographers snapped pics like they've never seen pussy before.
Again, nothing at all to bitch about here for me, had a great time.
Attendees
Nmbers looked noticably smaller than Tampa last year. SF is a great venue and adult friendly, but it's an expensive town and beyond a handful of big companies doesn't have that local/regional draw you get in places like Tampa. Not a huge independent of small company scene in SF due to cost of living there.
Most of the attendees seemed to be employees of Cybernet sponsors, but there were a smattering of business owners there as well.
If I play monday morning quarterback, I have to think "yet another west coast show" in the current business climate is not a way to draw big nmbers. While IMO I think had it stayed in Tampa, it would've built upon last year's numbers.
But for me, I got to spend some time with some great folks and had a great time just hanging out. It was worth the trip just to meet rhetorical and his lovely wife. Darci being on hand was a great bonus. And me and Toby are the two quiet ones, we probably said more this week than we do in a typical entire month. And as always the AEBN gang.
Highlights of the whole week for me were 3 wonderful dinners. Amazing what all you can get folks to disclose after a few drinks and a big meal.
Conclusion
I had a much better time than I was ever expecting. I went in skeptical that this show would be so small that it would be a complete waste of time. Instead, the size worked in it's favor. Some of the things I liked best about it, such as the parties, couldn't be done without a major investment at a larger show.
LAJ and Connor did a great job. I heard zero complaints about logistical stuff. Well, other than the bar, but tha's not really in their control. This show has been around forever and has evolved. I hope it continues that trend.
The Hotel
"Reasonable accomodations" is a bit of a Cybernet trademark. Nothing swank, something everyone can afford. And typically something small enough to appreciate the business. I laughed when I saw size of my upgraded room, but hey it was comfortable, clean and had a good view.
I liked that it was cozy and it was very easy to find people. I initially grumbled about the location being so far from things like North Beach, but cab rides in SF are very cheap, and the cable car being right on the corner was a great short cut over to China Town, etc.
My whiny bitch list: As usual the bar never quite figured it out. Webmasters are in town, they'll drink almost 24/7. And WHAT THE FUCK was up with the pygmy shower heads?
Seminars
I've long since decided seminars aren't for me. I'm not the target audience. No one in their right mind is going to get on stage and tell a room full of people something useful that I dont already know. These things are for the newbs.
Not a whole lot of newbs at this show, but the handful I sat in on were entertaining. Big props to Kayla Quinn for really adding some personality and a huge dose of reality to every panel she was on. I wanna see the behind the scenes outtakes of a Dave Cummings and Kayla shoot.
Whiny bitch list? Same old subjects. Lots of panel members who were looking for work.
Sponsor Tables
This is one thing Cybernet really does right in my eyes. There's no point to a true "show floor" these days. ROI on trade show booths sucks. Instead, Cybernet gives everyone a table to put out their swag and information and opens it for just a couple of hours one evening. I like this because it funnels everyone into one place for a short period. My typical show floor pass is maybe 20 minutes at even the largest of shows, so this really works for me. Let me see who is there, get a business card for anyone who might have something I want to follow up on, done.
Best swag was Sexy Solo Girls or whatever Celeste is calling her program. Beer and titties, how can you go wrong?
Whiny Bitch List? None.
Parties
I didn't do the opening night party, too tired and I do virtually no business with gay sponsors, so I didn't go drink their booze.
Rock the Ball was excellent. I've griped about things like security and admittance bullshit at Players Balls for years. This one was dead on. Appropriate sized venue for the size of this show, we filled it up but fit nicely. Hot asian babes dancing, and a really really great mash up band. Finally D$ booked some music that appeals to grown up business folks instead od drunk college kids and white playas who wish they were rappers.
And Kink.com's party at the castle. Well, this was worth going to just to see what these guys have done with the Armory. Talk about a match of facilities to business needs, this is sheer genius. A venue that I doubt anyone could possibly justify due to makeover needs is perfect for these guys sets and studios. And it's freaking huge. Top notch party as well, lots of food, open bar and people fucking while a bunch of should-be pornographers snapped pics like they've never seen pussy before.
Again, nothing at all to bitch about here for me, had a great time.
Attendees
Nmbers looked noticably smaller than Tampa last year. SF is a great venue and adult friendly, but it's an expensive town and beyond a handful of big companies doesn't have that local/regional draw you get in places like Tampa. Not a huge independent of small company scene in SF due to cost of living there.
Most of the attendees seemed to be employees of Cybernet sponsors, but there were a smattering of business owners there as well.
If I play monday morning quarterback, I have to think "yet another west coast show" in the current business climate is not a way to draw big nmbers. While IMO I think had it stayed in Tampa, it would've built upon last year's numbers.
But for me, I got to spend some time with some great folks and had a great time just hanging out. It was worth the trip just to meet rhetorical and his lovely wife. Darci being on hand was a great bonus. And me and Toby are the two quiet ones, we probably said more this week than we do in a typical entire month. And as always the AEBN gang.
Highlights of the whole week for me were 3 wonderful dinners. Amazing what all you can get folks to disclose after a few drinks and a big meal.
Conclusion
I had a much better time than I was ever expecting. I went in skeptical that this show would be so small that it would be a complete waste of time. Instead, the size worked in it's favor. Some of the things I liked best about it, such as the parties, couldn't be done without a major investment at a larger show.
LAJ and Connor did a great job. I heard zero complaints about logistical stuff. Well, other than the bar, but tha's not really in their control. This show has been around forever and has evolved. I hope it continues that trend.