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It amazes me how much this industry has changed, and how the conventions and parties have changed as well.
I remember the first show I went to in Orlando... it was a pretty low key affair, the only real party I remember being outside the hotel was thrown by Python at a local strip club. This convention is the one where everyone was a newbie, and lots of great friendships and business associates were made.
This last show, I strolled over to the GFY Boat party to say hello to Lensman, and I was pretty distrubed at what I saw....
When I saw this unfold in front of me on the ship, I knew it was time to leave.... the guy also pissed all over the boat as well.
This is the problem with our industry.... there is a lack of professionalism... there is a group of people who are more thrilled to be part of the show, then understand that this is a BUSINESS!!
I am far from a prude, and if people want to urinate on each other, or in cups ands drink it in private... I am all for it.... but to do it at a party, a "business party", that is why this industry continue to head South quickly!
- End of RANT!
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It's interesting to watch the change. The way the parties are now is the way I thought they would be back at my first show (Orlando). That was the tamest show ever. It was a big deal that DJ-JD brought 3 strippers with him. No content parties. Very mellow.
I've been surprised at how far the public parties have gone. It was usually only the private, small parties that had the live sex shows. Now it is the big heavily attended ones.
Precedence has been set, I imagine.
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
Mike, I agree, and have been of that opinion for some years now...
I thought it was just me showing my age, but I never understood how one conducted business in a 'circus' atmosphere where you can not hear yourself talk... lol
Professionalism needs to be shown, now more than ever, especially in the 'public eye' so to speak.... we dont need any more adverse publicity, and situations like this will certainly attracth that....
I know that private parties and smaller gatherings, are all that a number of people will attend anymore.... a number of us just had such a gathering in Vegas last week, it was fruitful, laid back, and LOTS of biz taken care of with like minded folks....
Will the Internext style events go away? I highly doubt it... people want to get crazy, and dont think of the long term consequences...
course.. thats my simple 2 cents... and worth every penny you paid for it!
;-)
There was a little nudity and such, but it was very tame. Especially by todays standards.
Thing is, I love naked chicks, and live sex shows and things do not bother me as well. The problem is doing this in front of large groups of drunk webmasters, this causes the problems.... at least part of them.
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I was standing there with MikeAI when that happened and I was shocked. After she did that some guy started pissing on the wall. It definately was disturbing and disgusting. Some people treat this as a business, some people don't. That's the problem when you have no barriers to entry into a business, you end up with people that work for beer money and are just there to party at an industry convention.
Things like this are the reason I did not attend Miami and may never attend another show. There is a serious lack of a professional business atmosphere. I think we are seeing more businessmen staying home, or doing private affairs at shows, thus these idiots stick out even more.
I also heard the open use of drugs was rampant. One thing to do drugs on the down low, it is another to do them out in public and gloat about it.
You have that idiots like easton who OD's on coke and was back at the hotel doing more coke the next day, and bragging about it on the chat boards.
One day a drug bust will happen at a show, and some innocent people will be caught in the middle. Limo gets pulled over full of coke, or a small room party where coke is everywhere, cops will arrest everyone. There are some people in this business with serious drug problems.
FYI, people ask me all the time why we no longer sponsor parties. Two reasons.
#1 Better to do small affairs and take people to private dinners. In Miami, we did 3 dinners for 8-10 people. Anymore than that and it can be hard to talk biz.
Originally posted by BradShaw@Aug 6 2003, 08:32 AM #1 Better to do small affairs and take people to private dinners. In Miami, we did 3 dinners for 8-10 people. Anymore than that and it can be hard to talk biz.
I personally like the smaller parties. For me these trips are about business and networking. Not to mention if they get to big the hassles that you have to go through doesn't make it worth the time.
Originally posted by BradShaw@Aug 6 2003, 11:32 AM FYI, people ask me all the time why we no longer sponsor parties. Two reasons.
#1 Better to do small affairs and take people to private dinners. In Miami, we did 3 dinners for 8-10 people. Anymore than that and it can be hard to talk biz.
#2 Liability issues abound.
Brad,
You've reached a point where not going to a show is seen as a sign of success rather than failure. You've done a good job on the boards of cultivating that point.
__________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content.
Hmmm, the only real party I went to was Hoopers (and I didnt make it to the Topbucks side so I dont know what went on there) at this show, stopped by the GFY boat for a few minutes but it was too humid out for me...
However this show reminded me of another Internext in alot of ways -- the New Orleans show back in 2000... the frantic atmosphere, with all manner of crazy behaviour going on.
I think its a cyclical thing -- when the industry is scared of whats going to happen in the future it seems that people start to get crazy, partying like rock stars, pushing things way over the edge. When its more secure, things are much less wide open.
I remember thinking back in New Orleans, damn, this can't go on this way... then there were all manner of problems coming -- FTC, cc companies, etc - bearing down on the industry like a train with no brakes -- once the dust settled tho, the next year when we had the summer show in Vegas it was way more calm and people weren't anywhere near as crazy in their behaviour.
Some people are just fools in public no matter what, and they definitely give the rest of the industry a very bad public image.
January's Internext was the first show I had ever been too. The convention floor wasn't bad I met a lot of people, however the parties were just too much. There was a lot of drugs going on all over the place it seemed and me personally don't care for drugs. The following evening I met some people on the show floor and some of us all went out to dinner.
That dinner proved more beneficial for me than anything else I did at that show. I was introduced to about 10 people during dinner that turned out to be great business contacts.
It's a shame some people don't act professional when at an industry / professional function. Some people forget, there is time for business and there is time for pleasure. And to use one more cliche, "Perception is Reality", when people act like that it gives you an impression of their professionalism.
You could be the best business man in the world, but if I saw you drinking urine during a public funtion I would never do business with you.
and people wonder why the bigger webmasters are not attending shows any longer. that pic is just down right disgusting. great representation of an industry that already has a name lower then a shit stain.
I keep hearing about rampant drug use. I guess I hang out with the right people because I saw very little. I saw a few people smoking pot but that was about it.
Drugs have always been a part of this industry and always will be.
It used to be a more hush hush thing though...but I've never been to a show where at least 2-3 peaopl haven't come up to me and said "hey, let's go up to such and such's room and smoke some pot" or "snort a couple lines".
I've been to "real" business conferences that were the same way. The parties were insane, out of hand and filled with drugs, hookers and all vices exploited.
Parties were NEVER where business happened. Why should they be? Go to the convention for the business and the parties to let off some steam.
Fuck, even at some of the big restaurant industry conventions I attended, business was done on the show floor or in private meetings, never at parties.
Everyone thinks these parties are the downfall of this industry? No, the downfall is shady business practices, the VISA monopoly, the bullshit billing tricks, the LARGE amount of free hardcore porn available, overeducated surfers and our whole taboo factor (of course, the taboo factor is what keeps us in business).
As usual well said!!!
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Everyone thinks these parties are the downfall of this industry? No, the downfall is shady business practices, the VISA monopoly, the bullshit billing tricks, the LARGE amount of free hardcore porn available, overeducated surfers and our whole taboo factor (of course, the taboo factor is what keeps us in business).
That fool is Easton. Isnt he the same fool that supposedly was in the hospital for not being able to breath due to drugs, then 3 hours later was back doing lines???
The poker party the party the platinum & hawg bros threw was the best one at this show I thought, and one of the classier ones looking back on it. An it was a good clean fun social event. Kinda glad I left the GFY one early after seeing that pic.
It's very easy to go the shows and not attend the wild parties. I was at the GFY thing but only for about an hour (long enough to see the pissing though ). I was at the Topbucks party but had no desire to watch what was going on onstage, so I didn't. I stayed on "The other side of the black curtain" most of the time That party clearly stated that there would be sex shows. It was the GFY party that ticked me off, I guess, since I THOUGHT it was a semi-low key affair as a meet and greet warm up. Pissing on floors and walls was NOT what I expected and I daresay Lensman and CE didn't either.
What worries me is that now the wilder parties will have to be topped by some. But again - I just won't attend - no biggie.
Another thing is that a lot of these hardcore sex parties are run by those that produce their own content. It can be argued that they ARE doing business by shooting and then selling the pictures/vids on their sites.
I saw little drug use and only pot. There WERE police all around the Westin and also at the Topbucks party. I would GUESS that if hard drugs were being consumed in their site, they'd take care of it on an individual basis, not arrest everyone at the party.
To sum it up, I'm an old lady and I stay on the fringe of these things and do the small dinners/parties. It's worked out well so far for me.
I stopped by the poker game, I missed getting into it - but I think it was a GREAT idea.... looked like a fun event!!
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drug use does have something to do with business and the way business is conducted. a person being that irresponsible can also ruin the lives of others. so how you can say one cannot or does not affect the other is wrong. whether the end result is now or in the future, the day will come. i have seen it happen many times to those far more successful then me.
regardless, these two in that first photo are suppose to be adults. as it is now seen, the title adult does not necessarily apply.
shooting photos like that for content to resell is one thing. doing it because a person is high is a bullshit excuse that went out once we all graduated hs (or at least it should have).
if a person has an addiction that could be harmful to innocent people, keep it behind closed doors.
those excuses of i did it because i was drunk or high doesn't hold water cause if you cant handle either, you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. no one put a gun to the people in first pic's heads and ordered them to make such a spectical of themselves. they made that decision and imo it was the wrong decision.
content-one thing; money is made from it
public attention-another thing that could lead to sever reprecussions.
KK - I think you have an excellent point... the "craziness" does come and go in waves and if we look back, we can see the pattern you are pointing out quite clearly.
I made it to the a few small board gatherings, had a few planned dinners/hangouts with specific companies/webmasters, made it to the ARS Lounge Lizard Party ( excellent gathering - great drinks, food, a little entertainment for those who wanted it & great prizes! ), got to the Freekfest ( I enjoyed the Voodoo Lounge venue over the Solid Gold, but liked that the two were separated as a 2-part party so folks could choose party vs. strip club or both ) and pretty much just hung out in the lounge area between Satine/pool the last evening meeting up with folks I'd missed, saying good-bye to friends.
I have to agree with Peaches - if you want to see it, it's easy to do and most folks know where to go for the crazy, wild, over-the-top parties. If you want to skip the craziness, it's easy to find places that suit those tastes as well.
I've always preferred the Vegas venues over the Florida ones for their diversity, but have to say that if nothing else - this particular show provided lots of options party-wise for attendees.
About Easton
I saw him, his voice was gone
he thought about going to the hospital
how he was going to pay was talked about
he was gone a while
I saw him next day
Voice still gone
I saw his prescribed meds in my buddy's room
Maybe he did coke, but saying he OD's on coke is bull shit
And if the parties are wild, don't go
as Sykk said, the downfall for this industry isn't 7 days of parties a year
As for doing biz, sure dinner is at 8
parties at 10
KK I remember the 2000 party in New Orleans that was a wild place to be. I sat the Miami show out since I haven't been around for awhile. I just wasn't interested in going and dealing with a show that size after being away for awhile. From the sounds of it that was the correct choice.
The big to-do's at the shows are amusing but everyone knows serious business doesn't take place at those things. Hell many people in attendance at those parties will be doing good to remember bits and pieces of the night.. they are not going to remember that they had struck some deal or another.
I have never had a problem with living a wild lifestyle but I don't understand how or why anyone would want to do it in public at a show and risk making themselves look like asses to their peers. Not that I haven't been stupid at a show.. just never that freaking stupid. If you want to have a wild night do it at home with friends. Don't go get well lit with business associates.
Originally posted by Meni@Aug 6 2003, 02:08 PM Maybe he did coke, but saying he OD's on coke is bull shit
Yup, and if I'm not mistaken, couldn't a false allegation of an OD be grounds for some legal problems?
Not sure, I'm not a lawyer and don't play one on TV, the Internet or even in my own home....
When this sort of conduct goes on - it is damn hard to find a hotel that you feel safe in booking. I am sure that we have had these things go on at Cybernets - but they are kept very low key and more private.
Just today, in discussing some things about a possible 2004 future Cybernet, I looked at a location on the website, with a wide spread beach. My first thoughts were..."how do you control what goes on there when the photographers arrive, without going nuts?" We could have to non- consider a great location, just because the attendees don't know how to conduct themselves in public.
I am glad to see this discussion and hear that not everyone thinks you need to hype up or advertise live sex shows or extreme fetish demonstrations at conventions. My opinion is that I want them so private that I don't even hear about them!
Meni - partying, drugs, getting naked are all fine... they do not bother me. It is destroying other peoples property that bothers me. Pissing on a boat ( inside on carpet) you do not own on purpose is just destructive. I doubt Easton would like it if we went to his house and peed on his sofa!
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in addition to my distance and financial restraintsm part of the reason I have never made a huge effort to go to a convention is all the wild parties I hear about. I've never been much of a wild party type. Love a good time but not getting off my head ..especially with people I am suppose to be dealing with on a professional level.
It is good to hear that pleanty of networking can be done away from the wild parties. Makes me feel a bit more comfortable, should I see myself at one anytime in the near future.
Originally posted by sarah_webinc@Aug 6 2003, 03:36 PM I've never been much of a wild party type. Love a good time but not getting off my head ..especially with people I am suppose to be dealing with on a professional level.
Sarah, you can hang out with me - I didn't even realize all that went on at the Topbucks party until I read it on the boards! :P
I would be the first to admit that I drink a lot of beer at these shows. I also get things done though while I'm there. I met a lot of new people again at this show so it was worthwhile going to it. Some of the things that happen are just over the line for my tastes. Damaging property is not cool. If you can't handle your drugs or alcohol get into a program. Just my opinion, it's worth what you paid for it.
What about if we all did a different type of cybernet sometime. Does a cruise sound good, stupid?? I am sure we could get a few hundred people to go. say a 5-7 day cruise?? There is gaming and drinking for those who wish to do so.
or mabey 1 week in mexico or something. just something different. I love going to Vegas, but I also very much enjoy Dokk's week in Jamaica..
Originally posted by sextoyking@Aug 6 2003, 04:21 PM Fay,
What about if we all did a different type of cybernet sometime. Does a cruise sound good, stupid?? I am sure we could get a few hundred people to go. say a 5-7 day cruise?? There is gaming and drinking for those who wish to do so.
or mabey 1 week in mexico or something. just something different. I love going to Vegas, but I also very much enjoy Dokk's week in Jamaica..
A cruise would be GREAT.....with a selected guest list. :P Ditto with the other suggestions.
Per GFY, there was also stuff thrown off a balcony in an attempt to break the glass - and it worked. And someone else reported a couple thrown out of their room.