With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Dispatch: AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, 1/8-1/11/09 (1/3)
As mentioned previously, AVN's annual Adult Entertainment Expo and Adult Movie Awards took place earlier this month in Las Vegas, with the convention running for four days at the Sands Expo and Convention Center and the awards show taking place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
AVN explained that "The adult expo began as an outgrowth of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) back in the 1980s, and this year's schedule brought the two trade shows back in synch for the first time in many years. But attendance for both shows was down; some adult exhibitors hoped to see more cross-traffic from CES this year, but that never seemed to happen."
And with the recession hitting Las Vegas casinos hard, early estimates of 30,000 AEE attendees were apparently too optimistic, as the Las Vegas Weekly reported that "Fan attendance from a year ago is down anywhere between 10 and 20 percent, with the raw numbers likely to be between 20,000 and 25,000. The AEE staff was only slightly encouraged by a spike in early registration, as the early registration accounts for just 10 percent of the expo's total business. Business at the trade booths, located downstairs in the B2B area, was down only slightly, and there were 267 exhibitors this year compared with 301 last year, an 11-percent dip." Variety observed that "Though meetings were still being taken, parties thrown and the annual AVN Awards taking place over the weekend, there wasn’t too much energy on the show floor, with most booths significantly toned down and even muted. Given conditions, organizers seemed glad simply to have the participation of industry heavyweights like Vivid Video, Wicked Pictures, Digital Playground and Hustler."
Support for LAist comes from
Former Wicked Pictures contract star Stephanie Swift declared that "'This is the smallest and least-crowded (expo) ever. I don't know if it's the recession or what...'" And Vivid contract star Savanna Samson echoed that "'It seems very ... quiet... Even checking into the hotel, like, there's no lines and everything. I'm not going to worry about it, because I think people need to be positive, and OK, so what, the economy's bad -- but what better way to get through it than through sex and love and all that stuff? It'll get better.'"
To be continued.
NOTE: Photo 8 is NSFW (topless action).
Special thanks to all of the participating companies -- especially Vivid Entertainment, Digital Playground, Evil Angel, Jules Jordan Video, and Hustler -- and AVN.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist