Seeing how the show this year was about half the size of last year... if next year's show is half the size again, you can have the show in my garage.

I would not say that is accurate for starters; second, I don't think the size matters: quality over quantity.

You can debate the logistics of the show, but debating the quality of the attendees would be a stretch.

Just my opinion of course.

I was hanging around trying to solicit contructive feedback. If it's come to this then I can go eat dinner now. Thanks for offering your garage, I will ad it to the poll and see if anyone votes for it.

Since alot of us have to be at both shows id love to see it go back to the way it was before (Internext Show first and then the AEE show) or even merger the 2 shows togther. The foot trafffic from the AEE show would help alot of the internet guys alot, and get our stuff out to another audience that may not see our stuff. The shows will eventually move this way anyway

Its all good man. I have a nice backyard, a hottub that seats 18 people and a big bbq. The show attendess will have have to go down the street to the gas station to use the bathroom though. :winkwink:

Agreed. Thank You for still showing here to address the issues.

However, in the past year, you guys have lost 4 major players in the internet portion of your internet biz model.

Jeff Random - Truely the best salesman AVN ever had in my honest opinon.
Kimberly
Aly
Jennifer Johnson

these 4 people had the "in" with the internet side of the business. All are now gone.

One of the main reasons i personally do not actively advertise with avn online is because i had the best rep in the entire company, he left, along with some of the best of the rest that were left. Once jeff left, no one knew me from just a call book in a sales log.

Is avn online still a viable outlet for adult online biz? Yes, i truly believe that. But without that personal rapport and interaction from people who really care to know you and take care of you the way that we were for years, I decided that for the ad rates and what other publications are offering for competitive levels of exposure in our market it just wasn't worth it anymore. Other miniscul issues are not worth even bringing to light. It sucks that I am evening writing all this on a public forum, but I really feel that this stuff needs to be addressed and the adult internet side needs to be given its due credit. If I'm wrong, then I'll take the heat.

i have a big mouth. I'm not afraid to say things. I feel like such a dick because I know that the channels of information passing over there are not unobstructed, and the people who need to hear things, sometimes never do. Farley has always taken the time to listen to me and sitdown over lunches and what not to make things right.

I am an ally. This show used to be the highlight of my year. Others have now replaced that. I'm not going to fight evolution. All i can do is offer honest information.

Where do we go from here? That is what iI want to know.

sorry, didnt know you couldnt take a joke :321GFY

BBQ?

Put Weg down to sponsor the ribs :)

If you post the link to vote on the average webmaster boards it has a shot of winning. Don't speak to the boards for feedback as half of the population are part time or no time webmasters, or outsourced employees paid only to garner attention.

Speak to exhibitors and attendees from this past show and those before. Believe me, we have a lot of feedback for you.

She can take a joke, she just doesn't like cookouts.

It's good to see this thread, and I really hope that AVN is serious in wanting to take feedback seriously. I've been going to the January show since the IA2000 days, and it hurts to be saying, as I have been since I got back from this year's show, "no way I'll do that again." And this thread is in no way meant as a personal attack against Renee.
But I do have to shake my head.

When the Jan 2006 show was first scheduled, all *I* heard and saw showed overwhelming opposition to the plan in the webmaster community; anyone who spent any time in the webmaster community clearly knew that lots of people weren't going to attend this year and that many exhibitors were steering clear as well.
And even before the 2006 show began, the March 2007 dates had been determined (I would guess because of dismal advance sales) --- yet AVN Online on the first day of the show was putting a "yes, some people are unhappy but the show is a huge success" spin on things.
Now that the show is over and it obviously didn't work out the way they had hoped, AVN is saying "we get opposite feedback and no general consensus."

The way I see it:
Before the show most people were saying "this is going to be a cluster-fuck" - and it was.
Before the show, AVN was saying "this is going to be great" even as they were planning to do it differently the following year - during the show, AVN was saying "this is going great" even though it obviously wasn't - and they made plans for 2007 without consulting the webmaster community or even looking at a calendar of events.

I applaud Renee for coming here, and for the apparent concern that people's desires are seriously considered going forward.

But, to be honest, I'd take this all a lot more seriously if AVN could just come forward and first say "We were wrong - things didn't work out so hot this way after all, and we were also wrong to just pick out new dates based on our needs rather than yours - so we're back to square one. We're sorry, and we're here to start listening" rather than "It's hard because we get completely different feedback - like opposite feedback .....sometimes with no general consensus at all."
That's just spin, from the same people who answer complaints about unmasked adult bulk mailings with "you can email us and have your name removed from our mailing list."

AVN: the time for spin is long past. If you START by saying "Sorry, we screwed up and we realize that this year's show didn't meet anyone's expectations, including ours" and THEN tell us "we want to be part of what you do, tell us what you want in a show" - it would, to my mind at least, be a much better start.

Just my :2 cents:

good post :thumbsup

Any poll we do will also be sent to all of our exhibitors and registered attendees. Bonnie told me you have feedback for me. I'll call you tomorrow.

What a great thread!

:thumbsup

Any poll that we do will be emailed to our Exhibitors and Registered Attendees. Bonnie told me you have feedback for me, I'll call you tomorrow.

This sounds like a great idea. It was a move in the right direction to respond back to the comments that have been made regarding the show. The show just needs to have more of a florida atmosphere where it is easier to conduct business. I am thankful for the show since we did a great deal of business.

You're not a dick. You make perfect sense.
I'll log back in tomorrow morning.

I have asked Teri regarding getting some feedback to Internext, and she said you guys send out questionnaires after EACH show.. and people don't respond do them, well i have never received one.. has anyone else?

Webmasters are smart people.. they sell Air every day.. you can't really spin shit with them and pass it on easily.. with most anyway.. i am actually GLAD to see the show turn out REALLY bad this time for AVN, because if it did not and was only a half assed show, it would not cause such a stir, and AVN once again would NOT move their ass.

Lets hope this will turn into something positive, although in the 'LARGE' company for this industry, AVN has a lot of red tape as it seems.

I know Renee has a tough job-
She does her job very well.

However, if webmasters really want to send a message- they simply won't attend any more AVN shows-

Polls and surveys are all bullshit-
I like a lot of the opinions expressed here from webmasters who care.

I still think that PHX will be the new mecca for adult webmasters-
Why you ask?

Everyone knows that the processors are what make this business run.
CC BIll has tremendous marketshare when it comes to valuable webmasters.
CC Bill knows who their clientele is,and they also know how to cater to them and make them feel special.
CC Bill tastefully promotes their ocmpany as well as their sponsors who support the show- (ie They pick up sponsors in Bentley's from the airport, have seminars with company owners that are informative, and not a bunch of $30,000 a year employees hucking their wares, as well as they provide an environment that is condusive to relaxation and networking).

Renee, if you want to appease webmasters and make them come back and fully support AVN and their tradeshows- you need to come to PHX and watch how a true industry giant does it.
I am not taking any shots at you - You are a major asset for AVN.
I think it's just time to re-examine the business model of a tradeshow in January during the craziest and most expensive time of the year.

It sounds like you have your ears open knowing that this show was not a good one at all. I'm sure some good business was done but attendance was surely down from what I saw. The hottest thing about the show floor IMO was the Poker tourney going on way in the back. You should move it to a more central location since it seems to be a staple at these shows now and brings fun to the floor. I even won a little money. :-)

You should also get some hot sexy women back into that show. I know it is a businsess show but every malewebmaster loves to see the women, you know?


I think that early February would be a good time or even late January but not earlier.

wow, this is exciting news thanks for the info Renee. :thumbsup

If anyone needs anything whatsoever from the the Sales Department feel free to call, ICQ anytime. Edison, Farley and myself are committed to giving the best service and to all our clients and the entire community.

We spend an enormous amount of time making sure all of our current and potential clients are taken care of.

Thanks for making this thread constructive!

I am done with AVN shows, we have spent big $ with them over the years, they lost our business as well as many others.... so I hear.

The 2 are totally different events. It is way different putting on a tradeshow with booths and a tremendous amount of marketing and advertising rather than having a networking event at one small hotel with a few parties, semiars, and a dodgeball event. Not to take anything away from CCbill as they put on a great event but the 2 are not the same in any way.

Have to agree with that, Chris is good. Always ready and willing to help out.

First Rene ...great to see you posting up on GFY. (take care of that cold) Also was awsome working with you in Las Vegas...enjoyed it!

Also John has a great point, those who sit at home and never go to shows...really have nothing to offer not ever being there or experiencing anything that a show offers good or bad.

Since we were next to each other this show John i had a blast with you and Charlie and met some amazing people and came away from this show as always learning something new... For us at Smashbucks there were some amazing moments even before the show started.

Sometimes its just one conversation that can make your entire show....just a thought that makes it all make sense. :2 cents:

i think its a much smarter approach to send renee here to get the insight than throwing some poor guy from the video side that doesn't know anyone here to be eaten by the wolves. she handles it. she is doing a great job of taking in the input that has been posted so far. no offense to chris, but he is not the person to come and deal with this. 99% of his responses were in accordance to what he was instructed to do pre-show. "hey, can't wait to meet you", "lets get a drink". i am very happy to see renee here. she will either crack and lose her mind trying to fix it or be the hero and make the big changes. plain and simple. i wanted to spend money this year. i had huge promotional plans for the show and in stead bailed on them. it's the old adage, if you need something handled handle it yourself. she is the one who handles it, so speaking directly to her is probably the best thing to do. if no one listens after that, then what can you really do more?

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh
i am sorry but you are a big dork....why not throw a promo for your show while you are at it....

Oh and thanks for returning my email ...big shot.

i feel the same way.. looks like the industry is finally reacting after a long time of AVN abusing it's customer loyalty.

Thanks Stan - we do really try to help everyone. We reach out, we go to the mat for everyone that asks - not just advertisers.

Once again I extend the invitation - if anyone needs anything consultative or otherwise - hit me me up on ICQ or call.

just copy what happened to comdex:
sell it to some ppl
let them run it to the ground
clear profit.
just sell "internext"

No offense taken. I wasn't responding to the tradeshow issue. Renee handles that and I was simply responding to your long comment on the internet divison. Yes there has been alot of turnover - but we have a solid team now.

thanks for not taking it personally. once you get to learn the internet side i believe you can be just as valuable an asset. it will only take your management to allow you to grow and have the ability to go "out of the avn box" that everyone is living in over there.

stick with it man.

the internet shows like phoenix forum, cybernet, webmaster access, costa rica bash, jbm, and the like will still be there and supported by the internet community, but i think that avn can still bring back what was.

with that said, here is where i stand.

long live

phoenix forum
webmaster access
cybernet expo
costa rica bash
ynot mexico
and the rest of the shows run by internet companies.

i really feel if you guys want to come back and make internext an internet priority then you have to treat the webmasters like they want to be treated.

i went to vegas, didn't go to the show and still made deals, and spent no time on the show floors. i really wanna see it work out.

all the best of luck to avn taking in the responses and analyzing them accordingly.

:thumbsup

I thinking moving it is a great idea, this year did not go well at all. I think late January would be perfect. I think doing it March would not go well at all. The Phoenix Forum is becoming very popular and is at the end of March. If you hold Internext in March most people are going to choose between the two I would think.

Mark

Or she may turn out to be like the reps that Ibill sends here time to time.

"Oh, what's the problem? Please tell me everything, I'm here to help!"


"Okay, no problem. I'll try to pass that info along to get it rectified soon."


"I'm going to dissappear now, I was only here to make you think we cared. Hope you fell for it, suckers!"

Then the "rep" dissappears.

Mid to late january or even february is fine. Don't try to compete with Phx forum, you'll lose my attendence and a lot more to boot by trying.

WG

word up!!!

Lots of People Bailing!
 

[QUOTE=A1R3K]Agreed. Thank You for still showing here to address the issues.

However, in the past year, you guys have lost 4 major players in the internet portion of your internet biz model.

Jeff Random - Truely the best salesman AVN ever had in my honest opinon.
Kimberly
Aly
Jennifer Johnson

these 4 people had the "in" with the internet side of the business. All are now gone.

One of the main reasons i personally do not actively advertise with avn online is because i had the best rep in the entire company, he left, along with some of the best of the rest that were left. Once jeff left, no one knew me from just a call book in a sales log.

Is avn online still a viable outlet for adult online biz? Yes, i truly believe that. But without that personal rapport and interaction from people who really care to know you and take care of you the way that we were for years, I decided that for the ad rates and what other publications are offering for competitive levels of exposure in our market it just wasn't worth it anymore. Other miniscul issues are not worth even bringing to light. It sucks that I am evening writing all this on a public forum, but I really feel that this stuff needs to be addressed and the adult internet side needs to be given its due credit. If I'm wrong, then I'll take the heat.



Sad to see the 4 above go...how about most of the tradeshow dept. leaving too...what happened to half of that staff? Heck you call any dept. and you never talk to the same person twice it seems.

It is too much for people. I really hated all the hookers and pimps hanging around the hotel, because of CES. Put Internext is a separate hotel please.

that's a normal thing in vegas even when all the "porn" people are not in town