Choker makes a good point.. the distribution of power is spread out now. MGPS and TGPS, although are still worth submitting too, the owners are no longer in charge, and far from it. The changing market is allowing for a somewhat classless system as the new model reigns in. One thing that is for sure that will never change is that anyone willing to send honest good traffic I will always do all I can to help that affiliate.

But yea, I wish there were more affiliates there. all the business was basically this: hey duke do you fuck your members with 5 prechecked cross sales? and pay 50 on $1 trials "NO." And the convo was over pretty quick. Then there was the other side of it where everyone was conjecturing a waiver as to when visa is going to step in.
Was a good show though.
Duke

As a female affiliate webmaster, I have no desire to go to those shows and be asked if I am talent and get my picture taken for someone else's company promo. Over the years, we have contemplated going to a show, but the cons always outweighted the pros. Other than a fun vacation meeting other internet people. But I don't like being pestered for traffic either. I don't even like ICQ for that reason.

The days of affiliates is not completely behind us. But yeah, you can't throw up a tgp, make dozens of nasty dollar sales from hosted galleries, and then bling your way to the convention to party with the bros. *Those* days are fast behind us.

I remember one such conversation. Glad we could both, just say NO.

planning one for europe!

I stopped going to shows in 2002. Just like some of you, I had no reason to go as an affiliate. I had the traffic and made my deals over the phone, email, and ICQ. So after 5 years I was done with shows and started going to Jamaica and Mexico instead for my "vacations".

And you're sort of right about it being a program owners show these days. I got into the paysite side of it last May and attended my first show since '02 at Xbiz last summer. I have since attended damn near every show lol

And what I got from the shows is re-meeting all the guys that I have been an affiliate of for years, AND because of those old ties that bind....became good friends with them by hanging at the shows.

A lot of good business for me. A lot of money made. And my methods are a little different than the majority. For me, it's just a matter of being there. Then I see the people I need to see. Our "meetings" are always spur of the moment and done over a drink. At internext I got the most out of the show just walking around the pool and drinking. I ran into several people who inevitably would pull me aside with a new idea to make some money or a new project.

Good times and good business.

Now, when I put on my affiliate hat...it wouldn't be so easy to say I definitely made money while I was at the show. BUT having said that...I would look at it as a future ROI.

Your at a convention full of sponsors that you promote. It doesn't hurt to become friends with them. Believe me, if it wasn't for the old friendships I had forged between 1998 and 2002 and the ensuing money that we made together afterwards, I would have been majorly fucked in late 2006 when some business shit went down for me.

So what I'm saying is...before anybody comes on here and definitively states that they are an affiliate and are above going to a convention, maybe you should rethink things and look to the future.

My thoughts on going into the paysite side while still keeping my affiliate status as well was that IF the govt. ever comes down on us, the FIRST things to go will be my TGP and all free sites. Gonna take 'em a little more trouble to kill the paysites. And no, Visa can't singlehandedly do it either. Look at Europe. They bill via direct debit primarily. People want porn and will find a way to pay for it. Visa isn't the "end-all", but the damn govt. nazi's are.

So I would say it's a good thing for an affiliate to go to the shows. Join in the fun. Act like an idiot and make some good friends in the business. You may need them in the future, and good friends always get the good deals. That works in every business.

Choker - it was good talking with you - looking forward to doing some business with you.

Same here man, i came back to talk to you again but u disapeared.

But you know something I noticed? There's a HELL of a lot of processors out there, more than ever, and they're going to help us bring markets together we never had before due to CC restrictions and platform limitations...

You're right, things are changing for the better if only because you can parallel tubes with TGPs from almost a decade ago...

:D

an interesting thread.

Yes I did notice a lot of new processors

My questions is for the show organization:

What are the goals of the show?

Is it to attract the most sponsors possible?

Is it to sell the most passes possible?

Is it to have the most people possible(and comp some passes to have more)?

Is it to cater to the affiliate's needs? (I think we already answered this one and it is not likely)


Anyways, what is the mission of most of the expos/shows?