Whats the first thing you look for when checking out hosting?
 

Hmmmmm please share :)

Live 24 hour web support.

24/7 tech support via phone.

I look for many things. Usually, shell access, because I'm a UNIX dork.

However, I've setup a few friends with cheap hosting who do adult, and those who only need shared, I'd point them directly to DWHS. Chaze followed up with me PERSONALLY when I bought a friend a year of shared hosting, and there were issues with the account.

Can't ask for better service than that for $0.10/day.

Legal jurisdiction.

The purpose being to establish whether that jurisdiction has laws acceptable to operating adult-related activity. Got no time to waste with oppressive or cumbersome laws.

So, I guess you're stuck in the Netherlands, huh?

Nope - the main "inhibtor" is using US hosts (basically because of US laws). No biggie with any other western countries.

Recommendations from people I trust who have solid businesses.

support on the fly, good business history

Good support of course.

I wonder about this, not to say you would do anything shady but here in LA you can have a adult content legally. The talent just needs to give consent and be over 18.

What else would someone per say need past that legally?

Not to have a consent disclosure?

references from others that have used them

I search WebHostingTalk and other sites for feedback. I don't put much weight on endorsements on GFY.

I look at Spamhaus and Spamcop to see if they spammer friendly or not. If they are, I would consider them unethical and not to be trusted.

If they need an army of retarded postbots and sigwhores to promote them, I'll assume that they suck. You'll note that the really good adult hosts, like Swiftwill and ISPrime never have to resort to that stuff...... as opposed to ***Air for example.

another forum that's called webhosting "and then another word for "to speak"" dot com

It's not a new policy chaze, but changed a few years ago - before eg "version 2" of USC 2257 was ever heard of. It was obvious at that time that changes would happen sooner or later.

We used to have a fair number of hosts in US territory and actually considered the idea of the "orginal 2257" to be a good basic structure on which to build - and towards child protection from adult content.

However, what happened was nothing on the original 2257 - it was never enforced. Instead another version was introduced which had little to do with child protection and imposed an unpaid "record keeping" operation on webmasters. The industry is not about record-keeping for specific governments - it's about running a business.

Of course talent must be of legal age and verifiable - that was never an issue. The core issue related to child protection and 2257 does not have any weight towards this end.

So, basically why waste time creating a record system for just one country?? Any other law agency would have no problem checking paperwork if needed and verifying a 30 year old busty milf is over 18, but obviously US agencies appear unable to do this without "record keeping" :winkwink:

It's a joke - but a serious joke where children are being used as the excuse and have no interest in wasting time complying with deviant laws simply to enable hosting.

If the scenario changes, common sense prevails and efforts are made towards the protection of children - another story :thumbsup

I check the price first, then go from there. :2 cents:

First and by far the most important thing to check is their REAL reputation from REAL peole not just some useless sig whores or paid spammers. I look for a proven track record of quality and stability. Look for support to be great and price is by far secondary.:2 cents::thumbsup

check my sig first, then go from there

lol, you've handled that one well :D

I first order the smallest virtual package (if they offer virtual hosting) and test the support and performance. From how a 4-10$ customer is treated, how support works for a cheapo account, you can learn alot about the general attitude of a hosting company.

Database driven site, 10-20k pages, no caching, embedded movies...just push some traffic to it and monitor response times.

24/7 internet and phone support. But I guess being prepared for hosting an event is the most important factor in order to achieve success.

1. making sure they arent a reseller
2. 24/7-365 phone, icq, ticket system, toll free
3. they have someone in the datacenter at all times

Personal recommendations, 24/7 customer support & any info/reviews I can find through the google.