I’ve been working in the adult industry now for just over four years. Over these years I have looked at the industry from many angles. I produce adult content, own a pay site, a TGP site, and I submit galleries.I’ve been working in the adult industry now for just over four years. Over these years I have looked at the industry from many angles. I produce adult content, own a pay site, a TGP site, and I submit galleries. And I’ve seen one thing that sets the industry’s biggest players ahead of the rest. After attending a couple of trade shows, this much is clear to me: if you’re going to make your living in the adult industry then almost without exception you need to be attending the industry trade shows. I hope you find this article helpful in your quest to make a living in this industry.

If you have never been to an industry trade show of any kind then you may feel overwhelmed by your first show. There is so much to learn, see, and do… but very little time. To get the most bang for your buck, I have a few ideas that can help make your show a success.

Plan Early, Arrive Early

First, before you head off to the show, do your homework. Take a look at who will be exhibiting at the show. Visit their websites and see if what they offer is of interest to you. Take notes in a spiral notebook. Include each company’s booth number and any questions you might want to ask their representatives. Now you will be ready to gather the information that you need to make more money.

I highly recommend arriving at the show’s host city the day before the show begins. I say this for a couple of reasons. By arriving early you run fewer risks of travel delays or lost luggage affecting your business goals. Getting in early, like the day before, will give you a chance to relax after traveling, and you’ll have time to see some of the host city’s sights. And most importantly, you will see the lay of the land. On show day you will know where you’re going. If you’re there early then you can take advantage of that time to get registered for the show or pick up your badge before the big rush. Even if you are pre-registered, you still need to check in, get your show badge and pick up any available literature. Typically lines at show registration on opening day can be long and can take away valuable exhibit time. So if you can register the night before, then great. If you can’t then I suggest that you get up early and be one of the first in line to register.

Working The Show Floor

Okay, it’s the first day. Have your spiral notebook in hand and have comfortable shoes on your feet. You’re in for a lot of walking and standing, so it’s best to be comfortable. I like to make a brisk walk through the entire exhibit hall and make mental notes of where everything is located. On this first walkthrough I don’t take any of the handouts that are pushed at me. I just scope it out. Next, sit down and have something to drink.

Look at your notebook and divide the booths or companies you want to see into two days. Start at the beginning and stop only at the booths on your list. Get your questions answered and get anything else you need from these companies. Try to leave a lasting but positive impression. If you need to contact a company when you get home, maybe they will have a face to go with the name. Make notes of any names or specifics from your conversations, and gather business cards. Also make notes on the back of business cards so you will remember later why you have them. Systematically work your list, and try not to get sidetracked.

Beyond Exhibits

Once you have completed your priority list for the day you can then slow down and enjoy some of the other booths and the people you meet. At this point use the 3-feet rule: if you come within 3 feet of someone then talk to him. Ask him what he does or what sites he runs. Start thinking of dinner… invite someone you just met to join you for dinner. Trust me, you will not learn anything from the girl at McDonald’s while she takes your order or while you are eating alone.

And be sure to also take in some of the late afternoon parties. I’ll cover some of my “party rules” in Part Two of this article next week. Parties can be a great way to meet some people who can help you in this business. Now that you have eaten dinner, attend all of the bigger parties before calling it a day. Stay tuned for Part Two of this article for more show survival tips.

Dennis Payne is a photographer and adult webmaster. He is owner of Studio Twenty Eight, producer of PineapplePink.com, and operator of PineappleCash.com.