This past week I have been reflecting on my first Internext Expo show, and although I have been working in the adult industry for almost seven years, I was definitely an Internext newbie. I was amazed at how much there was to do and how little time there was to do it in.This past week I have been reflecting on my first Internext Expo show, and although I have been working in the adult industry for almost seven years, I was definitely an Internext newbie. I was amazed at how much there was to do and how little time there was to do it in. There were so many people whom I had wanted to meet in person at the show, and honestly I thought it would be a piece of cake to find them; but trying to locate someone at Internext can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. So with Connor’s suggestion, I decided to make this week’s article a guide for convention newbies – let’s discuss how to make the upcoming Internext Las Vegas show a successful business trip.

First and foremost, start planning now. Make your reservations and save your money. I’ve learned that if you are serious about the adult industry then you need to make it to the shows. If you need to save money, consider staying at an off-site hotel. Look for combination deals that include airfare and hotel rooms together for one discounted rate. Hammer from Porn Site Pros knows how to work those cheap tickets, so the deals are out there if you look. Hit up Hammer on the YNOT message boards and I am sure he will help you find an excellent deal. Do whatever you have to do, but make it to Vegas. You can do more deals in one day at Internext then you can do in an entire year through ICQ, email and phone conversations.

Okay, tickets ordered, room reserved. Good. Now start making a list of everything you want to accomplish. Think it is too early? Think again. Start now and maybe you will get it all down before January arrives. If you want to find new affiliate programs then start researching which sponsors will work with your sites. If you do not have a site yet then obviously you need to build one; it’s hard to talk with people about a site you do not have yet.

Start making contact with all the people you want to meet. Tell them that you are planning on attending Internext and that you look forward to meeting them. Keep a list of all the people who have said they will be going or sending representatives. With thousands of people meandering and bustling around, without a to-meet list you will only meet half the people that you had planned on meeting. Trust me, I know.

Keep track of what you wish to discuss with the people whom you plan to meet. I would suggest little index cards or a notepad file for each person so that you can keep accurate records about what you have asked for, what they have agreed to, and the information that will make meeting them in person more personable and enjoyable.

Once you have listed and contacted all of the people whom you wish to meet, the next step is to plan out your show schedule. This task will have to be completed just before the start of the show, after the schedule of events has been posted by AVN. Look at the schedule of seminars and choose which ones best suit you. If you only run free sites then attending a payment processing seminar is a waste of time. Any traffic or marketing seminars, however, are must-attend events. Once you have your seminar schedule calculated you’ll know what time you have remaining to meet with people on your list and visit the exhibits on the show floor.

When your work schedule is complete, and you have allotted all the necessary time to make your trip productive, go look at the party schedule and plan to have a little fun. Parties are not the best venue for business networking, but they are a great place to hang out with friends and colleagues and unwind after what was hopefully a whirlwind day of meeting and greeting, learning and networking.

How about some other pointers for making the show work for you?

One, comfortable shoes. Let me tell you up front that you are going to be on your feet from the time you get up until the time you go to bed; don’t go wearing stilettos unless that is what you do everyday already. Dress casual and relaxed so that you can feel good about yourself and do not feel self-conscious when you are talking with the big players.

Have business cards or something unique you can hand the people you are meeting. Remember, these people will be meeting hundreds of other people just like you, and we all do the same thing after a show. We go home and spend several days following up on the hundreds of cards that we have received. Don’t be surprised when someone flips your card over and write notes about your conversation. Taking notes helps people later recall the conversations they had at the show, so you should do the same thing.

Now for things not to do.

Don’t think just because you are a newbie that no one wants to talk with you. Be polite and introduce yourself to people, but don’t go barging into a conversation. Wait for existing conversations to end before you initiate a new one with somebody.

Don’t let your show badge flip the wrong direction. Make sure that your badge is showing your handle and your company name. People like to know who they are talking to, so keeping that badge facing forward is helpful. They tend to flip backwards as you walk around.

Don’t think you are the only one who wants to talk with somebody. Keep your meetings as brief as possible so that others can do their job and meet with as many people as possible. If you need more time to talk with someone, see about scheduling some more one-on-one time after the show floor closes. Offer to take that person to lunch or dinner, or just buy him or her a drink. Remember, you are picking their brains, so be nice and offer something back.

Don’t become a wall flower or travel in a small pack or clique. It will be an unproductive show if you sit in a corner and stay away from everyone, or if you visit only with your friends. Remember you are at the show to make new friends and contacts. Attend with an open mind. You just might find a program that will make you a ton of money if you stay attentive to every exhibitor.

This has been a real brief guide to having a successful Internext show. Bookmark this page and check back as you plan. Follow the advice that I have given here and I am sure you will not make many of the mistakes that I made at my first show.

And above all, plan on having the time of your life. And hey, don’t forget to look me up. I love to meet new people and I want to meet all my loyal followers. As always, I wish you the best in all your endeavors. See ya on the boards, and I hope at the show.

Tony Davis is a professional adult Webmaster who can be reached by email at tony@aytd.com. Webmasters interested in Tony’s 2257 Custodian of Records service are encouraged to read more at www.keepmyrecords.com. Right now you can enjoy an earlybird special! Avoid the rush and the pandemonium; get your records in order now and save four months fees.