The event, which lasts through Sunday, includes a two-zone floor plan that was introduced last year. The Sensual Zone includes softcore sex toy and novelties products, while the X-Zone aims to provide harder sex toys and triple-X videos.
This year Erotica LA will throw a number of how-to workshops sponsored by the Pleasure Chest Learning Center and include Vivid Entertainment’s “Debbie Does Dallas … Again” cheerleader tryouts as well as the Exotic Dancer Showdown.
The event also marks the first appearance by Jenna Jameson since Playboy acquired Club Jenna for an undisclosed sum earlier this week. That deal included a video production business and library, a group of websites and a DVD retail distribution arrangement. Jameson and her Club Jenna Girls will appear daily to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
XXXChurch.com, a staple at the annual show, will give away free "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" Bibles, founder J.R. Mahan told XBIZ, to "bring awareness, openness, accountability and recovery to the church, society and individuals concerning the issues of pornography." Mahan noted that he ordered two truck pallets worth, or 3,000 copies, for Erotica LA — his fourth year at the show.
Erotica LA also incorporates the 16th annual "Sensual and Erotic Art" exhibition, organized by the XArt Gallery in Los Angeles, and includes presentations by rock photographer Henry Diltz and erotic photographers Andrew Blake and Justice Howard.
In addition, Indie 103.1 FM’s Dave Navarro will do a three-hour broadcast live from the show floor Saturday, starting at 6 p.m.
Attendees have the opportunity to win cash and prize giveaways, including free resort trips to San Felipe, Mexico, and Las Vegas. There also will even be a free breast enhancement giveaway, as well as burlesque and runway fashion shows.
Promoters of the show, Teddy Communications, which owns Adult Video News and other media properties, have high hopes this year of reaching record numbers despite the high temperatures predicted for this weekend in downtown Los Angeles.
“This 10th anniversary of Erotica LA gave us the opportunity to really expand our exhibitors and entertainment,” marketing manager Cindy Cheer says. “It’s obvious that talking about sexuality and enhancing your sex life is becoming a more mainstream topic, and we hope to get an entire new crowd this year as well as welcoming back our sexy, hip regulars.”
Admission to Erotica LA is $30 daily or $60 for a three-day pass. Show hours are: Friday, June 23 – 4 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, June 24 – 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 25 – 11 a.m.-6 p.m.