LOS ANGELES — XBIZ 2017, presented by Camgasm.com, has announced its lineup of seminar and workshop panelists.
The adult industry’s premier annual conference series takes over West Hollywood’s elegant Andaz hotel from Jan. 9-13, for four action-packed days of unparalleled business opportunities, along with executive networking, in-depth insights and social events in a luxurious setting.
The event series culminates on Thurs., Jan. 12, with the highly anticipated 2017 XBIZ Awards show, set to fill the largest ballroom in Los Angeles at the grand Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
Offering a multitrack educational program sponsored by NETbilling, XBIZ 2017’s seminars and workshops offer the latest trends in just about every market segment — with an emphasis on the cutting-edge of interactive entertainment, digital media delivery, mobile tech and more. The seminars and workshops afford a view toward the future and provide attendees with the knowledge and power to stay ahead of the curve.
For the list of speakers, click here. For full schedule information, click here.
Kicking off the seminars in the Andaz Rooftop Ballroom on Tuesday, Jan. 10, are an in-depth examination of live camming and the future of interactivity, followed by the current trends in adult virtual reality, and the latest in online advertising and working with ad networks.
From 1-1:50 p.m., “Live Cams: The Future of Interactivity,” will provide insights on pirate-proof profits for models, promoters and studios, with a focus on cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking business practices that are reshaping this market. Join our panel of camming insiders, including CAM4’s Gunner Taylor; Courtney Rudolph of Cams.com; Chaturbate’s Shirley Lara; Flirt4Free’s Jamie Rodriguez; FreeWebcams' Eric Wexel; Yuval Kijel from Streamate; and Shay Efron from ImLive/PussyCash; along with moderation by GameLink’s Jeff Dillon, and learn the latest about this dynamic market segment.
Concurrent tracks and executive workshops will also run during this time slot, including a performer panel with Chanel Preston and Ela Darling in Studio room 4, organized by APAC, The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee. A special workshop examining online age verification in Studio 1 will offer Portland TV’s Chris Ratcliff; ICM Registry’s Steve Winyard; and MindGeek’s David Cooke, discussing the issue in the U.K. and beyond. Studio 2 will see Andrea of AdultCentro presenting the company’s latest offerings; while Studio 3 has a special “Talent: Newbies” workshop, where performers can learn from seasoned performers such as 2016 XBIZ Best New Starlet Abella Danger, Eva Lovia, and Mercedes Carrera.
From 2-2:50 p.m., “VR Porn: 2017’s State of the Art” will deliver an exclusive look at the current trends and near-term future of virtual reality. Join top VR experts, including Terpon’s Jean-Claude Artonne; HoloFilms’ Anna Lee; Fabian Grey of AliceX; NaughtyAmerica’s Ian Paul; RubyVR’sMichael Donohue; CAM4VR’s Ela Darling; Daniel Abramovich of VR Bangers; Gamelink’s Jeff Dillon; and Sssh.com’s Angie Rowntree as moderator, and discover the latest opportunities in adult VR.
Featured in Studio 4, “Genre Trends: Today’s Top Content” will see All Media Play’s Jeff Mullen lead a panel of industry pros including Evil Angel’s Adam Grayson; Adam & Eve’s Bob Christian; Evil Angel’s Aiden Starr; Bree Mills from Girlsway; BAM Visions’ Mick Blue; Burning Angel’s Joanna Angel; and Lexington Steele Productions’ own Lexington Steele, discussing today’s most profitable genres.
Over in Studio 1, CCBill’s Gary Jackson will lead a look towards the future of online payment processing and the secrets of optimizing transaction flows; while in Studio 2, TrafficHaus and sister division Reviveads will uncover strategies for copyright protection through DigiRegs, an advanced rights management tool that helps to secure content and revive its profit potential. Meanwhile, in Studio 3, the talent track continues with “Building Your Brand,” as award-winning performers Anikka Albright, Alexis Texas, and James Deen reveal how to make a name for yourself in adult.
From 3-3:50 p.m., “Advertising Technology Today” gives an insider’s view of working with ad networks, from both an advertiser and media buyer’s point of view, with a focus on effective targeting and ad placement, overcoming the growing use of ad-blockers, and more. TrafficStars’ Geoffrey Bonnechère; Mark Bauman of TrafficHaus; JuicyAds’ Alex Lecomte; Avi from Mistral; Edward from Flirt4Free; Supermen.com’s Douglas Richter; TrafficDiva’s Little Red Bunny; and CherryPimps’ Jack Avalanche as moderator, will detail what it takes to get the word out about your offerings and how to monetize site visitors using the latest techniques.
Profiling “Directors: Making a Difference” in Studio 4, Penthouse’s Kelly Holland discusses the craft with a collection of adult’s most progressive directors, including Dee Severe; MimeFreak; Kay Brandt; B. Skow; Axel Braun; and Brad Armstrong. Studio 1 offers a 2017 Snapshot of affiliate marketing, featuring CherryPimps’ Jack Avalanche; Holly Ruprecht of Hustler; and Gabe from Adult FriendFinder; while Studio 2 offers a look at “Cam Studios & Models: Partnering for Profits,” with Studio 20’s Mugur Cosmin Frunzetti; AWSummit’s Alexandru Gheorghe; Mia Saldarriaga of Juan Bustos; A.J. from AJ Studios; and Loli Cam from Terpon. Studio 3 offers a look at fan engagement for performers, with Tasha Reign, Vanessa Veracruz, and Kelly Shibari presenting “Talent: Fueling Your Fan Base.”
Finally, from 4-4:50 p.m., the “State of the Industry” panel features an all-star lineup including Grooby’s Steven Grooby; ICM Registry’s Steve Winyard; TrafficPartner’s Michael Reul; Affil4You’s Joey Gabra; Segpay’s Cathy Beardsley; Hustler’s Tony Cochi; NETbilling’s Mitch Farber; plus Brian Shuster from Utherverse; Private’s Charles Prast; and Alec Helmy from XBIZ. The panel of industry veterans will reveal what is on their radar for 2017 and beyond, guiding the industry forward.
Later, the Mix & Meet Kick-Off, the online industry edition of the 2017 XBIZ Exec Awards, and the LAX Party, where top studios and talent will gather for a night of fun and schmoozing on the Sunset Strip, will round out the day’s events.
At noon on Wednesday, Jan. 11, the 2017 Women In Adult “WIA All-Star Panel,” presented by Camgasm, will feature a handful of adult’s leading female executives sharing their “Dirty Little Secrets” to inspire the audience to empower and connect one another. XBIZ account executive Leah Mahi will host the special “girls only” session, which includes Rhonda Kratz from Penthouse; Chaturbate’s Shirley Lara; Mia Zhu of Mobius Payments; SegPay’s Cathy Beardsley; Ines Petersen from Affil4You; KiwiSourcing’s Jo Merlone; CCBill’s Kathi Stout; NETbilling’s Wendy Nelson; and Holly Ruprecht from Huslter.
Later, the core seminar track returns to the Andaz Rooftop Ballroom, with a look at current online payment processing trends and the latest legal challenges facing the industry.
From 1-1:50 p.m., “Billing: Payment Processing as a Profit Center,” will bring together billing’s brightest and most experienced experts, with moderator Stephen Yagielowicz from XBIZ. Panelists include NETbilling’s Wendy Nelson; Mia Zhu of Mobius Payments; Chris Rodger from Payze; Epoch’s Frank Gannon; CCBill’s Gary Jackson; Orbital Pay’s Karen Campbell; Cathy Beardsley of SegPay; Inovio’s Conal Cunningham; Webbilling’s Eva Zankel; and Vendo Services’ Thierry Arrondo.
Studio 4 will feature a special Mindbrowse presentation titled “Taboo by Context,” hosted by sociologist and author Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals. Panelists including Kelly Holland from Penthouse; attorney Karen Tynan; Dee Severe of Severe Society Films; Wendy Nelson from NETbilling; mainstream film critic William Bibbiani; and Angie Rowntree of Sssh.com, will explore selective production standards and the effect they have on society.
Terpon’s Jean-Claude Artonne takes the floor in Studio 1 to present “Camming Tech’s Next Generation,” revealing its 3D-VR high-resolution webcam for independent cam models, as well as its high-end solutions for studio operators. Studio 2 is the scene for Grooby Productions’ trans erotica panel, with Steven Grooby, Kristel Penn, and Buck Angel discussing the nuances of the often misunderstood but continually-growing transgender erotica market.
Casey Calvert, Dani Daniels, and Angela White will be on hand in Studio 3 to provide performers with the fast track to “Maximizing Revenue Streams,” delivering insights on generating ancillary income from clip sales, custom content, camming, marketing premium social media channels and more.
From 2-2:50 p.m., “Legal Challenges for Adult Entertainment” are in the crosshairs, as XBIZ presents its annual look at the most pressing legal issues facing the industry. The executive session will highlight both threats and opportunities for the New Year, with XBIZ’s Don Parret leading experts including FSC’s Eric Leue, plus industry attorneys Marc Randazza; JD Obenberger; Corey Silverstein; Greg Piccionelli; Jeffrey Douglas; and Larry Walters.
Over in Studio 4, Cybersocket co-founder Morgan Sommer will present “Gay Porn: A 2017 Snapshot,” with an exclusive panel of industry leaders, including Loli Cam from Terpon; Karl Edwards from XXXEdit; CCBill’s Gary Jackson; Tim Valenti from NakedSword; Supermen.com’s Douglas Richter; and Mitch Farber from NETbilling. Meanwhile, in Studio 1, iconic photographer Holly Randall will discuss “Content Production: Secrets of the Craft,” with Wasteland’s Colin Rowntree, revealing how attendees can develop their own style and unique approach.
Studio 20’s Mugur Cosmin Frunzetti will take over Studio 2 to present “The Cutting Edge of Camming,” an executive workshop providing an insider’s look at the profit potential of cams today, revealing how this top European cam studio is bringing its vast expertise to the American market, including its flagship L.A. cam studio. The talent track concludes in Studio 3 with an insider’s look at “Planning for the Future,” with Kayden Kross, Jessica Drake, and Conner Habib, discussing the ways that performers can make the most of their earnings to secure a more stable financial future.
From 3-3:50 p.m., a special “Performers of the Year” symposium will feature the very best and brightest 2017 XBIZ Award-nominated performers as they shine a light on their rise to fame and approach to success, featuring Anikka Albrite; Dani Daniels; Katrina Jade; Elsa Jean; Cassidy Klein; Sara Luvv; Romi Rain; and Riley Reid.
From 4-4:50 p.m., famed director Greg Lansky takes center stage for the Digital Media Keynote, with an exclusive Q&A interview revealing the secrets of his extraordinary success building some of the most recognized brands in adult, including Blacked, Tushy, and Vixen.
Happy Hour, then a laugh-filled networking special at legendary comedy club, The Comedy Store, along with the retail edition of the 2017 XBIZ Exec Awards, and wildly popular Winter Wonderland Party, round out the day’s events.
Thursday, Jan. 12, features the Interactive Pleasure Products Keynote with OhMiBod co-founders Suki and Brian Dunham at 11 a.m., followed by the annual Free Speech Coalition panel at noon.
The excitement kicks into high gear for the adult industry’s biggest night, the 2017 XBIZ Awards show, hosted by adult film legend Ron Jeremy, followed by the official XBIZ Awards After Party — all beginning with red carpet arrivals at 6:30 p.m.
Members of the adult talent community, affiliates and content producers qualify for free admission, while XBIZ.net members receive discounted show registration.
For event information, visit XBIZShow.com.