LOS ANGELES — XBIZ is pleased to announce the official schedule for the 2018 XBIZ Show, which highlights the expanded educational, networking and social opportunities at this year’s international event.
To view the full schedule, click here.
Presented by adult entertainment community ManyVids.com, the annual trade events series takes over West Hollywood’s Andaz hotel from Jan. 15-19 for four action-packed days of unparalleled business opportunities, culminating on Thursday, Jan. 18, with the highly-anticipated 2018 XBIZ Awards show, presented by MyFreeCams.com.
Among its highlights, XBIZ 2018 refreshes the event’s most-popular past sessions while adding a selection of new events that are certain to hit today’s top topics and the market’s most significant touch points, all along with the targeted networking opportunities and insider educational resources that XBIZ events are known for.
The opening day Monday, Jan. 15, kicks off with the annual XBIZ Golf Tournament presented by X2K Consulting and Media Services and NETbilling, providing a relaxing afternoon of golf and executive networking, with participants mixing, mingling, and competing in this annual event at the Angeles National Golf Course.
Other opening-day specials include the “girls only” WIA Hollywood Hills Hike for female executives, presented by Women In Adult, as well as Flirt4Free’s Kick-Off Gay Happy Hour at Cabo Cantina, which serves as the warmup for the 18th annual Cybersocket Web Awards at PH West Hollywood, honoring the best LGBT websites and service providers.
The 2018 XBIZ Show events series gets down to business on Tuesday, Jan. 16, with the return of Speed Networking, which offers a fast-paced B2B matchmaking and relationship building environment that establishes new contacts and opens the door to opportunities, with one representative allowed per company.
One highlight of the 2018 XBIZ Show that is certain to be a hit with paysite pros is the Paysite Meetup, L.A. Edition, an exclusive one-day gathering for paysite players to come together and learn from each other by discussing the important topics directly affecting paysite sales and promotions. Organized by payment processing company Vendo and co-hosted along with lead paysite partner, Kink.com, access to Paysite Meetup is reserved for operators of qualified membership-based websites.
The NETbilling-sponsored seminar series also rolls into high gear with a highly anticipated look at “Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality: The Future of Fantasy,” revealing the current and near-term status of this cutting-edge marketplace; along with an insider’s discussion of “Camming 2018: The State of The Art,” targeting models, promoters and studios alike, and an annual snapshot of “Adult’s Legal Landscape,” which details the most pressing legal issues facing the industry.
New for 2018 is the debut of the “XBIZ Talk” series, featuring solo presentations by industry thought leaders, with the first day’s slate offering JuicyAds CEO Juicy Jay discussing “Strength Through Adversity: Motivational Life Lessons and the Pursuit of Happiness,” while X-Art.com’s Colette Field tackles “Selling Sex as Art,” and VR pioneer Ela Darling delves into “Not Being Afraid to Take Risks,” where she will encourage people to take chances and to challenge themselves.
Adding to the executive education, Gian Carlo of BitterStrawberry and PornDoe Premium will present this year’s Visionary Keynote address, where he will draw on his diverse professional background in DVD licensing, broadcast, paysites, tubes and affiliate marketing, to reveal how to stay competitive in adult’s constantly evolving marketplace.
Performers are also in the spotlight with XBIZ’s exclusive Talent Track, with three sessions covering cam models and how they can build a loyal fan base, engage viewers, and partner with the right network/studio for maximum success; profitably producing custom clips with a focus on platforms such as ManyVids, iWantClips, Clips4Sale and OnlyFans; and using Social Media to bridge the line between persona and personality, with an emphasis on which platforms are best for certain kinds of content.
Also on tap for Tuesday are a number of exclusive workshops, including the Mindbrowse presentation of “Ethical Porn in Practice,” along with a special session on Content Production; plus, a look at performer consent and workplace safety hosted by APAC, the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee; and Studio 20’s presentation of “The Only Free Chat With Studio 20 Top Models,” targeting current and prospective cam models through an open question and answer session with a group of top performers from around the world in this exclusive session for cammers only.
For those focusing on the broader community, a special workshop on “LGBTQ Branding” with insiders Danny Zeeman, Buck Angel, Venus Lux, Chris Koloff, Frank Gannon, and Morgan Sommer, will be joined by the NakedSword presentation of “Building Relationships & Partnerships That Build Your Business,” and Flirt4Free’s look at “Gay Camming 2018,” for a unique snapshot of this popular market space.
The action-packed schedule doesn’t end at the close of business hours, however, with the Mix & Meet Market happy hour bringing attendees and exhibitors together over complimentary cocktails to make new deals while learning about new products and services setting the stage for evening’s highlight — the online industry edition of the 2018 XBIZ Exec Awards, where 100 finalists will vie for the honor of leadership ability, business acumen, positive community influence and overall career success.
The night concludes with the inaugural Porn Star Strip Off at the world-famous Body Shop on Sunset Boulevard, an all-nude strip club on the Sunset Strip where a line-up of top industry stars will gather for a wild striptease contest that is sure to leave attendees breathless.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the schedule heats up, with the return of XBIZ’s groundbreaking Content Matchmaker session that connects content producers, including talent who create their own content, with content marketers/monetizers to discuss business opportunities in an exclusive networking event.
The NETbilling-sponsored seminar series continues with panels pursuing the newest insights on “Adult Billing Practices & Technology,” along with “Turning on Your Traffic: Pushing Visitor Volume in 2018,” and the annual review of the “State of the Industry,” with the adult industry’s top visionaries revealing their predictions for the year ahead.
The Talent Track also offers up additional sessions for performers, with a look at “Being a Porn Performer Today,” as well as an “Outlook” session that takes a look at 2018 and what the future will bring for the performer community, and a helpful session on having a healthy “Work/Life Balance.”
Models will also benefit from FanCentro’s exclusive presentation on “Making Big Money With Social Media,” which will inform attendees how to monetize their Premium Snapchat and Instagram accounts; while a must-attend session unites a group of XBIZ Performer of the Year nominees who will reveal how to navigate the complexities of adult video production, build a highly engaging social media presence and balance the hectic schedule required to stay on top of the game. Finally, the debut of XBIZ’s Talent Linkup event will connect models/performers with content producers and marketers seeking talent.
Wednesday also includes XBIZ Talk sessions, with Evil Angel’s Chief Financial Officer Adam Grayson discussing “Changing With the Times,” while Gamma Film’s Head of Production Bree Mills, mastermind behind Girlsway.com, PrettyDirty.com, and PureTaboo.com, will take a look at “Balancing Creativity and Business,” where she will delve into her unique blend of cinematic storytelling that creates around 100 scenes per month. Finally, Studio 20 CEO Mugur Frunzetti provides an exclusive glimpse at “Leadership Through Passion,” elaborating on the company’s growth into a powerhouse brand with more than 350 performers and studios in Europe, South America, and the U.S.
The gay market also returns to the spotlight on Wednesday with a look at “Gay Adult Films: Marketing in 2018,” with Davyd Dixon; while Cybersocket presents “The Age of Trump: A New Golden Age for Gay Adult Businesses?” and Grooby presents “Trans Marketing and the Pros and Cons of Self-Producing,” an exclusive two-part roundtable discussion will reveal how to market and appeal to customers interested in trans content in 2018. Grooby will also host a special Happy Hour, while Supermen.com will present “The Webcam Guide to the Galaxy” with cam connoisseur Douglas Richter examining “One Guy, Few Rules, and a Zillion Hacks.”
One highlight of Wednesday’s schedule will be the debut of AVSecure, an “An Age Verification Solution for the U.K. Digital Economy Act,” based on blockchain technology and free for the industry to use. Attendees at this special workshop will learn how this service can help protect their company and profits.
Wednesday night merrymaking kicks off with a happy hour get-together, paving the way for the retail edition of the XBIZ Exec Awards, and the Intimate Soirée social, while setting the stage for the Winter Wonderland party, XBIZ’s annual pajama-and lingerie-clad cocktail party oozing sex appeal at the Andaz hotel’s rooftop pool that recognizes the year’s top nominated performers and where attendees are encouraged to arrive in their finest sleepwear and sexiest lingerie.
Thursday, Jan. 18, will see the debut of Free Speech Coalition’s first Leadership Conference, featuring an examination of “The U.K. Digital Economy Act,” which requires mandatory age-verification for any visitor to an adult site by using a third-party verifier, a look at the “General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),” revealing the ins-and-outs of the new E.U. data privacy laws and “Net Neutrality and SESTA” which will discuss net neutrality and the Communications Decency Act’s Section 230 (through the Senate’s SESTA bill) and what these issues could mean to the industry.
And finally, the day kicks into high gear for the adult industry’s biggest night, the 2018 XBIZ Awards show, presented by MyFreeCams and hosted by adult superstar Jessica Drake, honoring the best of the best of the business of sex at this red-carpet gala that brings Hollywood glitz and glitter to an international entourage of industry A-listers at the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live.
“XBIZ 2018 offers the absolute best and most expansive show schedule in the business, with truly something for everyone,” XBIZ Events Director Moe Helmy said. “Talent, producers, marketers and more will all benefit from this year’s showcase of everything adult.”
Free registration for XBIZ 2018 is available for affiliates, producers, and talent, while XBIZ.net members qualify for discounted admission.
For more event information and sponsorship opportunities, visit XBIZShow.com.
