Originally Posted by ericdv

couple few about free badges, which i think are a bad idea...

1) the cost for badges for adult shows is still many times lower than the cost for badges to mainstream shows. ever bought a badge to an seo or mainstream marketing show? those go for $1-2k depending on how many days you want to stay for. compare that to a $300 badge to internext where you get all the booze you can drink. i will easily be drinking at least $300 of free booze at internext.

2) if you can't afford the $300 badge price to a show, you need to re-evaluate your setup. i get it... yes to some newbies $300 is a lot to pay, but if you leave a show without producing at least $300 worth of business that you wouldn't have done had you not attended, you are doing something wrong. seriously. if you put your all into any show you will come out with more business than you know what to do with. *investing* a few hundred bucks to do this business should not be a problem for you.

3) badges that cost something keep civilians out and also *lock people into going* i went to xbiz and noticed a few things. first, a lot of civilians. these people had no clue about the industry, and while i'm all for meeting new contacts, i don't want to talk to a dude who has only 'thought' about starting a 'cool porn website.' second, the turnout at xbiz was not what i expected. i'm sure that 1200 plus people registered like xbiz says, but how many of these people backed out at the last minute because they didn't have to worry about losing their registration fee? my guess is lots since the scene by the pool was not crowded at all both days and other show functions weren't packed.

last year i remember both afternoons by the pool were packed with awesome music and frisbee throwing. i went out there in the afternoon both days and that place was empty. nothing going on. don't blame it on the heat cause it was just as hot last year.

i thought xbiz was good over all and xbiz shows are always super well organized so i'm not knocking anyone, but i think that free badges are bad and that the show would have been better had registration been paid.