I decided to report on this InterNext Expo with a format more akin to a 'personal journal' rather than the more typical, clinical and generic 'event coverage' that is usually found. After all, there are only so many ways that you can say "We met a lot of nice people, went to cool parties, and did a lot of new business." Newbies and others who have never attended the 'Show of Shows' may also find this format to be more indicative of the overall flavor of this often-overwhelming experience. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 8th, 2002: It's Only the Beginning
The day started dark and early; 0400 sharp, and the sun had yet to
arise. I shook my 'Kitten' gently awake, then staggered
towards the kitchen, searching for that most wonderful elixir
of the Gods: "Mocha Java." (That's "Coffee"
for any uninitiated heathens in the audience). With the frenzy
of last minute preparations the evening before, we were only able
to grab 3 hours of sleep before beginning our journey to InterNext;
and with both Dawn and I being older than we once were (as well
as being older than most of the show's other attendees),
that first 'Cup O Joe' provided a welcome start to a
long and hectic, but rewarding day.
There was much for us to do once we arrived in Florida, because not only is XBiz exhibiting at InterNext once again, but we are also presenting the long-anticipated XMIX Yacht Party...
Arriving at
the Manchester Airport and then grabbing some dubious breakfast
treats from the good folks at McDonalds, Dawn and I were ready
to depart and get things started. There was much for us to do
once we arrived in Florida, because not only is XBiz exhibiting
at InterNext once again, but we are also presenting the long-anticipated
XMIX Yacht Party (a project that Dawn has worked amazingly hard
to put together). And with preliminary booth inspections, meeting
the contractors and retrieving the party sponsor's banners
(that we will be later hanging on the yacht just before the upcoming
party cruise), along with hotel room check-in, InterNext registration,
various and sundry chores, unpacking luggage, and dealing with
the endless string of last-minute problems that can (and do) arise
during the undertaking of such a venture, we had our work cut
out for us, and were focused on our plans for the day ahead, and
the excitement it would bring...
Then I heard
a booming voice: it was Colin, Angie and Raya from Wastelands.com;
familiar faces and some of the best people in the industry. Colin
is my hero, and the one who inspired me to become a return speaker
at InterNext and other industry events after hearing him speak
at my first ia2000 (InterNext's predecessor), back in the
last century, when the show was held at the Monté Carlo
in Las Vegas.
This exciting
reunion quickly led to comparisons of tickets and jokes about
how this would be a 'fun' flight, until a damper was
laid on our plans with the sudden realization that while we were
indeed seated only a few rows apart, we would be on different
planes. Yep. We're here at the same time, same place, and
heading for the same destination - but they via Newark, and us
via Cleveland. Sigh. Maybe not such a fun flight after all.
My predictions
turned to reality as we approached our small commuter jet, with
Dawn exclaiming "I'm not getting on THAT thing!"
Kitties don't like to fly to begin with, and watching our
friends take a larger jet and more direct route, while we took
a smaller plane and less direct path, was somewhat disconcerting
for her. Several glasses of wine settled Kitten's nerves,
and she slept peacefully through the flight; but awoke with a
pounding migraine that would make the day's chores more difficult.
And what was with the lady seated in front of us with two small
children; one of whom she considered a loud toy 'flute'
a suitable plaything for? The Arrival Our room is
fantastic, with a sweeping, wrap-around balcony that offers panoramic
views of the Atlantic Ocean and sandy beach below, the Intra-Coastal
Waterway, and surrounding environs. Kitten and I can swim together
in our huge bathtub - and the plush king-sized bed is one of the
nicest I've ever slept upon - and is even available for sale
in the small catalog of special offerings from the hotel itself,
left in our room; a perfect example of targeted up-sell and hot
value-added marketing and merchandizing. While Kitten
and I unpacked and dealt with the inevitable unforeseen issues
that so-easily arise (such as EarthLink's initial reluctance
to accept my username and password for local access from this
location), thoughts of the many fun uses of this room came to
mind. While we do enjoy entertaining on occasion (our room here
could comfortably accommodate 50 or so people), we prefer much
more intimate gatherings, and decided to have a few friends to
start the show with. But first, we had banners to find, booth
set-ups to inspect, and friends to greet.
While Kitten and I unpacked and dealt with the inevitable unforeseen issues that so-easily arise (such as EarthLink's initial reluctance to accept my username and password for local access from this location)...
After an amazing
dinner at the lobby Café, we visited with my Polish cousin
Danielle (Twinkley), and her cohort Aaron ('Dr. WTF') Buran, a
"Root God" par-excellance. Representing TrueCash, these
old friends were a welcome way to warm up the evening (an event
that I somehow 'forgot' to photograph, but given Twinkley's
aversion to being "content" - this was really a good
thing). We went with them over to the Adult.com/GFY "Victory"
yacht party, but the 'to capacity' crowd was causing
the craft to list in a way that made us uncomfortable. Deciding that
it was time for a change of venue, Dawn and I located our good
friends Fred (from AdultContent.ca) and BrunoB (who has a rockin'
amateur site marketed by Gammae), along with their two charming
models, and headed back up to our room for a 'meeting of
the minds,' and we took some photos of the fun out on our
balcony: Some of Stephen's InterNext Photos After too
much fun, it was time for me to have my first drink of the evening,
and so Dawn and I headed down to the bar for a night cap, while
the girls convinced Fred and BrunoB that it was time to go hit
the dance floor. The hotel lobby was swarming with an excitable
mix of people, and a positive, upbeat energy that made the trip
to the bar seem a far too-tiring process, and not nearly as attractive
an idea as my 'Plan B' alternative: a bubble bath and
a blowjob! I love my life, my beautiful wife - and the Heineken
in my mini-bar! With the warm haze of neon glowing through the
curtains, I drifted off to sleep in my comfy king-sized bed, painfully
aware of the 'wake up' call that I would receive in
6 short hours; and this article which I would have to write when
I awoke. Dawn is
now down in the booth, Marsha and Alec likely there with her.
The show started half an hour ago, and I'm sitting here alone
in my room writing to you. It's time for me to go down there
~
We finally made it! Landing in Hollywood, Florida, we quickly
retrieved our bags and boarded a limo for the ride to The Westin
Diplomat Resort & Spa. While this property lacks the opulence
of The Venetian, and the dizzying spectacle of Las Vegas, the
courteous, helpful and professional staff, along with the total
suitability of this location for our show, alleviated any misgivings
or uncertainties about this new venue.
