Gray said the turnout for the second XBIZ.net London Gathering more than doubled from the initial event and expects attendance at the XBIZ.net Summer Gathering to further increase as word spreads among the U.K.’s adult industry members.
"Whilst the first event was primarily held to gauge interest levels for adult industry networking, it's obvious there is a healthy appetite for it among executives both U.K.-based and from continental Europe,” Gray said. “Feedback both during the evening and in the following days has been fantastic."
Numerous industry areas were represented, including payment providers, consultants, producers and production companies, talent and talent management, and webcam operations, Gray said, adding that he thinks that the variety of networking opportunities available is in itself is a major attraction for executives to attend.
Among the event’s attendees were representatives from Harmony, Strictly Broadband, iTelebill and Adultmoda.
"I went along with my colleague and was really impressed,” Adultmoda's managing director Terry Jackson said. “The numbers had doubled since the first event and there was a real friendly buzz — everyone was chatty and open. We met a few people who could prove really useful for our adult mobile advertising solution.”
Representatives from niche companies also benefited from the networking opportunities.
First-time attendee Frank Reding, from femdom website TheEnglishMansion.com, said he was impressed.
"The Gathering was great fun,” Reding said. “I made a lot of useful contacts that I wouldn't necessarily have come across in my usual haunts. By focusing on people in the adult business as a whole, it considerably expanded the various corners of the industry that were represented. Everyone found it very easy to mingle and talk to complete strangers.”
Attendees also acknowledged the commercial opportunities presented through the event.
"One attendee noted on XBIZ.net that based purely on her attendance and subsequent conversations during the evening, she was duly called the very next morning to discuss two contracts,” Gray said. "The event is effective for not only meeting with, and sharing experiences and opinions with peers but also acting as a business development catalyst."
The Summer Gathering is planned for July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the same location.
As with previous XBIZ.net London Gatherings, venue details will be available only to XBIZ.net members on a dedicated forum thread, to ensure that attendees are bona fide industry professionals — something Gray said that after having consulted with attendees, received strong support for maintaining.
With two events successfully run and a third one coming up, Gray said he is optimistic as to the future of London adult industry networking evenings.
"Based on the growing attendance numbers and the positive feedback, demand is definitely there, without question,” he said. “And whilst other networking events may emphasize retail or web subsectors, one of the key attractions of this event lies in the opportunity to forge new relationships and explore commercial opportunities across all industry subsectors. Long may it continue."