I like sex, doy. I’m pretty open-minded about it, and am comfortable discussing the subject with pretty much anyone. But I guess I was expecting more than a convergence of all our Twin Cities sex shops, sprinkled with a handful of booths that just didn’t quite belong. (I mean, come on; Spa Parties? Goji Juice? That’s kind of a stretch, don’t you think?)
At least I wasn’t the only one who felt let down. Friday afternoon at 3:30, there were about 20 of us, huddled around the bar in the back of the convention, throwing back Dewar’s on the rocks, watching the Déjà Vu dancers prance around in PG-13 stripper clothes. Each of us seemed more impressed with the fact that there was a full bar at the show than with the rows of retailers peddling the same old 2-foot double dongs, vinyl bustiers, and facial fetish DVDs we’ve seen a million times at Fantasy Gifts. I mean, not that I’ve seen that kind of DVD. Hi dad!
I did talk to some nice exhibitors at the show. The Safer Sex Lube guy explained to me why I should stop using the dimethicone product I’ve come to love so much. Did you know it takes 7 days for the synthetic stuff to clear your system? I didn’t, but I do now. Also, his pitch was just so adorable and provocative (”It’s water-based, you feel that? You can reactivate that great slippery feeling with water or saliva!”), I nearly stuck around his booth to watch it over and over again. There was a smokin’ hot guy working the Getaways for the Exotic booth. I kept asking him questions about the Jamaican resort locations and extensive amenities just so I could continue to listen to his adorable, singsong accent. What I really wanted to know was if he was included in any of the vacation packages he was selling, but I managed to behave myself. Even after 2 rounds of Dewar’s.
I’d love to share some pictures, but unfortunately no cameras were allowed in the convention, due to the “extremely sensitive nature” of the show. Though I’m not sure what I would’ve photographed. It was the smallest convention I’ve ever been to, and definitely the most over-hyped.
What did I get for my $20 admission ticket to the Sex and So Much More Show? Nothing I couldn’t have seen had I decided to stroll into a local porn shop that Friday afternoon instead. In fact, had I handed my $20 to one of the booth girls at Sexworld, I’d have left a whole lot more satisfied.
19 Reader Comments
8:18 am
I told you so!
9:21 am
It’s a good thing you drink so much, otherwise those 2 rounds of Dewar’s could’ve spelled trouble for the rest of the convention!
9:54 am
How disappointing. I heard some reporters say that organizers expected 40,000 people to show up at this thing. Tom Lyden had the best line, saying that people in the sex business tend to exaggerate.
For a $20 admission fee, you’d expect to at least get some free samples. Anything like that?
10:21 am
Did you know it takes 7 days for the synthetic stuff to clear your system? I didn’t, but I do now
Ick. that sounds like lubing with bubble gum.
10:25 am
Jason: I got a paper bag full of business cards and flyers, as well as a sample of the housebrand strawberry love dust from Fantasy Gifts. It tastes like gross and I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to do with it. Just dust it on so I taste like gross? No thanks.
10:56 am
I don’t know why you’re all so surprised? Remember, this was a CANADIAN production!
I can’t imagine much new in erotisism coming out of the Great White North, other than perhaps a few velcro-fastened slots strategically placed on snowmobile suits?
11:20 am
All the reviews of this show have been negative, but what I’m wondering is if there’s anything they could’ve done to make it exciting while staying within the boundries of what they can do. I mean, since a convention center is an inherently sterile environment and it’s not like we could expect live sex acts, is there even any way this could’ve been good?
12:23 pm
Is there anything they could have done to “make (sex) exciting”?
Gee, let me think. I don’t know.
SB (maybe …. Vikings signing autographs?)
12:34 pm
I guess I thought it would have more Whole Life Expo-type alternative products and philosophies, and an overall happy vibe. Instead it was tawdry and depressing, and little more than a giant sex-toy flea market. (My other comments here.)
12:35 pm
All the reviews of this show have been negative, but what I’m wondering is if there’s anything they could’ve done to make it exciting while staying within the boundries of what they can do.
I’ve been to a few offerings at the Convention Center including the 28th Bridal Spectacular and the Home Building/Remodeling Expo and found that there were always a lot of off-topic displays taking up the extra room available in the area.
With all the hype, huge ticket prices, and lame exhibitors, it’s a wonder that *any* show that passes through the Convention Center is even mildly successful.
12:37 pm
It’s an interesting point: Are some “conventions” becoming a thing of the past? I used to go to a number of them years ago, usually on my office’s dime, but now I can’t justify it. I get all the information I need to know about my potential new services, vendors and products other ways. Why would I pay for a bunch of people to give me the same information I can now get on the Internet and a couple free pens and lanyards?
…but they didn’t serve Dewer’s at the conventions I was at. Hrum.
1:12 pm
I don’t think the readership of this web site was exactly the target demographic for this show either so our collective critical reaction is probably not unexpected. Too bad the show wasn’t a month or two later. They could have had a Candy Girl book signing and everyone here would have been stumbling over each other to go.
I think the point was to get to people who unlike Alexis couldn’t fathom dropping a bill on a booth girl at Sex World and so having it in a sterile, safe environment was sort of the point. Not sure if it was successful in its goals or not. They may have misjudged the amount of risque they needed to penetrate the market. *giggle*
Any workers of the local sex industry read/post here tell us whether they thought it will help their business?
Minneapolitans are so paradoxically uptight when it comes to sex. We have one of the highest per capita populations of adult entertainment licenses but get offended when people are caught in rather Dionysian circumstances. Passive/aggressive to the bone I guess. We’re no Portland.
1:54 pm
On conventions in general, I had a booth at the Body Mind Life Expo a couple of years ago for my business, but it was horribly unsuccessful. The majority of the patrons arrived by the busload via various senior citizen activity groups, wielding free passes they no doubt procured at a previous convention. Definitely not my target market. However, the Canadian prescription drugs booth next to me was quite pleased with the turnout.
Alas, I figure there is no expo for my target market of professional, single men. Besides the bars I already frequent.
11:13 am
“passive /aggressive to the bone” ?
Great pun, Not2Sure!
4:46 am
ooo nice zdjeciaerotyka latynoski
9:41 pm
Incidentally, I’ve been nominated for an Emmy award for the story Alexis linked here. I am your humble servant… yours in excellent journalism..
9:59 pm
Hey! Congratulations! Well-deserved!
Are you nominated for anything for polo’s link too?
10:06 pm
If so, it looks like maybe DeRusha’s going to the AVN convention in Vegas!
10:12 pm
You’ve unmasked me as well. I am polo. And that link earned me the 2006 Spamalot Award.