13 Jan Preparing for Your First Convention
Posted
in RedGIFs Tips 'n' Tricks
Online sex work is great; you get to make your own hours and enjoy the fruits of your labor in relative privacy with a good bit of anonymity. But, sometimes, a growing sex worker wants to spread their wings and fly out into the IRL. The place where we all converge in person to meet fans, network, and collaborate are the adult industry conventions. There are plenty to choose from, and you’ll want to prepare yourself for your first one if you want to get the most out of it.
WHICH CONVENTION SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
One of the first things you want to get situated is which convention you want to attend. There are big names like the AVN, Exxxotica, and Xbiz that have multiple dates in different cities, as well as smaller and more niche shows that may be more to your liking. Each venue will have its own applications, rules, and prices for tickets or booths. You can even attend with an established platform if you manage to get your name on their list. A lot of the time, they’ll cover your attendance costs, which is a major bonus. You have options, so don’t feel like you need to rush and get yourself to the very next show.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AT THE CONVENTION?
Defining what your goals are for the show should be a top priority; just winging it might sound whimsical, but it could keep you from having the best time possible. Do you want to rent your own booth and sell merch, or maybe just attend and mingle? Basic merch like prints you can sign for your fans are a terrific way to cushion some of your expenses. If you want to collaborate with other creators, make sure you have plans in place ahead of time and come prepared with paperwork and fresh test results. There will always be after-parties to give you a chance to get out and do a little networking, so you should also have a decent idea of what you want to wear on the show floor and at the events.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET?
Once you have a preliminary plan to go off of, it’s time for a budget! There are travel expenses, lodging, and transportation while you’re there. If your event is in a city with great public transportation, you might not need to rent a car or Uber everywhere. Setting aside enough to make sure you can eat and have a few drinks if that’s your thing is necessary, you can save a bit if your hotel or rental has a kitchen you can use rather than eating out every day. You will most definitely need to have some emergency cash on you as well; unexpected things happen, and you don’t want to find yourself broke and alone in a strange place.
REMEMBER TO ALLOCATE SOME TIME FOR FUN!
Making an appearance at a convention doesn’t have to be all about work, either. Research a little about the host destination and see if there are any other events or activities that you’d enjoy. Lots of these shows are in cool places like Miami, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, or Berlin, so there are plenty of things to do that you might not have an opportunity to experience in your hometown. These shows can be really fast-paced and stressful, so giving yourself a day to wind down and enjoy yourself before your trip home can do wonders to soothe your brain.
A few final tips to share from experience. Take the name tags off of your luggage once you arrive; the last thing you need is for a random attendee to get your real name or address. Prepare to get sick; you’ll be crammed into a place with thousands of other people for days on top of airports if that’s how you get there. Let people at home know where you are and where you’re going; if you have someone travelling with you, that’s even better. Do your best to stay vigilant; some people will try to push your boundaries with these things, so just be careful of your surroundings. Other than that, prepare yourself for a brand-new experience and let yourself have a good time!
Riley Cyriis is a New England-based indie content creator and mortician. She owns Cyriis Studios with her partner, Ryan Cyriis. She’s a cult survivor, a heavily-armed liberal, and the enemy of corruption and greed.
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Online sex work is great; you get to make your own hours and enjoy the fruits of your labor in relative privacy with a good bit of anonymity. But, sometimes, a growing sex worker wants to spread their wings and fly out into the IRL. The place where we all converge in person to meet fans, network, and collaborate are the adult industry conventions. There are plenty to choose from, and you’ll want to prepare yourself for your first one if you want to get the most out of it.
WHICH CONVENTION SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
One of the first things you want to get situated is which convention you want to attend. There are big names like the AVN, Exxxotica, and Xbiz that have multiple dates in different cities, as well as smaller and more niche shows that may be more to your liking. Each venue will have its own applications, rules, and prices for tickets or booths. You can even attend with an established platform if you manage to get your name on their list. A lot of the time, they’ll cover your attendance costs, which is a major bonus. You have options, so don’t feel like you need to rush and get yourself to the very next show.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AT THE CONVENTION?
Defining what your goals are for the show should be a top priority; just winging it might sound whimsical, but it could keep you from having the best time possible. Do you want to rent your own booth and sell merch, or maybe just attend and mingle? Basic merch like prints you can sign for your fans are a terrific way to cushion some of your expenses. If you want to collaborate with other creators, make sure you have plans in place ahead of time and come prepared with paperwork and fresh test results. There will always be after-parties to give you a chance to get out and do a little networking, so you should also have a decent idea of what you want to wear on the show floor and at the events.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET?
Once you have a preliminary plan to go off of, it’s time for a budget! There are travel expenses, lodging, and transportation while you’re there. If your event is in a city with great public transportation, you might not need to rent a car or Uber everywhere. Setting aside enough to make sure you can eat and have a few drinks if that’s your thing is necessary, you can save a bit if your hotel or rental has a kitchen you can use rather than eating out every day. You will most definitely need to have some emergency cash on you as well; unexpected things happen, and you don’t want to find yourself broke and alone in a strange place.
REMEMBER TO ALLOCATE SOME TIME FOR FUN!
Making an appearance at a convention doesn’t have to be all about work, either. Research a little about the host destination and see if there are any other events or activities that you’d enjoy. Lots of these shows are in cool places like Miami, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, or Berlin, so there are plenty of things to do that you might not have an opportunity to experience in your hometown. These shows can be really fast-paced and stressful, so giving yourself a day to wind down and enjoy yourself before your trip home can do wonders to soothe your brain.
A few final tips to share from experience. Take the name tags off of your luggage once you arrive; the last thing you need is for a random attendee to get your real name or address. Prepare to get sick; you’ll be crammed into a place with thousands of other people for days on top of airports if that’s how you get there. Let people at home know where you are and where you’re going; if you have someone travelling with you, that’s even better. Do your best to stay vigilant; some people will try to push your boundaries with these things, so just be careful of your surroundings. Other than that, prepare yourself for a brand-new experience and let yourself have a good time!
Riley Cyriis is a New England-based indie content creator and mortician. She owns Cyriis Studios with her partner, Ryan Cyriis. She’s a cult survivor, a heavily-armed liberal, and the enemy of corruption and greed.
