opinion

Just Passing Through?

I haven't posted up anything since late last year. Okay, it's only been a month, but it feels like 2009's been here for a while, like it's already kind of dragging. I mean, I've already got 2009 fatigue; what's that all about? And everything's moving too fast and at the same time nothing is moving at all. People seem paralyzed at warp speed. Time is blurring in stasis. Feh...

And then there was the Vegas interlude. I went, of course, as I have for 10 years, but this time I did not go to AEE, which was odd. The annual ritual, as deadly boring as it has become, still holds just enough showbiz appeal to keep me interested. But the truth is I had no work reason to go, so I cut my trip short and only went to Internext, where I did have work reasons to be, but even then not for the whole time.

In a sense, I felt like I was passing through.

A lot of former employees are feeling similar sensations these days. The extent of personnel dislocation (a term I would never use in polite company) in the industry is not officially tracked, of course; there are the usual signs to go by, like who has fallen off the show or board circuit, but these signals can be deceiving. Lots of people reach a stage and simply fall out of public sight, but still toil away, in touch with whomever they need to be. Others really are gone.

Same thing with companies. One day they are pitching their products and services, and the next they vanish. Sometimes, employees find out after the fact. That's been happening more often than anyone would care to mention, and there is something quite unsettling about the practice.

But then, in times like these, when an almost visceral panic takes hold within even the well-positioned companies, civilized behavior (i.e. professionalism) is often discarded. I wonder whether some of these employers are truly aware of what they are doing, how their actions affect people, and how or whether they intend to explain their behavior once the "crisis" has passed. In an ADD-addled industry such as ours, however, I suppose such questions are moot.

Mind you, it's not the fact that hard choices have to made; it's how they are made. Too many believe there is no distinction.

Indeed, as we speak there is a well-known company that cannot decide whether to fire its staff or its 1099s - or both or neither or some or all - and is going back and forth like a yo-yo, keeping everyone guessing and subject to all the attendant mood swings. That surprise and indecision are the order of the day must be excruciatingly palpable to those on the inside; from a distance, it is simply appalling.

There’s also something very sad about watching entrenched industry insiders fretting about whether or not they’ll have a job tomorrow. Some of them won’t. These people will have to find new jobs in adult, or accept they have just been passing through.

I feel their pain. I'm hurting, too. But neither am I panicked. I can't afford to be, and besides, exciting plans are afoot. I've decided that I need to stick around and that there is, now more than ever, interesting work to be done and more than a little money to be made.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

The 'Wall of Shame' in Adult Retail: Deterrent or Dilemma?

Retail theft affects all kinds of businesses, but adult retailers face unique challenges when it comes to loss prevention. One of the more controversial strategies some retailers have adopted is the “wall of shame,” a public display of shoplifters caught in the act.

Rin Musick ·
profile

Segpay Marks 20 Years of High-Risk Triumphs

Payment processors are behind-the-scenes players in the world of ecommerce, yet their role is critical. Ensuring secure, seamless transactions while navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape requires both technological expertise and business acumen.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

The SCREEN Test: How to Prepare for Federal Age Verification

For those who are counting, there are now 20 enacted state laws in the United States requiring age verification for viewing online adult content, plus numerous proposed laws in the works. This ongoing barrage has been exhausting for many in the adult industry — and it may be about to escalate in the form of a potential new AV law, this time at the federal level.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Mitigating Retail Shrink Through Intelligent Video Solutions

Retail shrink isn’t just a cost of doing business — it’s an existential threat. Theft, fraud, operational inefficiencies and employee mismanagement chip away at profits in ways that many business owners don’t even realize.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

How to Master Team Dynamics for Business Success

Having the right team in place is everything. Whether getting a startup off the ground and thriving, or safeguarding an established company, the right — or wrong — people can mean the difference between a successful venture and a failed dream.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

The Power of Authenticity in Selling Pleasure Products

I’ve been working in the pleasure industry for more than two decades. For a significant chunk of that time, I thought that to be successful in sales, I had to fit a mold. I assumed that selling meant following a formula: say the right things, use the right voice and present myself in a way that was guaranteed to convert.

Kimberly Scott Faubel ·
opinion

Eight Steps to Fast-Track AI Site Approval for Processing

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days. AI technology is speeding up the way we do business across all industries and offers numerous benefits, from automating processes to increasing efficiency and scalability.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

Dennis DeSantis on Building a Blockbuster Career in Adult Retail

The adult industry and the mainstream Hollywood scene often intersect, and few executives are more familiar with that crossover than Dennis DeSantis.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

How to Secure High-Risk Transactions With Network Tokenization

Ensuring the security of data as it moves through digital channels is the foundation of safe transactions, and crucial for your success. If your business can’t secure transactions, you’re exposed to myriad processing traumas.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

'Pleasure Professionals Place' Facebook Group Marks 5 Years of Fostering Connections

Where can you find the pleasure industry’s most tantalizing, trending and relevant conversational banter? For once, we’re not talking about a trade show after-party!

Colleen Godin ·
Show More