The unique outdoor event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Rehab pool allowed attendees to mix pleasure and a little business in a brand new environment.
This fresh approach to expos fit so well with the adult community that nearly everyone in attendance said they’d definitely attend upcoming shows.
Highlights of this year's blast included a raucous Bikini Pageant that pit tops stars in a booty-shakin’ competition MC’d by always witty adult star Ron Jeremy and won by little Latin spitfire Lupe Fuentes who was crowned Miss XFANZ Summer.
Guest judges included adult stars Sunny Leone, Ashley Fires, Kagney Linn Karter, Lisa Ann, Evan Seinfeld and Sex Toy Dave.
Also on tap was the first-ever fan chosen XFANZ Awards that gave Fuentes another reason for her to love XFANZ as she took home the award for Latin Star of the Year.
Other winners included Jelena Jensen (Web Babe of the Year), Isis Taylor (New Starlet of the Year), Lisa Ann (MILF of the Year) and more. All the winners are listed here.
She told XBIZ that she’s been talking with Bluebird Films but has not yet made a decision so we’ll just have to wait to see when she’ll make her debut.
Plenty of adult companies brought their wares for the fans to check out including Bluebird Films, Evil Angel, Metro Entertainment, VCX, Digital Playground, Zero Tolerance and Starr Productions.
“Bluebird Films’ “Glambird” stars – fully equipped with angel wings and glistening bikinis stopped attendees in their tracks. One fan said he just walked into the Rehab and was immediately blown away by the Glambirds.
And production company Zero Tolerance’s “Win a Date With a Contract Star” awarded two fans dates with either Kagney Linn Karter or Sara Sloane.
Adult Internet leaders were also poolside hawking their products in special cabanas. MyFreeCams, Sex App Shop, Clips4Sale, Webquest, Video Secrets and PornStarTweet showed attendees just how webmasters get as funky as their models
MyFreeCams’s Leo said that the new show was very well organized and provided an amazing number of famous and up and coming porn stars all in one place.
“I give huge kudos to XBIZ for creating this one-of-a-kind experience for fans and vendors alike. XFANZ really outdid itself,” Leo said.
The folks manning the cabana at PornStarTweet monitored the action and tweeted to their fans online throughout the show. They said the tweeting report showed incredible excitement.
PornStarTweet’s Pete Housley told XBIZ, “There was some crazy hilarity being tweeted about this show. The more the porn stars got involved the crazier it got. The cool venue, ribbon cutting ceremony and outdoor vibe made this more of a party than an expo.”
Another cabana mixing business with pleasure was new adult company Sex App Shop. Entrepreneur and owner Maria who also runs adult site SnakeBabe said that she loved the idea of having a venue that’s poolside. “It’s not like being stuck in a booth all day in a convention center. XBIZ and XFANZ created a great marriage for adult companies and fans alike,” she said.
Veteran adult performer and promoter Even Seinfeld was even more enthusiastic about XFANZ. He said that he goes to every show and convention in the adult space and his biggest complaint was that the fans were mostly neglected.
"This is great. The bright lights and air conditioning of the big expo halls takes away from the sexiness of the stars – it’s like a pharmaceutical convention. Here at poolside it’s a porn party – and that’s what the fans want to see,” Seinfeld said.
Adult blogger Monstar – a major keeper of the pulse of the porn industry – noted that the expo was unique in that it had the biggest stars in adult like Phoenix Marie, Lexi Belle and Sunny Leone all splashing around in a pool.
Leone told XBIZ, “It was great to have this outdoors where the fans actually get to hang out with the stars. It’s not like being in a booth like the other shows where they get a 30-second interaction. Here they can talk and have a drink with their favorites star. These are the people who make our industry and it’s great to give them such a cool experience.”
Fan favorite Joanna Angel was also on hand and as usual gathered an adoring alt-porn loving crowd.
Angel said, “It feels like a big party. I’m really glad I can hang out with my fans in a much less stifling environment that traditional expos.”
Adult star Vicki Chase echoed Angel’s thoughts. She said she loved rubbing elbows “and other things” with the fans “This really helped my signing career. This is the place to be if you’re a porn star.”
LA Direct Model’s Mia Lelani said the show was unique because she had never been to a convention with all porn girls. “It’s a dream come true. One guy came to our cabana with 20 pictures of me. Just awesome!”
Even newbie porn stars loved XFANZ.
Tara Lynn Foxx’s first signing proved to be a success. “A couple of guys who’ve been following me on Twitter for a year and a half found me here. It’s amazing,” she said.
Adult promoter, agent and talent James Bartholet noted that all 12 of his clients were thrilled with the show. He thanked XBIZ for the great exposure and a forum for him to tell fans not to download free porn.
“This is the best. Keep it coming,” Bartholet said.
From all indications fans agreed.
Valentino Rivera from Oxnard, Ca., said he came both days of the show and even brought a friend from New Zealand who couldn’t believe his eyes. “I was looking for Isis [Taylor] for two days and now I found her!,” he said.
Local fan Matt Palermo said he saw his dream girl Kagney Linn Karter and commented: “What more can a fan expect from a show than to see his favorite star? And get to hang out with her!”
Event organizer Moe Helmy was very pleased with the show’s turnout and said it had far exceeded everyone’s expectation and he looks forward to the next XFANZ event.
