Phoenix Forum – Day 2: Sun, Seminars, Soirees

TEMPE, Ariz. – It’s not that often at industry conferences that webmasters wake up early, especially after a full slate of parties with the tride-and-true open bar. But at The Phoenix Forum, which has been blessed with splendid weather, attendees took full advantage of the desert sun’s warming rays and packed the breakfast tables at the Tempe Mission Palms’ picturesque courtyard on day two.

After breakfast, the Forum’s ambitious slate of workshops and educational seminars kicked into high gear.

First up was the "Cover Your 'Ass'ets" panel moderated by XBIZ Publisher Tom Hymes. Broad topics discussed included the defeat of both .XXX and COPA, 2257 inspections, copyright issues and the importance of contracts.

Noted industry lawyers Lou Sirkin, J.D. Obenberger, Eric Bernstein, Lincoln Bandlow and Chad Bellville served on the panel. It was Obenberger, and Sirkin especially, who drew the rapt attention of attendees during passionate monologues on the 1st Amendment’s protections of adult content.

Obenberger talked about a four-point test that every webmaster must apply to every picture and video that appears on their sites: Do I have the required 2257 documentation? Is the publishing of this content likely to get me indicted for obscenity? Do I legally hold the copyright to this work? Do I have the legal rights to publicity?

“YNOT” Bob Rice moderated the day’s second seminar, "High Risk Billing." Panelists shared inside information from the billing companies’ perspective on the nuts and bolts of maintaining and managing high-risk adult accounts.

Jake Powers (CC Bill), Jeff Thaler (Epoch), Karen Campbell (Netbilling), Kevin Blatt (Pure Vanilla), Rafael Berkein (2000Charge), Daniel Ahearn (365 Billing) and Lee Falls (Elektracash) discussed payment processing basics, including credit card regulations and how they work, insider insight on Internet fraud and liability, as well as tips on how to open up merchant accounts.

Arguably the event’s most anticipated seminar was "Networking for Your Bottom Line" with Keith Ferrazzi. A standing-room-only crowd listened intently to Ferrazzi’s presentation on how to better build successful business relationships and how to present an aura of approachability.

“The one thing I noticed in listening to the conversations in the courtyard was that many of you are finding it hard to differentiate your products in a crowded marketplace,” Ferrazzi said. “But the one thing you can’t duplicate are relationships. The best business relationships are also personal ones, too.”

The Yale- and Harvard-educated Ferrazzi asked the crowd if they really derived joy from their jobs, and when seemingly everyone responded with a resounding "yes," Ferrazzi responded, “That’s fuckin' awesome!” The crowd laughed heartily in reply. This exchange then prompted Ferrazzi to reveal that he got fired from J.P. Morgan after saying “fuck.”

Partygoers had a plethora of networking opportunities to choose from after the seminars concluded. "Networking Zen: Strategies in Motion" kicked off right after Ferrazzi’s keynote, followed by the gay webmaster event "Meat in Heat" sponsored by CCBill. Other parties to come include the PimpRoll Party at Suite 301 and Hooters Happy Hour sponsored by JustBlowMe.com.

Late-night jetsetters have three choices to party beginning at 1 a.m. Allure Cash is holding an event in the hotel’s Cloister Room, TopBucks/PluginFeeds has its Bringing Sexy Back Splash Bash poolside and Mansites/Pridebucks is sponsoring a late-night suite party for gay webmasters.

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 News

Anissa Kate, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top-selling stars for the second quarter of 2025, with Anissa Kate landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

France Reinstates Age Verification Rule for EU Sites

France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Tuesday reinstated age verification rules for EU-based sites under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, ruling in favor of the French government and against Hammy Media.

Whisper Fans Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Whisper Fans has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Utherverse Launches 'Red Light Center' Virtual World

Virtual reality and metaverse technology company Utherverse has launched its new virtual world, RedLightCenter.io.

European Commission Approves AV Guidelines, Unveils Prototype App

The European Commission on Monday released its final, approved guidelines for protecting minors online under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and made public a “white label” age verification app intended to help sites and platforms comply with age verification rules under the DSA.

New Membership Site 'Sluts Corner' Launches

R18 Entertainment has launched a new membership site, SlutsCorner.com.

Roxie Rae Relaunches Site Through XSiteAbility

Roxie Rae has relaunched her site through XSiteAbility.

Show More