| Erotica L.A. Convention
Review
Los Angeles, California
June 19th, 2004
Rocketman QuickFacts
- What: The Erotica L.A. Convention
- Where: Los Angeles, CA
- Cost: Admission $20; Parking $10
- Rating: 7 Rockets out of 10
I had the opportunity to attend The Erotica L.A. Convention and wrote this review for your reading pleasure. The convention was held this year on June 18-20 in Los Angeles, California. The show was at the Convention Center, which is in a run down part of the city – not the best area to linger in after dark. Admission to the event was $20 with parking $10 for spaces close to the Convention Center. Show-goers were greeted outside the venue by various scary-looking people handing out flyers for local strip clubs and different products.
Inside, a bonanza of adult entertainment products and services were on display at the eighth annual event. A bonus for show-goers was the relaxed policy on photography – attendees were allowed to take flash pictures for non-commercial purposes. Immediately inside the entrance The Erotic Museum had a special satellite display showcasing some of the artifacts and other items normally only seen at their Hollywood location. Opposite the Museum, the Erotica Store offered inexpensive cameras, tube tops, jeweled thongs (yeah baby!), low-waist fleece shorts, and other event souvenirs for purchase. Adjacent the Erotica Store was a small art exhibit titled “14th Annual Sensual & Erotic Art Exhibition,” offering various pieces of provocative artwork for sale.
The bulk of the convention was organized into long vertical rows of booths, each with its own strategy to lure in unsuspecting guests. Items on display for sale included domestic and foreign Adult DVDs selling for as low as $2, leather goods, clothing, adult toys, lubrication products, vacation packages, magazines, piercing services, and what can only be described as “various apparatus.” The latter category included stripper poles designed for home use, dildos and other similar mechanical devices, high-density foam “sex cushions,” and different types of restraint devices. Rocketman like.
Of special note were the phalanx of “fully functional erotic glass art” (you can call them glass dildos) on display by Phallix (www.phallixglass.com). Phallix had a dizzying array of these multi-colored glass pleasure objects for sale – for sure to please that hard-to-buy-for special someone. Another interesting booth was that of Beverly Hills Estate Jewelry. This vendor offered professional belly piercing and an array of jewelry. Several nervous women were lined up to have this hot sexy piercing performed on the spot.
At this point I have to pause and talk about the... uh… talent working the show. The booth babes working this years’ show were both bountiful and sufficiently friendly to the patrons. Most were happy to pose for photos… even the homies in the wheelchairs were getting some action. It was all good. One booth was causing double-take whiplash among attendees with its display of a bevy of life-size standees of famous adult industry models. These units were of such high quality that many a show-goer mistook them for the real thing. Sadly these cardboard cuties were the best looking ladies at the show.
Overall the Erotica L.A. Convention was a mis-fire. The show seemed to attract a lower grade of clientele, judging by the throngs of sweaty, unwashed masses crowding the aisles and fawning over the babes. If you had to choose between this show and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas or Internext in Florida & Las Vegas, you would be better off choosing one of those other shows.
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