I thought it would be interesting to do a series of articles on what 2006 has in store for the adult industry. For the most part, I’ve selected broader topics that affect the adult industry as a whole. I decided to call them forecasts, because I don’t want anyone accusing me of making predictions, even though that’s what they really are. Calling it a forecast, in my opinion, removes the perception that a crystal ball was in play.

I have the six topics, for six days, written down, but I’m not going to share them with you upfront. This is not a clever ploy to create suspense. I just want to keep my options open, as the series progresses.

The first topic in this series is Industry Trade Shows…

I’ll start off by forecasting Internext Las Vegas 2006 will be a huge flop. In my opinion, AVN’s decision to schedule the show at the same time the International Consumer Electronics Show is in town was an ill-conceived attempt at making Internext look busier than it really is. Room shortages, inflated rates, lack of transportation, and unbearable crowds make Internext an unattractive destination for early 2006.

While they have been careful to avoid suggesting it’s an alternative, many of the industry’s movers and shakers have opted for an informal gathering in the Dominican Republic. By my observation, this snub sends a clear message that AVN needs to make some changes.

As a result, I think Phoenix Forum will do well in 2006. In fact, they are likely to see some growth from the fall out generated by Internext Las Vegas. How all of this will impact Internext Summer 2006 is still up in the air, but one has to factor in the glut of shows available to this industry throughout the year.

I believe 2006 will be the shake up year for industry trade shows, and similarly packaged business-to-business events. Hardly a month goes by there isn’t at least one gathering someplace in the world. While it’s gotten to be a bit ridiculous, I’m not surprised by all these offerings. This is to be expected when the dominant player looses its draw. On the other hand, one or more big winners will have to emerge from it all, because there are too many players vying for the audience right now.

Whether or not Internext can make a come back is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain - something has to change, and it will happen in 2006.