I think Sexpo is slowly dying.

[seidenki]

For those not in Australia, one of the largest sellers of adult products helps sponsor an exhibition called "Sexpo". I know there are similar events all over the world, but this seems to be the Aussie one that everyone knows about.

I've been going for a few years simply as an attendee. The vibe is always relaxed and interesting and the vendors are always friendly. Somewhat unfortunately, the event is simply not big enough for much more than the obvious merchandise - yes, there always a range bondage toys, for instance, but there is a far wider range of vibrators (insertable and not), clothing and things like "meet the porn stars". There was a display of actual dungeon bondage last year - and a lot of the passers by were (ahem) dubious.

Somehow, last year felt muted compared to the year before. But this year was definitely smaller. Last few years there were sex-themed rides. This year there were not. Last few years the exhibition space was packed. This year, not so. Very much not so. This year, I actually missed a vendor who had been there every time I previously had been.

Probably didn't help they had to move from Darling Harbour last year back to Moore Park this year. They didn't even need to setup car parking in the actual park this year. First time I went, it was packed with cars.

I think Sexpo is dying.

Sei.

[The Half Heard]

Seidenki - I've been to one, and I don't think I'd go to another one. The fetish demo area was down the back of the hall with the sideshow alley crap, so the stupidly loud games etc.

I was there helping friends with the demo stand, being the vac bed bunny and doing other random things during the course of the weekend, and the vac bed demos drew a massive crowd, heh.

What was rather bizarre about the one here was that there was basically hardly ANY information stands about STIs etc etc. Nothing really about condom usage etc. But about a million stands all selling the same rubbish toys, for the same inflated prices.

Also a silly combination for it, was basically letting people get absolutely smashed at the bar they had in the hall, then wander around inappropriately groping people etc etc.

Anyway.

I know people like MJs Toybox had a falling out big time with Sexpo, and so aren't involved with it anymore. And was speaking to people in Qld just recently about it as well, they had similar issues.

Considering it's meant to be the sexuality and lifestyle expo, they do a pretty poor job of it.

[seidenki]

Oooooooh... MJ missing would make a huge difference. I actually missed Hero Condoms but now that I think about it, there were no large condom retailers there at all.

I was half-waiting for a survey about my visit in my email, but now I think I might be pro-active and drop them a line, instead, expressing my disappointment. I had a much better time later that afternoon in Chinatown discovering where to buy K-pop... :-/

Sei.

[Closed_doors]

I believe people are becoming desensitised to the whole sex/porn/fetish/fantasy industry. Its so common these days, the lure of 'being naughty' is in decline. Statistics are saying, visits to porn sites are down over 15% in the last 12 months. In time, I believe they will vanish entirely as P2P software becomes more common. Numbers of visitors at things like SEXPO are also falling. Everything to do with anything sexual is so common everywhere these days, people hardly notice it at all. Its becoming like the horizon, its always there but no one actually sees it. Even roadside billboards these days have pictures that would have sent Grandma into a fit of the vapours.

Chat rooms are full of folks doing sex shows for free so people are less and less willing to waste their time on professional sites. The fact its free and interactive is far more appealing to many because of the interaction. You can not tell the men/women in a porn movie to do 'this' or do 'that' whereas a P2P video chat makes it far more personal. The global economy means people look for the best value for money, and free is always going to win. Even sex in public places hardly raises an eyebrow in this modern world. We've all seen it and where 10 years ago, it was the height of excitement, no one even notices it these days. It gets a giggle, but 5 minutes later, its forgotten.

Even this forum seems to be declining in the 6 months I've been a member. I find that where I'd make it a daily visit when it was far more active, I rarely look in more than once a week now and have lost interest in posting anything because so few others do. There are a dozen active members who I enjoy reading of their adventures but expecting them to carry the whole forum is hardly fair. I miss the days when 'a glimpse of stocking was considered shocking' simply because of its rarity.

>END of RANT<

I return you to normal viewing.

Mike the disheartened.

[Franzia]

Mike, don't be too disheartened- the forum has always had some slow periods, especially in summer, although it is slower paced now than when I joined. I know there were caption contests and some outrageous role-playing threads back then, but the lack of them can't fully explain it.

Have a random look at some of the very old posts from over five or six years ago. I don't know why but people seemed to have more fun then, over time the forum seems to have developed a somewhat colder or more 'businesslike' atmosphere. But I can't change this myself- what can I do except say, "Damnit everyone, lighten up and have fun or else!!"

[tiemeupalso]

@Mike,where are "Chat rooms are full of folks doing sex shows for free"?
all the sex shows ive been able to find cost money.

[Closed_doors]

I'm sitting in a chat room as type this reply and in the last 5 mins, at least 6 (alleged) females are trolling for people to watch their cam shows. I've never looked so how 'female' they are, someone else can judge.

Try the FCN chat network (Most trolls for sex shows happen at night, USA time)

[Closed_doors]

over five or six years ago. I don't know why but people seemed to have more fun then

Exactly my point Franzia.. Today, its fast approaching saturation point. Too much of anything is never a good thing.

But that is the next generations problem. I'm almost at the end of my active life, maybe 10 or 15 years left so I'll do no more than offer observations. Solutions will be someone else's task to find.

Cheers

[Franzia]

**brushing away cobwebs**
I'd hate to think this forum has become saturated or fossilized, but with over 15,700 topics how many new questions or answers can there be? It's almost like a giant bondage encyclopedia- a great deal of info can be found just thru searching.

However, there is at least one similar forum (we'll just call it 'Bound What's-Her-Name'), that is about the same age and is still very active- apparently saturation isn't a problem there.

Oh well- back to topic and apologies for hijacking seidenki's thread.

[seidenki]

Some good points about the intersection of the Internet with merchandising. And now that I think about it, a show like Sexpo does cater mostly for those are not internet-savvy. And I don't think it knows how to remedy that.

Sei.

[Closed_doors]

Jumps back on topic...


Shows like sexpo, if they do nothing more, give folks a chance to see the things they might buy on-line. The exact item probably wont be there, but comparisons can be made helping wiser selections. Many have to desire to purchase fetish/fantasy equipment but a direct face to face salesperson describing the in's and out's, (no pun intended, but used regardless) of various dildos deters many. They don't want to buy with out viewing the item/s first, so they can wander around Sexpo, non-commitally, checking out the items of interest, then go home and order to their heart's desire.

We recently bought a ring gag on-line. The website listed the dimensions, so we twisted a piece of coat hanger to see the actual size. When it arrived, it was centimeter larger than we expected, and as such, is too big and as we did try using it, its soiled and un-returnable, money gone. Had I seen the items in person, the smaller size would have been ordered.

[The Half Heard]

Closed_doors - yes, I've had that with items I've bought online. Ring gag was one in particular as well.

But the thing I found most about Sexpo was that there was basically nothing really fetish/kink related, other than the cheap crops etc sold by the junk retailers, other than the good stuff sold by MJs Toybox at the Tassie one.

I had better luck visiting Black Rabbit in person for getting inspired about kink gear than anything I ever saw at a Sexpo, lol.

[seidenki]

Yes, it is awfully light on quality fetish. The first time I went, I was disappointed that there was no niche stuff like balloons. Never saw them at all. Only one year did I see chastity devices - and they were just one more thing on display; no explanations or anything.

Sei.