Sincerely,
The “G.”
http://www.TheG.tel

Elliot,

I would never want to attend ANY professional event that demeans either gender or any ethnic group. That is not entertainment, but simply tawdry behavior that has a whiff of stink about it. What people do at conferences on their own time is not for me to say or judge, but I think institutionalizing and advertising events that involve demeaning and objectifying young women barely out of childhood (which the Playboy franchise does) sends a negative message to outsiders who already feel that domainers are squatters and sleazebags.

Last year, I was seriously considering attending the DomainTools conference in Washington, D.C., but the entertainment involved body paint and women, so I didn’t go. If they have cleaned up their act for this year, then I say, “Hooray!”

This year, I’m in Eastern Europe, teaching full time, so attending a conference would not be economically feasible for me right now, but I would not rule out attending a domain conference in the future–one without the Playboy mansion.

I love Las Vegas, though, even though it, too, has a bit of tarnish on it.

I’m not against having fun. I’m not a teetotaler. I’m not a member of any temperance league. I don’t hate men, and I’m not anti-sex.

But I am for seeing a change in the way domain conference organizers select their social and charity events. By advertising tawdry events, the domain industry is placing a huge bullseye on its back, which says, “Hey! You’re right! We are a bunch of sleazebags who can’t have fun unless we go to the Playboy Mansion or hire a young woman barely out of her teens so that a bunch of manboys can paint her naked body.”

IMHO, this is NOT professional behavior.

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I’m not a woman, so I can’t exactly commiserate, but I would probably be uncomfortable if it was reversed and the party was at a place that’s notorious for the amount of clothesless dudes.

Traffic Las Vegas and Domain Roundtable don’t have this venue, so are you going to either of these conferences?

This comment is broad and not directed specifically at you, but from what I see on forums and other venues is that the people who complain about the tradeshows are those who wouldn’t attend anyway – whether its because of the cost, time, or location. The hosts cater to the 95% majority of the audience, which still happens to be men for some reason. I do know of a few successful lady domainers though – and most will probably be at one or more conference(s).

Incidentally, I was at the Playboy Mansion last year, and aside from 4 hostesses in what amounted to bathing suits and bunny ears, the crowd was not unlike anything I’ve seen at any NYC nightclub.

I also know of several ladies who attended and were not offended.

You are right about meeting people who you are doing business with online in person. Putting faces with e-mail is important and that is one of the major reasons why I attend conferences.

However, it would be nice that there would be a sponsor driven conference where attendence is free like they did at the last affiliate conference in LA where we can attract many new people.

Thanks, Jim

I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable attending events where the featured entertainment involves a woman wearing a bunny tail and an old lech in a robe.

If the big boys want female domainers to join the club, then it might be a good idea to think up some entertainment and charity events that are suitable for both men and women.

Otherwise, domaining conferences will always remain the good old boys’ club, and I do mean BOYS!

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