Haven’t touched a computer in 3 weeks and I’m back on the grind again. Lotsa stuff to catch up on. I am happy that I just moved into my little spot on the water so the year is off to a kickass start. AEE and Internext was great, who wouldn’t wanna spend 2 weeks in Vegas, eating at world class all you can eat buffets and partying with porn starlets and hardbody strippers all day and nite. And occasionally trading business cards with industry folks. Though its really about having a great time. I want to give a special shout out and thank you to D-Money, Kendra, Brad and Corey at Mojohost, Gerard at WebAir, and everyone else who made things come together. I had a great time, am fully recharged and ready to get rolling on everything. DVD distribution, more websites, you name it… can’t wait to start filming some local projects here too. Vegas I miss you baby, cya again soon….

Ohhhhkayyy! This is the first time in about a month since I’ve connected my main computer to the internet. I’ve finally relocated to my new office space, and it feels good to have some privacy and respect goddammit. I’ve been hopping back and forth and public libraries and hotels, and you can’t really work on your porn shit there. Either the filters block it, or its simple not appropriate to do in public with prying eyes everywhere. I think damn near everyone wants to secretly spy on what a black dude is using a public computer for. Anyhow, I haven’t forget about my passion for writing, speaking, and entertaining, and over the course of the last 2 months, and made an audioblog/radioshow for your listening pleasure. I won’t spoil the details, but you can check it out at http://www.shimmyshow.com

Alright its time I start monetizing all my hard work. I’ve been busy filming scenes here and there in prep for some site launches this summer and took a break to attend XBIZ Summer Forum at the last minute. I registered on site and got shafted for the full $250 but it was still well worth it for the contacts and hookups I made. Regardless, you gotta reg. for these shows waaay ahead of time. So I hopped a last minute flight to Vegas and went on to the show. I didn’t even stay at the Hard Rock hotel where everyone else on site did, I stayed way the fuck at the end of the strip on Fremont street. My room was an amazing $14 a nite at Binions, and I know why…. there is a lightshow and street concert that lasts until 2am everynite and you can’t sleep at all. Not that you come to Vegas to sleep. And I figured as little sleep as I get in LV paying a premium for a hotel room is not very smart.

At the show I met up with Eva Angelina and totally did a double take as she looks almost as dark as me in person without makeup. She’s smokin hot and looks even better after having her baby. Also briefly met Aria Giovanni in the pool, and quite a few solo girls. Everyone on site is cool as fuck and relaxed just like me…. Its not like the girls have to have their guard up like they do at consumer shows. So yeah beyond the typical networking and business card swapping this was a pretty cool show and I’m glad I attended. I didn’t gamble 1 cent in Vegas and I’m proud of that. My biggest loss was paying $18 for a Mai Tai at the poolside bar down where the convention cabanas were held (should have asked the price first…) but overall it was a great experience. Special thanks to VideoSecrets for putting on the Gokart races that totally kicked ass and to the entire XBIZ staff. Now it’s time I get my black ass to work and doing something with all these DV tapes here… and yes by the way Ariel (Filly girl) you’re short, hot, and we should definitely fuck soon. Gotta run, Adobe Premiere is calling me…

www.ShimmyCash.com

Oh yeah. I’ve been gone for 3 weeks and feel totally recharged. Amped up. Pumped. Finally got out of crusty ol’ california and put my plans into action. Started off the trip with eXXXotica Miami. Gatdam… even though it was just a consumer show it was off the chain. All the big name LA circuit girls were there but it was by no means an AVN show. But the most kickass part of my Miami trip wasn’t even the porn show, it was South Beach Miami, a spot I had never been. Up until now I’ve only done Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, and Hallandale beaches… but never ventured the extra 30 miles to south beach where its oh so live. And let me tell you it was worth it nigga! I have never witnessed so many fine ass girls in such a small place, strutting their shit around topless wearing dental floss up their ass cracks.

Friendly too, and not the least bit shy… firm backsides, flat bellies, perky titties, and a tan that only south florida sun and salty ocean water can produce. I could happily live the rest of my days on that beach… it is truly the best beach in Florida, if not the whole USA. I know where I will be spending a good portion of my summer.

So yeah anyhow I left Miami after 4 short days on the beach that went by all too quickly and jetted up to Orlando. I had to follow thru with shooting some scenes so I booked a nice little condo for a few days and filmed some very energetic local talent. What sucked on this shoot was my CanonGL1 broke for some unknown reason (no power) and I had to scramble last minute to get one on ebay. I nabbed one for $950 and got a 2nd one with a few issues for $450… so now at least the shoots could go on as scheduled. Always something I tell ya. In this trip I broke 2 worklights, 1 PC, 1 hotshoe videolight, and 1 canon videocamera. All these casualties tell me that equipment, much like heavy furniture… does not like to travel.

I’ll be spending the next few days getting my west coast life back in order, then will focus on post production of the scenes and monetizing them with VOD, DVD, and future web projects. Also need to get some more office space out here in Cali. In addition I need to shave off the 12 lbs I gained on this trip… yikes. Back to the gym and 10miles on the treadmill… I better get another bike too. Have a shitload of show and beach pics I need to upload, maybe I’ll make a little gallery for your viewing pleasure later… you guys will have to pay for the good shit.

Shimmy

Ahhhh yes, less than a month away until summer porn conventions on the east coast kick off. I’ve been daydreaming and planning everything down to the fine details and can hardly wait. Got my airfare and everything booked and I’m ready to roll out, hit the ground running, and start filming.

I’ve been having difficulty acquiring talent here in the SF Bay Area, primarily because I’ve only been using Craigslist and word of mouth for recruiting new girls, and I am thinking I need to have my ass in LA where the big agencies are. I get tired of having to explain myself over and over again to each new girl I meet about how everything works, etc… its like damn near an hour of me running my mouth just so I can film a little 20 minute scene. And I like to do less talking and more filming. I don’t think I will have that problem with the florida girls. Not that they are sex freaks (well some are) but for the most part I don’t think they really are going to care about where the footage will end up like many of the west coast girls I am dealing with locally. Obviously if I film a scene and shell out money I am going to try and get the most bang for my buck. That means dvds, vod, websites, content cds, and more… that DV tape is certainly not going to sit in box and collect dust.

In general Florida girls are much healthier looking (more sun) and have the youthfull looking beach bodies and easygoing attitudes that I’m looking for. That and they are hungry as a mofo… $100 will surely go a lot farther there than here. About the only piece of equipment I am missing is a camera jib and stabilization system, and another cam light… lots of cheapass ebay equipment has been breaking on me lately… and Nikon had better fix my SLR under warranty… it dropped less than 2 feet and the shutter is stuck open on it. So other than that, I’m going to keep working my little rinky dinky jobs and events out here, stack the paper up, and do most if not all my shooting for this season in Florida. The countdown to eXXXotica has begun, and in less than one month its going down like a plane crash baby, and the world is mine for the taking. And AmbarLyn you are fine as fuck girl, can’t wait to meet and book yo ass for a scene…

Ever wonder what a hotel full of internet pornographers looks like?? Well there you have it. It was tough crowd at the last convention. Bonus points if you can spot me in the group. Not a smile in the room during the seminars… Lots of complaining about whats wrong with the internet, credit card companies, politics, whine whine whine for about 4 hours a day for many days straight. Kind of like school without recess. And the solution? Of course Mister X speaking on stage is your salvation if you do what he says, pay him, and follow his expert business model you will make it in this business another year. Yup… As you can see in the pic, everyones bored out of their wits and itching to see some tits. This would have been the perfect opportunity for a hot babe to streak through the stale room. She’d be really rich right now just for making everyone smile she’d become the next big internet sensation overnite. Most of these guys loosened up after lunch and the open bar and thats really when the real traffic trading, good ol’ boy backscratching, and under the table business deals go down.

In this day and age networking is everything, you have to get on the inside track and show your face every now and then. I’ve been doing adult sites since 1997 and only in the past few years started doing shows, and its amazing what you get out of them compared to sitting at home working as a one man army. Its possible to make it without branching out, but it’s oh so much easier to get your foot in the door, know people, and basically have a rep. of people to vouch for you. Friends helping friends I think they used to call it. Thats Jayvis from DatingGold and me to the right.

One of the things I did this time was hop on the “Porn Poker Tour” circuit just for fun and to meet a few new people. We didn’t play for real money, though I actually won $25 from Mitch from Netbilling, for winning the blackjack tournament. Thanks man. And as I mentioned before, webmasters love to ‘try’ to dance so the best clubs… Rain, Moon, Playboy Club, and all the “Fantasy Tower” suites were all rented out to us… even the world famous Hugh Heffner Skyvilla, which has a pool on the 35th floor balcony that is just so over the top.

At these little gatherings you meet all the faces behind the websites. All are friendly, most speak english, and it’s a very “international” room… accents and all. Few things in life are funnier than a real stuttering englishman from england too. Matter of fact some of the best times I had there were with the Aussies and UK heads. You guys and gals make me wanna visit down under fo sho.

So you don’t really need poker skills to play in the poker tour. I sure don’t got em. But you do need to have people skills to network. You have to get out there, extend your hand, and meet as many people as possible. When you go to a webmaster/producer get-together, bring your biz cards, samples, and promo packs, and get cracking. Work the room, then work the next room. Be likeable, do the cape exercise like Tony Robbins says… walk around like you’re wearing an invisible cape. (I do this all the time anyway its just default behavior) but this is the time to get your shine on, and when you come across with charisma and be about your business you will go home with a stack full of business cards and connections that would have taken you years to bridge while you’re online at home. So go and kick it at the shows. Don’t be a drunk ass just because its an open bar. Drink water, or whatever that fancy schmancy “mineral water” in green glass bottles is they have there. You want to be on top of your game and also have a great time. And remember you’re not there to hookup with your favorite porno chick unless you’re booking her for a scene. She’s there to smile, and give you one of her business cards and some free promo junk too. Its great fun if you play the game too. I’m gonna give out free promo condoms with my site logos printed on them at the next gathering. So, with all that said, if you think you have what it takes to succeed in this business then you’re crazy not to try it. Keep your dayjob(s) or better yet get another one to help fund this business, until you can see some dollar growth. Stick with it, do what something you enjoy, and you’ll make it for sure.