Every January, the adult entertainment industry converges on Las Vegas, bringing its biggest stars, new companies hoping to break into the big time, and thousands upon thousands of fans.

It's a carnival of flesh — with films looping hardcore scenes, women in barely-there outfits and lingerie, and people jostling in line to get a moment, perhaps a smile and a hug, from their favorite actress (or, occasionally, actor).

The Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE) is also a place where deals are signed. Toy companies court distributors to carry their new lines and big mergers have been known to happen here.

While the industry's most ardent fans make a pilgrimage here each year, not everyone is able to make the trip. For those people, here's a slice of life in a day at the porn show.

By Chris Morris
Posted 18 January 2013

James Deen is the biggest star the industry has seen since Sasha Grey — and possibly Jenna Jameson. A nine-year veteran of the industry (who still shoots up to 30 scenes per month), his boy next door looks and approachable nature have helped him jump into the mainstream world, most famously appearing in "The Canyons" with Lindsay Lohan. Rather than spending AEE at a signing booth, though, like most other stars, Deen hung out on a couch at his own booth, selling merchandise and chatting, posing, and signing autographs for any fans who asked.

The Wicked Pictures contract star led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony for AEE that allows fans into the event on Day Two. She was also actively promoting her own line of sex education DVDs, as well as Wicked's latest releases.

Traditional porn stars might have longer lines of fans waiting for autographs, but the women who pose on WebCam sites gathered impressive crowds, as well. These models, some of the top performers on MyFreeCams, not only worked the show, pressing the flesh with fans, but worked the cams as well, broadcasting live to thousands of watchers, many of whom "tipped" various amounts along the way. The Webcam field is already contributing more than $1 billion per year to the industry's bottom line — and is one of its fastest-growing segments.

An actor, director, and producer, Jordan also runs one of the few adult studios that is keeping its primary focus on the video market. While other studios are cutting their wholesale rates, Jordan takes pride in the comparatively high rates his studio charges, saying that the quality of the films makes it worth it. It's a strategy that has worked for him to date, as the studio is still profitable.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" has been a boon for the entire porn industry, but no segment has seen bigger growth than the fetish area. Blindfolds, whips, and other toys for the sexually adventurous have been in high demand, with some retailers unable to keep them on store shelves. Virtually every toy company at the Adult Novelty Expo had some sort of "Fifty Shades"-inspired product line, but specialty companies like Flogger Knows Best — which specializes in handcrafted wood and leather products — opted to appeal directly to show goers, rather than distribution companies.

No, there's not a porn parody of Mario in the works — at least, not yet. Actress Madison Ivy, however, knows how to draw a crowd to her booth, with her skimpily dressed version of Nintendo's mascot. (Another star, Heather Starlet, was nearby, dressed as Mario's brother Luigi.) While most actresses opt for either a club dress or lingerie, some choose a more extreme approach to attract attention. In Ivy's case, it worked like a charm. The crowd around the booth was thick all day Thursday.

When porn superstars decide the time has come to stop performing, there's often a career conundrum in front of them. The biggest performers — like '80s sensations Christy Canyon and Ginger Lynn, pictured here — often find a new job adjunct to the industry. Sirius XM Radio's Radio Sex channel broadcast live from AEE, with both former and current adult stars relaying events of the show to their satellite radio audience.

The bulk of a star's day is spent in a chair, signing autographs for fans, who can wait for more than an hour to get a minute or two of conversation, an autograph, and often a picture with the actress. The sessions last several hours in a row, but they're essential in keeping the bond with fans. (Enormous bodyguards are always close at hand to ensure those fans don't get too caught up in the moment, though that's a very rare event at AEE.) Here BiBi Jones, who retired from the industry earlier this year, but came back for this year's AEE, greets her fans.

The godfather of porn never fails to turn heads at the show — or draw a crowd. Jeremy appeared at the HotMovies.com booth, handing out free 30-minute gift cards to fans. He was just as active in promoting his Ron de Jeremy line of rum. Sometimes better known by his nickname "The Hedgehog," Jeremy has been an active adult performer since the 1970s. He holds a Guinness World Record for the most appearances in adult films, with more than 2,000 to his name.

While a porn convention seems an odd place to find a religious group renting booth space, this nonprofit Christian Website is a constant presence at not only AEE, but pretty much any porn trade show that welcomes the general public. The group gives out Bibles with a cover that reads "Jesus Loves Porn Stars" — and founder Craig Gross regularly debates Ron Jeremy about the porn industry around the country (the two are good friends). The group's main focus is not to damn the porn industry, but to assist people who are trying to recover from porn addiction.