In nature, when a new habitat opens up, existing species adjust to that habitat by mutating into diverse sub-species. Evolutionists call this Adaptive Radiation. When the habitat we know as the Internet opened up, people from all walks of life filled the void. Some of those people got involved in the adult Internet.

"The adult webmaster convention or gathering is here to stay and fortunately, there are numerous events held year round and near you."

Many early Internet pornographers knew nothing about the sex entertainment industry. What they did know is that people liked dirty pictures and the web would enable those images to enter the homes of millions of surfers. While some built search portals and applications for the mainstream, others built websites and developed software for delivering digital smut to the masses. This is an example of Adaptive Radiation as applied to the World Wide Web.

In 1994, the largest computer products show in the world, COMDEX, officially banned all vendors of x-rated software and related merchandise. From reports, complaints were lodged against the x-rated vendors and COMDEX officials told the smutty people to leave the convention floor. When the x-rated vendors refused to vacate the premises, the electricity in their booths was shut off. Recognizing the introduction of a new habitat, those clever smutmongers applied Adaptive Radiation.

In 1995, they hosted their own show: AdultDex. AdultDex was a good first step but inherently flawed as the convention basically ignored the burgeoning adult Internet in favor of software developers and existing xxx print and media sellers. From the need for a more web-related venue came the birth of Cybernet Expo and then Internext Expo (now known simply as Internext). While Cybernet Expo is currently celebrating ten years, for a while, Internext was considered the most popular destination for people in our industry to sell, schmooze and celebrate. Internext is still a big deal but Cybernet Expo is experiencing a renaissance and many more webmaster shows have joined the fray as desirable events.

The adult Internet is a profession with a very solid community that exists almost entirely online. We buy content online. We join sponsor programs online. We market online. We find designers, programmers and helpful tutorials at online adult webmaster resource sites. We communicate with each other on Internet message boards, through ICQ and email. Despite all the telecommuting and cyber discussing, we are humans and humans like to see peers and fellow professionals in the flesh. No text-based or virtual environment can replace the benefits of meeting a person and shaking a hand.

The adult webmaster convention or gathering is here to stay and fortunately, there are numerous events held year round and near you. Unless you live in a country where online porn is illegal, you will discover that sometime in the next 12 months, an adult webmaster event will be scheduled to take place within reasonable traveling distance.

Do you live in Europe? Webmaster Access has a show coming up in Holland at the end of September. How about you residents in Central and South America? Did you know about the Epoch/Klixxx Island Gathering in Curacao this October? You folks in Australia need to be planning for the Sexpo 2007 that's taking place in Melbourne at the end of November. Canadian webmasters just finished attending the Qwebec Expo , this last August.

Americans? Pick a region from the west coast to the east coast to all regions in between. There is not an area of the world left out by the Internet porn industry when it comes to real-life conventions, gatherings and events. Attend one a year. Attend three. Attend as many as you can afford. The more show you go to, the more chances you will have to make deals, learn valuable skills and oh yeah, what was that other thing? That's right...SEE NAKED HOTTIES AND PARTY LIKE A PIMP!

Adult webmasters have evolved well in this new habitat called the Internet. We literally made a huge something out of practically nothing. When print and video pornographers wouldn't sell us their content, we made our own content. When Madison Avenue proved to be clueless on how to make money from the web, we blazed a trail for them. When the geeks kicked us out of their tech shows, we hosted our own conventions. The adult Internet is the very model of Adaptive Radiation.

If you want to keep up with the many adult webmasters conventions and shows coming up this year, you need to look no further than Cozy Frog's Convention Guide. Not only will you find a Calendar of upcoming events, you'll also find lots of great articles covering past conventions, tips for new attendees and links to all the sites that host these many great shows.