** This Event Took Place On: April 03 - 05, 2003!

Even after I reserved my room, booked my flight, I waffled about going to Phoenix. So often, conferences are hyped to be the best, the most fantastic, 'gotta attend' functions. Then, after arriving, only thirty people show up. Or less. Plus, there's a war going on. The threat of terrorism at airports and cities is real and frightening. Add a little SARS, the new pneumonia, and I had legitimate reasons to stay comfy cozy in my home and skip this forum totally. After all, there's always next year.

Reluctantly, I packed, still undecided. Only after Tev dropped me off at the airport did I resign myself to a fatalistic mind set. My flight went smoothly. Nobody tried to hijack the plane. I didn't see anyone wearing a mask, nor did I run into anyone who looked ill. While the landing left much to be desired, I survived the trip and landed at the Phoenix airport without incident.

"There was time to talk, time to get to know others. It wasn't just walking by, shaking hands, throwing cards in each others faces."

The hotel was lovely, the service impeccable. Upon arrival, I immediately ran into my close friend Marsha (Princess) from RatedHot, known for her huggs and smiles. We checked in, went to our rooms, freshened up and began to get excited about his conference. I had never attended the Phoenix Forum, even though it's been around for five years or so. I had heard there'd be at least two to three hundred webmasters there and I was looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I knew that Kath Blackwell from Klixxx would be there. I had seen the list of attendees, from major players in the industry to those just starting out.

From the moment I walked into the bar until I returned home, it was non stop networking and fun. Wednesday was check in for many who arrived early. We all gravitated to the lounge and got reacquainted from Vegas. I met so many people and the conference hadn't even started.

By Thursday, attendees had arrived en masse. The weather was gorgeous, so we spent the day at the pool. I love this business. I don't get out much, nor do my fellow webmasters. What a way to meet and greet. Wandering around the pool, drink in hand, I was able to say hello to people in this industry I had never met before and see others with whom I had only talked to for a few minutes in Vegas. Such is the difference between Internext and a conference like The Phoenix Forum. There was time to talk, time to get to know others. It wasn't just walking by, shaking hands, throwing cards in each others faces.

I was most impressed with the coordinators of the forum. Everything ran smoothly. The hotel knew we were coming, as this has been the setting for this forum for the past several years. The people who were responsible for our good time had things well in control and the registration ran smoothly, the reception on Thursday was primo, especially when there was food and drink offered. Open bars make for good bedfellows in this industry. By Thursday night, we were all the best of friends.

The seminars were held on Friday. Keynote speakers talked about the state of our industry. I was impressed with their knowledge of the current state of affairs. They all have their eye on the immediate and long term future of our industry. Especially interesting were CCBill and Epoch, addressing the fears of webmasters who are wondering where processing will be a year from now. I felt more confident after that particular seminar. It was refreshing to hear the sky may not be falling, after all.

American webmasters have a tendency to ignore international traffic. I was particularly glad to hear that topic brought to the forefront. There's money to be made from all over the world and now I see the beginnings of options for American webmasters to capitalise on money from Europe and Asia.

The talk about popups was fascinating. I'm a great believer in pop up ads and I assumed everyone else thought they were groovy. Colour me surprised when I learned not every webmaster thinks pop ups are a good thing.

There was some discussion about Acacia. Go to Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/business/2003/04/02/cz_sl_0402porn.html) and read all about the latest news on this ridiculous company. During the buffet lunch, I had the opportunity to speak to Big Bear, the originator of the Phoenix Forum. What he said made me breathe much easier. It was his opinion that Acacia is going to go away. I believe him.

The seminars were informative and covered a wide range of topics, from the pros and cons of trials to customer service to the problems with retention; there was lively debate between the panelists and the nearly full room of webmasters. Thoroughly enjoyable and eminently educating.

After the seminars, many webmasters went off to any of the several parties, which were very well organised; while others explored Phoenix-Scottsdale restaurants for business meetings. There were buses to shuttle everyone from one place to another, making it easy to party hop.

On Saturday, there was a newbie orientation. The discussion was lively and covered topics essential to the future success of every newbie coming into this industry. Topics, such as hosting, continuing education, choosing a sponsor, stats were covered in depth by a panel, whose combined years in the industry totaled three hundred years.

The questions were poignant and on topic and the answers were straightforward. One point was discussed over and over again, which stressed that this is a business. Creating a plan is essential. The importance of networking was brought up as a necessary component to achieving financial gain. It was gratifying to hear those points emphasised.

The gay marketing seminar was very interesting to me and was one of the reasons I wanted to attend this conference. As a straight webmaster, I thought it imperative to attend this particular discussion panel to hear what gay webmasters have to say about their particular audience. Marketing techniques were discussed in depth and the speakers all agreed that retention is the name of their marketing game.

The farewell bash, held by the pool, was well attended. It provided a last chance to close deals, create contacts and have some fun. Especially when there's free food and an open bar.

I've been to many conferences. What impressed me about this one was the way the hotel treated us. At breakfast, one morning, one of the waiters remembered my room number, having delivered coffee to me once. The entire staff was courteous and helpful, very accepting of our profession. They went out of their way to accommodate a bunch of webmasters who came from all over the world. The sponsors of the Phoenix Forum, with elegant efficiency, made sure our stay was flawless. Welcoming and gracious, our hosts ensured an excellent learning experience. They were always accessible, ready to assist with any questions and provided all of us with an environment that promoted learning, networking, and a good time.

My thanks to the sponsors and the State of Arizona. As I flew home, I was smiling.