Is it me or is everyone else stupid?

Ok, I never posted an update for day 2 or day 3 of domainfest. This was mainly because I was either tired, drunk, battle weary or just jet lagged. Actually, I can’t remember what my reasoning was but, in anycase, I was in bed by 11pm on both days (leaving the others here at domainfest to party on until some ungodforsaken hour). So let me run you through what I know of on days 2 and 3 of domainfest 2008.

I guess like all domain conferences, it gets a little groundhogday’esque after day 1 and there’s not many differentials going on to distinguish days 2 and 3 from day 1 (despite what Ron Jackson at dnjournal may say). There were some pretty cool highlights littered about domainfest on the Tuesday. The mighty Frank Schilling gave a keynote speech and whilst the Q&A was pretty much sycophantically directed by Ron Sheridan (who I think would like Frank Schilling to be his love child – based on the worship like manner which he affords him) – (**post edit* Im sure most realise by now that 99.4% of my comments are only said in jest) Frank, as ever, was mildly self defamating, down to earth and extremely positive about all things domaining. He mentioned that even in the worst case scenario the top 5 to 7m domains will always retain value. Same old same old apart from that. There was an air of multi-room jealousy apparent about the room when Frank then gave a brief review of his movements leading up to domainfest.. Flew himself by private jet to Las Vegas etc to party, quick stop off for domainfest and then back to his Caribbean paradise. All possible because of his investment in domain names.

Actually, the highlight of the Frank Schilling speech for me was his derogatory comments on .mobi – with the top .mobi echelon there listening in the room. Someone sitting directly behind the .mobi guys even heckled some obscenity about the extension during Frank’s keynote which did cause some stifled laughter about the room. No disrespect to .mobi (and i would have laughed if it had been any extension) but you have laugh at domainers sometimes. I think the .mobi guys then quickly hustled off shortly after Frank’s speech, probably to avoid any awkward questions about what Mr Schilling had to say. Either that or they went back to their hotel room to shill bid the .mobi domains in the live auction.. j/k.. (You’ll notice the tongue in cheek comments again)

Later, there was a “bazaar” domainsponsor party.. I guess I should write it was the Bizarre DS party .. For there were lots and lots of nigh on naked females masquerading as some sort of Turkish belly dancers. I would have preferred to have seen Ron Sheridan do the belly dancing (in fact I would have paid) but I think that may not have gone down so great with  people still eating (see above for tongue in cheek disclaimer notice). Another highlight of the evening was some English girl who was waitressing and serving aperitifs who informed me at least 3 times (and I heard her say what she did at least a further 4 times to other people) how she was an “actress and a model and a documentary film maker”.. Conveniently leaving out “butcher, baker, candlestick maker and waitress”. Her job to hand around tiny cornish pasties on a plate was merely just a sideline.

Between the Devil and the Dark Blue Sea

The live snapnames auction on the final day of domainfest began with an air of expectation. As ever, I was a little more cynical. I reviewed the names being auctioned off during lunch and, before i go into the auction in detail, let me inform you that the 4 word .mobi I mentioned in part 1 of my domainfest review never actually sold. There’s a surprise. My cynicism stemmed from a feeling that a lot of the names had starting amounts that looked like actual sale prices. Now, im no “seer” but my mild negativity did somewhat come to fruition as name after name slipped through without any bids. Unlike the TRAFFIC conference, I think domainfest was more full of domainers rather than the high-rollers seen at TRAFFIC. There’s also not the euphoria and peacock feather masquerading that goes on at TRAFFIC and, its a pretty new conference, so maybe the sales will come in time. The room wasn’t half as full as one might expect and perhaps only a handful of delegates were doing most of the bidding. Ironically, the hard hitting buyers were the domain parking owners rather than the domainers themselves. The few bidding wars there were were generally between Fabulous, Parked.com and TrafficZ.. Im not sure what message this sends out..

Looking back on my domainfest review, I realise Ive not actually given much of an insight into the conference and the bulk of my blog looks like a rant from some disillusioned cynic. So, before i sign off, let me just give accreditation for the good folk (usually from fledging companies setting out in the business) who took the time and the imagination to turn up and set out their stall.

* Donna Mahony and Sally L from the “domainers choice awards” and “domainboardroom.com”

* Jane from webmoney.ru

* Mark Fulton from dotsauce.com

* Tarry who failed to sell newyork.net but gave everyone a few laughs

* Roxanne McHenry and her incredible adsenseaccelerator.com program

Ok, thats it, i’m signing off… There were, im sure, many more folk there with good products to sell but when youre lost in a strange town (if you excuse “the Jam” paraphrasing) you tend to find a bunch of buddies and just hang with them. Really enjoyed the show, well organised, good value and I look forward to Paris in the Summer. Ive my fingers crossed that domainfest continues on going from strength to strength without the continual price ramps which I hear are planned.