One of the most maddening feelings is arriving at a packed convention and not knowing where to go or how to get in.
I see it every year at AVN.
Rookie performers—and even a few veterans—show up expecting to be granted free admission to the fan expo. Or maybe they don’t know where to get their badge. Or maybe someone told them their expo ticket was good for Saturday night’s awards show, too.
But that simply isn’t the case. And they take it personally.
Because, after all, they were one of 60 nominees for the fan award for Best Ass. How could Carlos, the security guard, not know that? If anything, they should be ushered inside VIP style—past the line of A-listers and directly to the bar for a complimentary Ketel soda in a $20 souvenir cup.
But no … they’re not allowed into the arena, and they end up at the Dawg House sports bar sipping a Pabst Blue Ribbon while trekking the award winners on the PornCrush Twitter feed.
Don’t let this happen to you.
The key to minimizing stress during AVN week is to show up prepared. You need to have answered all those questions before you ever check in at Resorts World or—shhhhh!—next door at Circus Circus.
Luckily, the good folks at PornCrush are anxious to help. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions each year at AVN.
What does a performer need to do to secure a complimentary ticket to the AVN Awards?
RSVP before midnight THIS WEDNESDAY (1-17) at https://avn.com/awards-talent-2024/rsvp
Are cam models eligible for a free ticket, too?
Yes, although MyFreeCam Models will get their tickets through MFC, they will still pick them up where directed at the expo.
What about dates and plus-ones?
Any companion who is not talent will need to buy a companion pass—there's a field for this in the RSVP form.
If a performer is taking a date or plus-one, do they need to mention that in the RSVP for seating purposes?
See above
How does one gain access to the red carpet, and how will that person know if they’ve been granted access?
Any red carpet credentials granted will be given to the performer when they pick up their award ticket. Most people receive some sort of red carpet access.
Can performers bring dates and plus-ones to the red carpet?
Only if they stick together the entire time and take no solo photos once they’re on the actual red carpet, however, dates and plus-ones will able to step aside at the beginning of the red carpet to let the performer walk the red carpet alone if that is the performer’s wish.
Are performers notified by email if their ticket requests have been approved? Where do performers pick up their AVN Awards tickets?
Yes. This information is in the confirmation email.
How do performers gain admission to the AVN Fan Expo, which runs Wednesday-Saturday?
Either from somebody who's exhibiting (i.e., having them sign at a booth) or by buying a trade badge. So, if you’re not signing at a booth, you will need to buy a ticket. Single-day tickets start at $85, and four-day tickets start at $315. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/avn-adult-entertainment-expo-2024-tickets-651285982907?aff=Twitter
How are awards nominees chosen, and how are winners chosen?
A nominations committee, usually comprised of 5-7 people, selects the nominees. Then, a pool of voters from around the country votes on the winners.
What is “Grand Reel?”
The Grand Reel Award is for the feature movie of the year. These must include at least four sex scenes to be eligible.
What about “Featurette?”
A featurette is a sex scene that usually involves dialogue and storyline, like the scenes you see from brands such as Deeper, Pure Taboo, etc.
Why aren’t all the awards presented on stage during the ceremony?
AVN awards performers, companies, movies, and scenes across more than 80 categories. There isn’t enough time to present all of them on stage, so AVN presents the ones it considers to be most prominent.
Which awards are those?
I can’t remember all of them, but definitely count on these awards being presented on stage: Grand Reel, Female Performer of the Year, Male POY, Girl-Girl POY, Trans POY, Best New Starlet, Best Boy-Girl Scene, Best Girl-Girl Scene, Best Anal Scene, Best Oral Scene. Fan awards for Best Ass, Best Tits, and Favorite Cam Models are usually presented on stage, as well.
Who won Female Performer of the Year last year?
Kira Noir nabbed the trophy in 2023—hell yeah!—and is among the nominees again this year. Only two performers in history have won the award in consecutive years: Tori Black in 2010 and 2011; and Angela White in 2018, 2019, and 2020. White is a nominee this year, as well. Other notable winners include Sasha Grey, Jenna Haze, Riley Reid, Asa Akira, Adriana Chechik, Emily Willis, and Gianna Dior.
If I win an award, can I pick up the trophy that night?
Yes, although last year, only the awards presented on-stage were handed to performers the night of; the rest were mailed to recipients. Hopefully, an AVN staffer will be able to direct you that evening.
Any other advice?
Stay hydrated throughout the week (I’m a big fan of Liquid IVs; I get mine at GNC), and try to rest whenever you have some free time. The long days of signing and long nights of partying often take their toll just as the awards ceremony is about to hit.
Also—and I can’t stress this enough—please remember that being nominated for an award is a huge victory in itself. Most of the premier scene categories have hundreds of pre-noms. Making the top 10 is a massive accomplishment and something that should make you incredibly proud. And frankly, all ten scenes in each category are probably good enough to win. Just as all 15 finalists in the performer categories are good enough. Awards are subjective. Voters have different likes and dislikes. So don’t feel disrespected or shafted if you don’t win. A nomination is a huge sign of respect. That’s why I always tell people, “There may be only one champion, but every nominee should feel like a winner.”
Finally, and most importantly, buy the Toasted Coconut Raised Donut at Randy’s Donuts in Resorts World and thank me later.
