Today in The Lowdown: A new online magazine focusing entirely on ccTLDs has launched at ccTLDInvestors.com. Plus, ICANN closes its meeting in Nairobi by announcing a new Trademark Clearinghouse database.

The Rise (and Fall?) of Domain Conferences - For Years They Have Thrived But Can They Survive Oversaturation?

By June of 2009 I had already been to six major domain conferences in the U.S. and Europe in as many months. Between mid-April and mid-June I was averaging one show every two weeks. Clearly the conference calendar had gotten a bit crowded but I figured it probably would never be that busy again. Fast forward to 2010. The annual show schedule began Jan. 21 with the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas conference and over the next 23 days I wound up attending three major domain conferences - an average of one every 8 days.

That is not a complaint. I continue to get great value from every show I attend, but it raises the question - can the industry continue to support the number of conferences that are now being held? Here is a detailed history of the domain conference business and a  look at its future prospects in an increasingly crowded field. 

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2010 DMG Review: Domainer Mardi Gras Dialed Everything Up a Notch For the Show's Second Run in New Orleans

By Ron Jackson

The 2010 Domainer Mardi Gras (DMG) conference was held in New Orleans Feb. 11-13, right in the middle of the world famous Mardi Gras celebration that brought hundreds of thousands of revelers to the Big Easy. With the show's headquarters located at the New Orleans Marriott, DMG attendees were just steps away from the French Quarter and Mardi Gras ground zero on Bourbon Street.  

The 2009 debut edition of Domainer Mardi Gras was a big hit with attendees but show sponsor Parked.com managed to dial everything about the 2010 event up another notch. Credit the conference's Executive Director Michael Ward and his team for strengthening the show's content while simultaneously providing attendees with a VIP Mardi Gras experience.  Click here for the Full Story 

Opportunity is Knocking and DOMAINfest Global 2010 Attendees Are Ready to Answer After Record Breaking Show in Santa Monica

By Ron Jackson

After debuting with three consecutive top notch annual shows in Hollywood, California, Los Angeles based Oversee.net took the risk of tampering with success and moved their popular DOMAINfest Global conference across town for the 2010 edition that ran January 26-28 in Santa Monica. I've always believed in the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but soon after arriving at the new venue, I understood that the show's organizers were putting their faith in a different time tested axiom, "never rest on your laurels."

That philosophy and a willingness to spend the time and money it takes to continually one up themselves resulted in a record breaking crowd turning out in Santa Monica where DOMAINfest Global cemented its reputation as a can't miss event.  Click here for the Full Story 

Extreme Makeover - A New Leader, New Venue and New Format Made the 2010 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas Conference a Pivotal Event

By Ron Jackson

The 2010 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas conference that  ran at the Hard Rock Hotel January 21-23 marked a turning point in the popular series that began with the first large scale domain show in October 2004. This was the first time that conference co-founders Rick Schwartz and Howard Neu were not at the helm of a T.R.A.F.F.I.C. conference in America.  Under a new partnership agreement, Schwartz and Neu turned the operation of five of this year's six T.R.A.F.F.I.C. shows to Rick Latona - starting with the Las Vegas event. 

Latona introduced several changes with this conference, including a new show venue at the Hard Rock Hotel and a revamped show schedule. Despite a technical snafu that interrupted the live domain auction, the overall end result was another crowd pleasing show that upheld the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. tradition.  Click here for the Full Story