Savvas Chrisodoulou, Erotica 2004, Uk, Olympia, interview

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Savvas Chrisodoulou

Profession: Erotica Boss

Can you describe your typical Erotica festival goer?
Always a difficult one to answer particularly as there is a slight shift annually. If I had to pin it down I would say that the typically visitor is a couple aged 25-50 years, middle class, white colour, with higher education etc.

What is the biggest growing sector of erotica (body piercing, fetish fashion etc)
The industry products are pretty constant. We actually limit all categories to pre-defined and pre-set limits to give our visitors a wide range of goods and services whilst encouraging competition amongst the exhibitors to maximise the price offers to the visitors. The most significant change in the last 8 years is the increase in women exhibitors. What started off as a totally male dominated exhibitor base has now increasingly seen more women involved and interestingly enough owning their own businesses, not just as "decoration of stands".

Is there any part of erotica that you are uncomfy with, or does anything go?!
What is good for me may not be for somebody else and vice versa. We do not censor or prevent goods or services so long as they are legal. Our objective is to give wide variety without causing offence. For example hard core films are not everybody’s choice, certainly not in a public venue. Therefore we segregate these to an area known as the ’video village’ with clear signage warning visitors of what they are likely to see if they enter this sector.

What is the best thing you look forward to during the festival?
Seeing the great variety of visitors from across the country - indeed more and more from overseas.

And when its all over - what is the first thing you do?
Have a good drink and begin to unwind - it takes many days to come back down.

Erotica 2004: Nov 19 - 21, 2004
Olympia Conference Centre
London, W14
www.erotica-uk.com