Jimquisition: Booth Babes

[Kuomon]

I think it has been mentioned a few times, but why don't we have more boothhunks? Personally, I think there is a place for attractive men and women to be presenting products at a trade show. My only requirements would be that they either:

1) Dress attractively while still looking professional. Microsoft Japan does a great job following this mantra and should be used as an example.

or

2) Dress in a manner that's thematically relevant to the game. If this means revealing outfits like the Juliet Starling case, then it should be taken into account when setting up the different sections of the convention and how the booths are set-up.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that we are somehow being progressive as a community by shunning sexuality all together from our gatherings. If anything, it seems more like we would simply be covering ourselves in embarrassment to avoid more social stigma, and I much rather be embarrassed about Xbox live generation, than a group of models promoting a product.

 

[pffh]

I'd prefer that conventions would force companies to have an equal number of skimpy clothed hunks as they have of skimpy clothed babes instead of banning the babes.

 

[The Lunatic]

It's a tough one really, to an extent, I find it a bit of an insult that people think people will only pay attention to a product because it's flanked by tits.

But, it works.


On the topic of jobs though, I don't think a model's only venture is being a booth babe at a gaming convention, if that's your only gig, you've got a very empty year.

I mean, yes, saying "No Booth Babes" means that there's no longer that job opening, but, I'm not sure that this will mean anyone will go without work.


Oh and an equal hunk to babe ration definitely needs to happen.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

How about compromise? I know we're not exactly great at that but hear me out.

If the "booth babes" were taught about the games or companies they are playing eye-candy for, could answer questions intelligently, and dressed attractively but not overtly sexy (trade in the bikini for a blazer and skirt combo perhaps? - or hell even some cosplay costumes for crying out loud, provided they cover all the essential bits with a half degree of modesty) - then they could be booth workers and still have a job and still be attractive and everybody wins.

I have no problem with hiring attractive people to represent your product - every advertiser does it and there's some science behind why (as in we're drawn to people with certain features - hence the term "attractive" it attracts), but there's a level of objectification going on with booth babes that's entirely inappropriate to the point that it demeans us all. There are never enough people at booths to talk intelligently about the products to the throngs of people who want to inquire - so solve both problems and have these women learn about the product to be actual workers of the booth instead of animated pinups.

 

[Emo-Hawk]

I can say now being the stereotype that I am, if the genders were reversed I would feel uncomfortable having some well toned lady eye candy strutting his body around to get attention over to his booth. It would make me feel uncomfortable as I am an insecure person and most likely be one all of my life. So I can feel for the ladies if they feel like they have to live up to "high standards" but why not bring in the booth hunks with the booth babes, all the socially awkward would have no idea were to look.
And then when you finally pick up that cute girl who you keep bumping into through out the con, you can both stare longingly into each others eyes, thinking of those sexy booth people that everyone just loves so much.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I'm not sure the argument of them losing their job is that much of a strong one. Yeah, they'd lose out on that one-off, 3 days of work or whatever, but I'd imagine they still have jobs outside of that, hell, they may even just work somewhere else that weekend. It's not like E3 stop hiring them and they are then forced to go stand in line at the unemployment office.

Hell, it might even create the same amount of jobs for other people, such as Break Dancers. Which as you pointed out, would rock.

Keep in mind that Jim did say that this could be the case if you follow the anti-booth babe argument to its logical conclusion. If female models aren't appropriate in gaming conventions, where else might they not be appropriate? It's not like gender issues are uniquely a gaming community problem. I mean are we special? Is it okay for abnormally(and sometimes artificially) attractive women to dominate the fashion world, race tracks and beer advertisements when it is apparently such a huge deal for them to show up at E3?

I don't see how booth babes are impinging on the collective female consciousness more than they are anywhere else. So an argument against booth babes is really an argument against modelling in general. Maybe there is some merit to that, but I don't see the profession going anywhere as long as men are visual creatures and women are willing to indulge that trait.

 

[blackrave]

Well, I have nothing against booth babes.
But there there is one issue with them.
I feel awkward FOR THEM.
There they are dressed as a characters they don't know or care much about (as far as I know).
Half of those that surrounds them wants to fuck them.
Other half envy their beauty and wants them to disappear from here.
So yeah that position sucks, but that's a job and if you won't do that there are 5 other girls breathing into your back, because jobs are limited resource in modeling (and bills need to be payed).
And that is why I feel sorry for them.
Because any sane human being would despise such working conditions.

P.S.And regarding fucking them- yes I'm from that camp too. And that makes me feel slightly guilty, because I prefer having sexual relationship with someone I can appreciate as human being, not slutty dressed fuckdolls.

 

[T3hSource]

snip

Sure,but now were talking about representation of a product,rather than "sex sells".I see your point and I'm sure no one would have a problem with having this,but then again I'm sure that's how the booth babe gig started in the first place.Ugh...I guess it just ends up on what the employer requires of their representattives.

 

[LightspeedJack]

Why not just have some hunky dudes present some booths. Then everyone's happy.

 

[Alandoril]

Well as a bi man, I wouldn't be offended by the presence of male models. Having said that, the booths should attract attention on the merits of the games not the half-naked people milling around them.

 

[Dascylus]

snip

Sure,but now were talking about representation of a product,rather than "sex sells".I see your point and I'm sure no one would have a problem with having this,but then again I'm sure that's how the booth babe gig started in the first place.Ugh...I guess it just ends up on what the employer requires of their representattives.

You're right..

Cross fingers and hope for change then.
I wonder if there is a future for booth-hunks?

 

[Kiba Bloodfang]

Thank god for booth babies.

 

[maninahat]

I?m firmly anti booth babe on the basic that if they?re pretty woman willing to do that kind of job they can easily find another job.
Plus speaking as a asexual person I just hate thing like booth babes especially when connected with video games.

"Easily find another job". Easily? The way the World is right now, you're sounding very optimistic. especially when the job requirements of a booth babe begins and ends with "looking pretty"; it's not the most transferable skill set, unless you restrict your job search to more modelling (which is tough enough to get gigs in as it is) or bar work.

 

[jmarquiso]

It won't eliminate jobs. Models will model elsewhere. Booth Babes come from model agencies. It isn' tlike they're full time with specific companies.

The same is true for car shows, gun shows, and the like.

 

[Susan Arendt]

I don't care, I'm just sick and tired of all these gender "issues" popping up fucking everywhere. Chill the fuck down, not everything has to be taken so goddamn seriously.

People wanting to be able to their jobs is something to take seriously. This is as much a problem for men as it is for women. I know plenty of men who would rather not have to deal with booth babes simply because they're distracting. It's a half naked woman, so naturally they want to look, but then they feel bad for looking, but then they feel bad they feel bad....and all of that gets in the way of them just trying to do their job.

Also, the way some people behave towards booth babes is just plain disgusting. I've seen men (not journalists, I do want to point out), treating these women like they're at the show to provide sexual favors. I personally don't give a damn if a show has spokesmodels or not, but I shouldn't have to deal with a guy trying to stick his hand down someone's booty shorts while I'm trying to do an interview nearby. That stuff happens because some people simply cannot be trusted to behave professionally.

 

[jmarquiso]

"Easily find another job". Easily? The way the World is right now, you're sounding very optimistic. especially when the job requirements of a booth babe begins and ends with "looking pretty"; it's not the most transferable skill set, unless you restrict your job search to more modelling (which is tough enough to get gigs in as it is) or bar work.

Booth Babes come from modelling agencies hired by ad and PR firms. They work many different shows. So they don't get called for one show, they get called to the next. Like pretty much all models that are getting started. Further, these models also tend to do this for secondary and not primary income, until they get contracts on a regular basis. Like most freelancers.

I used to work in entertainment and auditioned these men and women. It's tough out there, but it won't put them out of work.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Fuck that. The booth babes absolutely must stay.

However, I also demand stand studs. I want my conventions to smell thickly of both high quality estrogen and testosterone. Conventions as is smell entirely too thickly of the wrong kinds of dude nectar. Let's make them smell like the right kinds.

 

[Aureliano]

Finally! The first time I've found anything related to the women in binders meme funny. Sometimes I think the only thing that draws Democrats together is a mutual hatred of Republicans (not to imply the same isn't the case about Republicans).

Booth babes and the internet. Now that the internet is going through its knee-jerk 'feminism' phase, I'm glad that Jim's on the side of being reasonable just so that he doesn't get shouted down because of the sheer number of penises he has (I'ma guess at least six). Beyond anything else, let's avoid repressive dress codes as the cure to the booth babes issue. The western world is enough like Victorian bloody England already.

 

[DonTsetsi]

When will people learn, sex sells, but it only sells itself. Dress the girls, you can use their natural charm without disrobing them.