Page 56 - AVN April 2016

Grooby Debuts TEAcon Stockroom opens doors to trans gathering
by MARKKERNES
Steven Grooby hasn’t been letting any grass grow
Since founding Grooby.com 20 years ago, owner
under his feet. His latest concept was a convention
for trans performers that took place March 5.
When TEAcon opened at 1 p.m. in the performance
space next to The Stockroom on Sunset Boulevard,
several folding tables had already been set up, stacked
with signed photos and DVDs.
“We’re busy making lots more FTM porn,” said
Texas-based Michelle Austin, displaying DVDs from her
company, Kennston Productions, with the help of several
trans men, including her frequent star Dicky Johnson.
“I have a DVD that just came out, Dicky Johnson
Misadventures,” Johnson added. “I’m also co-owner of
FTM.xxx. shooting all the best trans men out there that
we can find. I am based out of Philly, so I do have an
easier time finding some trans guys. I’m in T-Boi Strokers.
I do have my own website, DickyJohnson.com, and we’re
doing pretty good with that. I’m really excited; trans guy
porn is up and coming. It’s starting to blow up.”
Right next door to Austin was legendary performer
Tyra Scott, and she mentioned that she also has a few
projects in the works.
I’m shooting new content for my
website, new stuff that I have
never done before, while I’m here:
I’m gonna be fucking some trans
men, so I’m excited about that.
—Tyra Scott
“I’ve got my new DVD out here today, American T-Girl
Stroker: Tyra Scott,” she said. “It’s four solo and two
bonus hardcore scenes, so I’m excited about that, and
I’m shooting new content for my website, new stuff that
I have never done before, while I’m here: I’m gonna be
fucking some trans men, so I’m excited about that.”
Another veteran, TS Jesse, was there in meet-and-
greet mode. Along with photos and slicks, one thing that
set Jesse’s table apart was her sex doll from CalExotics.
“I’m not the first to have one of these,” she noted,
but added “I would say mine has probably the most
realistic face. … They also molded a dildo off of
me too, but my contract with them is over now, so
these are collectables. They’re pretty much sold out
everywhere, so they’re hard to get.”
Another long-distance traveler was Fran Marquez
of Mancini Productions, and her table was stacked
with various “she-male” titles.
“We are busy shooting, shooting, shooting,” she
stated. “We are pretty good at shooting solos, and
we’ve won several awards for those—but of course,
we’d always like to win more. We’re one of the top
solo sites, but we’re definitely low-key people. We
like to do our little shoots; we definitely like to bring
out the beauty in all of our models.”
Also on hand was actress/director Aiden Starr. “I
love all of the models who are here right now,” she
said. “All of these ladies are in my movies. I just shot
Aubrey [Kate] this morning, then Ubered her over
here so she wouldn’t miss the convention. We are
shooting Hot for Transsexuals 2 right now. Everybody
loved the first volume, and I’m shooting all sorts of
stuff for Evil Angel: cuckold movies, BDSM movies,
interracial movies—all of the weird stuff. I like all of
the niche-y things.”
One attendee that everyone seemed to want to
chat up was actress/director Simone Sonay, down
from San Francisco to scout new talent. “There’s
always a little bit of something on the books,” she
said, referring to the shooting schedule at Kink,
where she hangs her hat. “I’m their talent recruiter.”
One of the biggest bits of TS news came from
Kelly Klaymour. “Coming up is my VR website,” she
noted. “I know it will be the first solo site for a trans
model. If I can beat Steve here at Grooby, I’ll be the
second U.S. company with TS VR, and as far as I
know, the third worldwide, so I’m trying to jump the
gun as quickly as possible.”
Klaymour also been spending her time in
San Francisco as a production assistant, helping
Mona Wales in her directorial debut for Grooby
Productions. “It was incredible!” she exclaimed. “It
good makeup and awesome sets.”
Trixxy Von Tease, at a table near the stage, said
she had mostly been working on her website,
TrixxyVonTease.xxx. “I’ve got a lot of new content
coming out, a lot of fun stuff. Me and my lovely
companion/friend Brittany Boykins, we’re going
to do a shoot pretty soon for Tgirl.porn, and that
should be pretty good,” she said.
Right next to Trixxy was 10-year industry veteran
Honey Foxxx, though looking at her youthful face,
one would be hard pressed to believe that. “I got
in the business when I was 18,” she confided. “I’ve
been doing movies, and I just launched my website
this past December, so I’m doing that and shooting
for all the regular companies: Grooby, Kink,
FoxxyGirls.”
There were also quite a few newcomers, and fans
seemed just as happy to see them.
“I moved to L.A. last September to work for Venus
Lux Entertainment,” said Becca Benz, an emigree
from Portland who spent 14 years in the Midwest.
“I write a column for her magazine, TransGlobal. I
haven’t done much modeling; I’ve been doing more
writing, but I’m planning to get back into modeling
and do more shoots, possibly with Grooby.”
“I’m 18 years old; just got into the industry in
October; pretty new but, you know, up and coming,”
said Aspen Brooks. “I’ve done about 12 or 13 scenes
so far, a lot with Joey Silvera; I shot with him a
couple of times this week, and I’ve worked with just
about every big company in the trans world so far.”
Aspen hails from Switzerland by way of Ohio,
where she’s lived for 10 years, and commutes to
California and Las Vegas for work.
One performer who’s been webcamming for the
past year, mainly on Chaturbate and Streamate, is
Sarah Webb, who did her first photo set for Grooby
just two months ago.
“I’m a cam girl; I just did the porn shoot as a side
because I thought, ‘Oh, this is interesting. I wonder
what it would be like to do this’,” Sarah said. “I’ve
just met so many interesting people in this business.
It’s wonderful. I love it. It’s an interesting backstory
FEATURE
Seen at the Con From left, Kelly Klaymour, Honey Foxxx, Michelle Austin,
Dicky Johnson, Eddie Wood, Israel Hammer, TS Jesse and Tyra Scott.
Photos by Chris King/ReelSeduction.com.
56 | AVN.com | 4.16
features five TS performers, and each one got to pick
their scene partner. It was non-formula, so it was,
‘Camera’s on. Have fun.’ Super-organic with people
who were super-attracted to each other, and with
to my life, and I’m lovin’ it.”
All in all, one would have to call the first TEAcon
a success, and Steven Grooby said he plans to have
another one next year.