And looking at their website, looks like those Exxxotica is somewhere between those two in terms of size and talent levels, assuming that everyone who is listed actually attends. Also, my perspective is a little different than being there as an attendee since I have been fortunate to have been at these shows either being introduced to a bunch of people by Venus at AVN 6 years ago or actually being there as a vendor, sharing a booth with Nikita.
With those caveats, here are my thoughts:
1) If you're any sort of porn fan at all (meaning that you'd recognize some porn chix if you saw them on the street. You're a REAL fan if you can recognize them by their genitalia!), these shows can be a hoot so probably worth checking out for at least a day. The line up they have listed seems pretty decent, comparable to that at Adultcon so that's a good sign. Again, tho, remember we're talking about adult entertainers, about whom when you are trying to coordinate them being at a certain place at a certain time, the phrase "herding cats" leaps to mind! In other words, don't have your heart set on seeing anyone of those listed in particular. On the other hand, Vicky Vette and Sara Jay have also been at every one of the shows I've been to so they might be a good bet!
2) I'd hold off buying a three day pass until I got there, even in you're a huge porn fan (I count myself as one, I definitely recognize Alana Evan's clit when I see it!) one day may be more than sufficient. There really isn't too much to distinguish one day from the other at these events (other than the lineups, which do vary day to day) and even at AVN, it only took me a 1/2 day to cruise completely thru the venue.
3) All that said, the phrase, the phrase "YMMV" rears it's homely head in this arena. It's been interesting to me that some of the girls are astonishingly pleasant and gracious (Nina Hartley and India Summer were two that fall into that category) while others are so downright bitchy, you wonder why they're there! Vicky Vette and Sophie Dee fall into this category, indeed Sophie stopped by our booth to talk to a friend of hers who was helping us out and was a bitch to me in my own booth! The worst was Tory Lane, albeit, I understand why she was so nasty: She got on the elevator with me and Nikita and Tory's beau started hitting on Nikita real hard as we walked down to the convention floor. I tried to strike up a conversation with her, just some normal chit chat, not asking dumb ass questions like, "how many dicks have you sucked?" Her response was to react like she was royalty and who the hell was I to even be talking to her?!? I shoulda asked her how many dicks she'd sucked. That morning.
4) As to the hobby question, I suggest that you tread lightly and unless you're pretty sure that it's something they're down with, know that you might get shut down pretty hard. You may want to stick the girls that you can find elsewhere as having done or doing the escorting thing, including here. Having WAY too much time on my hands, I did a little research for you and found that Sara Jay has a review as recently as February of this year, Tory has a bunch but the most recent is from June, 2013 (and to her credit, they're great reviews, apparently she'll be nice to you when you hand her a wad of cash) and Sunny Lane was at the Bunny Ranch in 2009 but no review action since.
Regardless, discretion would be the better part of valor should you decide to approach anyone or their "manager." That said, it can be done. When we were at AVN the first time, I had a friend of mine who does a great Jack Sparrow impersonation so we used him to draw attention to his booth. I ended up talking to a girl's manager about my business and my friend fell in love with her (who is supposed to be at Exxxotica, BTW). So I inquired discreetly and found out that she was indeed available for "privates." (Which was astonishing to my friend: "You mean there's an industry within the industry?" Umm, yeah, bro, they fuck for a living on camera for living so it's not that much of stretch they'd do it without one!) It's also more of a seller's market at these things so I wouldn't be surprised if the rates were elevated as well.
Finally, I strongly suggest a full length rain coat, especially if you do indeed go alone. Have fun!
