Edison, New Jersey- The truth about Exxxotica is that for every Nikki and Lexi and Ashley parading around in skimpies, there are at least 20 hefty middle-age guys named Jimmy or Carm wandering around fully — thankfully –dressed.

The second truth is that for every vendor of X-rated videos or implements, there is somebody selling vacation packages, law services or cosmetic surgery.

Exxxotica, which proudly announced it was “Banned in Secaucus” in its print advertising and on its website, opened today at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center at Raritan Center.

Take away the appearances by porn stars, the hardcore film displays, and the anatomically shaped toys and candy, the whips, the chains, the handcuffs … and what’s left is pretty much a ho-hum trade show.

So there were Brian Rucci and Chris Dooling, dressed in dark pinstripe suits with their silk ties pinned up tight against the necks, selling franchise opportunities for a very soft-core lingerie and novelty chain called Adam & Eve. So soft-core, it wouldn’t look out of place next to the Starbucks in those new higher-end outdoor malls anchored by places like Banana Republic and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

“We don’t do many of these,” said Rucci, who is originally from Elizabeth but picked up a Southern accent after living 15 years in North Carolina. “We’re usually at mainstream tradeshows, mostly other franchise shows.”

But instead of having a Coldstone Creamery or Dunkin’ Donuts booth next door, they were next to a company that sold vibrating pillows that come with a number of attachments, demonstrated by a young woman in a sequin teddy.

“Once you’re here for awhile, you get desensitized,” Dooling said, as he drained a Diet Coke. “After that, it’s just like any trade show. Bored out of your gourd.”

Dentist Dr. Joe, who asked his last name not be used because he has a working practice in Miami, was selling a sex aid he invented to help a female patient get through a certain dental dilemma. (The name of the product can not be used because it would stretch the boundaries of a family newspaper.)

“This isn’t a lot different than some of the dental trade shows I go to,” said Dr. Joe, who is originally from West Orange. “Of course, the scenery is different, but after awhile you get anesthetized to it. Then it’s like selling anything else. Shoes, eyeglasses. Like any other business.”

Like law services. This is the purview of Dan Pepper, who had a booth offering legal services to the adult website purveyors.

“I’m the wet blanket. The dark cloud. The dose of reality,” said Pepper, who lives in Somerville. “I advise people about things like obscenity laws, which are dictated locally, and about making sure they’re using people of legal age.”

Pamela Carper of Nashville was around a corner selling vacation trips to the Bahamas.

“Last week, I was at a bridal show in Ontario. The week before that, a car show in Colorado. The week before that, it was a wine and cheese festival in Vancouver.

“It’s just another trade show for us,” she said, a half-eaten piece of pizza tucked behind a festive “win-a-trip” contest box. “At this one, though, I don’t look at many of the other exhibits. I’m conservative. I’ve got a McCain sticker.”

But she couldn’t helping looking at the popular Burning Angel website booth. Founder JoAnna Angel (not her real name). Angel, a Paramus girl and Rutgers graduate, is the punk queen of porn. The site, featuring “Punk, Alt & Emo Girls,” has record reviews and rock star interviews. And the girls all blog.

“We’re not the normal, blonde, air-brushed, fake boobs type of models,” said Angel, who got the idea for her website during college. Instead, they have wide neon pink or green streaks through their black-dyed hair, more tattoos than Blackbeard’s crew, and more skin-piercing hardware than Gramps’ spare nail-and-screw jars.

“It’s a community,” said Angel. “And its great to come out here and see our fans. We know their names, and have their credit card numbers, and know their tastes, but we never see them until we come out.”

She and the rest of the Angels were dropped off at the exhibit by her mother, who pulled up front in a red Pontiac, and let the crew pile out.

“She accepts what I do. She doesn’t like it, it would be weird if she liked it, but she understands it now,” Angel said. “Before she thought it was all pimps and drug dealers and someone was holding a gun to my head. Now she understands it’s a business.”

With lawyers and dentists and guys who sell franchises. Like any other business. But different.