Reflecting on the past two years of my industry-related travel has me reeling to give advice as we dash into yet another year of conventions and award shows. I am always eager to share advice, not because I think I know something others don’t, but because so few of us are willing to give up our hard-earned, and often expensive, lessons to others for free. The models I host at Camgirl Vacation Retreats often end up calling me “Mamma Maya” because my truest intent is to give, especially if that means saving a fellow model from experiencing a hardship I have already overcome. So here’s my two cents about conventions, packing, safety and anything else I can squeeze in here for my peers to consider for their upcoming travels.
My first industry event was Denver Exxxotica, which I’m disappointed to hear is not being hosted in that location again. They have, however, added Portland, which would be my pick to attend of the Exxxotica conventions simply because it’s the newest one. The established Exxxotica conventions like New Jersey are big and from what I hear, very overwhelming, whereas the new locations are much more tame. They do bring out local crowds, but you can pretty much bank on those people being kinksters who are more likely there to attend sex seminars and shop for sex furniture than to meet cam models. This makes the experience much more laid back, which is what I liked most about Denver two years back. I had time and space to interact with both my online and in-person fans without constantly having to look over my shoulder. At fan conventions in general, the security personnel may not always have you in their line of sight so you have to be aware of your surroundings.
Prioritizing at least some travel as a cam model or clip maker is important to your business.
Now, my favorite industry event is XBIZ Miami! The South Beach location is great and the format XBIZ uses offers so much value to those attending … and by those attending I mean industry-only peeps! That’s right, this one is just for us. With a “no fans allowed” policy it allows us to gather together for informational workshops, networking and nightly parties all in one convenient location or with group transportation already arranged. There is something going on every minute with a deliberate emphasis on variety to appeal to everyone’s interests. Let’s not forget the XBIZ Cam Awards! The week ends with a cams- and clips-only awards show to celebrate each other and our accomplishments. It is an industry event I hope everyone gets to experience because XBIZ truly hits it out of the park for us.
If the numerous tradeshows out there (at least 10) seem overwhelming to you, I understand. Our jobs are so very social, but the thought of meeting fans or so many peers all at once can be a hard pass for a lot of us. This is why I created Camgirl Vacation. I host luxury retreats with my partner Amandarox exclusively for cam models and clip makers. We welcome about a dozen attendees per retreat to join us for five nights of networking, camming and content creation in beautiful laidback settings. At industry events that involve hectic schedules, we often can’t prioritize the time it takes to make new content and at home we can run out of inspiration making content within the confines of a limited space. Traveling with us to a Camgirl Vacation retreat offers new and exciting settings for content, inspiration, motivation, learning opportunities and some time for relaxation with new friends. We place heavy emphasis on providing a safe and welcoming space for our attendees to work in while allowing them to keep complete control of their content and boundaries to shape their own experience. Our 2019 retreats are open to all active cam/clip women and trans women. We hope to add a cam couples retreat in 2020 and maybe even something for cam guys, too! If you are interested in learning more about what we offer, anyone is welcome to reach out to us through our website, email, social media and CamgirlVacation.com.
Taking our business on the road for any one of these different work trips can be a challenge. We are used to having what amounts to an entire sexy production studio in our home at all times. So, where do you even start when considering lugging all of that equipment on the road with you? First, your backpack, which I count as my “personal item” during air travel. This should have all your expensive, breakable, irreplaceable equipment in it. I have a $60 GOgroove backpack specifically made for equipment such as laptop, camera, camcorder etc. I recommend keeping all of this with you so nothing gets broken or stolen. Next, suitcases. I now travel with inexpensive hard side luggage and am obsessed with packing cubes! When they get broken, and they will, I’ll know I didn’t waste a ton of money on expensive luggage. These hard side suitcases don’t usually have a lot of pockets inside so you are able to fit larger, odd-shaped items such as lighting equipment and tripods. If you use packing cubes you are able to organize and separate your outfits for the week.
Lights are still my biggest challenge when I travel and my solution is mostly to film using natural light while I am on the road, but I do have a few tricks in this department. I purchase 100W bright white LED style lightbulbs from Walmart because they are made of plastic and easy/safe to travel with. Simply swap out the hotel lamp’s dull warm bulb with this and even remove the lampshade if needed to brighten things up in a hotel setting. Additionally, I have a small 8-inch ring light with a miniature light stand that is easy to travel with and works really well for on-cam and close-up shots in content. I am a terrible overpacker because I am indecisive with outfits and like to have options, but for award shows or specifically-themed things you probably have something pre-selected. These are the things you want to pack in your smallest suitcase along with the matching shoes and your makeup to have with you as your carry on item. In the event that your suitcase gets lost, at least you have your most important and expensive items with you.
Your hotel likely has toiletries and your friends likely have extra outfits to tide you over, but panic-replacing makeup on the fly or a fancy dress and accessories isn’t easy so I personally don’t take that risk. Everything else can go in your large, checked bag. This brings me to a safety tip. Your legal name and origin airport location are on the sticker tag they place on your checked bag. The literal first thing you should do, especially flying into convention locations where fans are present, is to remove that tag and put it in a secure location. Throw it and your boarding passes out in your hotel room or take them all the way home with you. Being careless with these documents could lead to a big security problem, be safe!
Prioritizing at least some travel as a cam model or clip maker is important to your business. Not only is it a change of pace which can be invigorating for us mentally and physically, but it is also a change of scenery for viewers. They enjoy seeing their favorite star on an adventure and having a front row seat to our travels through social media, cam shows and new content is exciting for them. Allow yourself to take advantage of the fact that you can work from anywhere in this industry and there are a variety of professionals who have put together different options for us to explore the joys of traveling together!
