I entered the adult industry at a time of transition. Things were going from VHS to DVD, and the online market was just burgeoning with membership sites consisting of weekly photo updates and periodic video updates in 320x280. At this time, you were either a model or a producer, but rarely both.
Some models had their own solo girl sites, but almost all of them were run by other people who knew the technology and understood how to edit, update and maintain a site. Oh, the good old days.
Plan your updates and be consistent with them. Fans have come to expect routine.
I spent many years working for other people and learning all I could about production, from lighting to camera equipment to time management to script writing and running a successful site. I loved performing but knew I wanted to make the transition to producing, directing and running my own projects.
Obviously, times have changed, and with the advent of clips stores, streaming, VOD and camming, there are numerous platforms you can post as much content on as you can handle creating. Working with other companies and performers has its merits as well, and I find if you have the desire and ability to balance both, it can be extremely beneficial. So how do you balance being a performer and producer?
Shooting for Yourself
I work on the fetish and girl/girl side of the industry, but that doesn't mean I shoot all fetishes for everyone. Some things sell better for me, and I try to keep specific genres exclusive to my site and stores so that consumers have to come to me for that particular content.
Working With Other Performers
If you're someone like me who loves to shoot story-based, multi-person scenarios, then you'll have to work with others. Although trading content can be beneficial for growing your business, I have found if I have a specific concept in mind, and it may take a while to shoot, hiring other people is easier.
Time Management and Scheduling
Performing and producing is labor-intensive, so setting a regular schedule is helpful. Decide which days you'll shoot, when you'll do editing and updates, and, if you're shooting for other companies, how often you want to make yourself available. You might consider working on your own projects the first two weeks of the month and for others the second two weeks of the month. You'll need to adapt your schedule, as the need arises, but having an idea can make it less overwhelming.
Custom Videos
Offering custom videos can be a very lucrative way to interact with your fans, create interesting content and add to your library. It gives you yet another chance to hire performers you've wanted to work with, but haven't had the opportunity to yet.
Prepping the Scene
Whether you're doing solo videos or shooting with another performer, prepping for the scene is crucial. Spend some time the day before a shoot jotting down ideas or running through the script (if you have one), pulling out wardrobe and props, and sending any pertinent information to anyone else involved. This will cut down on the chaos on shoot day.
Consistency is Important
Plan your updates and be consistent with them. Fans have come to expect routine. Even if you're only updating once a week, make sure it's the same day and roughly the same time. People will come looking for content at that time each week.
Even when you're successful in filming your own content, it can be very beneficial to shoot for other companies. It allows fans to see you in a role you may not play on your own platform or to make people aware of you who might not have known who you were before. Maybe they see you on a mainstream site and want to get to know you better, so they join your OnlyFans or buy some clips.
View it as advertising that you just happen to be getting paid for. It can also lend an opportunity for you to meet other performers that you might want to trade with or hire for your own projects in the future or to continue learning from others and gain a different perspective. Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut, and simply being on someone else's set can jerk us out of it. Exchange ideas, meet new people and get your brand out there!
