Lindsey Banks is raw and real, with lots of grit behind her bubbly and adorable personality. And when she thinks back to the beginning of her adult entertainment career, she remembers starting “as a survival sex worker” who was driven to change her life for the better.
“My career really launched about a year or two into camming,” she told XBIZ, “There were many transitional periods getting comfortable with what was then just my full-time work, until it blossomed into a successful career where I could start to give back.”
During a worldwide pandemic, I was fortunate and prepared to take my brand into the next level of ambassadorship with Stripchat, with no regrets.
Once she connected to the broader community, attending industry events, networking and repping the brands that were kind to her, Banks really felt motivated to do better and better.
“The inspiration to keep going comes from the friends and performers I meet along the way online and in real life,” she explained. “Sharing my knowledge of what I have learned in the industry was one of the ways I knew I could give to those who needed it.”
Now, from being named “Queen of Cams” at The Phoenix Forum in 2019 to becoming one of the few Fleshlight CamStars, attaining the title of official Pornhub Collaborator and signing on as the first brand ambassador for cam site Stripchat, Banks is making it rain like never before.
“Over the years, I have been able to host red carpets, be an award presenter, speak on panels, attend different shows abroad, etc.,” she enthused. “These are just a few of many achievements I am beyond proud of. Honored is the least of what can be said over the feelings from these achievements, as well as many others.”
To learn more about how Banks became such an ambitious go-getter and what’s next for the busy bee, XBIZ sat down with the Cam Star of the Month for December 2020, in this exclusive interview.
XBIZ: Discuss the various revenue streams you pursue, including camming, clips, premium social media and beyond.
Banks: My main source of revenue comes from camming live on Stripchat. There, you can join my fan club, take me private, tip me, etc. As ambassador, there is also time spent on forum threads, social media, connecting with performers and engaging in the community. A great perk working with Stripchat is that I get to give back to our models and listen to any ideas or concerns they may have, so this creates better relationships.
I spend a majority of my time online or behind the scenes coordinating what’s next and how to do better. On my Pornhub channel you can view throwback, fun and random videos of my life. You’ll also find playlists of sponsored videos about the adult industry, COVID-19 and BLM. My work with Pornhub consists more of participating in some of their campaigns, doing clothing collaborations and recently working with Pornhub Records for an album releasing in December.
And much of my content is posted on my website BanksieTV.com, while fans can also follow me on social media such as Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date on what I’m up to. I also use socials for business to complement my brand while offline.
XBIZ: What is your favorite platform to cam on currently and why?
Banks: My favorite and only platform to cam on is Stripchat. The exclusivity to the site has been really great! Transparency and communication with them has been so open, that it’s refreshing. I recently spoke about what makes Stripchat my favorite cam site and one of the reasons is how attentive they are when a model reaches out with any kind of feedback to improve the site. Another reason is how there are different features to use as a premium or freemium performer; you can be successful doing both or either!
After many years in the industry, I have learned to ask important questions like: What are your values as a company? Do the values align with my own? Does this brand or company allow me to give input? Is there room allowed for change? Do I really want to associate with this kind of team? To be extremely honest, feeling comfortable enough to raise questions or concerns and feel heard is only a start, but for a great company, actually making changes and seeing proactive decisions being made is another completely amazing thing.
I particularly find satisfaction in that kind of ethic. We also need to keep in mind that in most cases change does not happen overnight and everything does not happen all at once, but we all start somewhere, right? Always learning to always improve.
XBIZ: How did you become a Stripchat brand ambassador?
Banks: Aside from prior experience as an ambassador, working as a collaborator gave me more experience, elevating the skills needed to perform certain tasks and complete projects. How I became Stripchat brand ambassador was really unexpected and it’s kind of bizarre.
I had met and was actually well-acquainted with the company (and the amazing parties they throw) due to events and shows in real-life before they all became virtual. Coronavirus caused a pivot with how collaborative projects were executed and during this timeframe I found myself wanting change as an ambassador. I had this feeling that I could do more.
I was in the midst of producing weekly broadcasts, attending virtual conferences and like everyone else, surviving/adapting to the ricochet of effects COVID-19 had on the industry, my personal life and the world. After deciding on some drastic changes, the reality of moving to a whole new platform started to settle in. At one of the conferences, I initially scheduled a meeting to chat about matters on my agenda, which turned into a conversation about further possibilities with camming.
It may sound so cliché, but the opportunity presented itself at the right time. During a worldwide pandemic, I was fortunate and prepared to take my brand into the next level of ambassadorship with Stripchat, with no regrets. Since this decision, I have only continued learning how to be a better representative!
XBIZ: Share your gameplan for coordinating marketing efforts with Stripchat to promote the brand.
Banks: Converging the Stripchat brand with my own continues to be a team effort we work on together. As my brand grows, theirs does too. Lately, we have been using social media to hold themed contests to encourage model activity and rewarding winners with token prizes, which models seem to be having fun with. The contests are not based on how much you make. I think it is really unique for a cam company to consistently do this, expanding different ways you can win.
Social media and model inclusivity play a big role in any marketing effort I do. Making my presence known as Stripchat’s ambassador is also very important. Any chance I get, I speak directly to audiences about what it’s like being a performer on Stripchat and also give tips and advice for others to be successful. Ultimately, a gameplan for me must include that all parties involved will benefit from decisions made, ethically and fairly.
XBIZ: So long as we’re discussing marketing, what are your strategies for monetizing your own traffic and growing a following? How does BanksieTV.com fit into all this?
Banks: BanksieTV is like a documentation of what I’ve worked on and how I’ve lived, as well as who I work with and the various associations linked to my brand. Something to keep in mind is I am very selective when it comes to where I spend my time and effort. I try to think about long-term goals instead of the short term-benefit.
Sure, numbers like large follower counts and likes may be appealing for some, but for me the bigger picture is on how we can unify to better help each other, not make a popularity contest a priority. A dream plan for BanksieTV would be seeing a group of high-profile adult companies coming together to form an alliance to better the adult community, combating all the stigma and misrepresentation we have in our society.
XBIZ: What is it like being in your cam room during a show? Any particular activities you’re known for, or that your fans request a lot?
Banks: My cam room during a show is … well, no day is the same in my room, so the experience someone may have with me changes day by day. My emotions and life are a big part of who I am, and who I am is my brand. Spending time in my cam room will prove just that. A glimpse in my shows is very similar to what I present off camera. Past adventures, future plans and where I’m at in life are all talked about. You will find that there is a spectrum of everything from jumping with joy, crying, wildin’ out dancing, having real conversations, smoking to relax after a long day or just starting my day, even giving myself a Brazilian wax, etc. Different kinds of requests happen all of the time, but in my room, I get to choose and take charge of what happens.
XBIZ: If you had to describe the “Lindsey Banks” brand in a nutshell, what would you say is your overall vibe and aesthetic?
Banks: The only way I can think of “Lindsey Banks” as an aesthetic is raw and real. It’s tough to put it in a nutshell, because I do not want to put a label on myself. No matter what, people will still categorize me and see me in the way they do and I have no control over that. I’m just me.
XBIZ: Any big plans for the coming year in your professional and personal life?
Banks: As most of us may be feeling, I am ready for a new year! It’s almost weird to say how I’m looking forward to 2021 already. I can’t comment about what’s coming up quite yet, but there are a couple of awards shows I’m excited about and conferences to prepare for. I have said many times that camming is the way of the future. The importance of individual performers should be as crucial as ever for companies to remember.
After the coronavirus pandemic hit, cam models and performers in general really took over the adult biz in full throttle. The brands I work with recognize that. My personal life has taken a back seat to all of this. The professional career I have and seek is not slowing down anytime soon. I haven’t been able to escape the thoughts of “I can do better” or “I can do more.” It now feels like the journey of something magical with Stripchat, which I’m excited about. After the wild, historic 2020 we had, there is a determination I feel to go hard and make this new year be the one that strips for me!
