From Excel sheets to online calendaring, here are some useful software programs and strategies for managing your camming schedule and private show requests, as well as tracking average tips-per-session to gauge which activities and times are most lucrative.
A lot of people think being a cam model is easy and something anyone can do. It definitely is something anyone can try, but it takes effort in order to succeed. I see some cam models sign up, thinking money will just start rolling in, but their biggest mistake is not treating camming like a job and they quickly disappear amongst the crowd.
I recommend always taking a look at your next day’s plans the night before. Add to your daily checklist and make sure to put in all those small reminders you think you’ll need because if you’re anything like me, it will probably slip your mind.
A lack of organization and assuming you already know all there is to know is a sure-fire way to fail miserably at something you could otherwise succeed at. There’s a lot more to being a cam girl than just turning your broadcast on and sitting in front of the camera. You will constantly be coming up with new ideas for shows and content, running fan clubs, interacting with fans and making sure everything looks good.
SCHEDULING LIKE A PRO
Let’s start with your schedule. You need to be organized both in your day-to-day life and your on-cam life — they go hand in hand! For this part, you can either get a notebook scheduler, a white/black board or get a little more tech-y and explore some scheduling software that can help you stay on top of things.
My personal favorite is having a white board. It’s a fun way to plan out your week or day and what I love the most is that it’s pretty much the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning, so it’s hard to ignore. If you’re a visual person, I would definitely explore this option, and they’re pretty cheap on Amazon.
If you don’t like pen and paper or if you need even more reminders set, definitely use your phone’s calendar. It seems like common sense, but you would be surprised how many friends I have mentioned this to who only really use their phones as a morning alarm and nothing more. Aesthetically, iPhone and Android calendars may not be your favorite, but I dug a little deeper and found two apps I love as go-to planners.
Toggl: You can get this from the app store for free. It’s a calendar, but it also tracks what you do with your time so that you can save more time. It also pairs with Siri, so you don’t need to stop and write in order to log an activity; just let Siri know. Between Instagram, TikTok and Reddit, I have definitely been spending way too much time on my phone, so it’s a really cool way to see exactly how much time you’re spending on your favorite apps. I also think the calendar looks a lot nicer than the iPhone calendar.
MinimaList: This is another app I love and really recommend. MinimaList offers a to-do list, reminder function, checklist and a day-to-day task manager. It’s really presented exactly how it sounds; the minimalist aesthetics are easy to navigate and it’s a very simple app to use. Again, being a visual person, seeing everything clean and bold in front of me is definitely what I prefer and a huge reason why I love using this app to plan out my daily checklists and appointments.
So, once you get the apps, let’s figure out the best way to use them. I find I can split my life up into tasks that happen consistently around the same time on a monthly basis, from work deadlines to birth control pill reminders, as well as tasks that come up on a weekly basis, like medical appointments, client appointments, etc. Once you gain traction as a model and become more in demand, planning private shows with viewers on a weekly basis may help you stay organized and also help prioritize viewers that could be a little more worth your time.
Lastly, there's your day-to-day planning. I recommend always taking a look at your next day’s plans the night before. Add to your daily checklist and make sure to put in all those small reminders you think you’ll need because if you’re anything like me, it will probably slip your mind.
MANAGING YOUR MONEY
The majority of performers I speak to love what they do, but the main reason why they do it is money. Setting up a budget before even getting started is important and key to managing your money, so that you don’t burn through it all.
The first step is to open up Excel or Google Sheets. It’s the best budgeting tool I’ve come across and I constantly use it. List your expenses and be honest. The first time I set out a list of my expenses, I left out a ton without even realizing, so instead I took a look at my credit card statements from a month earlier and that gave me a much clearer picture. Once you’ve made this list, split it up into flexible (food take-out, shopping, hobbies) and not flexible (rent/mortgage, bills, groceries) and then gauge whether or not you are okay with how much you are spending.
Establish how much money you make or need to be making in order to pay off your expenses and then when you find out the final number, divide it by the number of days you’ll be working in a month to set out how much you want to be making on a daily basis. You’ll want to log your end-of-day earnings every day on your excel sheet to make sure you are on track. There will be good days and bad days, but at the end of the month, you will want to be in a position where the two balance each other out.
Another great tip I recently discovered is making use of money-monitoring tools within my bank’s online options. It’s a great way to keep track of what you’re spending and bringing in, and some banks give you the option to add in alerts if you are overspending.
STAYING ORGANIZED WHILE CAMMING
There is a lot going on when you broadcast and keeping things organized can get tough. My first recommendation is to screen-record your shows. This way, you can go through the show again, analyze your own performance and keep track of when viewers are engaging the most, plus what content is bringing in more tips. Make sure to rewatch these videos and take notes.
A great option for organizing your onscreen broadcast is to create a “Trello” board. I know I have already recommended two apps and Excel/Google Sheets, but I promise this is the last piece of tech you will need to stay on top of things… and just like the rest, it’s completely free!
Trello can be customized to exactly what you need. It manages projects, organizes tasks and uses both text and pictures to do so. You are able to add in points about viewers and create viewer cards, where each username can have a story attached to it that you can reference back while online. So when “purplechair32” comes into the room, do a quick search on your Trello board and you’ll have a list of personal notes you can bring up with the viewer.
The most successful performers are the ones that are the best at creating personal connections and Trello lets you do this in a convenient way! It can also be used to create show flows and pinpoint what the most popular segments in your show might be based on looking back at the high points and low points of your broadcast. You can add a category for games that work and games that don’t, etc.
MAKING TIME FOR SELF-CARE
As important as it is to manage your career, financials and future, taking time out for yourself is essential to avoid burnout. When you have your schedule planned out, you’re able to plan out time for yourself without any stress or worry. Have a self-care day once a week to just reflect and do things that make you happy. This will help you stay motivated and want to continue being productive!
Vicki Gray is a CAM4 account manager who can be followed @VickiGrayxxx on Twitter. To learn more about CAM4 and the many perks of being a cam model on the award-winning platform, contact Vicki@CAM4.com.
