First off, let me preface this by assuming that by reading this, you are at least 18 years old. If you’re not, stop what you’re doing and exit out of this post. And if you are at least 18, keep on reading.
I’ve been in the adult entertainment business since 2012, where I started off as a webcam model and started doing full-on scenes in 2014. Looking back, I was really flying by the seat of my pants and figuring things out along the way, one day and one step at a time. My entire career has been this way, and I’ve not only had a fuckload of real-life, firsthand experience in the ‘biz, but I’ve also been fortunate enough to receive some incredibly kickass advice from industry veterans who believe in paying it forward just as much as I do.
Because when you get into the business (when I say “business” here, I’m primarily speaking to women who want to be an adult film star, and/or want to be an Onlyfans/fan site model producing adult content)…nobody tells you anything. Like, you will learn along the way. If you ask enough of the right people, you’ll gather a ton of valuable wisdom, tools and tips to take with you throughout your career. But it still shocks the hell out of me when I chat with random ladies online and hear stuff like, “I just want to make quick money online and not have anybody find out,” or “Onlyfans is easy money, all I have to do is get naked and people will pay big”…etc. (Neither of these are generally true, P.S.).
Here’s my best advice for women who are seriously considering getting into the adult entertainment industry. I’m neither advocating for it, nor am I telling you not to do it. Take this info and do with it what you will. Because the way I see it? Knowledge is power and it’s always best to be as informed as possible, especially before making such a big life-changing decision.
- Everyone you know will find out. Literally everyone. You know why? Because most people watch porn, regardless of how prudish they may seem in real life. Trust me, most people are fucking freaks in one way or another behind closed doors. It’s human nature! In 2020, Pornhub reported the site got 130 million hits PER DAY. Your family. Your friends. Your elementary school teacher. Your old soccer coach. Your coworkers from that fast food place you worked at in high school. In the Information Age, aka the world we’re living in right now where everyone and their great grandmothers are using the internet, it’s never a matter of if these people will find out, but when. Plan accordingly.
- Your entire life will be affected forever. Now, this isn’t a bad thing or a good thing. It just is. It’s 2022. Lots of people have sex tapes. Lots of people have Onlyfans. I personally think people are more open minded now when it comes to sex than ever before. Like, helloooo…it’s the reason why we all exist. You gotta pause and think about what you want your life to look like in 5, 10, 15 years from now. If you plan on doing porn and then being a school teacher, it’s not going to happen. If, however, you plan on doing adult work, stacking your cash, investing it, opening businesses, having rental properties, etc…basically taking full control over your future, that’s a completely different story.
- There is stigma. The funny thing about this is, people in the adult industry are, for the most part, pretty fucking great. They’re open minded, non judgmental, secure with themselves, and are just overall cool humans. The stigma and weird judgy-ness doesn’t come from this crowd. It comes from other people (“civilians,” as performers call people who aren’t in the industry). People who have weird ass, convoluted views on sex and sexuality. People who grow up in environments that say sex is bad and carry that baggage with them through adulthood. People who are insecure over empowered women making a living off of the body they were born with while they slave away at a shitty desk job they hate. The list goes on. That said, while stigma does exist, it really depends who you’re involved with. Personally, I don’t fuck with anyone who’s weird and judgy like this. And if I happen to encounter it in my life, I don’t take it personally, because I know that other people’s opinions on this matter are not only usually false (so many people think porn sets are coke-fueled orgies when they’re wildly mundane and professional), but also come from their own limiting beliefs they’re projecting outwards that have literally nothing to do with me.
- You have to treat it like a business. Assuming you’re going into this to be a model and earn a living vs. exploring your exhibitionist side as a fun hobby, it’s crucial that you treat it as a business. That means that not only are you a model, but you’re also a business owner. That means you have to learn the ins and outs of what it means to own and operate your own business. Everything from creating a corporation to keeping your financials organized to filing your taxes to marketing…it’s on you. I strongly suggest you put in the work early on and learn the ins and outs of each aspect of your business before hiring people to help you (aside from an accountant, and even then, you still need to pay attention to what they’re doing) so you’re not blindly trusting other people with your livelihood. This is also a good idea so that you can eventually train people in the systems you like best, because when you get busy with stuff like creating content and engaging with fans on fan sites, it’s nearly impossible to do everything yourself…and is also a recipe for burnout. For example, I have a virtual assistant who helps me keep track of my clothing auction site to make sure items are always being relisted, new items are being uploaded, letting me know when an order has been placed that I need to ship out, etc.
- It’s work. Just like literally any other job, no matter how much you love it, there will absolutely be some days where you just don’t feel like getting up and filming. You have to be disciplined enough to be able to keep promises to yourself and show up for yourself (and your fans) every single day, and do what needs to be done…whether that’s custom content, filming new content, engaging with fans, etc. I still create and follow my own schedule years later, and always will. Holding yourself accountable will always be crucial.
- It can get expensive. While there is good money to be made, it takes time to get there when you’re in the building process. You’ll need money for stuff like the fees to create a corporation, have cash flow so you can pay yourself – and your taxes – properly, wardrobe, testing (if you’re working with other talent), lighting, travel (if you’re collaborating with other talent who don’t live in your area), etc.
- Create as many streams of income for yourself as possible. Whether you want to be an adult entertainer for your entire life, or have a plan to get in and get out in 3 years…whatever…it’s really fucking smart to take advantage of any and all money-making opportunities that align with you that you can create for yourself (literally just like any other business) so that you’re not just relying on one stream of income. This could include stuff like creating clip stores on sites like Manyvids , I Want Clips, and/or Modelhub. It could include offering your fans the option to purchase custom content from you on the above sites, or by sending you a tip on Onlyfans. It could include selling your special lingerie you wear in your scenes on a site like My Sexy Auctions. It could mean offering your fans to chat with you via phone or video call on Sext Panther. It could mean creating a merch store. The sky is truly the limit here, but my point in all of this is that you absofuckinglutely need to have more than just one source of income coming in if you want to be able to make money off of your name while you sleep.
- Mindset is everything. As an adult entertainer, you’re not only a business woman, but you’re also an artist. The lifestyle can be weird, especially if it’s not something you’re used to. It can also be incredibly lonely if you’re not living in a place like LA which is a super artist-friendly city. Stay in touch with your friends. Make new connections with other ladies in the industry and make a space for yourself in the community. Don’t compare yourself to other women in the industry. Ignore trolls and block them, letting their comments slide right off of you. Don’t let the weird opinions of other people on your life and your work get to you, because remember, they’re based off of their own world views and life experiences and have little to do with you. Live your life in real life, not just online. Practice self care.
- Stack your fucking cash. Most women I know in the industry who are still around today have gone through this phase. I sure did! You’re suddenly making more money than you’ve ever seen in your life. It can be really fucking tempting to go spend it all in one fell swoop. While I am fully on board with treating yourself (Lord KNOWS I am extra as they come)…it’s all about balance, baby! I’ve been aggressively saving and investing the past few years and let me tell you, nothing is more satisfying, empowering, and SEX to me than logging on to my bank account and investment accounts and seeing those numbers grow and grow and grow. There are few greater feelings to me than being able to pay hefty bills without getting anxiety over not having enough money left until the next pay day. BIG BANK ACCOUNTS ARE FUCKING HOT. So is learning how to properly manage your money. Put in the work. Read financial books (I HIGHLY recommend anything by Robert Kiyosaki). Read magazines like Kiplingers. Listen to financial podcasts. I took a life-changing money course that completely changed my beliefs and views on money, taught by a super cool chick who just gets my vibe. This seems super boring at first, but remember…I’m a fake titty blonde chick who loves Sephora, Starbucks, spray tans, false lashes and pink. If I can fucking handle it, so can you. The worst thing you can do is blindly give your money to someone else to manage. That’s the lazy way out. Boss ass bitches do the work and stack their cash.
I LOVE sharing my own insight and resources for other ladies in the business to use. Was this helpful for you? What more do you want to learn from me? Comment this post with your questions, suggestions, etc.
xo, alix
