So this post is all about being successfully independent in the adult industry. I am going to give you 5 key examples of some of the biggest mistakes models make today.
Blindly following – First off, know who you are allowing to lead you. If you want to be successful then you need to emulate success. A lot of models in the industry today are just following behind the “hype” man. DO YOUR RESEARCH folks. Google is your best friend. If you think their is someone who can guide you in your career then you should know what they’ve done in theirs. They promise paid work… have they ever been paid for their work? They promise you fame and fortune… do they have an image worth mention or a pot to piss in? Have they been truly successful in their careers or is it just a bunch of fluff that THEY have put into the cyberverse? I can start my own Wiki page or easily acquire 100k+ followers on twitter… that is what is commonly referred to as hype.
Look folks, there are a lot of people out there that need you more than you need them. They don’t have a name that can stand alone so they need new faces and recognizable names to work with them to make them seem more relevant. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND! Moving along.
Social Media Drama – NO ONE likes someone who constantly has drama. Fans don’t want to see you beefing, they want to see you being sexy or to know who’s titties you want to be motorboating. Keep it light and fun!
Potential employers or other models that you would work with for content don’t want to deal with drama so guess who they are gonna avoid shooting with in the future… yup!
Remember!!! Those who talk the most about being over the drama generally have the MOST drama. Those who are regularly “taking out the trash”, “removing toxic elements” or “cleaning house” probably have a larger than average amount of drama. If people are always on the “Why me, I’m a good person with a big heart” bandwagon, they too are probably a common drama denominator!
Don’t get pulled in by a drama filled succubus, it never turns out well. Trust me, we’ve all been there and learned the hard way.
Ego – BE HUMBLE! I get that a lot of you get into this industry for the attention. I understand that it’s nice to have people fawning all over you and paying you just to get a glimpse of you on cam or at and event… don’t let that go to your head people. I have seen women and men get a little to big for their britches and think that they are too good to put in any real work, guess where those people are now… yeah, I don’t know either.
In any industry, in any line of business you will find that the same people you shit on on your way to the top will be the same people that don’t bother lending a hand when you are in a free fall to the bottom. Karma is always watching.
Laziness – 5 words: You Have To Be Invested! You have to want success, you have to feel success, you have to have the drive to go out and no matter what obstacles you face, BE SUCCESSFUL. No one is going to just hand you success, and if they did it would come with a hefty price tag. Nothing in this life is free. If you want it, you have to earn it. NO excuses. No one will ever work harder for you than you will, however, if you invest in yourself it will make others want to invest in you.
For a few years I wasn’t sure of what I wanted, what direction I wanted to go, who I wanted to be, so I got lazy. I didn’t live up to my own potential and I didn’t make the money that I knew I could make, the money that I had made for so many years before. For that, I only had myself to blame.
Wish it. Dream it. Do it.
Ignorance – Much like in the first section where I mentioned doing your research, I am going to press that issue again here. So MANY models go out and shoot all the content they can and know NOTHING about contracts, model releases, 2257 laws, copyright, etc. THIS IS A BUSINESS, treat it as such. If you were going to start a bakery you would have to lease a property, file for a business license, file articles with the state for tax purposes, etc. This is YOUR business, learn how to run it. When someone shoots your content, the photographer/videographer owns that content unless otherwise agreed upon, have a contract. If you shoot content trade, get model release and 2257 documentation RIGHT THEN… don’t wait until you have a falling out with a model or he/she goes MIA and then that content is worthless. Learn copyright and branding laws so you don’t get sued… You CANNOT shoot porn with any Branded Companies product. If you shoot with lube, remove or hide the label. If you are shooting with beverages, turn the can/bottle/etc. so that the logo cannot be seen. I could go on for days, but I shan’t.
That concludes today’s Model Advice 101, I hope that some of you find it useful!
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