I am lucky. Over the years I have worked with a ton of talent, from top porn stars to layout girls and dancers. I have seen what makes a girl get to the top and get a contract, and I have seen those with great potential ruin it for themselves for foolish reasons.I am lucky. Over the years I have worked with a ton of talent, from top porn stars to layout girls and dancers. I have seen what makes a girl get to the top and get a contract, and I have seen those with great potential ruin it for themselves for foolish reasons. I have dealt with talent that is good and talent that is horrible, and from the executive end of this industry I want to give some words of advice to those of you who really want to reach the top.
There are two kinds of personalities in regards to the talent that enters the industry, and this goes for men and women.
The first personality type is the insecure person who is in deep need of attention and adoration; typically the performers of this personality type are also people with addictive personalities – they tend to be hard to work with and unreliable. Their insecurities prevent them from really shining in this business and therefore they don’t usually get the big contract deals. Good companies will avoid people from this category.
The second personality type is the one occupied by those who know their body is a valuable product. They know that with a great business plan they can make huge dollars and reach the top of the industry, invest well, and then retire when it’s time. These are the types that get the big contract deals and have staying power in this industry.
Adult industry talent is not all about looks, since all body shapes and styles fit someone’s tastes somewhere; there is a fan for every physical appearance. To make it big it takes personality and true showmanship. It’s not all about getting on camera and just fucking. The big money is awarded to those who are reliable, easy to work with, and able to take direction. In other words, those who do not crack under pressure, are pleasant to fans during signings, etc. Those with arrogant “diva” and “stud” attitudes are easily disposable, and those unpleasant to their fans find themselves with no fans, leading to fewer sales of their products.
Those performers who go out of their way to communicate with fans always do well. You are your product and therefore you know better than anyone how to market yourself. Being talent is not easy; you have to fulfill fantasies under a ton of pressure, in front of a camera, with a director yelling instructions, under hot lights, and on a set full of people. For guys it is much harder; while a woman can fake it, a man has to be able to perform the money shot on command, which is not an easy task.
Choosing good management is also important for talent success. Attend as many of the trade shows as possible and get references from other talent in the industry. Present yourself to the prospective management and movie companies just as a professional businessperson should present herself. Don’t ever sign anything without an attorney checking it over first.
Have a professional press kit that includes photos, your resume, a brief bio, and contact information. Mail these to all prospective filmmakers of your choice, as well as to magazines, etc. Get an accountant! Make certain you find someone to help you manage your money; you want to have someone you trust, especially in this important area.
Make as many public appearances as you can. You want a public demand to see more of you. Also have a good website for fans, keep the membership rates reasonable, and always answer emails; remember, you are their fantasy and the more personable you are the better you’ll do. Host chats and always be pleasant, but never take abuse. If a fan gets abusive the classy thing to do is to just ignore him.
Always be safe, never give out information that could lead to a fan tracking you down at your home, and never date fans. Always promote safe sex, and keep your health testing up-to-date.
I want to reiterate that you should never get involved with any company for which you don’t have references, and always have an attorney checking your contracts. You never want to be held to a contract that you did not thoroughly understand, or made to do something that you didn’t want to do.
Good luck to all of you in the talent end! If you need references on any companies then feel free to email me; I know many of them and can get you the information you need. To all of you on the talent end I want to thank you for what you do. If not for you, none of us would be making a living!
Jennifer Leigh is a regular contributor to YNOT News and The ADULTWEBMASTER Magazine. She can be reached at jennifer@theadultwebmaster.com
