In the first three parts of this series the adult industry’s top PR pros have been making their case, outlining why having a PR agent can help porn stars and adult companies increase their success, wealth, and reach.
In this final installment, the rubber hits the road. YNOT.com asks the porn PR pros to prove their cases, by detailing actual porn stars whose careers they have helped.
Our experts include:
– Brian Gross (www.bsgpr.com)
– Erika Icon (www.therubpr.com)
– Jay Kopita (www.deltahousemarketing.com)
– Roger Pipe (www.pipelinemultimedia.com)
– Alexander Raymond (www.starfactorypr.com)
– Lainie Speiser (www.mizlainie.com)
– Wendy Williams (www.hotwendypr.com)
YNOT: It’s time for the Big Question: Please name a porn star (or stars) whose career has benefited from your assistance, and tell us what you have done for them.
Lainie Speiser: I am definitely proud of the work I have done with Belle Knox. When she was introduced to me (another example of good relationships, I have a mutual associate not in the adult entertainment business who introduced us to each other) she only had 2,000 at the most of Twitter followers and now she’s pushing 60,000. That’s in the span of a month.
I’m proud of how I grabbed the ball and ran with it, booking her on The View, Good Day New York, Fox News, CNN, Huffington Post, Bethany. It was a thrill for both Belle and myself. I don’t think there’s ever been a porn star that has been actively working on The View. That was an amazing accomplishment we did together.
I booked her at Headquarters [gentlemen’s club] to try out her feature dancing legs, as it were, for the first time. I introduced her to A List Talent to book her future gigs and she did The Howard Stern Show last week. It’s been exciting to work with completely fresh, new talent and do the whole ‘Porn 101’ bit.
Erika Icon: There have been many, but the one that is coming to mind right now is Nikki Delano. She had been in the industry for about two months and started with me for PR. I have gotten her tons of interviews, magazine covers, spokemodel gigs (Nookie Chat and another we haven’t announced yet) and she always has somewhere to sign at all the adult conventions.
She’s garnered AVN and XBiz nominations and has won two awards from Nightmoves. And, all the press we’ve done for her has made her one of the most sought-after feature dancers on the circuit.
Roger Pipe: We have been working most recently with Allison Kilgore during her return to the industry. We helped her re-launch her social media, and got her some great interviews to build anticipation for her big comeback.
Wendy Williams: Wendy Summers would be the best example of someone I feel I really was able to help make her more visible. She was new, talented and unique.
Like me when I started, Wendy Summers didn’t fit the “look” or “mold” of a transsexual superstar like Vaniity or Gia Darling. Once I was able to get her image out there and get people aware of her, she has really capitalized on her unique image with awards, visibility and being recognized as an independent hard-working transsexual starlet.
Lainie Speiser: I also am proud of the work I’ve been doing with TS porn star Mia Isabella. I never had a TS client before I had interviewed her for my book “Confessions of the Hottest Hundred Porn Stars” and we hit it off right away. I have put Mia on mainstream radio show on Sirius XM and she is the first TS to do voiceover for a video game, which she did as “Hooker Number One” for Grand Theft Auto 5.
I had Mia host a ‘Fleshbot Friday’ burlesque night at HQ. A TS hosting a mainstream burlesque party was incredible. My strategy with Mia was to promote her just for who she is – a gorgeous, talented, intriguing young woman – and not rest on the TS title.
I also recognized her talents behind the camera. She directs all of her own content and I brought up the idea of her art-directing photo shoots for other porn stars. We started with my clients Penthouse Pets The Starr Sisters two weeks ago and immediately other porn stars contacted her. She directed Misty Stone this past weekend and has other big stars like Jocelyn James in the works.
Brian Gross: I have worked with Sasha Grey, Joanna Angel, Nina Hartley, Jill Kelly, Tabitha Stevens, Taylor Stevens, Lupe Fuentes, Amy Fisher, Briana Banks, Brittany Andrews, Catalina Cruz, Dyanna Lauren, Gina Lynn, January Seraph, Kelly Madison, Ryan Keely and Taylor Wane, to name a few.
Alexander Raymond: I’ll give you the perfect example — Tanya Tate. In just the relatively short amount of time that she is been in the industry, five years, she’s been on the cover of AVN, and been on the cover of FHM Magazine in Turkey. She’s been in a theatrical documentary, The Aroused Project, photographed by acclaimed photographer Deborah Anderson. She’s been seen on a nationally broadcast UK reality program, and taken part in panels at Comic Con, appeared at several conventions, and won a slew of awards.
This is a perfect example of a symbiotic relationship between talent and a publicist. We are both on the same page as to how she wants to be promoted, and she has an open mind to the projects I propose. Because she trusts me to do the job that I do and she has the drive, determination and the wherewithal to aggressively pursue those avenues of publicity.
That quality is very hard to find. A lot of people will pay a publicist money and sit back and expect magic to happen. It doesn’t work like that. There has to be that symbiotic relationship. A publicist is going to keep you busy, because that is what it takes to make a successful career.
Lainie Speiser: One last example – I’m proud to work with icons like Lisa Ann, working with a great professional like her bumped up my game immensely. It’s one of those instances where I learned so much and continue to do so with her. I’m proud to have a porn star client who hosts her own mainstream sports radio show for Sirius XM Fantasy Channel, “Lisa Ann Does Fantasy.” That’s an incredible accomplishment and it’s something she did completely on her own.
