Hello Slutty Girl Problems,
I recently got offered a job in the porn industry after one of my friends recommended me for it. She’s a porn star as well and referred me to her agent. I’m thinking about it because they say you can make 80-100k in 3 weeks, and this isn’t a scam on their part either. My friend who works in the industry says it’s legit. But, I don’t know if I should do it or not. I’m nervous how my parents will react and I’m nervous how it will affect my life in the near future, even when I’m out of the industry. It’d be great if you had some advice for me on this topic. Thanks so much!
Signed,
Pondering Porn
Hey little Starlet,
The best advice I can give is from our fellow SGP writer and cam girl/porn star – Anna Cherry – who said that once it’s on the internet, it’s there forever, and there’s no getting it erased. But, if it is something that you are interested in and passionate about – you can overcome the fears and social exclusion hazards the job has.
Here is a wonderful article from Anna Cherry, talking about her experiences in social exclusion and “coming out” to her family. She has a lot of great insight on the pros and cons of the industry – but her message rings true. She loves it and she’s following her passion – so she’s incredibly proud about her work, and keeping it hidden from family, friends, and potential employers is a long gone concept.
Also remember, you *can* make 100K in three weeks… if you’re Stoya or Jesse Jane. Most girls will make 1K per girl-on-girl shoot, and just slightly more for boy-girl, more for three-somes, more for gang bangs, more for anal… and more and more depending on what you’re willing to do. It really depends on how much your mind and body can take – how often you can work – and what you’re able and willing to do. It’s hard for any just-starting porn star to make even 100K a year. At 2K a piece, that’s one video a week – more when you factor in holidays, vacation, and your period. At that rate, it’s far from “easy money”. Even for the sluttiest girl, having sex on camera that often can really take a toll on your mind and body. The behind-the-scenes of a porn shoot isn’t like normal sex. Depending on the shoot, you may be spending hours posing for photos in awkward positions with very little clothes in cold rooms with way-too-high and painful heels… then re-positioning, oiling up, lubing up, readjusting, pausing for the cameras, and getting railed for way too long so they can get the right shot. Even if it’s not that bad, porn sex isn’t nearly as fun as normal sex – and when it’s your work, it can still feel like a chore.
Also, as I mentioned, to be making 80K-100K a year, you’ll have to be in a lot of videos – enough that it gets harder and harder to hide behind your pseudonym, especially when lots of people US are glued to porn tubes for at least an hour a week (and I’m generously under-estimating). If you’re looking to make big money, you have to be a big name, and truth is, most girls who enter porn don’t hit it big. It often takes a long time to build a reputation and a loyal audience (unless you’re Belle Knox, who gained fame the hard way). It’s a lucrative career, but not 100K a month – or even a year – for 90% of porn stars. If you do hit it big, it comes at a cost. You can’t rely on anonymity anymore.
If you make a movie or two under a pseudonym to help pay the bills, a future employer will probably never know – but the key word there is “probably”. It’s really impossible to know what will leak out or who will recognize you from your videos. Your potential employer may just be your biggest fan. Even if you’re a small name, you’ll never know if that guy at the bar just saw your one and only video – and can’t figure out quite where he recognizes you from… but his memory is starting to clear. If you’re not committed to the potential loss of anonymity and feel strong and sure in your decision – then it’s highly worth reconsidering. You don’t have to come out to your parents after your first video, but eventually, you have to face the reality that you’ll say to someone, at some point, “yes, that is me in that video”. It’s unavoidable.
As for life after porn – Stoya, in a fabulous interview with the Huffington post, when asked if she would have a “normal life” after porn, put it perfectly. The public narrative of “normal” will never be her life – or the life of any other porn star. Someone will always recognize her at a bar, at the grocery store, or at her child’s parent-teacher conference. Her children will find out about it. She will never be able to be a teacher, and she will always wonder if the person she’s meeting for the first time already knows her vagina intimately. But, she enjoys her job – doesn’t regret a thing – and lives her life the way she wants to.
Before venturing into porn, it may be worth chatting with several people in the industry… or watching many interviews and YouTube videos with interviews of porn professionals. Do you research into payment, reputable agents, and especially the experiences of porn stars behind the cameras. It’s important to keep in mind the risks – whether you’re working in the adult industry, or any other job. I’m not trying to dissuade you – but to make sure you’re making the right decision for you.
If porn is your passion – something you’ve always been interested in – I (and I’m sure many other sex workers) would whole-heartedly recommend going into the industry. It can be incredibly empowering – and it is even more empowering to do something that you love. But if you don’t love it and have fears and hesitations that are nagging at the back of your head – it is worth taking the time to really consider why you’re choosing that path, and if it’s right for you. If it is for quick money and you think you’ll regret it, I wouldn’t recommend it – because it takes a LOT of work, and a lot of videos that will be up there forever – to make that kind of money. If you’re doing it because it’s something you think is exciting, intriguing, and could be your passion – then, it may be the right choice for you.
I hope this helps! <3
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