Everyone has a public/private split: You curse less at work, you don’t eat gluten with your gluten-free friends, and you tone down your political leanings when expressing them might cause an argument.
This type of self-management is something everyone does. It’s not on par with altering your personality or interests; it’s an artifact of successful socialization. Socialization is the lifelong process of learning social customs and values, giving individuals the skills and habits necessary to participate in wider society. The education is necessary for individuals to function as an effective part of wider society.
For people with a distinctly public presence — celebrities, politicians, and cam models — the public/private split can become somewhat complex. In order to maintain a healthy work/life balance, people often present a public image that’s somewhat crafted or edited. In other words, it’s gluten-free and politically neutral. But unlike your average person, when that crafted or edited persona slips due to a bad day, intense stress, or emotional burnout, the stakes are quite a bit higher. A public person’s behavior is monitored more stringently and judged more harshly. Though that’s part of the job you (and Kanye West and Britney Spears) signed up for, sometimes that reality can be a little harsh.
According to Courtney Rudolph, FriendFinder Networks’ social media manager, maintaining your public image is very important.
“If you’re having a bad day, it’s probably not a good idea to get on cam,” Rudolph said. “Calling people out on social media or going on long rants will put a bad impression in peoples’ minds.”
We’ve all heard the old adage “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” From getting new people into your room to encouraging repeat visits from key clients, how you conduct yourself in any public online space is key. A model who rants about other girls (even though they may deserve it), shitty customers (even though they may deserve it), or even the weather is shooting herself in the foot. Volatile-seeming behavior and unfettered TMI dumps online do not contribute to customer comfort and confidence — and in many ways, comfort and confidence is the name of the game in cam.
“The last thing you want is people coming to your cam shows just to see if you’re going to go on a tangent,” Rudolph said.
The same advice applies for social media.
“Girls do not need to be on every social media [platform],” Rudolph said, “but I highly recommend having at least a Twitter [presence].”
According to Rudolph, Twitter is a good strategic choice because the platform allows for a good amount of adult content and person-to-person interaction. But it’s also a public platform, and as such, you should always be mindful of the public/private split and the ramifications of a bad-day-meltdown.
“I try to stress to the gals to not give away everything,” Rudolph said. “Tease your audience. Let them into your life with a more personable post — like a quick photo showing you are out shopping for new outfits, or you’re lying on the beach having a great day.”
Save the hardcore and the truly erotic for private eyes only. Absolutely do not share “compromising” photos involving your private life — even if you think they’re no big deal.
“Putting in the personal moments helps draw in new members. If all you post is links to your shows or your videos, then it feels like spam,” Rudolph continued.
The public version of your “personal” life is an evolving balance of your comfort, the public’s comfort, and your wider career goals. It won’t always be perfect, but the key is to be mindful of obvious boundaries. If you feel yourself nearing the edge of your patience, step away from the webcam or put down your phone. If you’re off on a wild girls’ night, schedule a few #latergram-style posts to keep your followers entertained — and your boundaries and real life intact.
Remember to stay savvy, ladies. If you have to think twice about it, then maybe it’s best to think about it later, after the idea has marinated some.
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Think you’re having a bad day? Feeling like you totally blew it in open chat last night? Take a look at these epic celebrity meltdowns – and whatever happened to you no longer looks so bad!
