In today’s bananas-busy world of epic commutes and increasingly challenging office environments, working from home is a luxury many dream of. Very few actually get to live that dream though — except for cam models. This made me wonder: Why in the heck would a model choose to cam from a studio? I had to investigate.
Working from a studio generally means a model physically shows up at a brick-and-mortar facility. Once on site, she goes into a pre-staged, ready-wired room, logs in to whatever platform she cams on, and begins working her room. Obviously, studio facilities can range from fantastic to horrid, as can the services they provide. Plus, the use of a studio isn’t free, which of course makes sense. Everything costs money, and people deserve to be paid for their services. But camming from a studio means another layer is peeled off the top of your take home pay. So, even if it’s a super nice studio, what’s the point?
I was in Southern California recently and decided to visit Studio20’s new facility there. After an hour of roaming around, I figured out why camming from a studio might work well for some models.
The studio
Studio20 is located on the second floor of a nondescript plaza off the touristy beat in Hollywood. The facility offers a pretty reception area, a snazzy conference room, cool-looking people running the place and lots of space: bathrooms, dressing rooms and 10 or so fancy cam rooms. There’s a playpen for littles, several types of boudoirs, a club room complete with a stripper pole (!!), a shower room and even a bazaar. Basically, a setting for any type of show you want to do or persona you want to cultivate. Each room is optimized for broadcast with all the audio-visual equipment you’d need, fancy fast internet and a tech guy on site.
Tech support: This is when things started making sense to me.
A tech guru on the spot for crisis management and general maintenance are hugely important, but these are not the only benefits of working from a studio. There is also all the staging, from lights to furniture, and all the technology. Space is another consideration. Space is expensive in Los Angeles, especially if you’re just starting out. Not only is there plenty of space in a studio, but there’s also plenty of space away from others. If you have a roommate, significant other or are a parent or caretaker, being able to separate work and home life may be invaluable.
What do the studio-based models think?
I asked two Studio20 models for a little more insight.
According to Rosie Blake, technology management is the most important factor for her when camming from a studio.
“The main benefit comes into play with the fact that I’m probably the least technologically savvy person in all of California,” Blake said. “I could probably crash the whole thing just trying to log in.”
Dezi Jones raised two more interesting issues: safety and the ability to focus.
“[Studio20] is safe and secure,” Jones said. “When I walk inside, it’s welcoming, bright and clean. The rooms are beautifully decorated and cozy, which actually enhances a model’s natural beauty. The televisions, webcams and other audio equipment are top of the line, so when I stream live, I know each and every member will view a high-quality product, which is me.
“And I can work without distractions that would happen at home,” she added. “That’s the extra benefit: being able to focus.”
No workplace is perfect, though, so I also wondered about challenges. While places like Studio20 focus on glamour webcam modeling jobs (no nudity required), there’s always going to be a little bit of work-related intimacy going on inside the cam rooms. And that IT guy — he’s always around. Certainly that’s a little bit strange?
According to Jones and Blake, it’s not strange at all. The challenges in a studio are coincident with challenges models face in general.
“It’s definitely a little awkward in the beginning,” Blake said. “I didn’t do anything in particular to get over it, though. That came more from my fans. You start with so many insecurities with letting people see all of you, and they help so much with bringing out the confidence you need to be all out with them.”
“I do run into people that find me perfect for their visual preferences but not the best at their specific fetishes, but practice does lead to perfection,” she added, addressing her own learning curve as a performer.
“I felt funny at first because, on my first day in free chat, all the members and guests could see me, but I could not see them. I felt too old,” Jones said. “Then, in private, I felt funny being with members who chose not to cam2cam. I am a visual person. I like to see what’s going on, but I respect their privacy.
“After two days of streaming live at Studio20 I got over it, because the staff said relax and just have fun. That’s just what I did and still do now,” she added.
Jones also shared challenges every model who want to build herself up must face.
“I am building my own business,” she said. “I have to dedicate my time by showing up when I said I would and build my clientele every time I stream live. Then, I have to come up with fresh ideas to keep them wanting more. Luckily, Studio20’s staff coaches me when I need it, and their ideas work every time. So, being patient is another challenge. I have to be patient enough to know that my business is growing.”
Everyone works differently, and everyone takes feedback in a different way. Everyone also has different circumstances, all shaped by an endless number of factors and contingencies. Camming from a studio may not be the best idea for you, but it can be the best choice for others. The key, as always, is to be mindful. Be mindful of your work, the terms of the agreements you commit to, and — most importantly — of your needs.
There’s no one way to work it. There’s only the way by which you succeed.
Visit Rosie Blake on Twitter at @RosieBlakeOrg, and visit Dezi Jones on Streamate.
Check out this video from Studio20 about the company’s L.A. space.
[…] toured a high-end studio in Los Angeles a few months back (you can read all about it here). It was a super-interesting and informative experience, but I was left wondering: For models who […]