I have a confession: Coming up, nothing made me zone out faster than the mere mention of politics or news. I could sometimes muster attention for pop culture happenings, but only if it involved something epic or scandalous.
As a less cavalier, less self-centered adult, I can now see the error of my younger ways. News is important, in my daily life as well as in the lives of others. What’s more, since much of the work we do in 2017 involves interacting with people from everywhere, knowing what’s going on in the world is strategically important in terms of workplace success.
Thanks to technology and the interwebs, it’s never been easier to brush up on current affairs. Whether you want to dedicate a few minutes a day to really exploring a topic or if you just feel like scrolling through headlines when you have a few moments, expanding your knowledge can help you expand your connections –- including your connections on cam.
But don’t take my word for it. I asked Shawna Lenee, Jayda Jacobs, Harriet Sugarcookie and Nikki Night to weigh in regarding the importance of staying up to date on news happenings. Here’s what they had to say.
For Shawna Lenee, wider news awareness ties in with her personal interests, as well as with a strategic desire to be good at her job. She had this to say regarding current events on cam:
YNOT Cam: How would it help models to keep up on current events?
Shawna Lenee: It can be very helpful to cam models to stay up to date on current events for a few reasons. First, having a conversation with like-minded viewers and followers can easily keep them engaged and help their attention stay on you. Especially when it comes to adult industry trends, news, and gossip, it is important to know what’s happening in the cam world. Laws may be changed, court cases may be in progress and finding out what customers are flocking to can all be helpful ways to either make money or prevent a loss of money.
Also, some cam models, like me, enjoy using their platform to speak out about important issues, so being up to date is extremely helpful if that is what a cam model’s base is built on. As negative as they sometimes are, viewing tabloid websites or gossip blogs can also be helpful. If cam models read them with the mentality of finding out what to do and what not to do, it can save a model from a bad PR storm in the future.
What suggestions do you have to make staying informed easy and seamless?
I love using Twitter Moments to stay up to date. I think this is an easy way for cam models to see what pop-culture trends are happening, even if it’s a funny video going viral or a funny story that happened on live news. If politics are not in a model’s interest, she can also share funny videos of pets, pranks or hilarious skits instead. I think this option gives my timeline a variety of something for everyone and can really break up the redundancy of sharing our photos and links over and over. Sometimes it also leads to a great conversation and leads new customers to your page.
I also get breaking news updates to my phone regarding political happenings from both major parties and also the ACLU. Breaking weather updates to my phone help me check on my customers around the world and let me know where I need to be donating my money to in case of natural disasters. I love knowing what is happening when it is happening, and it has been a major part of my brand to share the news. When I am asked what career I would have if I didn’t make it into the adult industry, I always say I would be a news anchor. I feel like sharing what is happening is the next best thing.
FOLLOW ME & My Dimples on @Chaturbate! • FOLLOW HERE: https://t.co/a4uSH4xRI8
??↩??↩?? pic.twitter.com/6r7gULRlyh— Shawna Leneé Show (@ShawnaLeneeShow) October 19, 2017
Jayda Jacobs is a co-host on HotSugarTea radio. As a radio personality, the need to stay up to date is imperative. She had this to say regarding current events on cam:
YNOT Cam: How would it help models to keep up on current events?
Jayda Jacobs: Like any other industry, changes and advancements in technology/media/social media affect the way we conduct business. It’s important for models to be current and aware of this so that they do not miss out on opportunities to connect with clients and potential clients.
What suggestions do you have to make staying informed easy and seamless?
Of course I’m biased by saying that HotSugarTea.com is a great source to use to keep you in the loop about porn star gossip and adult entertainment news. But another great way to stay informed is to get plugged in, think outside of the box and reach an audience in and outside of your circle. Use your platform on social media to not only promote your products/services, but also as a way to reach out and network with others inside and outside of your industry. You’ll be surprised at what you can learn from other people.
You’ll never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks. Happy Monday loves? pic.twitter.com/RMCb8EUGcs
— Jayda Jacobs (@jaydajusa) October 23, 2017
Lifestyle media mogul Harriet Sugarcookie has transformed sharing her world with fans into an art in of itself — and a big part of that involves connecting her interests with others’. She had this to say regarding current events on cam:
YNOT Cam: How would it help models to keep up on current events?
Harriet Sugarcookie: Keeping in the loop with pop culture and current events is really important. First, it lets you engage more with the fans and followers. It gives you topics to talk about, and you might have things in common that will let them connect with you better. Overall this is super-important if you want to create a lasting impression and really stand out.
On a more personal level, it can be easy for performers to fall out of the loop with the world, especially when you’re working from home. For your own health, it’s good to try and stay connected with the rest of the world and not be a complete shut-in.
What suggestions do you have to make staying informed easy and seamless?
Honestly, staying informed is more about what works for you. Taking in news and keeping up with stuff shouldn’t feel like a chore. It should be something easy that you can get into the habit of doing. For me, that would be Reddit, but Reddit isn’t for everyone. It can be quite tricky to navigate, actually. Something like Twitter has a tab with trending news articles, and keeping track of what’s a trending hashtag can seriously help your social media game, as well. Otherwise, any news site that you personally like to read is good.
Come into my parlour #idonthaveapalour #ineedaparlour https://t.co/zKD9SiLYJv pic.twitter.com/pMJGF52YMa
— Harriet Sugarcookie (@HSugarCookie) October 26, 2017
Nikki Night, head of performer training and development at Cam4, put a different, yet equally strategic, spin on knowing the news. She had this to say regarding current events on cam:
YNOT Cam: How would it help models to keep up on current events?
Nikki Night: There’s nothing more attractive than brains, but this can be a double-edged sword. Current events may lead to politics, religion, etc — and that can lead to a discussion that distracts the room from your sexy ass. So be careful. It’s nice to talk about the world outside, but keep it light. Viewers are there to be entertained, after all.
What suggestions do you have to make staying informed easy and seamless?
Well, if a performer is reading this, then they are in a great place to stay informed — YNOT is an excellent resource for info. It may also be a good idea to check out forums like Stripperweb, Wecamgirls and, of course, Reddit.
Computer being A-Hole
See you at 3pm EST !https://t.co/jsyfgZqOzE
DM @Cam4 for password #CAM4 pic.twitter.com/AOn9Uol5x0— Nikki Night CAM4 18+ (@Nikki_Night) October 11, 2017
Regardless your strategy, there’s no downside to knowing more stuff. People in your room want to know you, and a bit more when it comes to topics that really move you can show your members a whole new side of “you.”
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Find Shawna Lenee on Twitter at @ShawnaLeneeShow. Find Jayda Jacobs on Twitter at @jaydajusa. Find Nikki Night on Twitter at @Nikki_Night. Find Harriet Sugarcookie on Twitter at @HSugarCookie.
Another confession: I love dListed.com for super-snarky pop-culture news. What’s your fav news site? Email me!
Image © Willie Cloete
