The first day of summer – June 21 — is coming. And with it comes a lot of change.
Lots of life-pacing and schedule-altering things happen during the pre-summer, which I consider to be mid-May-ish to mid-June. Family members who are usually out of the house for eight hours a day are suddenly always around. People who had their time taken up by 16 credits of Psychology homework now find themselves with more free time. You, for whatever reason, may be looking for ways to occupy your time.
When our routines get shaken up pre-summer, we often find ourselves considering new things – new hobbies, new interests and new ways of making money. Which brings us to the seasonal uptick of new models online that seems to happen each year.
As we move into summer, let’s consider some advice for new models that’s been offered around the interwebs. What are some key tips for models looking to dive into cam this summer?
Be realistic about money and (shitty) society.
Money is one of the benefits of camming. Stigma is one of the drawbacks.
One model offered: Be sure that a history in the adult industry isn’t going to screw over your future career plans. But also, be prepared to not make as much as you’re hoping for initially. Summer is when we see a tooooon of new [models] signing up, and it gets really oversaturated. Success is definitely still achievable, but even pretty established successful [models] tend to see an income drop over the summer months.
Make sure you read up on the site you’re working and try to take advantage of new model status (especially on MFC). Keeping a predictable schedule is also super important when you’re starting out.
Let people know when you’re working.
One model suggested: Post a link to your chat on Twitter! I do this with my private based sites and it always increases my traffic significantly. If you really wanna go the extra mile, post your link like 1 hour to 30 minutes before you stream as well in order to hype up your followers for your show.
Speak with promoters to boost your following on Twitter. Some [models] use tumblr as well to advertise content, so maybe you can consider that too but be careful with Insta. They tend to take those profiles down quickly, so keep it vanilla.
Safety first!
Be yourself, but stay alert. One model suggested: Be yourself, but don’t give too much away. You want to protect your location and identify. Block who ever you need to. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries with any members in your room. It’s YOUR room after all, and you don’t need to take crap from anyone who enters.
Keep your head clear, stay focused.
One model said: In any job, it’s most of all about that “inner game” thing. Really line up with it, focus on the benefits, see success stories — and if it should go way south, leave before it can crush you! And even then, focus on what was good, not what went wrong. Viewers will notice if you’re having fun or are seeming soul crushed.
There are a lot of other variables you should consider, including if you even have the stamina for camming. It’s not as easy as people think.
Learn from others.
Don’t copy, but get inspired. One model suggested: Look at your competitors streams to see what they do (and what they do differnt). Make sure you have goals for high tips and low tips so people have something to aim for.
Keep records, pay your taxes.
A model said: Don’t gamble with not reporting income, especially right now. Plan on 25 to 30 percent of your income going to taxes and set it aside if at all possible. If money is tight, this can be super difficult. The first year camming is always a total shocker with how much you owe, and second year forward you’re going to want to figure out and pay estimated quarterly payments.
Hang in there.
One model suggested: Don’t get discouraged if camming doesn’t seem like it’s working out for you at first. Just research your sites, put the hours in and be consistent.
Camming is very difficult to get the hang of and build a following, and it takes dedication. Follow popular cam models on Twitter for inspiration. While you are working to build a following on cam, supplement your income with other things like filming videos, phone sex and sexting. Also, invest in a tip toy like a Lovense Lush — if you have the $120 to play with and the patience to troubleshoot it.
Finally, one poignant thought from a model: You are “onstage” every second that that camera is on. Think about your setting and lighting, and if you can separate that area from your regular life, do it. It helps.
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
