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Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Hello to all the new ladies. Welcome to StripperWeb and good luck on your new business!
Camming Bookmarks
That is a list of camming threads and tools that will help you. Save that link. DON'T LOSE IT!
Check out all the stickies too! Especially these:
Also...
You may of noticed the most popular answer you get is to read the forum. I know it's 2016 and a lot of the big threads and stickies go back to 2012. That's a lot reading material for some. But trust us when we say, read it all.
How to use the search function tutorial
FAQ
Q: What is the site I can make the most money on?
A: It depends only on you and your potential. Try them all. You may bank on some where you don't make a dime on others (i.e., Token sites vs Private-based sites)
Q: How much money will/can I make?
A: I don't know, that depends on you. So anywhere from $1 to $∞.
Q: How do I make sure my future employer doesn't see my camming history?
A: If you want to get into education. Do not cam.
Q: I found videos of me/pictures on the internet! How can I delete?
A: It comes with the job. You can choose to DMCA it or ignore them. Remember the internet is forever.
Q: Does Geoblocking work?
A: Not really, no.
Q: I'm hot, why am I not making any money?
A: This is a sales job. You need to learn how to hustle and convince this horny dude to buy your shit when there is an abundance of free porn on the internet and probably free porn of you.
Q: Customer wants to go offsite, what form of payment do I use?
A: Do not use Paypal, Google Wallet, Square Cash, or any other service that doesn't allow adult transactions. If you are unsure if one does, read the terms of service. Most people use GiftRocket or Amazon giftcards. But you have to be careful still. You can sign up for an indie site for skype shows or tributes. LCMS, SkyPrivate, Cammodel Directory
Q: Will I be outed?
A: Maybe, or maybe not? But get ready to have that awkward conversation if it does happen. You can deny or own your shit.
Q: A customer is getting weird/no longer spending/making me uncomfortable/whatever. What should I do?
A: Ban him and ignore
Q: OMG A GUY SCAMMED ME INTO GIVING A FREE SHOW! Advice?
A: It sucks, but we've all been juked one way or another. From fake tips or did skypes show but never received payment. Always receive payment first before doing anything. Check your earnings to double check. Never accept an IOU as a form of payment. Don't accept PP, because they can report your account for adult transaction and your PP will be closed and you will lose all money on it.
Q: Can I make money without getting naked/showing my face/putting things inside me/doing naughty things/sound?
A: Yes and no. It really depends on your hustle. Remember you don't have to do anything you don't want to. But remember these choices could impact your potential income.
Q: Am I pretty enough? Am I too big? Am I too old?
A: With camming, it is limitless. You do not have to be a porn barbie with fake tits and bleached hair in her early twenties. Yes looks are plus, but it's about your personality and sales skills too. You'll never know once you try. If it doesn't work out, that is fine. Camming is not for everyone.
(If there are any FAQ any you ladies can think of, post it or PM me and I'll update.)
Have a Question Related to Camming? Unsure Where to Ask? Post ANY AND ALL Here!
Since ladies are leaving some excellent posts in this thread. Be sure to read this thread thoroughly for some amazing information. This thread is seriously making me wet with all this juicy knowledge. YUM!
[[[I'll be listing fan-fucking-tastic posts from this thread and others you should pay attention to in the future.]]]
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Re: Welcome to all the newbies! - Info and FAQ
Stickkkkkyyyy
...or is it spelled "stickie?"
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Re: Welcome to all the newbies! - Info and FAQ
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Re: Welcome to all the newbies! - Info and FAQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by
audritwo
That would be cool.
Hey audition hru I was just reading the avoid studio thread and I'm kinda confused .I was thinking joining a studio would help with my crappie placement and I would earn back my percentage with high traffic? ? I'm not with one but I was thinking should I because I'm always behind the studios lol your help will be appreciated thank you
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ
I meant to spell audritwo but auto correct changed it
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ
Great thread! Maybe add to the FAQ's "Can I make money without getting naked/showing my face/putting things inside me/doing naughty things?" cuz I swear I see some variation of that at least once a week here. or "Am I pretty enough? Here's a pic of me!"
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Re: Welcome to all the newbies! - Info and FAQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wannaknow
Hey audition hru I was just reading the avoid studio thread and I'm kinda confused .I was thinking joining a studio would help with my crappie placement and I would earn back my percentage with high traffic? ? I'm not with one but I was thinking should I because I'm always behind the studios lol your help will be appreciated thank you
Hi Wannaknow, Let me field this one. What a studio will do for you is take a % of your earning and do nothing for your crappy placement and traffic. If you see a studio girl who is ahead of you in placement it's generally because they made money/ worked consistent hours and pushed their way up the ranks to that spot. Don't get caught in the studio trap, its not worth it.
Katy Bolyn has an amazing daily pay studio that you can use that is highly recommended, but otherwise STAY AWAY from studios.
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Re: Welcome to all the newbies! - Info and FAQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kitcatt
Hi Wannaknow, Let me field this one. What a studio will do for you is take a % of your earning and do nothing for your crappy placement and traffic. If you see a studio girl who is ahead of you in placement it's generally because they made money/ worked consistent hours and pushed their way up the ranks to that spot. Don't get caught in the studio trap, its not worth it.
Katy Bolyn has an amazing daily pay studio that you can use that is highly recommended, but otherwise STAY AWAY from studios.
OK I will look into that!.thank you
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ
A QUICK DISCUSSION ABOUT STUDIOS:
Nearly every seasoned model in the cam world will tell you to stay far, far away from 99.999% (and even up to 100%) of studios. The why can get muddled, however, so it's worth a quick explanation to cover the basics. For these, I will focus on Streamate specific studios, but these notes apply to nearly all studios across nearly all major sites.
What is a studio? Studios are groups affiliated with a cam site that have models working under them. These studios fall into two different categories--physical and virtual.
How does a studio work? Studios work as an intermediary between models and the site. When a model signs up under a studio, the studio will now receive her paycheck and in turn pay her. Every studio takes a percentage of the models earnings for this 'service.' Streamate, for example, has hundreds of studios under them, both physical and virtual. By way of example, the dirtiest studio on the face of this earth (in most models opinions) is called InternetM0deling. A model signed up to SM directly (i.e. an 'independent' model) would normally receive $.30-$.35 on every dollar (depending on their country of origin), while a studio model with IM would only receive $.20-$.25 and the studio pockets the rest.
What incentive/benefits do studios offer to models that they even exist? Logically one might think, the studio must offer some service to justify taking a percentage of models earnings, right? And since an independent model gets paid directly by the site whereas a studio model gets paid by an intermediary, it's not like they've somehow 'simplified' the payment process for models. At best, the studio has maintained status quo for an independent model versus a studio model, so that begs the question--what, exactly, do studios do for models? The answer depends greatly the studio type.
Physical Studios: as the name implies, these studios offer a physical work place for models. They often supply the model with a room--pre-decorated--, a computer, a webcam, and--in some cases--some degree of training. These studios are fairly limited in the US and other major western countries, but are fairly common in Eastern Europe. Some girls do not have the funds or option to set up as an independent model for whatever reason. Some sites require studio affiliation for 'fraud-frequent' countries, for example; some other girls may simply not have the money or space to work from home directly. Thus, physical studios take a cut of a models pay to cover the cost of this physical space and training. These studios, if you must work for them, are arguably providing an actual service. However, it is important to be wary! Not all studios are run by owners with scruples or a great deal of industry understanding--they may force girls to maintain certain rates that lower their income, work set schedules, or make requirements that are otherwise damaging. If you're looking into a physical studio--research their reputation heavily and try your best to find a model who works for them to talk to first.
Virtual Studios: these studios are 100% online and do not offer models a physical location to work from. Some may offer training to new models (and many claim to--though they rarely actually offer anything of value), an 'expedited' pay schedule, or--in the case of unscrupulous virtual studio owners, try to lure models in with promises of a higher payout percentage than the actual site offers OR the chance to work their 'private camsite' for a high percentage.
InternetM0deling--mentioned above and to be avoided at all costs--is an example of this type of virtual studio 'scam.' They go by many names and have tricked many a new model into giving up her hard earned money. Their models are paid roughly 60% of what independent models make while making outrageous, carefully worded claims to make it seem as though they pay twice as much as independent models make. As with many virtual studios, they lure girls in with pretty splash pages that pressure you to sign up immediately, imply they'll help you through the sign up/start up process (which you could easily do yourself), say they'll advertise you (again, you could do this yourself on Twitter for free), and so on--all in the effort to pocket a chunk of your earnings for themselves for doing virtually nothing.
If you try to leave them, many of these virtual studios have contracts with the main site to prevent you from signing up as an independent model for six to twelve months after you close your account and several of these studios have been known to use tricks to keep you from being released even then.
As a matter of fact, when it comes to virtual studios, it's easiest to remember them as thus: virtual studios are virtually worthless.
But this studio claimed they would help my placement/traffic/train me/pay me more! Why/how could they lie about that? Because they can and they want your money. Realistically, most sites don't make deals with studios OR models regarding traffic or placement pushing. Sure, there are some cases where popular porn stars come to a cam site on a special contract, but 99% of the time any studio claiming they'll do something special is lying. Don't believe me? Go to the GFY forum and look under the recruiters section for cam models. That forum exists for affiliates/marketers to talk about how they get models to 'sign up' and generally call us all lazy, stupid bitches who don't do shit for them after all their 'hard work' processing our sign ups. It's a real eye opening reading experience. When it doubt, don't believe anything a pretty splash page tells you without researching it yourself and, as always, asking here if you can't tell on first glance. We are always happy to help with dirty studio avoidance.
But are there any studios that are good? Well, the answer to that depends on what you're looking for as a model. If you want to work from home with 100% independence and make as much of the money your customers spend on you as possible, than the answer is no, you should not work for a studio. In that case, signup for a site directly as an independent model. The original 'how to avoid studios' thread in the original post of this thread should have a list of direct sign ups. When it doubt--ASK! We would always rather answer a 'potentially dumb question' than see a newbie stuck with a studio leeching her money!
Now, if you need somewhere to work and live near a physical studio, it may be worth looking into, but again--be careful! Make sure you get a copy of their release policy and model contract, as well as get a good feel for who you're working for and what they do. Don't ever go in blind because, in this industry especially, people are more likely to be in it for a quick buck on your work than interested in taking care of you.
Aren't there any good virtual studios? Yes, yes there are, but this again depends on what you need as a model. The only studio that is highly recommended by models around this forum is the Boleyn Model Daily Pay studio. It is run by Katy Boleyn, a cam model and regular poster to this site. As the name implies, she sends payments daily whereas most sites hold your payments for several weeks. If you need cash quick, she's your lady. Her site also offers income verification for housing and other needs as well as the possibility for cash advances in emergencies once you've built up a 'credit rating' with her (i.e. good, steady income). In addition to daily payments, she aggregates payouts for sites into a single check. For example, if you are a model on Streamate, MyFreeCams, and CamModelDirectory, you can set up all of your sites for payout through her. If you make over ~$20 in a single day total across all sites, she pays it out lump sum on the next business day. This is good for sites where you might not get shows often enough to make the site minimum payout as an independent model very often. On SM, for example, I think the minimum payout for a check is $25-$50 or so, sent weekly. With Katy, if you made $20 on SM in any given day, it would be paid out immediately with no holding time. For all these services (and others not listed--see her thread on this forum for more info AND more testimonials), she takes a percentage of your site earnings.
Anybody else offer services like those listed above? There are sites and studios that claim to, yes, but many of them have a checkered reputation or no reputation at all, making them much higher risk. As always, investigate before you proceed.
Ohmigod, after reading this, I realize I might have just signed up for a useless studio/been working for one all along! What do I do? Well, first off, let yourself be seriously angry for a minute. When you've calmed down from that, you'll need to evaluate your position with the studio. In most cases, if you have yet to stream on the studio account, you can close the account and make a new one as an independent model without any issue.
However, if you have streamed on the studio account, you will need to request that the account be closed and open a new one, as above, but with a small potential hiccup. As mentioned above, many studios have 'contracts' with the main site saying models must wait 6-12 months before they can make an independent account in an effort to dissuade models from leaving them. When requesting to leave the studio account, is imperative that you determine whether or not you can live off the income from other, non-studio sites while you sit through the waiting period. Obviously, if you can't make it six months without your income from, say, your Streamate studio account, then you'll need to save up before leaving or reevaluate if it's worth leaving at all when considering 6-12 months lost income. If you do decide to leave, approach your studio owner WHILE CCing the main site ownership/support about the account closure. Let them know that you want to close you studio account permanently and would appreciate if they released you to immediate independent status. Realistically, they probably won't release you, but you can force them to close the account. At that point, make sure the main site ownership knows you closed the account and ask for the date at which you can sign up as an independent model. For example, Liz is the head of model support for Streamate and would give you a date. This is important because scummy studios will sometimes not delete the model account, log in periodically to 'stream' from it, and so on to make it appear active and prevent you from leaving the studio as an independent model at all. Once site ownership gives you an independent date sign up, save that email and get ready to wait it out until you can start again as an independent model getting paid full percentage of earnings. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SIGN UP WITH ANOTHER STUDIO AFTER THE WAITING PERIOD! I think that should go without saying, but it has happened before and it sucks big time.
So there's the general business with studios ladies! Remember, be careful and investigate all your options before signing up and if you find yourself in one don't give up hope because there is always another site to work!
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
[reserving now, I'll have this finished up within a day or two - very busy right now unfortunately and procrastinating badly - thank you all for the mentions]
Type of websites and how they work:
Token Sites -
Private Sites -
Indy Listing Sites -
Some sites use a combination approach to the above, for example a client can pay for a Skype show with MyFreeCams tokens, you can enter a pay-per-minute private mode on Chaturbate, and you can receive Gold tips on Streamate. The primary means of earning money is what was used to categorize them.
There are also other basic income streams you can pursue, either on their own or in conjunction with your camming:
Membership or Fan Sites - Members pay a monthly recurring fee to access "content" that you regularly post. This can take the form of clips, photos, blog entries (sexy or not), a schedule of where you can be found online, live performances for "fans only" broadcast to them, and listing for any special services you may offer (as well as how to pay for them).
Clips Sites -
Content Modeling Sites -
Phone and Text Service Sites -
Website oddities:
Tubesites
Affiliate content sites/"Rating Sites"
White labels
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Because I know sometimes new girls want a second opinion, I'll add my commentary after Audri's answers.
First though, a bit about me: I've been a cam model for two years now. I primarily work Streamate, but have a few indy sites (CamModelDirectory and such) as well as texting/phone/a small online vanilla gig for added income. I have averaged anywhere between $0 and $3500 in a week total, though it tends towards the $2k range these days, with the massive difference range more or less coming down to experience, knowledge, and a lot of hard work.
Why should you listen to my ridiculous opinions? I dunno. I've done this for a while. I've developed some and felt the need to share. I happen to own a keyboard and be in possession of an internet connection, so I'm gonna do it anyway. All good possibilities...
Q: What is the site I can make the most money on?
A: It depends only on you and your potential. Try them all. You may bank on some where you don't make a dime on others (i.e., Token sites vs Private-based sites)[/quote]
From Issa: Yes to all this. We all tend to suggest a few good starter sites (Streamate, MyFreeCams, Chaturbate, etc.), but realistically any site that you take the time to learn and put the work into can be a money maker. That said, you could do all the right things and just find yourself not fitting there. As with any job, you've gotta test that shit out.
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Q: How much money will/can I make?
A: I don't know, that depends on you. So anywhere from $1 to $∞.
From Issa: Again, agreed. I've seen girls with natural sales skills start out banking $100/hour. They're the exception, not the rule. Most girls around here seem to have started out making $10-$15/hour and built up from there. I think the average range I see for part-time to full-time cammers around this forum is in the $25-$35/hour range, but that usually takes several months to build. Frankly, the biggest factor in how much you make is YOU. You put in the time, research, and hard work and you can succeed. That said, this job ain't for everyone, so don't be ashamed to admit defeat.
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Q: How do I make sure my future employer doesn't see my camming history?
A: If you want to get into education. Do not cam.
From Issa: *gets the hysterical laughter out of her system* You can't. Sorry darling, but you can't. You can't keep your family, friends, future employers, or even that random stranger on the other side of the street from finding out. Two reasons: a) camming is a digital-transaction job that results in you having to pay taxes. Taxes = paper trail. Paper trail = potential to be found out. Reason b) the internet is forever, as Audri mentions below, and anything you do online--good, bad, ugly, and neutral--is potentially out there for someone to find at a later date. If you can't handle that possibility, don't cam.
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Q: I found videos of me/pictures on the internet! How can I delete?
A: It comes with the job. You can choose to DMCA it or ignore them. Remember the internet is forever.
From Issa: Yeah, that. DMCA refers to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, which basically says that a site illegally using your stuff has to take it down if you tell them to. Some sites follow the rules, but many do not because they're hard to stop. If you've ever enjoyed the illegal option of streaming TV shows on the internet, downloading a movie for free off PirateBay, or recorded a song off of YouTube, well, guess what--you know exactly why getting pirated material taken down is nearly impossible. Take it off one site and it'll probably just pop up on another, and the people with the copyright rarely have the time or knowledge to play Wack-A-Mole with pirates forever.
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Q: Does Geoblocking work?
A: Not really, no.
From Issa: Actually, it depends. I'm one of the minority that says geoblock does work, but you need to remember it's limitations when you use it. If you think geoblock is a magical cork that will prevent anyone and everyone from that area from seeing your shows working, well, the jokes on you. Geoblock is a tool that blocks users via various means--IP address, credit card zip code, etc.--from seeing you on the site. There are dozens of ways around those blocks in reality, so it's not a water tight method. Furthermore, it doesn't really prevent affiliates from recording your shows and distributing them 'for marketing purposes,' and it certainly doesn't prevent a capper from illegally recording your shows and putting it on, say, PornHub, where mommy and daddy may someday see it. Does it cut down on that possibility? Sure. But it is not fool-proof and you're an actual fool if you think it's magically going to save you. It's kind of like a baby blanket--comforting false sense of security and all.
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Q: I'm hot, why am I not making any money?
A: This is a sales job. You need to learn how to hustle and convince this horny dude to buy your shit when there is an abundance of free porn on the internet and probably free porn of you.
From Issa: Because entitlement doesn't equal money, that's why. I'm happy to hear that the Powers That Be granted you what most would consider a physically appealing form, but that isn't even half the damned battle. If you haven't got the sales skills the universe gave a walnut, you probably won't make much. Good news though! With enough time and dedication, you can often learn sales skills. You may not be as good as a natural, but you can definitely improve.
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Q: Customer wants to go offsite, what form of payment do I use?
A: Do not use Paypal, Google Wallet, Square Cash, or any other service that doesn't allow adult transactions. If you are unsure if one does, read the terms of service. Most people use GiftRocket or Amazon giftcards. But you have to be careful still. You can sign up for an indie site for skype shows or tributes.
From Issa: Ever heard the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is? Pro-tip: when considering an offer--be it on cam or in real life--always remember to work through what the other party is getting out of it if you agree. The dude may say 'but you get 100% of the money instead of splitting it with the site' and that sounds, well, fucking fantastic. However, most offsite payment methods don't allow adult transactions and alllll the customer has to do is charge it back for you to be out the money entirely (plus a hefty fine, in the case of sites like PayPal). Independent sites like those Audri listed and main cam sites that take a higher percentage of your earnings do so because they are acting as a payment processor. In may cases, these sites even cover potential charge backs from customers that cry 'CREDIT CARD FRAUD!' to their banks. When you go it alone, you don't get that and scammers know it, so they'll try to take full advantage.
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Q: Will I be outed?
A: Maybe, or maybe not? But get ready to have that awkward conversation if it does happen. You can deny or own your shit.
From Issa: Oh god! I recently had a near miss with my family that just makes this especially funny to answer! Hah! Maybe, but maybe not is a fair answer. However, the reality is that you need to prepare for being outed as though it will inevitably happen. You have no control over the internet once something is out there and you may find yourself in a truly uncomfortable position if/when you get outed, so be ready for it. Can't handle the heat (or possibility)? Get the hell off the internet!
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Q: A customer is getting weird/no longer spending/making me uncomfortable/whatever. What should I do?
A: Ban him and ignore
From Issa: yes, that. There will never be a shortage of horny dudes to replace an expired customer or eternal freeloader. Dudes who spend tend to eventually get a sense of entitlement to your time as though Frequent Cam Miles exist. They don't, so if he stops spending, you should stop paying attention. If the dude makes you feel weird, ban away. The beauty of self-employment in porn is that you don't answer to anyone for your choices except yourself. Own it; relish in it.
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Q: OMG A GUY SCAMMED ME INTO GIVING A FREE SHOW! Advice?
A: It sucks, but we've all been juked one way or another. From fake tips or did skypes show but never received payment. Always receive payment first before doing anything. Check your earnings to double check. Never accept an IOU as a form of payment. Don't accept PP, because they can report your account for adult transaction and your PP will be closed and you will lose all money on it.
From Issa: yeah that. Take it as a lesson learned and be more cautious next time. Again, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
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Q: Can I make money without getting naked/showing my face/putting things inside me/doing naughty things/sound?
A: Yes and no. It really depends on your hustle. Remember you don't have to do anything you don't want to. But remember these choices could impact your potential income.
From Issa: Jesus Horatio Christ. I think this comes up on a monthly basis. Short answer--maybe. Long answer--probably not, but shoot for the stars! Here's the deal--porn isn't an anonymous spectator sport for models. It's a physical one that has real life repercussions. If it were easy, everyone would do it and none of us would make bank anymore. Dudes pay for you over jerking to free porn because they want the live one-on-one attention. That usually means they want to see your face, your naked vagina, something shoved in it, and the sounds of you moaning. Alternatively, fetish models can get away with non-nude more easily, but the recordings of them telling a customer to spread his ass cheeks and shove that dildo right on up are equally pornographic. Also, what's the point? Sure, you could wear a mask on one of the few sites that even allows that sort of thing, but that doesn't prevent someone from recognizing you in other ways or keep the tax-related paper trailer from existing. And, besides all that, even a totally 'innocent' video of yourself on PornHub that shows you working an 'adult' site will lead people to assume that at some point you did actual porn.
Also, for some reason, this question comes up A LOT in conjunction to young women pursuing teaching degrees in childhood education. Real life talk: no, you can't be a cam model and go back to teaching afterwards just like that. If you want to enter any industry that is particularly conservative, especially teaching where an in depth background check that includes your tax returns usually happens, then adult work is not for you. No mask is going to change that.
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Q: Am I pretty enough? Am I too big? Am I too old?
A: With camming, it is limitless. You do not have to be a porn barbie with fake tits and bleached hair in her early twenties. Yes looks are plus, but it's about your personality and sales skills too. You'll never know once you try. If it doesn't work out, that is fine. Camming is not for everyone.
From Issa: Different strokes for different blokes, okay? BBW, Mature, Big Tits, Small Ass, Hairy, and so on are all huge fetish niches. The great thing about live internet porn for men is that they can freely pursue 'less common' interests that get them off fairly easily.
Also, for transgender models specifically--you do not need to be at any particular 'point' in your transition before you can start working on cam. Come as you are and own it--the dudes will follow right along.
BONUS QUESTION ROUND!
Q: I just turned 18 and want to start camming, but I still live with my parents; how do I keep it a secret? Alternative: I'm in college and want to cam without my parents knowing; how?
A: No. No, no, no. For several reasons. One, you are, in all likelihood, still a dependent of your parents for tax purposes. This means that they provide most of your financial support in the way of bills and, if you're in college, tuition money. That means that you'll need to make sure to file taxes for yourself, but it also changes their tax return with you as a dependent and is going to require you supply them with information about your income (i.e. the 1099 the camsite issues you for taxes). Any curious parent who understands google can look up the name of a company on your 1099 and figure out it's a porn site.
Beyond that--explaining your sudden burst in income while living at home/going to school full-time might be rather difficult to accomplish without some impressive lying! And, even if you make enough to totally take these items over for them and qualify as an independent for tax purposes, you'll have to explain to mommy and daddy why they can't use you as a tax write off that year.
Also, at the barely legal age of 18-20, you're making a very serious choice from which there is no coming back. Kiss a lot of job options good bye and prepare to be subjected to some intense sexual objectification at a time in your life when you're already under a lot of pressure to learn how to 'Adult.' That's rough on older, more sexually- and life-experienced women. I'm not saying you can't do it--I mean, it's legal if you're 18 and all--but I am saying that you really need to think about it. This isn't easy money and it doesn't just go away when you're done. A two week stint on cam could come back to haunt you later in life. You need to be fully committed to that reality.
Q: My self-esteem isn't that great/I don't feel very good about myself/I really need the money. Should I still cam?
A: No. In life, desperation can often drive people to do things that aren't in their best interests or that they wouldn't normally choose for themselves. Sometimes, hitting rock bottom like that can be the stepping stone on up to success. More often, sadly, it's just another dead end. If you want to cam for you, then by all means, but if you're doing it to prove something or because you're desperate or want approval? No, the customers in this industry will destroy you.
Q: But I'm a special snowflake and none of these problems/pitfalls/concerns could ever be an issue for me! Don't you think you're being a little paranoid/trying to discourage me from doing what I want?
A: Hey, by all means, it's your life and your call and far be it from me to stop you. Come back in six months, a year, a decade--and tell me where you're at then. I would love to be proven wrong because I want to see new models succeed and that success is uplifting. That said, reality is a vengeful bitch. You have been warned.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
So let's talk about money, because that's a big reason we're all here, amiright ladies?
A lot of you have probably ended up here in some way or another in hunt of a job that promises freedom from asshole bosses, a flexible schedule, the ability to sit in your underwear at home all day, and, of course, the potential for serious cash. Whether you heard it word of mouth or saw an article online, you probably got told something like 'Cam Model Makes $10,000 Per Week From Home And You Can Too!'
But of course, as with anything else you read on the internet, the reality is rarely so simple.
What is a webcam model, anyway? In the most general terms, a webcam model is anyone--male or female, cis or trans-gendered--who puts on a live performance in front of a webcam for people on the internet in exchange for money.
So how much can I make doing this? A more detailed answer.
Here's the deal--those flashy articles or rumors you've heard about people making $10,000/day or whatever aren't necessarily a lie, but they really don't tell the whole truth either. As in any job, the percentage of people who are exceptionally successful is a tiny fraction of those who make little-to-knowing or those who make just a modest living income. And, as in any job, camming doesn't come with any guarantees of success. Someone else making $1,000,000 camming last year says nothing about how much you can make. Literally, nothing.
So the next logical question a potential-model might ask is 'well, how much can I realistically expect to make doing this then? I need to know first so I can decide if it's worth all the hassle.' Great question! Unfortunately, the answer is, again, frustratingly complicated and impossible to pin down. Why? Because this is a commission sales job. Just like any other job, we can give you ballpark figures and averages based on what other ladies in your potential category made to start out or make now or whatever, but the reality is that their sales skills (hereafter referred to as 'hustle') is not yours. We're really not trying to dismiss you when we say 'it depends,' because it actually just depends.
'Well alright,' you say, 'then how do I figure it out without trying? How can I guarantee that I'll succeed and this will all be worth it?' Answer: you don't. The only way to know what you can make is through trial and error. You can have the best equipment, do all the reading, plan and prep until your eyeballs bleed--but you will not know your earning potential until you're actually working. That's the risk-reward balance of a commission sales job.
And that, my darlings, is that.
But Issa! Men think I'm super attractive and compliment me ALL the time and I'm ready to do all the prep work and everything! You've gotta tell me that's worth at least a $XXX amount of money for sure!?
Nope. Hush up now darling. It's not. Period. There are no guarantees in commission sales. Nada. Zilch. Zero. None. I'm sorry that isn't the most satisfying answer in the world, but it's the reality and I'm not going to be responsible for instilling false hope.
NEXT QUESTION!
Okay, okay, I get that I've just gotta try it all out to see how much I make. What can I do to prepare?
Read this forum. Read it until your eyes bleed, take a break, and keep going. Read until you start knowing the answers to the questions before you see the answers listed.
Make sure your equipment is up to snuff. Realistically, a beater laptop from 8 years ago won't be able to keep up with the high performance demands camming puts on a computer. Most sites suggest an i5 or i7 processor at minimum, although you can get away with a lower end model. Also, a real webcam is a must, not whatever crappy built-in camera you have on your computer now. If you're serious about this, drop $75 on a nice webcam. I recommend the Logitech c910 or c920, whichever is cheaper on Amazon at the moment, but you can always search the forums for more current recommendations as this post gets older. Finally, a steady, high speed internet connection is king. Most people buy internet packages based on high download speeds, which allow you to stream videos and the like quickly. However, if you're a cam model, you need high upload speeds to send your large video/audio files to the cam site server for customers to watch you. At bare minimum, a single cam site requires ~3 mbps upload to run. The higher, the better.
Toys, outfits, make up, look?! A nice bra/panty set and a tank top are good enough to start. You can use your fingers until you have toys. Buy high quality dildos when you do want them (if you don't already have a toy or 50). Realistically, I only use about three toys regularly--a vibrator, a realistic dildo, and a glass dildo. You don't need to invest $800 in this stuff to start and you won't know what you need until you're working. Stay cheap until you figure that out or you'll end up with shit you never use again.
Location, location, location! Make sure your cam space looks clean and inviting. Again, start simple and branch out as needed/desired over time.
Hours and shift times. When you first sign up with a site, you have what is called 'New Model Status' that lists you in a special category for a short time (varies by site). Do NOT waste this time! You will experience a higher level of traffic and be building your customer/fan base during this time. After it expires, you don't get anymore 'perks' and have to build on what you've got. If you work plenty of hours and keep to regular times during this period, you're setting yourself up for success. If you work sparingly at random times, you shoot yourself in the foot.
Other stuff. *I'll add things in here as they occur to me*
Okay, got all that going, but I've got another question. All those girls on the tippity-top of the site listings seem to make crazy good money. How do I get there?
This is what we call Placement, and it varies from site to site in how it's done. Basically, the general theory is that the 'highest earning' model is at the top, and it goes on down from there. It's a bit more complicated than that, but there's truth to the logic. It exists because sites have to list models in some order, and 'totally random' is rarely best for their bottom line. Ergo, a placement algorithm likely exists to order you in relation to other models.
The site you work determines the placement algorithm they use, hence the variation. MyFreeCams, for example, calculates placement solely off of something called cam score, which is more or less how many tokens (site currency) you've made in certain period of time. That's it--highest average earner as calculated by cam score is first and lowest average earner is last. Everyone else goes in the middle somewhere.
Now, sites like Streamate use a slightly more complicated algorithm, much of which you can control to your advantage. Using optimal equipment and settings, as outlined by their handbook, gives you a placement boost. Working at least 90 hours in the last 30 days gives you a boost. Having a high customer rating gives you a boost. And, of course, making a lot of money for the site gives you a placement boost. If you have all of that on lock down, you should place fairly well and be making a decent amount of money in relation to other models on the site.
So placement matters then, huh Issa?
Eh, kinda. There's sort of this standing theory that if you can just make it to the tippity-top, you'll be set forever but that isn't necessarily true. Camming, being commission sales, ebbs and flows in terms of income. Even top models have bad days for earnings where they make little or nothing. The difference between a model in row one versus in row four might not be much at all, in terms of income.
Being on top still doesn't promise you money--it just means dudes are more likely to see you before another model they like/spend all their money on. Having a lot of dudes in your room increases the statistical likelihood of a sale, certainly, but all it takes to earn money is a spending customer. Whether you have 3 guys in your room or 30, all it takes is one spender to make your night and it's up to you to convince that dude to spend his money in your room.
So, yes, placement does matter, but don't lose site of the forest for view of a single tree.
Okay, I'm done being a keyboard warrior now. May I forever link back to this post when these questions come up elsewhere, hah!
Also, as always: my posts are based on my experience and opinions formed therein; others may agree or disagree for their own reasons and off their own experiences. Your mileage may vary--greatly.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Want to add another example of placement.
Chaturbate's placement is based on the amount of viewership at the time. So sites like that you want to build up your following. Any site in general you want to gain your own following so members can easily find you if you are stuck in the back pages. They can do so by following or favoriting you.
Each site has a different algorithm, so be sure to understand whatever site you plan on working on's out.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Issabelle
Also, at the barely legal age of 18-20, you're making a very serious choice from which there is no coming back. Kiss a lot of job options good bye and prepare to be subjected to some intense sexual objectification at a time in your life when you're already under a lot of pressure to learn how to 'Adult.' That's rough on older, more sexually- and life-experienced women. I'm not saying you can't do it--I mean, it's legal if you're 18 and all--but I am saying that you really need to think about it. This isn't easy money and it doesn't just go away when you're done. A two week stint on cam could come back to haunt you later in life. You need to be fully committed to that reality.
I would also add that it's really important to get some real life experience. Camming can become addictive, for the money, for the (sometimes) ease, and for the enjoyment of being admired and wanted, especially if youre on certain sites like MFC where the interaction between you and the guys is pretty intense. Camming can warp your perception of how life, people, and relationships should be. You should definitely work some crappy jobs, some good jobs, get some education, have your heart broken a few times and learn how to mend yourself before you start out camming. It can very easily become a trap for those with little prior life experience x
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
This thread should definitely be a sticky!
My addition is: Good financial planning. I've been camming 6 weeks and still haven't figured out an average take by which I can roughly expect to rely on. It varies SO MUCH. One day I'm making $90 an hour, the next day it's $9 an hour. So be wise about the money you make. Don't get all ecstatic about making $500 in one day and spend it all thinking that you'll make that every day. In this business, it's not just about you and your hustle, we very much depend on our sites and their traffic. There's a lot we can't control. Live well, but put away the extra cash you make on good days, because shitty days/internet outtages/site crashes/equipment malfunctions are unavoidable and we have no minimum wage to fall back on. When a bad week comes, you don't want to find yourself facing unpaid bills.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Oh god, I just remembered! Speaking of planning--TAXES!
Congratulations lady-bbs and gentle-bbs! You have officially stepped into the world of self-employment with a 100% legal, taxed job and, unlike the regular job market in most of America and many other countries that tax your income, your pay is not automatically taxed by your employer! One of the very first threads linked in the original post Audri made is called 'Taxes-Is Camming Still Worth It?' GO READ THAT SHIT!
Highlight reel for United States Models who want to get down some basic info:
1) If you live in the United States, you are responsible for your federal tax and any state taxes for the area you live in, as well as social security/medicare taxes. Prepare to set aside between 30-35% of your earnings from every paycheck if you want to be covered. 'But wait,' you say, 'that's much higher than the amount of taxes I pay now on my vanilla job check! It's only like 15-20% on that!' Which leads us to...
2) If you work a 'normal' job with W-2s and W-4s and W-things-that-are-not-1099s, your employer actually pays half of your social security and medicare taxes. As a self-employed individual, you now have to pay the full amount, half as an 'employer' and half as an 'employee,' because YAY self-employment! Technically, you get to deduct the amount you're responsible for 'as an employer' from your gross income as a 'necessary business expense,' but you still have to pay the full 15.3% on whatever adjusted gross income you come up with. Last year, I think I figured that with the 'employer' deduction for my half from my gross income and all, I ended up paying about 13% to SS&M instead of 15.3% personally,* but your figure will vary and it's easiest to assume the full 15.3%. So, there's that figure. Next is:
3) Actual federal taxes! The amount you pay here will depend on your filing status, total income, and so on, putting you in an earnings bracket taxes somewhere between 10-40% federal taxes. To find out what your rate would be, simply google 'federal tax brackets for [filing year]' and look for your filing status. Mine is currently in the 22-23% ish range,* maybe a tad lower depending on what magic my CPA can work with deductions. So, now, at worst, you might be in the 34-38% taxes bracket before you start taking personal deductions and any dependents, etc.* You can get that number lower, but much below 28-30% isn't very likely unless you have some BOMB deductions. But wait! There's more still!
4) STATE income taxes!* Now, not all states in the US have these. I'm lucky enough to live where there aren't any. That said--you need to check to find out where your state falls on that line. New York, for example, is notoriously awful with a tax of 4-7% on top of the above listed items for their residents. Ladies in NY here making in the $75-100,000 per year range on this forum have reported paying upwards of 40% of their income to taxes. Now, not to be picky, but that doesn't leave a terribly large amount to live off of. However, that is NOT the topic of this post and the 'is it worth it?' question is explored in the thread mentioned in the first post in this thread.
Bottom Line: Taxes are a big deal and many of you are used to your employer doing automatic withholding such that you either owe very little/nothing or get a refund come tax season. Those days are over with camming because no one has forced you to pre-pay or split part of the bill with you. That means that earning $100 in a shift might only mean keeping $60-$70 for yourself and setting aside the rest for good ol' Uncle Sam. For those who do not plan ahead, many end up stuck in payment plans with the IRS because they're totally unprepared for a tax bill of several thousand dollars--sometimes even tens of thousands.
Bonus Tip: Get a fucking CPA if any of the '*' sentences in the above left you blinking in a 'what the fuck is that' type manner because you need to get that right! If you have next to no experience preparing tax returns or aren't that great with numbers, you do not want to do your own taxes. I have a solid background in finances and have always done my own taxes up until I got into camming. Sure, I could spend an entire day dealing with number crunching and hoping my deductions were done properly and/or are 100% valid and I didn't just open myself up to an IRS audit (*shudders*) OR I could pay my CPA $250-$300 to prepare my return for me. Sound too steep to pop for? Just remember--you can write your CPA's fee off in the following year's tax return as a 'necessary business expense' making it effectively free.
Looking for an adult-worker friendly CPA? I've heard lovely things about The Tax Domme, based in Seattle, who does returns for sex workers in the area and throughout the states. That said, if you've got someone who knows small businesses well and has a great reputation, go right ahead and use them--but I do not recommend going it alone!
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Wow great information ladies. This really should be sticky right at the top of the page and there should be an algorithm automatically directing new people who just want to ask how to keep their daddies from finding out and how much money they will make right here!
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
One more thing, discipline. BIG TIME. No one is going to tell you to get online or stay online, this job is 100% your own worth ethic. How do chicks make so much? Staying on, building an audience and having that audience be able to FIND you. It is amazingly hard to clock hours when you know you don't have to, or when its slow and you make shit. We ALL have shit hours/ days/ weeks/ months, don't think for a second that ANYONE who is a cam model hasn't had a +-$75 8 hour night because we ALL have, it comes with the business and logging on AGAIN the next night and the night after that, and the night after that.
Get online, if it le sucks, STAY ONLINE. Its your SHIFT, you work it, you get on and you have guys know you will be there. AND if you are going to be gone LET THEM KNOW you will be gone.
I royally screwed my earnings last winter logging off early, DON'T DO IT! just stay on, for how long you though you would when you logged on. You have no idea how many $200 4 hour nights turned into $700 6 hour nights for me, they happen, its worth it, I fucking promise.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kitcatt
One more thing, discipline. BIG TIME. No one is going to tell you to get online or stay online, this job is 100% your own worth ethic. How do chicks make so much? Staying on, building an audience and having that audience be able to FIND you. It is amazingly hard to clock hours when you know you don't have to, or when its slow and you make shit. We ALL have shit hours/ days/ weeks/ months, don't think for a second that ANYONE who is a cam model hasn't had a +-$75 8 hour night because we ALL have, it comes with the business and logging on AGAIN the next night and the night after that, and the night after that.
Get online, if it le sucks, STAY ONLINE. Its your SHIFT, you work it, you get on and you have guys know you will be there. AND if you are going to be gone LET THEM KNOW you will be gone.
I royally screwed my earnings last winter logging off early, DON'T DO IT! just stay on, for how long you though you would when you logged on. You have no idea how many $200 4 hour nights turned into $700 6 hour nights for me, they happen, its worth it, I fucking promise.
I'm working on this myself right now. Ah, consistency. May I finally best you in battle in 2016! Until then, forcefully locking myself in my office for 6 hours at a time 5-6 days per week is slowly improving my hours online. I mean, I start feeling guilty being in my cam room and not working after a while.
Seriously though--it doesn't matter how much you average per hour if you're hardly ever online and it is very hard to be online when you don't have anyone cracking the whip to show up. If you don't have self-discipline already, you have one helluva climb ahead of you on the way to Success Ville.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Bumping this because I'm seeing a lot of new threads asking questions that can be answered in this one.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heyho
This thread should definitely be a sticky!
My addition is: Good financial planning. I've been camming 6 weeks and still haven't figured out an average take by which I can roughly expect to rely on. It varies SO MUCH. One day I'm making $90 an hour, the next day it's $9 an hour. So be wise about the money you make. Don't get all ecstatic about making $500 in one day and spend it all thinking that you'll make that every day. In this business, it's not just about you and your hustle, we very much depend on our sites and their traffic. There's a lot we can't control. Live well, but put away the extra cash you make on good days, because shitty days/internet outtages/site crashes/equipment malfunctions are unavoidable and we have no minimum wage to fall back on. When a bad week comes, you don't want to find yourself facing unpaid bills.
Can't stress this enough!!!...
Also awesome thread..
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
issabelle
i'm working on this myself right now. Ah, consistency. May i finally best you in battle in 2016! Until then, forcefully locking myself in my office for 6 hours at a time 5-6 days per week is slowly improving my hours online. I mean, i start feeling guilty being in my cam room and not working after a while.
Seriously though--it doesn't matter how much you average per hour if you're hardly ever online and it is very hard to be online when you don't have anyone cracking the whip to show up. If you don't have self-discipline already, you have one helluva climb ahead of you on the way to success ville.
this. So much this.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Issabelle
A QUICK DISCUSSION ABOUT STUDIOS:
[/B]
By "QUICK" she means "DETAILED" :D
And how come I cannot "Thank" Audri's posts?? I dont even get the option.....
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread
I think safety and ways to protects yourself need to be brought up here. Read as much as you can and learn as much as you can before you start. I'll write out the things I remember off the top of my head.
Mailing: Make a PO or better yet a UPS box for your camming, so whenever you need to write down your address, you can put that address instead. Don't let it be too close to your home and whenever you mail anything out always drop the letter off away from your home. I chose UPS mailboxes because there is one that isn't too far a drive, they accept UPS and FedEX, and they will notify me when I have mail. I talked to the manager after setting up my account explaining that I was trying the internet idol thing and I have a nickname that anything I'd be receiving would be sent to, so she added my Rispy name to the middle name section, so it will be clear that the mail is for me.
Wishlists: In short there is always a risk when setting up a wishlist directly with a site. Instead use a service like deliverycode.com. Not only do they protect your identity, but you can make a wishlist with items from all different sites, including sites that don't allow wishlists.
VPN: I've read about people being able to find out what your IP is when you are Skyping them. I don't know if this is a big issue anywhere else, but better safe than sorry. Get a VPN, so you are being routed through another IP elsewhere, so when people try to do that, they only learn about a generic IP and maybe they will slip up and you can ban/block them for being a douche. A lot of the sites have deals regularly. I went the CactusVPN but there are plenty of other good ones out there. Another nice feature is you can change your IP to that of another country and see what sites look like to people elsewhere. It may be worth using on your phone too and if you want to do this make sure the company you are looking into offers this service.
Make sure nothing links to the IRL you: Start by making a brand new email completely unrelated to anything tied to your real name. When making the password use a phrase that is easy to remember, so you can make your password longer without the extra strain of extra remembering. Use a pattern like 3 instead of E or the like to mix things up further. Now for all your camming stuff use this email only. You can setup a Google Alert for your real name to help monitor this. You also might want to change all of your current accounts to visible for friends only and change the profile picture to something other than you. You can do a search with a picture of your face to help make sure you got everything. Close any old accounts you aren't using, such as Twitter and Myspace just in case.
Where do you live?: Have an answer ready for this. Personally I like saying I'm from the Internet and that I'm everywhere and please reference "Serial Experiment Lain". Also on Fetlife I have to have a location, so I chose Topeka, Kansas for related reasons. No one has caught on to that one yet. When taking pics be very careful about having landmarks and logos in the pics. Also if you are like me and wear normal T-shirts on camera make sure they aren't reflective of your location (e.g. school shirts) and that they don't have your name on them (almost made this mistake).
If any of this backfires and people find you, do not give into their demands. For the same reason that people should not give into terrorism, we should not give into these people and their blackmail. It will only get worse, doing shows with them will only give them more dirt, and make them want to hurt you and others more because they are being rewarded for this behavior. Block/ban the son of a bitch and ignore them. If you are that worried about this getting out you shouldn't be on here. It took me years to decide that if people found out, for me personally it would be fine. Majority of my friends already know and are supportive and some of my family knows. As for future jobs, I'm already a sexy, kinky little thing. Not saying I'd do a show at work, but more that it would leak through my personality and if the company has a serious problem with that type of thing, then I'm already screwed so to speak.
I think that's all I've got. Good luck and happy camming.
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Re: Camming Connection Welcome Wagon! - Newbie Info and FAQ Thread