Playing up your ethnicity
I am part Asian and look pretty Asian to most Americans. When I stripped and did other adult industry stuff, people were constantly advising me to play it up to make more money. I sort of tried, but never figured out how to "act more Asian" successfully. Eventually, I just took on the persona that I felt most comfortable with and found that some Asian fetishists still found me and seemingly projected onto me whatever they wanted to see. But I still wonder if it's possible to "act more like" your ethnicity in a way that rings true to guys and makes money.
Anyone ever try to play up their background? Do you think you are/were successful?
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I recently started dancing at a club as Anya. I'm of south eastern European origin. I used to dance under more typically anglo names.
I don't play up my ethnicity really but I do find myself getting more questions about where I'm from, how long I have been in Canada and guys seem to create this weird narrative of "poor immigrant girl, sending money back home". I'm not comfortable playing into this but I don't really correct them if that's what they want to think. I think it's mostly worked to my advantage because there's guys that like "foreign" girls and there's also guys who like to think I'm more needy/appreciative of the money (cause I'm supporting a whole village at home, you know? haha).
I have an Asian Canadian friend who has cultivated this sort of pan-asian persona at work. No one really asks her where she's from so she just plays up every stereotype possible, short of putting on an accent. Her family has been in Canada for many generations now. She dances as Mai-Ling. She tells people she's studying and wants to get into med school. She acts very sweet and shy and covers her mouth when she laughs. It's pretty over the top. But people really buy into it. Her biggest customer base is old white men and nerdy young dudes.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
The porn biz loves to type cast & put people into niches they think will sell. Those who are not authentic don't. Don't listen to them. Be yourself. If you are having fun, feeling sexy & confident the content will sell.
Most advice you will get from agents & on porn sets is to make that company more money NOT you.
If you cam & do clips then you can experiment & find out for yourself what makes you the most money. The stars in any industry are ones who dare to be different.
Most porn is cookie cutter & all follows a formula, creativity in general is a stretch for most companies. What does act more Asian mean? be more geisha girl? Dragon Lady? Harajuku Girls? Bet they don't know either.... but do bet it has to do with doing whatever they want for very little money.
Be the most fabulous you & let them work around it.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
A customer asked me if I was Asian the other night. "Darlin' for the right price I'll be whatever you want! I'll even be a Democrat!" I get mistaken for Asian a lot. My ex (the one who called my old job) was quite disappointed to find out that i'm half Mexican. "Oh, I thought you were Oriental!"
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
By background is primarily Czech and French however no one ever guesses that. I'm US born, no accent or anything, very light olive tone skin, dark hair and eyes. I get Hispanic (80% of the time), Italian, and Russian (when I work in Vegas). When a customer seems to think I'm a certain ethnicity and he obviously likes that I just play along. I'm Hispanic several times a week lol. We're there to be a fantasy and if papi wants a Hispanic girl, here I am!$$$
I honestly have no idea how you could "act more Asian" aside from having an accent. Every Asian girl I've worked with has banked, many because they were simply the only Asian girl working. High demand, little supply.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
It depends on your region. In Minneapolis Minnesota the clubs & customers tend to have a strong prejudice against Native American dancers. In some regions Mexican is not a word to utter at work.
Let your customer see what he wants to see.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Thanks to a darker-than-typical skin tone for a white girl (I blame it on Native blood a few generations back,) I occasionally get mistaken for being Native, Hispanic, Italian, Spanish, white/[insert one of the previous four] mix, even pale skinned Indian and Romani once each! Only when I have a tan, though. When I'm pale, I get called out as German (which I mostly am) any time someone comments on my ethnicity. I don't confirm or deny except with the accurate assumption of German, but I'll let them go with whatever they think and slightly play off the assumption. Like mentioning paella for dinner to those who assume Spanish or different things related to Mexican culture since I really did grow up with a Mexican stepfather.
I certainly don't try to "act like" any cultural background, but letting them run with their guess usually wound up making me money.
Won't lie, though. I've thought of trying to pass myself off as another ethnicity for the exotic allure, but haven't vocalized it before now because it always seemed so racist to actually do. I feel like it'd be the latina/Native/whatever equivalent of "black face" for me to intentionally do.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Naida
Won't lie, though. I've thought of trying to pass myself off as another ethnicity for the exotic allure, but haven't vocalized it before now because it always seemed so racist to actually do. I feel like it'd be the latina/Native/whatever equivalent of "black face" for me to intentionally do.
I would not feel bad or overthink it. Trust me dudes aren't feeling some kind of way when they click on ethnicity links on tube sites to watch porn ...they just want to get off.
I just let customers think they guessed right when they guess my ethnicity. It doesn't hurt anyone. Side note- tons of famous actors are cast as all kinds of different races & manage to pull it off.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I guess you have a point, Snuffle. A lot of SJWs (like me, lol) would prefer those roles go to people who actually are or at least related to the portrayed ethnicity, but I guess it's not that big a deal as long as you're not acting like a negative stereotype, right? After looking at some threads about mistaken ethnicity, it seems a lot of girls take advantage of the mistake (like I do) or even outright portray themselves as other ethnicities. I guess I should just try it and see if I can pull it off without feeling like crap for it.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Guys on cam have asked if I was a Latina........... men are blind.
I am half Gold digger. My Dad married my Mom for her family money, in which they promptly disinherited her. He did blow her inheritances from Grandparents on get rich scams. After their divorce when I was 17, he gave up on that dream. Worked hard, bought lots of rental houses & died rich. My sisters & I are now settling his estate. :)
When they get personal, I start asking them the same personal questions. The look on their faces when they feel it is invasive & wrong is funny. Especially with the "How much money do you make?" When you ask them that back... see how fast they shut the fuck up.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Naida
I guess you have a point, Snuffle. A lot of SJWs (like me, lol) would prefer those roles go to people who actually are or at least related to the portrayed ethnicity, but I guess it's not that big a deal as long as you're not acting like a negative stereotype, right? After looking at some threads about mistaken ethnicity, it seems a lot of girls take advantage of the mistake (like I do) or even outright portray themselves as other ethnicities. I guess I should just try it and see if I can pull it off without feeling like crap for it.
This is threadjack, but- acting is a craft & I totally support a film/ TV series picking a great actor versus trying to cast someone of the correct race (within reason, b/c even the Old Hollywood whites-playing-ethnic roles is now considered offensive and WTF)
I also think working with inexperienced actors/actresses is a huge chore that most directors won't put up with (see- how Clint Eastwood deals with amateur actors, by limiting takes lol) so most won't wait for a "green" actor to get it together for a role, they cast the "Known Quantity."
Back on topic....honestly positive racial fetishes help a lot of girls make money. Most regular strip club customers are the kind of guys who marry a woman of their own race, buy a home, start a family, and get bored/restless. Most never dated around with other races.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Actually, I wanted to add something to this thread. While what Sam38g say is truth, you can play up your ethnicity even more by creating an pan-Asian persona but be prepare for some Asian fetishists and specialists to become your clientele. Why? Because they already feel an certain way about Asian women and want to live out their fantasies in the club. So, you decided to do this....you can create an pan-Asian persona where you was born in either Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, or Singapore.
Why? Because these places have a lot of different ethnicities and people ask less questions about your origin if you say that you are from there. Another reason that you say that you are from these places is because they have a lot of English speakers and that can explain away a lot of different things. For example, if you say that you are Malaysian or Singaporean...then it is more likely that you speak English, you are multi-ethnic, speak multiple languages, and you are more unique. You can also play Eurasian because that happens and no one really questions it since Indochina was an thing back in the day. How do I know? Because two my Asian American dancer friends did this at every club that we worked at and no one was none the wiser. Good luck :)
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I'm not sure how to play up your ethnicity. I'm Asian too, and I do well without "acting Asian." If you're Asian, and a guy likes Asians, he'll get you for dances. Y
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I just intensify my Eastern European accent. That works!
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I'm half asian. I have a Chinese dad and a Black-Latino mom. I look a lot like an obvious "blasian" so I often play up my Asian features by wearing strategically applied eyeliner and a long straight black wig. (My hair is actually pink which doesn't sell well in the deep south, hence the wig.) Sometimes, though, I'll wear my wig curly with bright colored outfits and play up on my half Latino features. I love my cultures and ethnicities so being able to have fun with it at work is great.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
I am Turkish however everyone thinks I am light skin Hispanic . Since my country going thru bunch of b.s and we have dictator /mad king president who wants to make Turkey " great" again ...I tell customers I am Albanian . I have an accent and speak 3 languages so they believe it ...
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sirocco
I just intensify my Eastern European accent. That works!
i was thinking about faking mine (it's pretty much gone) but i would feel so silly. guys LOVE that accent though.
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
They do. Older guys love it because of Soviet Union phantasies. Oethr guys because Natasha Romanov from Avengers etc... I speak many languages, so I can also pretend to be Chezh, Polish, Russian or Serbian
Re: Playing up your ethnicity
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tempest666
A customer asked me if I was Asian the other night. "Darlin' for the right price I'll be whatever you want! I'll even be a Democrat!" I get mistaken for Asian a lot. My ex (the one who called my old job) was quite disappointed to find out that i'm half Mexican. "Oh, I thought you were Oriental!"
lol i always get mistaken for asian because of the way i do my eyeliner and i have very prominent cheekbones lmao
meanwhile im syrian and middleeastern haha