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Thread: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

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    Default Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Hi Ladies!

    I wanted to pop in and say hello. I have been researching camming for.....wow.....close to 2 years now! In those two years I've searched SW and a few other helpful sites answering all my questions from earnings, setup, lighting, tips, tricks, motivation...everything!

    So first off, THANK YOU! For being a part of this community and sharing so that girls like me can feel like they aren't just diving into this, but making an informed decision.

    Second, I wanted to get some opinions of working at a brick and mortar studio.

    Obviously, "studios" as we mostly come across in the webcam world are to be avoided! Typically, they don't add anything to your experience as a model, but take a chunk of your earnings anyway. There's even a sticky about it, so we should all know this, right?

    But in a situation where a girl cannot cam from home.....no space that she can dedicate to camming, absolutely zilch equipment, or maybe she can't cam privately because of roommates or family....in those situations one might consider holding off on camming until the situation changes....but the money that can be had from camming could be exactly what is needed *to* change the situation.

    That's where I find myself. I don't want to be a girl who makes excuses....from what I've read...those are the ones who are self fulfilling prophecies and wont earn as well as the could. That was me over these past 2 years..."But I don't know everything yet!" .....Im changing that!

    I came across an ad for a brick and mortar cam studio in my area and I took a chance and called them up and even visited the site. Clean, professional...the owner is a handsome young man who may be gay. This adds a certain level of comfort because with a gay vibe he is less intimidating than if no gay vibe and the brain just thinks "yeah...perv just wants to have a bunch of nekkid girls running around..." But I don't get that from this place. I also met two of the girls working with him. Very nice fun girls.

    So, I am really considering going for this. I'll admit, my mind is almost made up. But I wanted a chance for girls to tell me any horror stories now, just in case. Your knowledge of this industry is greater than mine and your experiences are invaluable to newbies wanting to stay safe, smart, and successful.

    More details about the arrangement, please let me know your thoughts on this.

    The studio supplies furnished rooms, lighting, great quality cams and computer equipment/internet connection.
    The building stays locked except for girls coming and going. The main guy (possibly gay) or one other guy always on site for safety. Neither of them will be able to be in the room with the girls. Rooms lock.
    The site does not have it's own site/platform, but uses the main platforms...MFC, SM, LJ, etc. And encourages if not requires split camming.
    They have an outside marketing team and market your profiles. You work with them about your screen name, what you do/don't do, etc so the profiles are professionally built from the genuine you.
    First week is paid. This means, you get $40 a day for working 5 hours. If you make nothing...you get $40 from the owners pocket. If you make money and that money is more than the $40...you keep the money you made but DO NOT take home the $40 on top. The $40 is to ensure you get something every day your first week...to keep girls motivated and from being discouraged if they dont earn right away.
    Also referral bonus for bringing in other girls.
    The cut is a bit rough to swallow.....50/50 split with the studio for the first 30 days. After 30 days, as most girls bail before then, they will renegotiate the split.

    So, if I work my ass off and make $1000 camming as it seems to be fair goal for most girls....I would only get $500 of that. Given how hard some girls say they work for that $1K this is a tad bit disheartening. But I really cannot cam at my own place right now....and half of something is better than all of nothing!

    My plan is to go for it. Hell, the fact that they are setting up all the sites, have great equipment, will do the marketing, and will be a support system of likeminded people keeping me motivated seems to almost make up for the split. So if I go for it, stick it out 30 days....maybe I get a 60/40 split of 70/30...this is far more reasonable if I am paying them for equipment and electricity and internet and marketing, etc.

    My goal while on a 50/50 split would be $1500/week before the cut. This gives me $750 weekly and enough to pay bills plus some. If I can make it through those 30 days and the cut changes in my favor, then all the more I get to keep to save up toward my own place where I can cam and have good equipment. In the meantime, Im finally getting a feel for being on cam...I'm getting help from the other girls and owner (owner been in business in other states for 12 years)

    This has mostly been thinking out loud...and maybe I am just looking for confirmation. But I also legit wanted a chance to hear some reason I may be overlooking as to why I maybe shouldn't go for this.

    You ladies rock!

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Well, once your mind is made up, it's made up. However, if you wish to keep more of your money (and had some to invest), you could cam from a hotel, or look for a craigslist rent a room situation from another adult model. I just fail to see what a studio can do for someone besides offer a place to work, that they can find/do for themselves including marketing.




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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Do they keep you under contract? Physical studios are notorious for being difficult to get out of, and if they have you in a studio contract for all of those sites (MFC, SM, LJ) you may have a hard time finding a site to work while the waiting period expires. If you sign up through the studio don't think you're safe because they don't stipulate this in their contract--it's not necessarily in the contract they give you, the problem will be with the main site once you try to sign up independently.

    Why exactly can't you cam at home? If you have a computer, a webcam (even a built-in one to start), an Internet connection, and even a teeny little bit of privacy you can cam from home. And I really, really wouldn't count on making $1500/week (before their cut) if you haven't cammed before. If you're working a lot (like, full-time job hours) it's not too unreasonable but those kinds of hours are really difficult to pull, and that's not even accounting for burn out, etc. There's a poll floating around somewhere that says most models make under $500/week (so under $250/week your cut.) There's a reason for that.

    I just don't want to see you stuck in a bad situation that you can't get out of. I have cammed under some really difficult circumstances--I mean really, really bad, I don't mean to minimize but I'm having trouble imagining that yours could be worse lol--and it worked out. A physical studio would be great if it was temporary but that's not necessarily the case.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Thanks Kortney!

    The trouble is just not having anything to invest into it right now. I agree that other than a place to work, I think studios are unnecessary. But that place to work sure is a big asset to someone without it.

    I would not want it to be long term. I'm thinking 6 months to get used to camming, to making some money, and reinvesting that money into what I could do on my own.

    Im moving back in with my parents (I am 25) and need a place to work. And my bank account is in the negative....so renting a hotel room or my own place is just not feasible right now.

    I have an interview at a part-time vanilla job that will pay my bills (phone, car, insurance, etc) but would not be enough to get me ahead and into my own place. But earning anything extra through the studio would go straight to savings (some being reinvested into outfits and props) so I can get my own place sooner, and my own set up.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    I agree, I'd spring for even a cheap motel at first. This lovely gay guy explain any geoblocking he's doing for you, I bet he didn't? Probably isn't doing any in order to maximize profits. I wouldn't be ok in not knowing every site I was on every second I was there. It sounds like he's split camming. What if he forgets to turn off a site when you're in a private on one and give countless people a free show and risk getting in trouble? Also,if he has cute girls running in and out all day to perform, it could raise alarms with neighbors. I'd just so rather get a room and keep as much money as I can if I were you.
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    Quote Originally Posted by xStacey View Post
    Close contact, for an hour, for $40? And I guess I'll have to make conversation with them too?

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Quote Originally Posted by Procrasturbator View Post
    Do they keep you under contract? Physical studios are notorious for being difficult to get out of, and if they have you in a studio contract for all of those sites (MFC, SM, LJ) you may have a hard time finding a site to work while the waiting period expires. If you sign up through the studio don't think you're safe because they don't stipulate this in their contract--it's not necessarily in the contract they give you, the problem will be with the main site once you try to sign up independently.

    Why exactly can't you cam at home? If you have a computer, a webcam (even a built-in one to start), an Internet connection, and even a teeny little bit of privacy you can cam from home. And I really, really wouldn't count on making $1500/week (before their cut) if you haven't cammed before. If you're working a lot (like, full-time job hours) it's not too unreasonable but those kinds of hours are really difficult to pull, and that's not even accounting for burn out, etc. There's a poll floating around somewhere that says most models make under $500/week (so under $250/week your cut.) There's a reason for that.

    I just don't want to see you stuck in a bad situation that you can't get out of. I have cammed under some really difficult circumstances--I mean really, really bad, I don't mean to minimize but I'm having trouble imagining that yours could be worse lol--and it worked out. A physical studio would be great if it was temporary but that's not necessarily the case.

    This is what I was hoping for! The stuff I didn't think about.

    The contracts for site like MFC are different for studios than for independent right? Is there a way I can view those online...or should I ask the studio when I meet on Monday to discuss further/make a decision?

    I can't cam from home because I am moving in with my parents. My Dad is disabled and home all day, and my parents are stupidly light sleepers...I've had phone conversations on one end of the house while they sleep in the other end....doors closed...thought I was being quiet and considerate, and they still woke up and came to investigate.

    I have no problem with them knowing what I want to do if I was on my own making my own way...but that's different than being under their roof while doing it.

    I know $1500 is a high goal, especially just starting out. If it's unreasonable, it will definitely affect my decision. I don't think working a studio would be worth it for less than $500 a week as my take home. So then I'd have to earn $1k a week to take that home.

    I don't feel like you're minimizing my circumstance! You're offering sound advice and it is appreciated. I'll check on the contract situation with the sites and see if I can get my eyes on them to better understand the terms and wording.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Quote Originally Posted by SweetJulia View Post
    I agree, I'd spring for even a cheap motel at first. This lovely gay guy explain any geoblocking he's doing for you, I bet he didn't? Probably isn't doing any in order to maximize profits. I wouldn't be ok in not knowing every site I was on every second I was there. It sounds like he's split camming. What if he forgets to turn off a site when you're in a private on one and give countless people a free show and risk getting in trouble? Also,if he has cute girls running in and out all day to perform, it could raise alarms with neighbors. I'd just so rather get a room and keep as much money as I can if I were you.
    He DID explain geo-blocking and openly stated they split cam. From the way it was discussed, the girls are in control of the split camming. He said they sign girls up on one site, give her a chance to get used to it, then sign her up on another site, get her used to it, then show her how to split cam. Then add more sites and so forth. You are still logging into the sites yourself, so you know what sites you're on and when.

    The location is in a business area of town with lots of other adult businesses (Adult stores, a bathhouse, etc) So the raising alarms with neighbors isnt an issue.

    I'd like to get a room, but the money just isnt there.



    These were awesome concerns though!

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    I think the most important thing to ask to the studio owner is if he will keep you under contract and if you will be able to get out whenever you want. If you wonīt be able to sign up directly with the main sites, then itīs not worth it. If you can leave it whenever you want, so I donīt think camming from a studio is such a terrible idea, if you have no place, no equipment, no internet, no, no, no, at least until you have enough money to rent a place.
    I really donīt know how studio works in the US, but when I first started, like 4 years ago (Iīve been working ocassionally in spanish based sites, I quited then and I started again, like 5 months ago) I worked at a studio, and my experience was good, the studio owner still is my friend and the girls there were most of them really nice...actually was fun.
    Also, if you think about it, he takes the half of your earnings, but also you will be able to split camming (maybe if you have a shitty connection at your parents home you wonīt) and you will have great equipment and lightning, and you wonīt have to worry about having enough money to pay the rent, bills, etc. so you can keep and save all the money you get. This been said, I agree that working at a studio should be the last option, but if you REALLY have no choice, and you have the possibility to sign up directly whenever you want, then I say go for it.
    Last edited by Bubblegum1235; 01-25-2014 at 01:50 PM.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    $1500/week from camming? You have very high hopes.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    You have to have 3 girls profiles all filled out, their ID documents approved, and everything in order to open the studio so keep that in mind.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Quote Originally Posted by LaPatrona View Post
    $1500/week from camming? You have very high hopes.

    I do and I don't, lol. I know this is not fast easy money. I know the girls who make anything near that are putting in the hours, making and selling clips, split camming, doing loads of other stuff and setting up passive incomes.

    But I also know its possible. I know I've read threads here and elsewhere where girls claim $1k and up after only a few months of building a consistent schedule and gaining regs. I also know I am aiming high so if I miss my goal, I stand to still push myself for high earnings. I DO NOT expect to make that in my first month.

    Bubblegum thank you for your insight I will get more info on how the contract works. If it hinders my ability to quit and move on after I've saved up, that will be a huge factor in my going through with it.

    Glamour could I ask to clarify what it is you're pointing out? I'm just not following is all. If you're cautioning against this being a startup that is appreciated. He claims to have 5 girls at this location, I met 2. Wants to have around 30. Of course I understand people can say a lot of things, doesn't make them true hence my caution.

    I know I seem like I've made up my mind. There is an excited part of me that wants to believe of all the reading I've done here and elsewhere that this is at least legit and plausible. But there is that cautious me that knows I need to be sure. Lots of great feedback so far. Like the contract thing from a few replies so far. Never even crossed my mind but definitely important stuff I need to look into before jumping in.

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    Default Re: Newbie Starting Soon//And Brick and Mortar Studio question.

    Do you have your own room at your parent's house? You don't really need to talk, you can just type and put some background music. You can tell your parents you sleep wiht music to relax. Or maybe tell them that you're camming with a friend that went to study abroad to Australia, thus the awkward hours. And meanwhile you can get an affordable logitech cam. You don't need super HD to cam, in the end is how engaging you're.

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