Leo Vice made a splash in the scene when he first joined Pornhub three years ago. In that time, Leo has shown that anyone can propel themselves to the top with the right tools and some smart planning. Sharing is caring, so keep reading as Leo drops his top tips for people who want to get their start in the industry!
Tip # 1 - Make content… Lots of content.
If you want to become a professional artist, you need to make art. If you want to make it as a professional adult content creator, you need to be making content. Lots and lots of content!
This is usually the very first roadblock that many people run into. Not everybody is able to shoot with professional models or pornstars right away, but that doesn't mean you can't make your own content to get started.
If you cannot find anyone that wants to shoot content with you, you can still shoot content yourself. Film solo scenes, take sexy selfies and then get it out there into the world. The entire point is to show others that you are serious about doing this and that you have something to offer the community.
Tip # 2 – Be professional… Always!
Just because we create adult content doesn't mean there is no professionalism in the industry.
Remember, when you are reaching out to a fellow performer to collaborate, you are reaching out to a colleague, not a hookup connection. Respect is essential.
Be professional, be kind, and be understanding. Don't take things personally, and remember, no response is still a response. There is a professional way to act and there is an unprofessional way to act, don't be unprofessional. If you want to have a career in this industry, you need to treat it as a career, not a hobby.
Tip # 3 – Get tested regularly!
In the professional filming industry, the rule is to get tested every 14 days from one of the approved testing clinics. But in the current age of Pornhub and fan sites, people can make a career in the industry without ever shooting for any major studios.
Even if you're only shooting for fan or tube sites, you still need to get tested regularly and make sure the people you’re shooting with are also getting fully tested regularly. If you are not able to go to one of the approved testing sites, talk with your upcoming scene partner about what type of testing you are both getting and what level of comfort you have with it.
Tip # 4 – Define your brand and marketing strategy:
This is something that people learn the hard way, but once you get into this industry you are responsible for your own brand and marketing. If you shoot for a major studio, they will help boost your profile but ultimately, they are promoting their studio and not your brand.
You need to be proactive in creating your own fan base, expanding your marketing reach and standing out from the crowd. No one will care about your brand as much as you, and it helps to think about this before you get started, and also keep thinking about it as things shift and change. What you planned originally before you started might not be the best plan once you have started and the data comes in, and you may need to shift things appropriately.
Tip # 5 – Understand the legal stuff:
This is the most important part of the entire list. If you are only going to take one thing away, please let it be this. Porn is a legal career and with that there are laws and regulations in place that you really need to understand so you don't find yourself in deep legal troubles.
Understand what US Code 2257 is and how to be compliant. That's the federal law that requires everyone producing adult content to have and maintain records of the performers that they are of legal age to appear in the content. Also understand and have a Model Release or Content Trade Release to have clear legal ownership or rights to the content that you create.
Pay your taxes! You are responsible for your own taxes and holdings in this industry. And make sure you properly file taxes each year or else you'll be in real trouble with the IRS or your regional tax agency.
Bonus Tip – Save your money:
You never know when you'll have to take time off due to health reasons, or how much taxes you will fully owe at the end of the year, or even if there is a moratorium in the industry and all shooting stops for a while. These things happen, and just because money is coming in one day doesn't mean it'll keep coming in the same way all the time. So always put aside a good amount of your earnings for a rainy day because there is no sick pay or paid time off in this industry.
And those are the 5 main tips for those who want to have a career in the adult entertainment industry. While there is much more to learn about this industry to be successful, these 5 points will help you create a very solid foundation for your career.
Never stop learning and growing within this industry, and I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
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