Expert: christina Cicchelli - 7/30/2009

Question
is hard to be come a pornstar?
can u give me  tips on how to get in the industy quick?


Answer
Hey Antonio,

To answer your question, it isn't difficult to get into the industry very quickly. Any number of ads on Craig's List or even in the newspaper require men for their video shoots. However, before you run out there and show your willy for cash, here are a few things you need to consider:

***WHATEVER CRUDE AND NUDE IMAGES YOU POST ON THE INTERNET OR IS CAPTURED THROUGH FILM WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE FOREVER***. So far, working amongst civilians, I haven't gotten a double look or "Have I seen you before...?" just yet. But, the more films you make, the higher the probability is that someone might find you. Also, if you plan on performing in porn just to get-rich-quick, remember the amount of money you make depends on how many scenes you'll perform in. Should you decide to become a doctor, lawyer, or run for office (or have any job that has social standing) then someone could easily destroy your career and life just by googling your stage name. Remember that.

Also consider how your family and loved ones might feel. I knew one former porn actor who was in a serious relationship with his girlfriend. She didn't want her family to know what he did. But, one night, a local dive bar played one of his movies on a projector, which would have been okay if it weren't for the fact that the girlfriend's brother was buying a beer at the time. He told his parents and drama ensued. It's up to you in terms of how honest you should be with your family, but really prioritize your life and make sure porn is worth it.  

Like any other business venture, you need to set goals for yourself. Trust me, the porn industry is filled with indulgence and excess. You need to have a strong head on your shoulders in order to maintain focus on your aspirations and succeed in making them come true.

Know Your Boundaries - My rule of thumb is this: If you haven't tried it in your personal life, don't try it for the first time in front of a camera. Some porn stars perform anal or do double penetration for the first time and are instantly turned on by it! Others have had bad experiences from first-time performances. You can't control your feelings after your first scene, so why not start with what you know? If you really want to try a new sex stunt on camera, then befriend some talent beforehand and privately experiment together.

Get Tested As Much As You Can! This is the first thing you should do before performing in front of the camera. Go to a clinic or healthcare facility and get checked for HIV and STDs. If you live in Los Angeles, AIM Healthcare works for the adult industry. If you don't, then find a place that will get you a typed-up copy of the results. Bring those results with you to your first shoot. Most importantly, ask the pornographer to show you copies of everyone else's test results. If he can't produce, then leave immediately.

4) Research, research research - Don't ever go to a production company blindly without knowing what type of videos they produce. Make sure to google them and find any resource that you can. If you can't find a website or a list of their movies, then it's a red flag. I would even go the extra mile and contact performers that had been in these movies. What was their experience like?

Now, these are the nitty-gritty tips for male porn actors (like yourself):

Again, it isn't hard to get paid for porn performances. Any mom-and-pop (mostly dirty ol' pop) can create a paysite and film candid sex scenes in a motel room. But, men have an enduring role in the adult industry, more so than the woman, for the following reasons:

1) Your ability to get an erection and maintain it as long as you can - Serious. . Once you go soft, the director can't film the scene. And if s/he can't film the scene, that means more time is spent on your penis than on the performance itself. While truckloads of men can quickly make their way into the industry, so many of them leave after a few shoots because they can't perform or won't take viagra.

2) A physically fit body and sizable penis is preferential - You don't have to be Rambo-ripped to turn heads. And you don't have to be John Holmes huge to impress pornographers. But, you need a lean muscular tone with no beer belly or love handles. At erection, your penis should be over 6-7 inches. You get bonus points for thickness as well.

3) Gay or Gay-for-Pay: There are a number of reasons why gay porn is a profitable venture. Its demographic spans gender and race. Gay couples can enjoy. Straight females watch it. Bi-sexual men watch it. And closeted straight men watch it too. Many male performers are "gay-for-pay", which means that they perform in hard- or softcore gay scenes, but they are straight and may even star in hetero-porn films as well. Like i said, it's about comfort level. So, if this doesn't turn you on, then don't bother.

For more information, go to AIM Healthcare's website. They are jam-packed with information on how to break into the industry.

The following links will take you to a 2-part video by Porn Legend and AIM Healthcare president Sharon Mitchell. She discusses the ins-and-outs of the industry:
http://www.aim-med.org/library/articles/1193272129/
http://www.aim-med.org/library/articles/1193272187/

I also wrote an article about how to break into the Alternative Porn Industry for $pread Magazine. You can read the article at this website:

http://www.spreadmagazine.org/DIY5.1.html

$pread Magazine is a publication for sex workers by sex workers. Definitely check it out because it will give even more helpful tips about sex worker's rights, new laws, trends, and even how to break into the industry.

Good Luck!

C