Expert: christina Cicchelli - 8/23/2009

Question
i am wanting to get into porn and have tried before but they want money to try...... do you have any advice to give?? i would like it if you could answer that question of mine :) i want to try tran porn or straight dont really matter but thanks

Answer
You should never have to pay to be in a porn film! Don't ever agree to go to "auditions" or private castings that require you to perform without pay. Be assertive. If you want to make money from porn, you have to recognize your own value and decide which projects that are really worth your time and effort.. Look on the internet for different porn companies that produce trans-porn or straight porn. There are porn producers, like Morty Diamond, who are transgendered and make transgendered porn with the talent's well-being in mind (hopefully). His website is http://www.mortydiamond.com/index.html Check out other transsexual porn celebrities. Buck Angel is one of them, http://www.buckangel.com/ What's most important is that you find companies that make the type of porn you would want to masturbate to. Make sure to talk to other transgendered performers you find as you do your research. Ask them what their experience has been like in the industry.

I always recommend to every person who asks me how to break into the industry these few things 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.

$pread Magazine is one of the very few publications i know that is run and written by sex workers for other sex workers in mind, this also includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Visit their website and check out their resources. www.spreadmagazine.org.

Hope this helps!