YNOT Magazine by YNOT

PREMIUM

TRAFFIC

DAILY, WEEKLY & MONTHLY

BONUSES 100% MEMBER BONUS

PROGRAM 24-HOUR SUPPORT

EXCLUSIVE

FLIRT SUMMIT FOLLOW US ON :

@FLIRT4FREE

@FLIRT4FREEGUYS @FLIRT4FREEGIRLS

@FLIRT4FREE

SIGNUP@FLIRT4FREE.COM

WWW.FLIRT4FREE.COM WW.FLIRT4FREE.COM

CONTENTS

Cams: An Intimate, Interactive, Hard to Pirate Adult Market-Driver Gene Zorkin

ImLive’s Mere Menezes Siqueira Manages Models, Makes the Machine Work Amber Gold

A Good Kind of Opportunist: Dan Hogue, Early Webcam Entrepreneur

Gene Zorkin

Silverstein Says: 3 Legal Issues for Cam Companies and Models to Consider

Mallory Hall

Building Bridges on Shifting Ground: Flirt4Free’s Carlos Diaz

Amber Gold

More Than Open Chat – The Multi-Faceted Cam Space, with Jessica Sage

Amber Gold

PAGE

The YNOT Cam Awards would like to send a huge THANK YOU to the sponsors of our inaugural show in Hollywood. These leading companies believed in our vision of a defining show for the adult interactive industry, and we truly owe tonight’s event to their generosity, their desire to support our industry’s wonderful performers, and their willingness to take a chance on something new and different.

OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS

OUR GOLD SPONSORS

OUR BROADCAST SPONSOR

Featured Article

Cams: An Intimate, Interactive, Hard to Pirate Adult Market-Driver By Gene Zorkin The first time I saw a demo of a live cam show -- sometime in early 1998, as I recall -- there was nothing you could call an adult webcam “industry.” For that matter, the technology used to deliver the demo hadn’t yet evolved to the point where one would necessarily envision camming becoming an industry unto itself. The demo’s framerate was extremely low, the image quality dicey, at best. There was, however, a small handful of innovative companies who intuitively understood the power of an experience which was far more interactive and intimate than looking at online porn – an act which, at that point, consisted mostly of slowly downloading still images. In the early days of camming, the entertainment form was

largely relegated to centralized operations. Studio-like operations set up rooms to which models would report to work shifts. They wired up residences to give viewers a “voyeur” experience, wherein they’d watch performer roommates not only in the context of shows, but as they went through the more mundane routines of daily life, as well. For early adult subscription sites, camming usually was something of an afterthought, one of several up-sell opportunities site operators would present to their members and from which they’d derive some ancillary revenue. Given what the cam industry has become in the years since I watched that first demo, it’s hard to believe how many of us in the adult industry were skeptical of its potential.

Now, the add-on has become a focal point all its own. It has grown into a product which may well prove to be more stable and more resistant to market disruptions over the long haul than the prerecorded adult content to which it used to be a mere sidebar.

Immediacy, Intimacy and Interactivity What has driven the rise of the adult webcam market? Regardless of who you pose this question to, there are several key terms you’re likely to hear cited in their response. One of these has been referenced from the very inception of what has grown into the adult webcam industry: Interactivity. However much one enjoys watching porn, it’s a passive, receptive act. There’s not much choice involved, either, beyond selecting a video and deciding how much of it to watch. With cams – and especially in the context of one-on-one private shows – the user has an opportunity to engage with another person, in real time. We can quibble about whether these interactions represent true “intimacy,” but you can’t dispute it’s more of a connection and human interaction than simply hitting the play button on a porn clip. Another advantage held by the adult webcam sector which is almost universally cited is the (relatively) piracy-resistant nature of a live cam show. Content piracy has always been present in the adult industry, of course, even in the pre-internet age. The ease of reproducing and redistributing digital content made piracy a far more disruptive force over recent decades

than it had been previously, though – and is often identified by adult studios as the primary reason for their declining revenues in recent years. While one can argue endlessly about the extent of content piracy’s impact on the adult market and legitimately contend that refusal to change and adapt is as detrimental to adult companies as piracy itself, there’s no question one of the advantages camming presents as a product is its difficult-to-pirate nature. With its immediacy, intimacy and interactivity, camming presents an experience which is far more resistant to piracy than is prerecorded content. This doesn’t mean camming is without its challenges, of course. Like any other segment of the adult industry, there are legal risks to mitigate, personnel-management difficulties to navigate, technical issues to confront and a host of other variables which must be managed. In this issue of YNOT Magazine, we’re turning our spotlight on the adult webcam sector to look at how companies, performers and advertisers are making the most of this vibrant segment of the adult industry. In a series of interviews, profiles and features, we’ll explore both the opportunities and difficulties of the adult webcam space from a variety of perspectives. How do big cam companies manage their expansive operations? What are some common traits among popular, high-earning performers? How autonomous are cam performers and to what extent do cam companies monitor their work? What major developments and market shifts do the leading cam companies see coming in the years ahead? With the help of executives, models, marketers and others who make their living in the cam sector, we’ll probe these and other questions in depth.

About the Author Gene Zorkin has been covering legal and political issues for various adult publications (and under a variety of different pen names) since 2002.

Interviews

ImLive’s Mere Menezes Siqueira Manages Models, Makes the Machine Work By Amber Gold Some of the most important resources present in any business or industry are the human ones -- the people who make up a workforce, from front-facing service providers to those integral to an organization’s internal operations. In the cam space, one of the most important behind-thescenes jobs is the point person for model contact. Call them the Director of Talent or a Model Representative, this person guides and supports a network’s most valuable human resource: their models.

They’re on-hand at all hours of the day and night (and during the weekends and holidays and during storms and times of social unrest!) to answer model enquires about everything work-related – from questions about payouts to questions about life goals and career trajectories – and to listen to some personal stuff, too. We spoke to Mereane “Mere” Menezes Siqueira, the Host Representative at ImLive. Menezes Siqueira has worked

with IML for five years now, and she takes her role within the organization very seriously – because if models are not feeling confident, informed and as clear as possible in their workplace goals, the whole enterprise suffers. YNOT: What does a typical workday for you look like? Menezes Siqueira: My day consists of assisting my hosts, normally by Skype or email. I like to deal with any questions our hosts may have as soon as possible as I know they are waiting for answers. These can range from questions about earnings, campaigns, how some features work or just simply catching up on their day. I also deal with new features we have upcoming on ImLive, reports and making sure that everything we do is beneficial to our hosts. What do you do behind the scenes that’s integral to members’ experiences? I feel that by advising and training the hosts that I am increasing our members’ experiences on Imlive. I also have some direct contact with members and work closely with our Customer Service Manager to make sure that both hosts and members are happy.

What is the biggest pain point you see for cam overall right now? The big challenge for us -- and all cam sites -- is embracing new technology and incorporating it into the site so that it benefits all users equally. This includes members’ experiences and hosts’ income. What is the greatest new development or rising trend you see on the cam horizon? The introduction of cryptocurrencies as a payment method on both the member and host sides will change the way the industry looks and behaves in the coming years. ImLive has partnered with PumaPay, and we are very excited to be integrating it into the site. The continued use of virtual reality and how it is used will also be very interesting. What is most meaningful about your work? I feel it is very important for our hosts to know they have a voice within ImLive who is working for their best interests. It is beneficial for everyone and ImLive and our members to have happy hosts who enjoy their work.

About the Author Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, the adult industry has always been a presence in Amber Gold’s life. At an early age, she became acutely aware that narratives often take shocking creative license when she noted there was no way Daniel LaRusso could’ve made it to the beach from Reseda (and back again) so quickly. She’s been seeking out various forms of truths ever since.

Interviews

A Good Kind of Opportunist: Dan Hogue, Early Webcam Entrepreneur By Gene Zorkin

In the early history of any major commercial industry or market sector, assuming that history is recounted honestly, you will find stories of opportunists and manipulators who took advantage of the conditions common to emerging markets. In short, where regulation is sparse and money is fast, those in the position to take advantage of their peers, employees and partners far too often do so.

Among the early pioneers of the adult webcam space, Dan Hogue (now the Director of Operations for both the PornStarPlatinum and TransErotica brands) was one such entrepreneur. Determined to be a part of the solution rather than exacerbate the problem, Hogue looked around what one might describe as the adult cam market’s larval stage and quickly diagnosed a big, glaring problem.

Thankfully, those same emerging market conditions produce a different kind of opportunist, the kind who sees the unfair game being played by others, puts a foot down firmly and says: “This is all wrong – and I’m going to do it right.”

“Back around 1998-99 there were only a few cam network options for amateurs when we got our start,” Hogue told YNOT. “And those networks, in my opinion, did not treat the producers fairly. Most would siphon the traffic for their

member joins and or send them to affiliate links giving nothing back to the performers.” Rather than wallow in anger or throw his hands in the air and accept the adult webcam market’s status quo, Hogue endeavored to build a cam network which would break the pattern of mistreatment and unfair dealing he’d witnessed. “We set out to develop a network that was built for amateurs and porn stars, by amateurs and porn stars, with a focus on giving back to the performers generating the traffic and interest,” Hogue explained. “Hence, CamZ/

development and amateur networks into developing and improving the emerging cam technologies,” Hogue said, noting that keeping up with changes in technology is among the biggest obstacles faced by cam networks. “We were the first to use flash and it was the shit,” Hogue said – adding with a laugh that “later we were running to get away from it.” Naturally, the challenges of keeping the network current went well beyond shifting streaming formats and video codecs. “Maintaining a platform that was both stable and flexible enough to adapt to emerging technologies and integrating toys, fraud defenses, chat advances, phone to phone cam to cam,” Hogue ticked off a list of factors from memory. “Remember, this was early in the cam days, when this stuff was all new.” Like many others who built successful cam networks, Hogue intuitively understood there was an audience of adult entertainment fans who would gravitate to the interactive nature of cams, a far more intimate and

AmateurCamZ was created. It was the first that paid the performers for being in the network and 50% from private cam shows.” While he was focused on the present and addressing issues facing the market, Hogue didn’t lose sight of the future. He knew CamZ and the broader industry of which it was a part would flourish and grow, but he also had the foresight to see the growth would only reach its potential if its enabling technologies advanced and evolved, as well. “I changed the entire focus from expanding content

personal form of adult entertainment than prerecorded porn videos or photoshoots. He also anticipated nuances within that manner of preference, seeing clearly the issue of “accessibility to specific desires for some people that may be in an area where they’re not able to get the type of satisfaction they desire.” “For instance, I had a ‘whale’ client who was a rural area doctor,” Hogue said. “He was not able to go to strip clubs because of his stature in the community, so he turned to live cams to fulfill that desire to have the attention of a beautiful woman – doing what he wanted while maintaining anonymity.” Naturally, another facet of emerging markets is the component of opportunities missed. And for all his success and foresight, Hogue notes that he’s not without his regrets on that front, as well. Asked whether he recalled any opportunities missed or changes he make if he could do it all over again, Hogue zeroed in on a big one. “Yes – I would have bought the domain Cams.com from Lensmen when he offered it to me,” Hogue said, laughing.

“Outside of that I would have done a better job of maintaining a grasp on the tech side of things and insuring that the framework was sound enough,” Hogue continued, humbly adding: “This was my failure as an owner.” Over the years, Hogue has never stopped looking forward, or thinking about what’s to come for the adult webcam space. At the same time, he’s hesitant to embrace certain assumptions which are commonly heard among people predicting the future of adult entertainment. For example, when asked whether he saw an increasing role for virtual reality in the context of cams, Hogue offered an appropriately nuanced response. “Certainly, as computers become more and more advanced, we will always see people trying new things,”

Hogue said. “I think the potential is there for VR, however in the cam space I do not really see a benefit on a one on one basis. “There are many other items that would be more interesting to the clients and performers than VR,” Hogue said, adding with a grin, “at least until it can connect to the rest of our bodies like the ‘Ready Player One’ movie.” Hogue also said in the current adult cam market, he sees “a leveling out of the cam space and more and more personal touches being added to separate performers and networks.” “For instance, what Chaturbate has done I think is amazing,” he added. “The gadgets they offer the performers and the ‘open source’ ability to develop interesting games and ideas to lure clients into their space is very cool.” If there’s a recurring theme where Hogue is concerned, his observations above embody it. He’s quick to offer praise when he believes it’s warranted, solutions-oriented when problems arise and not one to toot his own horn. This leaves it to the rest of us to toot the horn for him – because when the history of the adult cam space is written, Hogue certainly deserves a chapter.

About the Author Gene Zorkin has been covering legal and political issues for various adult publications (and under a variety of different pen names) since 2002.

2018 NOMINEES

YNOT received thousands of suggestions for the 2018 YNOT Cam Awards. These nominees made the final cut.

Cam Model of the Year (Woman)

LuxuriousBody

SophyDavis

Lindsey Banks

Kaisy Prince

Brittany Benz

Julia Mendez

Megan Hilton

Amber Rush

Alexa Vault

Alessia Chance

Natasha Nice

Devious Angel

Kylie Maria

SelenaBella

Harriet Sugarcookie

Veronika Rose

Scout

Roselynn Locks

Designer Missy

LadyBellaKush

Eliza Bathory

Nikki Sequoia

jocelynbaker

Kory Blu

Seductive Goddess

(ImLive)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Flirt4Free)

(Streamate)

(Chaturbate)

Emerging Cam Star World (Woman)

(ImLive)

(Flirt4Free)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

Best Personal Model Site

(Streamate)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Chaturbate)

(Jasmin/JAHLONLINE)

(Unaffiliated)

Most Creative Cam Star

(Chaturbate)

(MyFreeCams)

(Streamate)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(CamGirlDollHouse)

Best Fetish Cam Star

(Chaturbate)

(Naked.com)

(ManyVids)

(Studio 20 / Jasmin)

(Flirt4Free)

YNOT received over 1 million total votes for the 2018 YNOT Cam Awards. Voters included fans of adult interactive entertainment plus performers and industry professionals. Although only 1 in 5 nominees can actually win their categories, all nominees have proven to be standout performers in a competitive and challenging field. Congratulations to all nominees, a truly distinguished group of artists.

Best Cam Couple

Rob Rider & Blonde Rider

Megan Sky & Mason Haven

Crhistian & Dereck

BJGODDESS

Freak7_7Show

GiliSky

Evelyn Claire

Allie Eve Knox

Shawna LeneĂŠ

Ember Snow

Leo West

Damon Veins

Wes Myers

Ricky Rodeo

uniassh0leslut

Matthew Summer

ElijahCoxx

Jesse Prather

Brett King

Tony Harris

Julian Jaxon

Johnny Goodluck

SaMXTeck

Johnny Stone

Wesley Woods

(Chaturbate)

(Flirt4Free)

(ImLive)

(Cam4)

Cam Crossover Star

(Streamate)

(Chaturbate)

(iWantClips)

(Chaturbate)

(Streamate)

Cam Model of the Year (Man)

(Chaturbate)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Cam4)

(Chaturbate)

(ImLive)

Emerging Cam Star (Man)

(Flirt4Free)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Chaturbate)

(Flirt4Free)

(ImLive)

Best Clips Star (Man)

(Chaturbate)

(Streamate)

(iWantClips)

(Chaturbate)

(iWantClips)

Best Friend

Eve Thompson

Angelique Sage

Blond Violinn

Livia Choice

Lauren Lavender

LittleRedBunny

GoddessVirgin

ChellieDD

Luna Corazon

KristieBish

PrincessSnowAngel

Chellsterz

Busyman Greg

Terra Genesis

Theodora

Anastaxia Lynn

MeganKroft

NorahNovaXXX

Rebecca Love

FoxyBlonde24

Arielle Cleo

Divine Goddess Jessica

Candy Glitter

Megan Sky

Cattie Candescent

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(MyFreeCams)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(ImLive)

(Chaturbate)

Most Playful Model

(Jasmin)

(iWantClips)

(Streamate)

(MyDirtyHobby)

(MyFreeCams)

Best Props

(Streamate)

(CamGirlDollhouse)

(Cam4)

(iWantClips)

Best Cam Room

(CamSoda/AJEstudios)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Flirt4Free)

(Streamate)

(ImLive)

Best Clips Star (Woman)

(Chaturbate)

(iWantClips)

(Chaturbate)

OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS

(MyFreeCams)

Social Media Star

HottyTeen69

Harley Marie

Sasha Red

Lydia Love

SammyStrips

Catjira

Ellie Idol

Noel Cypress

Littlepuck

Felicia Vox

Chrissy LeBlanc

omfgmeow

Stella Sol

Smartykat314

Kaiia Eve

Bunni Button

AnaliseYoel

Vanna Faye

Miss Eydis

Ainslee Divine

(ImLive)

(Streamate)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Unaffiliated)

(Cam4)

Cosplay Cam Star

(MyFreeCams)

(iWantClips)

(Independent)

(Unaffiliated)

(MyFreeCams)

Multi-Platform Master

(Streamate)

(Cam4)

(iWantClips)

(Unaffiliated)

(CamGirlDollHouse)

Emerging Cam Star, North America (Woman)

(StripChat)

(Studio20 / Jasmin)

(Cam4)

(Chaturbate)

(Streamate)

OUR GOLD SPONSORS

OUR BROADCAST SPONSOR

Viewpoints

Silverstein Says: 3 Legal Issues for Cam Companies and Models to Consider By Mallory Hall The internet is a free for all!

1. Post SESTA/FOSTA and the End of Backpage

Actually, it’s really not. Not really at all.

SESTA/FOSTA, which passed this past March, has impacted sex workers of all occupations. The controversial piece of legislation broadly expanded prosecutorial power over tech companies and platforms often used by sex workers for business purposes. Consequently, entire websites shutdown and/or were seized by the government, and relevant subsections of other websites closed (e.g. segments of Craigslist. com).

Though it’s currently 2018 and we should all know better, it’s still sometimes compelling (or, just downright less exhausting) to look the other way when it comes to the internet and business. This includes webcam. Even if an issue or legal development seems to be applicable to another corner of sex work operating in another corner of the internet, there are some key issues in flux right now that you need to be aware of. We spoke to attorney Corey D. Silverstein of Silverstein Legal, and he broke down what you need to be mindful of right now.

But people still need to work. And according to Silverstein, this is something that requires attention. Post-SESTA/FOSTA, “There are still too many models that are using their cam platforms as a gateway to meeting clients for prostitution purposes,” Silverstein said. “This practice

is typically banned by cam platforms and will potentially lead to models’ accounts being terminated and potentially blacklisted. This practice also poses substantial risk to the safety of the model.” “The government is making continued efforts, shutting down different avenues that people used to work. The government incorrectly believes that the elimination of online escort platforms will curb human trafficking but to the contrary the elimination of online options has only pushed sex workers back to pimps and the streets,” he added. According to Silverstein, especially post-SESTA/FOSTA, since sex workers lost primary platforms to safely find work, it’s only a matter of time before online platforms, relevant issues and misaligned governmental regulations collide. 2. The European Regulation (GDPR)

General

Data

Protection

According to Silverstein, everyone needs to be concerned with the GDPR. The GDPR consists of a series of provisions and requirements pertaining to the processing of individuals’ personal data inside the European Union. It mandates “data protection by design and by default,” meaning that business processes that handle personal data must be built with the principles of data protection in mind. Platforms must also use the highest possible privacy settings by default so that data is not available publicly without explicit, informed consent.

“Models are still making a huge mistake and not doing a good enough job to protect their brands and intellectual property,” Silverstein asserted. “This needs to start before they develop a brand online, not after they develop an online persona. People are not protecting the names they develop and are not taking it seriously.” In addition to intellectual property, “Many cam models are also not doing a good enough job preparing financially – from accounting, taxes, saving and so on. There is a substantial need [for improvements in this area], and cam models should be getting legal counsel and doing a better job of understanding what they are signing up for and agreeing to when they start on cam,” he added. Addressing these issues and expanding understanding in these areas is beneficial for the cam space overall. “Good companies don’t want unknowledgeable models,” Silverstein said. “Good companies don’t want models that do not understand the nature of the relationship between the parties.” Bonus Issue! 2257 is *NOT* Something to Stop Thinking About There was recently a large decision that has changed the enforceability of 2257. YNOT.com has coverage of that decision. In sum, it all sounds promising -- but don’t throw out your filing cabinets and have an office party on your doc scanner just yet!

There’s much more to it and, though onerous, “Companies need to understand [the GDPR] and become compliant,” Silverstein said. “[The GDPR] is complicated, and there are no shortcuts. People who are trying to take shortcuts will be in a world of shit. Far too many website operators are still not taking data privacy and the GDPR seriously enough. In time, the appropriate authorities will want to make an example out of someone,” he added.

According to Silverstein, “The major problem is that people are already making the wrong decision to stop proper age verification and records keeping.” He added: “There is little doubt that the Final Judgment and Decree will be appealed by the Department of Justice and is headed back to the Circuit Court. Now is not the time for adult industry operators and performers to get lackadaisical with 2257 records keeping or to stop 2257 compliance. We have to continue to support this action, and we have to wait to see what the government does next.”

3. Models, Protect your Intellectual Property! Protect your brand, protect your intellectual property -- it’s both a business and marketing basic principle. But according to Silverstein, many models are not taking this seriously enough.

Interviews

Building Bridges on Shifting Ground: Flirt4Free’s Carlos Diaz By Amber Gold In the real world, human social elements are changing rapidly and constantly. This goes for the cam space, too. For a network, having great models on your team is key. Having the necessary tools in place for said great models to do their best work is also key. From technology that’s on the cusp to technology that’s actually being used, from clever ideas with potential to tried-and-true tactics that actually convert, it’s important to connect these constantly evolving dots with models, who themselves are constantly changing in an amorphous social world. Dealing with these constantly evolving, integral moving parts -- who has this job? At Flirt4Free, it’s a man named Carlos Diaz.

Diaz is the Assistant Broadcast Manager at Flirt4Free. He’s been with the company for three years and wears many hats, “flexible bridge builder” being the most significant one. Diaz took some time out to chat with us about his work and what he does to keep Flirt’s moving parts working together. YNOT: What does a typical workday for you look like? Carlos Diaz: No day at Flirt4Free is ever typical, and that’s what I love. Right now we are in the middle of planning our 10th Flirt Summit, which is taking place in the Maldives. We are taking over an entire island and bringing over 150 of our top models and studios, so we are busy at work coordinating flights, planning parties and designing new Flirt4Free swag for Summit X.

What’s the most vital aspect of your job? Traveling to different events and getting to know our models and studios is the best and most important part of my job. Getting their ideas and feedback on ways to continue improving and evolving Flirt4Free is huge for us. Coming back to the office and working with our developers and design teams to implement these ideas and changes is the most important behind the scenes work I do.

hard to create a real “cammunity” as she cleverly calls it. The Flirt4Free team -- including our models and studios -- always call ourselves a “Flirt Family,” and I think when we all show each other love and work together is when the real magic happens. What’s the most important tech development you see on the cam horizon? I think the coolest development in camming is interactive technology. We just implemented two-way interactive into our site. I think models and customers being able to control each other’s toys in real time is going to add a new level of intimacy and will really help strengthen relationships between models and customers even more. What is most meaningful about your work?

What is the biggest pain point you see for cam overall right now? I think the biggest pain point in camming at the moment is negativity -- that’s why I love seeing cam stars like Lindsey Banks going out and spreading positivity and working

Flirt4Free really changes people’s lives. Talking with our models and hearing stories about how working with us has helped them achieve dreams they never thought were possible is the best thing ever. The traveling the world part isn’t so bad either!

Featured Article

More Than Open Chat The Multi-Faceted Cam Space, with Jessica Sage By Amber Gold Some of the most complex and challenging occupations are the ones that look seamless and simple to consumers. Webcam exemplifies this phenomenon perfectly.

time industry professional -- part effortless webcam siren on one hand, part project managing taskmaster on the other.

Far from *just hopping online* when the mood strikes, it takes focus, ingenuity and full-time effort to grow and maintain a successful cam business. Even for models broadcasting via established networks and utilizing fresh and engaging platforms, way more than meets the eye goes into it.

YNOT: What goes into running the business of Jessica Sage?

We spoke to Jessica Sage about what it takes to be a full-

Jessica Sage: Being a cam model is so much more than just showing up on cam. There is so much that goes into it, and if you want to be successful, then it’s necessary. I think a lot of people think you can just hop on cam and sit there and make money, and that’s just so far from the truth.

Camming, alone, takes a lot of time, effort and money. Buying lots of different outfits, toys and props for my room. Trying to figure out different games, activities or things that help make being online more fun and interactive. Plus, I’m trying to appeal to a large crowd of people, so I try to remember or take notes on what people like so that when I buy outfits or toys, I’m getting what different people like and want to see. There is so much planning that goes on behind the scenes, I’m not sure many people realize just how much thought is put into it.

see took me hours to complete from start to finish. Running a premium Snapchat is kind of like clips making and camming combined in the sense that you’re putting on a show for multiple people at one time, but you can also redo a clip if it didn’t come out or fix something you didn’t like. It’s also trying to engage and entice nonpremium members to want to subscribe to you. It really is like running your own business. You need to create a brand, market it, make purchases for it and try to sell people on it. If you don’t put in the hours and energy it takes to run a business, then your chances of long-term success will probably be minimal -- and that goes for any business you want to create, not just from a camming stand point. You also work for xblaze.com – what’s that like? Besides all of the things I do for camming and clips making, I also work for Jeff Dillon on xblaze.com. Last summer, I had major pelvic surgery and couldn’t do much of anything for eight weeks while I recovered. In that time I began looking into other aspects of the adult community. I love working on computers and doing behind-the-scenes stuff. That’s always been a passion of mine and is something I really enjoy doing.

On top of all of that, keeping up with your social media, having new pictures, engaging with fans and answering messages are things that go on all day. We don’t just sign off cam, and our workday is done. It’s really more of a 24/7 thing. ...but camming is just one source of income and interaction? A lot of cam models, myself included, do other things to bring in income. Making videos to sell, running a premium Snapchat/Instagram/Onlyfans or even offering private shows to people. I personally only run a premium Snapchat and make videos [as additional streams of income].

One day I asked what type of behind the scenes jobs were out there on an [industry forum]. I had gotten quite a few responses, and Jeff was one of them. It sounded like an amazing opportunity and something in my gut told me that this was what I should do. So, right away, I told him I would love to. I really appreciate the opportunity that Jeff has given me and absolutely love not just working for him but working with him. I definitely look at him as a mentor and hope to learn and grow as much as I can from him. Do you incorporate a lot of your camming skill set into this other corner of the business?

Before I record a video, I think of an idea and make a plan. What do I want to do, is it going to be solo or boy/girl, what kind of storyline am I going to do with it? Then it’s getting an outfit, whatever props or toys I’m going to use and setting up the lighting and camera. Then, during filming, I get up and move the camera to get different angles and views. Once everything is said and done, then I have to transfer the files to my computer and edit everything. At the end of the day, the ten-minute video you

I think being a cam model and already having some experience with marketing myself and running my social media, plus making and editing my own clips, helps with this job a lot. I also have a lot of people who watch me cam go to xblaze and sometimes they give me a lot of user feedback, which is awesome. I can let Jeff know what the consumers are looking for or what may need to be changed to help improve the site. Some days, things vary on what needs to get done, but generally my responsibilities include uploading/approving content for the site and running some of the social media accounts -- Twitter, Reddit and Tumblr. You mentioned health issues – How have you used your professional platform as a launch pad for advocacy work? I was diagnosed with something called pelvic organ prolapse four years ago, and last year I had surgery to try to correct it.

Making the decision to have this surgery was definitely not an easy one, especially because I’m so young and I will never be able to naturally have any more kids. Before my surgery, I joined a group called APOPS. I found there were so many women of all ages -- even some near my age -- suffering from this. So many of them had never heard of it before, didn’t know what it was and what it meant for our futures. A couple months ago, I decided that I really wanted to use my knowledge to help speak out about this and help educate other women, especially those in this industry. We use our bodies every day for work and definitely use our vaginas a lot more than average people. I think if there was more talk about this, women would know what to look out for and how to help their bodies last them a long time. I had no idea this was such a prevalent health issue... When watching porn sometimes, I’ll notice a woman who has what looks like a minor prolapse going on, and I wonder if she has any idea that this is even happening. I also know there is a fetish out there about prolapses, and I really would love to help educate those women so they can make an informed decision about what they’re doing. I would love if this was something that was more talked about and I would love to use my knowledge and experience to spread the word. There is no reason to feel ashamed or weirded out if you do have it because it’s believed that at least 50 percent of woman have a prolapse to some degree -- but sadly, only a small percentage are ever diagnosed. We explore our bodies sexually all the time, so why not learn to explore your body in a way that could help benefit it. You can easily check yourself for a prolapse, and I hope that my voice can reach women so we can all learn to do this. If I could help someone out there and maybe prevent them from going through what I’m going through, then it would be so worth it. I’m currently making a few different vlogs and a YouTube channel where I share my full story, how this has affected and impacted my camming career, as well as more information for woman to be able to learn more about it. Find Jessica Sage on Twitter at @JessicaSage69.