Category :camming

Camming Confidentially – Part 1 General Privacy and Safety Tips

When considering having a go at cam modeling, there are an awful lot of things to take into account. Among them, safety and privacy are top priorities. This is part one of a list of steps you can take to make sure you’re protected while camming, and to keep your private life as separate as possible from the life you live while broadcasting. Here, I’ll  talk about some general steps you should take. In part 2, I’ll talk about social media. Here goes:

SSL Certification

Make sure the site or sites you broadcast on are SSL certified. Most of the top sites use SSL. It’s a means of encrypting your information to keep it indecipherable to users.

Geoblocking

The top cam sites allow you to use Geoblocking. This allows you to block users by IP addresses associated with your own city, state or country. Meaning your local family members and neighbors will not be able to see your stream. This is extremely important, but it’s not a catch-all. It’s not uncommon for live-cam customers to use VPNs that provide IP addresses in different regions, or to overcome Geoblocking restrictions while traveling. Also, if you’re ever a guest on another model’s stream, you should find out what their Geoblocked areas are and make sure they don’t conflict with yours.

A Stage Name for your Stage Name

This should go without saying, but always use a fake name and birthdate. Never reveal important vital information to your guests and customers, no matter how much you like them. You can celebrate your fake birthday with your viewers, while still keeping your real DOB a secret. Sometimes, when customers visit you often and feel they’ve formed a relationship, they’ll be desperate to learn your real name. It’s a good policy to have a second fake name in the back of your mind for these occasions. Your privacy is still protected, and your customer gets to feel special at the same time.

Cam-Persona Email

Create a separate email address for your modeling persona. Do not use your personal email address for promotional social media accounts, like your cam-model Twitter or Instagram page. It’s searchable on most social media sites. For more on locking down your personal and professional social media accounts, check out part 2 of this article here.

Vague Conversation

I’ve already mentioned the importance of your stage name and a fake DOB. But sometimes it’s easy to let things slip while camming. We’re only human, after all. And our job as cam models is to connect with other humans. But it’s good, safe practice to be vague about what you do when you’re off-cam. Talk about your favorite music, but don’t mention the upcoming concert you have tickets for. Talk about your favorite food, but leave out the names of restaurants you love. Talk about a steamy college encounter, but don’t mention the name of the school or the professor involved. It’s a hard but important line to walk when you’re building relationships with fans and customers. The less specific information they have, the safer you are.

Clean Broadcast Space

Some models love changing locations. Broadcasting from your backyard or your kitchen can be cool and intimate in different ways. But you have to pay attention to what they can see apart from your beautiful face. Family photographs on your nightstand, framed diplomas or certificates, and even the view out your window can hint at your real identity and location. I personally prefer to have one designated “clean” space for broadcasting. It’s simpler and requires less maintenance.

No Clicking!

Never open links from your customers. Not in chat. Not in email. Not in a tweet. No matter how trustworthy they seem, this is the best policy. When camming, always exercise caution. Apart from malware and viruses, there is also software that can reveal your IP address, which can give away your location.

Wish Lists

As your customers start to feel closer to you, they’ll want to send you real, tangible presents. Enter the wish list. Some of the top sites, like Flirt4Free.com, have their own internal wish lists. If they have one, use it! If you end up using a service like Amazon instead, there are a few precautions you should take. Set up a P.O. box or UPS box under your stage name and in a zip or post code that is not your own. A customer can use delivery tracking to find out where their gift was sent. Set up an Amazon (or whatever) account using your stage-persona email only, and make sure your shipping address is not displayed.

Gifts in Return

Some models hold raffles and contests in their chatrooms while camming, and give away prizes. Customers love it, but they can also learn your approximate location through the post. I think digital prizes like photo sets and videos are the safest way to go. But if you must mail someone your dirty undies, send it from a city that is not your own.

Of course, with anything in the information age, nothing is guaranteed.  Despite your best efforts, there may still be an awkward conversation with family members or friends in your future. Being a cam model is rewarding, lucrative and fun, but it also becomes a public persona. If the thought of this kind of exposure creeping into your personal life is extremely upsetting, you might want to consider a different career. Be sure to check out Part 2 for some tips on locking down your personal and professional social media accounts.

Thanks, and keep camming!

For more, please check out PART TWO!

TIPS TO SUCCEED AS A CAM NOOB!

There are a lot of advice blogs for cam models, and it follows that there is a lot of advice, a lot of tips. Most is helpful. Some is subjective. Before getting into the subtle nuances of why we do what we do, I thought I’d boil it all down to some basic policies that work for me. Adopting these practices helped me a lot when I was starting out, and continue to serve me well as time goes on. I’d like to think this is geared specifically toward men, but I hope it helps girls too.

BEWARE THE STARE

Staring at your chat screen in silence is one of the first things what will drive customers out of your room. In radio broadcasting, they call it dead air. There will be days your customers will be talkative, conversational, and make requests of you. There will be days they hang on your every word. But there will also be quiet first-timers looking for a way to get to know you. In times like these, it’s important to remember you’re an entertainer. You must entertain. Tell a sexy story. Ask them questions. The best cam sites have a “whisper” feature in chat. Use it, and don’t be afraid to be intimate! It’s a great tool for getting shy customers to open up. They’ve come to engage with you. Invite them to and you’ll be surprised by the results.

ONE THING AT A TIME

Don’t text or make calls while camming. Don’t do your homework. Keep your music at a level where customers can still hear you talk. Customers will not feel engaged if you aren’t paying attention to them. We’re human. Stuff comes up. If something pressing needs your attention, tell your viewers you’ll be back soon and log out to take care of it. If you don’t think this is a big deal, check out the review sections of Chaturbate or Flirt4Free and see how much customers like a distracted model.

HONESTY IS THE BEST… WELL, YOU KNOW

This is a 2-parter. First, be as honest as you can (without risking your safety and privacy) about yourself, your likes and dislikes. While the sexy stuff is a big part of camming, the personal connections you make are equally important. Your repeat customers (aka your biggest tippers) will inevitably be the ones who feel close to you both inside and out. But you should also be honest about your limits. If a customer asks you to do something you’re not ready to do, tell them you can’t politely and apologetically. Don’t lead them on! Even if they go elsewhere to meet those needs, you’ve established a non-judgmental trust that could bring them back for many tips to come.

KEEP YOUR “TOOLS” HANDY

Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. I mean to say, if you keep toys, costumes, and fetish stuff nearby, it’s right there when someone asks you to use it. When someone in chat says “do you have duct tape and nipple clamps?” and you say: “yeah, I’ve got them right here,” a couple of things happen. First, they know they’ve come to the right place. Second, they feel safe in sharing their desires with you. Trust is huge in getting repeat customers. And it’ll net you nice tips.

SURE, I’LL DO THAT RIGHT AWAY

On the subject of repeat customers who ask you to do stuff: when someone asks you to do something, get to it right away. Especially when doing a paid show. This is a time-is-money environment. Dragging out your strip routine when a paying customer is asking for more actually risks you losing that customer. Short term gain, long term loss.  Customers who come away from your show feeling satisfied will come back. Customers who think you teased too much, or they had to overspend to see that cockring will probably go elsewhere. It’s simple math. You earn less from one 45 minute show on Monday than you do from Three 25 minute shows over the course of a week.

I-C-U

I’ll get into this at length in another post, but one tip is to always ask your customers if they have a cam too. Most of the big cam sites have a camera-to-camera feature, and I’ve found that this is one of the best ways to make your customers feel engaged, and let them know you’re interested in more than their money. Some will be too shy to try it, so don’t push. But it’s always good to let them know they have the option. Interactive toys that respond to tips can also be a big draw. I’ll have some more in-depth write-ups on these in another post as well. But think of it like this. Cam modeling is to porn as video games are to watching TV. One is passive, where the viewer just watches. The other attempts to immerse you, and make your thoughts and decisions feel important. The more immersive you cam show is, the more customers will return for its “replay value.”

HAVE FUN ON CAM!

Here’s our final tip. Yeah. It’s a job. Yeah.  We’re in it to make a living, first and foremost. But I find a lot of customers get turned off when you get too financial about things. This doesn’t mean you should give away the goods for free. It means, you have to entice them into spending money, entice them to tip, instead of asking for or demanding it. It’s a skill. You can learn it. Flash. Tease. Play games. Part of what they’re paying for is the fantasy your friendship and money grubbing breaks what actors call “the fourth wall.”

Of course, there’s a lot more to doing this successfully than what I wrote here, but I hope this is a good jumping off point. Stay tuned, as I plan on elaborating on all this and more very soon. Thanks for reading!

Interested in reading more? Check out our article on “Cam Modeling Basics,” which will definitely help you as you progress down this exciting cam model path.

 

GET INTERACTIVE: SPICE UP CAM SHOWS

Camming is our life, and interactive is the future. We love doing it. Also, we love the rewards that come from it, the joy. We love giving our fans the types of awesome shows that keep them coming back for more each and every time we log on. That said, technology is growing and advancing every day. And the cam world is already at the forefront of such technological advancements. We have to be. It’s through our work that fans can truly “connect” with the models that they love. So, what better way to celebrate our unique position than to talk a little bit about three particular interactive toys (commonly called “sex toys”) that you can use in your cam shows to wow your fans and take yourself to the next level.

OhMiBod

To begin, the awesome OhMiBod devices are continually evolving with newer models and modified devices being developed on a regular basis. Generally speaking, what makes the OhMiBod such a fun toy to use while camming is its reaction to sound. The OhMiBod, when presented with a certain sound, can vibrate you to the throes of ecstasy. How cool is that? You’ve seen it before, and trust us, you’re going to see it again. A model is in his/her room with an OhMiBod in place. In this regard, a voracious customer enters and, suddenly, that customer starts tipping like there’s no tomorrow. With each DING, the OhMiBod reacts. How cool it is to be stimulated while being paid. Trust us, it’s very cool. There’s no greater feeling. Try it out today!

Kiiroo

It needs to be said that Kiiro cannot be ignored. With their truly satisfying “Onyx” and “Pearl” models, they are taking the interactive cam world by stom. Their Onyx dubs itself as “The only interactive masturbator that let’s you relinquish control.” That’s right. Imagine the sensation of when this device does the work for you. Yep, it’s that good. No, scratch that — it’s BETTER. Also, with their “Pearl” model, they say, “Pearl is a beautiful, technologically advanced G-spot vibrator designed to fulfil your most intimate needs in ways you never thought possible. You can have an evening for one or have an intimate experience with your partner online. However you choose to indulge, Pearl will take your breath away.” Get your Kiiroo “on” today!

 

Interested in reading more about how you can improve your cam experience? Check out our article on humor.

MAKE THEM LAUGH: ENHANCE YOUR BRAND

Guide to Camming LaughterWe all like to laugh. Learning how to make customers burst out laughing in the chat room is an invaluable resource. It’s also a resource that could increase both your earning potential as well as the enjoyment you feel after you put in those long “tip filled” hours in front of the computer. So often do we become focused purely on earning, and forget the joy of actual human interaction and what lies behind being an ultra-successful cam model, i.e. caring for your customers and having a good time with them. It’s time for that to change. Chances are that the better time you’re having with your customers, the more you will earn. Make your goals, enjoy the moment, and the tips and the money will come. But enjoying the process has a supreme value in and of itself.

May I Laugh Now?

In an interview, the mega-successful male cam model Izzi once stated, “Watch comedy!” In that same interview he went on to talk openly about how he preps himself into “cam mode” before a cam show. Simply said, he’ll often watch comedy. For Izzi, comedy puts him in the groove (well, that and maybe some sexy adult material, too). He talks about the value of making an audience laugh, and trust me, if you’ve ever seen Izzi on cam, you know he’s all about entertaining his fans (us at GTC among them). There’s something to be said about someone who can woo an entire room with a joke, with a funny dance, with a compelling story, or with a funny antic.

No More Tension

Using humor can also diffuse any tensions that might arise in your room. Let’s say that your fans are staring to fight over you, or at each other for whatever reason. It’ll take a smooth negotiator to quench those angry flames. One solution could be to use humor to deflect the argument, and turn the attention back on what really matters (having a good time!). Another solution is to use humor to shift the tone in the room. The last you want is for everyone to leave because two customers were fighting. Take the high road. Take Izzi’s advice and make your room laugh!

Interested in delving deeper? Check out our article on creating a brand presence with VODs.

THREE REASONS WHY ATTENDING INDUSTRY EVENTS IS A GOOD IDEA

Welcome to the business! We’re glad you’re here. As an ever growing industry, you’ll soon find a ton of professional events that are relevant to your career choice. These events can be extremely helpful to your development as a top model. Industry events can be an awesome way to increase your visibility, gain new fans, and get to know the cam platform that you call home. While there are many reasons why attending industry events is a good idea, we’ll give you three hot tips that might help you better see the value of such a decision.

Reason #1: The Strength of Networking

It’s no secret that the world revolves around knowing the right people. The cool thing about industry events — when you participate as a model — is that you’ll be able to really get a feel for the lifestyles of other models as well as get a really useful “behind the scenes” look at how the cam site you cam on operates and treats its models.

Reason #2: Meet the Fans

Meeting fans is fun. Events provide such an opportunity. You won’t only be able to rub shoulders with other industry professionals, you’ll also be able to interact with (and be adored by) the fans who help support you as a cam model. That’s right, I know it might feel a bit intimidating, but trust me, it can be such a great experience. Remember, you truly make a difference in the lives of your fans. While some fans might only be interested in the sexual side of things, there are plenty of fans out there who love spending time with you and getting to know you as a cam personality. Meeting them is a way to say, “Thank you.”

Reason #3: Learn from the Pros

A really cool thing about industry events is that they give you a chance to see the pros in action. For sure, you might already be a pro, so you can value what we’re saying here — industry events are not only great places to network and meet fans, they are also fantastic places to see how professional models interact with other industry professionals. Also, you can see how models interact with their fans. In general, ou can study how they comport themselves among a crowd who connects to their business. Trust me, if you keep your eyes open, there’s so much to learn. And learning is fun. Learning keeps you sharp on your toes.