I’m Charlotte Stokely, a top lesbian performer, and I’m honored XBIZ asked me to write about what it takes to stay competitive as a girl/girl star. Good question! It can be tough out there for us girl/girl-only folks to compete against the new double anal anatomic acrobats. Like a feisty cheerleader (a part I may have played once or twice), we need to bring it every day. Here goes…
Rule one: Remember that fans are everything — interact with them and respect them. They are your biggest marketing arm and a direct source of income — they increase your exposure through retweets, forums and memes. They push you with directors. They support you directly, buying clips and merchandise and subscribing to your web site. Make yourself worth following — be yourself (my niche is dad jokes), listen compassionately, flirt, turn them on and post updates.
It is easy to have days when you are off or the groove with your partner or production team isn’t perfect, but remember you are not performing for them. You have loyal fans and new fans that want to see you, get to know you and spend money on you.
Rule two: Commit to your scenes — viewers can tell if you are going through the motions or if you are really into it. They want to watch girls who are excited about the sex, of course, but also having fun in creating a fantasy and playing a part. It is easy to have days when you are off or the groove with your partner or production team isn’t perfect, but remember you are not performing for them. You have loyal fans and new fans that want to see you, get to know you and spend money on you.
Rule three: Be professional. The product you’re selling might be different from the norm, but a movie set is like any other business. Backers risked money, others are counting on getting paid and all involved have committed their time, talent and energy. You need to be a responsible professional — show up on time and ready to do the work you agreed to, with an upbeat and cooperative attitude. People will hire you again if you do. Don’t work with companies or people who don’t give you the same respect.
Rule four: Diversify. The days of mega contract stars are over. Protect yourself with alternative revenue sources to acting. The options are immense — clips, direct fan interaction (cam, phone and text), merchandise and feature dancing. Each has pros and cons that make them right for some and not others. I enjoy making clips and fan texting, but both are also competitive, time consuming and often try your patience. Figure out what works for you and do not sit around waiting for a call from your agent. You are the CEO of your business — make sure you are putting a wide net of products out there.
Rule five: Value yourself highly. There is an old story where a perfume manufacturer raised prices dramatically and then saw the number of bottles sold go up. The higher price made people assume the perfume was more elegant and luxurious though nothing had changed. Prices, whether they reflect your rate for shoots, clips or texting, communicate how you see your value. Deliver a lot, but don’t give your product away cheaply. In practice, this is obviously different for a new girl than an established industry star, but the ethos is the same.
Rule six: Have fun and take care of yourself. You can’t do any of the above easily if you are not emotionally, physically and financially together. The industry is a fast-paced whirlwind of boobs and glory, but avoid going full tornado — know what you need for mental health, exercise, meditation, friends outside porn, travel, concerts, hiking, cooking, dancing and reading. Free your mind and body from the vortex. I love playing D&D, my cat and my non-porn friends, and they help keep me healthy. And watch your dollars. You don’t want to make decisions out of financial stress you might not make otherwise. So, those are my rules for competing as a top girl/girl star. I’m always around if any ladies have questions or the desire to send me boob pics @char_stokely via Twitter.
