In the online adult industry, collaborations are both frequent and integral to your success. That’s why establishing and maintaining clear standards is crucial to ensure your work is respected, your boundaries are honored and your professional relationships are positive and fruitful. While certain standards are fairly uniform across the industry, it is nonetheless important to know a few best practices for communication when it comes to collabs.
Values and Boundaries
Naturally, consent is a central part of any creator or performer’s standards.
Before you can set your standards, it’s important to understand your own personal values and boundaries. Reflect on what you are comfortable with and what you are not. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, the types of content you are willing to produce, the creators you are willing to work with and the conditions under which you will work. It is a good idea to create a list of these requirements to keep yourself on track, as it can be easy to get caught up in unexpected scenarios.
Additionally, you will want to identify anything that is nonnegotiable for you as a creator/performer. These are the aspects of your work that are not up for discussion or compromise. For example, you may be willing to negotiate who pays for travel, but not how much you are paid for the actual shoot. Whether it’s payment, specific acts, safety measures or working location and hours, knowing your nonnegotiables helps you maintain control over your work and ensure your comfort and safety.
Documentation
After you have created a list of your values and boundaries for collaboration with other performers, you can use that list as a guide to create a comprehensive document that outlines your standards. Since this document is personalized for you, it should include whatever your main priorities are, but you may want to address what types of scene(s) you intend to create, preferred communication methods, required safety protocols, payment or revenue split and any other specific requirements.
Ensure your guidelines comply with legal and ethical standards within the industry. Depending on how detailed this agreement document is, it will likely be helpful to consult with a legal professional to make sure it is enforceable and protects your rights. You can then keep it on hand for your collaborators to sign prior to shooting.
Aside from this document, it is essential that you have official documents for each platform on which you intend to publish content, along with a uniform performer/model release that can apply across the board, stating that the collaborator is consenting to the content being posted on your platforms. Also, it is always helpful to take a photo of the front and back of your collaborator’s ID or driver’s license, and a close-up photo of them holding their ID up next to their face.
Potential Negotiation
Collaborations often require a degree of flexibility, so after providing potential collaborators with your guidelines and having an open discussion about them, as well as about their own standards, be prepared for some negotiation. However, always negotiate in a way that allows you to get the content you are seeking from the collaboration, allows you to feel comfortable and does not compromise your core values and nonnegotiables.
Consent and Safety
Naturally, consent is a central part of any creator or performer’s standards. This means ongoing, enthusiastic consent for all aspects of the collaboration. Establish protocols for checking in with your collaborators before, during and after shoots.
Outline safety measures that you expect to be in place during collaborations, including testing as well. Most creators go by a rule of working together within 14 days of an STI panel, which includes the “big five” — HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C and chlamydia. Many performers are also requiring Mgen (Mycoplasma genitalium) testing now, which can be harder to come by in some places. STI test results should be accessible on a phone, tablet or computer so that all collaborators can log in immediately prior to the shoot and check each other’s name, test date and results.
A Worthwhile Pursuit for Long-Term Success
Professional relationships should be built on mutual respect. By setting and adhering to your own standards, you encourage others to respect your professional boundaries and practices. After each collaboration, seek feedback and provide it constructively. This helps in refining your standards and improving future collaborations. Being open to feedback also shows your collaborators that you value their input and are committed to professional growth.
By understanding your values, crafting clear guidelines, communicating effectively, emphasizing consent and safety and managing relationships professionally, you can set the foundation that will make your collaborations as rewarding as possible.
Mikayela Miller is a content creator, writer and advocate in the adult entertainment industry. She is new to performing publicly, but has lived a very sexually playful life and loves having new experiences. She operates with the ethos that sex work is just as valid and relevant as work in any other industry sector. You can follow Mikayela on X.com or on OnlyFans.
