Nothing is perfect. We all know that, but there are some simple (and complex) fixes that can be made to improve the adult industry. In an age where we are dealing with a pandemic, understanding what is needed for change in racial justice and equality, working toward improving sexual justice, and coming to terms with predatory elements within the industry… well, we’re open to all sorts of ideas! Every day brave souls inside the industry are working towards a progressive and fair environment. We’re hoping that this Performer Roundup will get some gears turning and some asses burning, and at the very least, shed some light on the changes performers themselves would like to see—in their own words.
Charlotte Sartre
I wish more models would fire their agents and work for themselves. We don’t need to give those people power. Agents are glorified pimps, and they perpetuate harmful practices that encourage racism, transphobia, and homophobia in our industry. That should not be tolerated. No one should feel like they have to wait to “do IR” (I hate that phrase), or charge more to fuck a black guy, or not work with a guy who’s done gay porn, or not work with trans people based on some selfish and archaic beliefs that marginalizing people will benefit their career, or that certain groups of people will give you HIV. The agents are liars. Also, if you’re sucking 100% of the dick, why would you give your agent 10-15% of your check? It’s not hard to manage a calendar and write some emails and contact people on Twitter. The agent’s job is obsolete… especially in this social media age.
Edyn Blair
Agents truly listening and understanding the limits set by performers. Not pressuring them to do things they aren’t ready for, or have as a ‘hard no,’ or pressuring them to work when they are injured, or telling them that they are lesser than another performer for any reason. Not all agents do this, but a number of mine did. It has caused me loss of work, injuries, recurring injuries, an eating and anxiety disorder, and depression.
Those things should never happen. To anyone.
Unfortunately many performers are made to feel pressured like this by bad agents. We need a world where the agents remember they work for performers and not the other way around. Where constructive criticism and not just criticism and orders are what’s given to us. Especially when it comes to new performers.
Also, booking fees should be left in the dust. An agent gets $100-$150 booking fee—the performer on average gets $900 then pays 10-15% back to the agent. Often in my experience, agents having booking fees will make a company not want to book any girls with that agent unless they are the TOP, TOP girl… and then if the booking is cancelled the performer doesn’t get any of those fees. And often the booking fee leads to the performer getting paid less because they drop the rate to cover the cost of the booking fee because of film budget.
Lotus Lain
If we are thinking hypothetically, in a fantasy world, I wish there were no diseases to worry about. No racism, no homophobia, no assault and miscommunications—just a lot of sexy people sharing good, sexy times!
Maya Sinstress
I’d like to see a change in the lack of equal rights, pay, and respect in the adult industry. We could start by not defining someone’s worth by skin color, gender, and/or sexual orientation, as well as working together for the greater good and communicating with one another. Sex workers face a lot of discrimination in society, and we don’t need to further that in our industry. Producers, directors, and studios should be held accountable for transparency, paying equally, and presenting their performers in a light that is respectful without putting performers in a category or a box.
Sophia West
I think it’s easy for new girls to be taken advantage of. They don’t know the “do’s and don’ts” of the industry, so it’s easy to be told something by an individual or an organization that’s not always true and/or the way things are really done. They can be pushed into a direction they aren’t ready for.
I know as someone relatively new, there is nothing for me to use as a way to gauge what is correct or not. I have been lucky with my agency and the studios I have shot with. But, I have had individuals try and push me into things that I wasn’t comfortable with.
If I had a serious problem, I know I could go to my agency. A lot of girls don’t feel that way or don’t even have an agency at all. Where do they go? How do they know? If we are truly in this “together,” there should be some type of help for new girls. The industry could step up and create some place—whether it’s a website, a call center, a counselor, etc. that all performers can use to guide them in an industry with so many variables.
Casca Akashova
Right now, testing for Covid. I appreciate safety, but the testing for Covid-19 needs to be better.
Dee Severe
We need to get sexual predators, racists, and sexist assholes out of the industry. Then everything else will be much, much easier to improve.
Kylie Kingston
I wouldn’t typecast a person because of their age or race. I feel the adult industry does this a lot. I know I’m cast a lot in MILF roles, which I’m appreciative and thankful for. However, since I do have a younger look/appearance I would love to be cast in roles that I could play younger. So I would love to play both MILF and younger roles since I can LOOK and ACT the part 🙂 Thanks directors and studios. I hope this will change.
Aria Khaide
I think one big principle lacking in the industry is professionalism, and more specifically, accountability. To change and improve upon it, however, is a much bigger task—since I believe these are learned characteristics and virtues, if you will. Learning that you are responsible for your own actions—whether it be valuing a production crew’s time by showing up on time or respecting one’s boundaries, and if you impede on those, apologizing properly. In an ideal world there would be an on-boarding process that any other industry in the world has when there are new ’employees’ or ‘continuing education.’ If there was some way to let new talent know about the workings of the industry (on the principles I touched on above), as well as refreshers for veterans, I believe it would create a more safe space… as well as one that outsiders could possibly respect a bit more, if they knew that we are taking proper steps to teach and value things like accountability within, professionalism, and such standards.
Kimber Haven
Well to be honest, this seems like a silly question with everything else we have on our plates to worry about in 2020. The country is very politically divisive right now with many crusades being fought for long-overdue causes. However, that being said, the fact that the porn industry has started becoming involved and political amuses me. People always say they don’t want to hear a celebrity’s opinion on an important matter… do you honestly think they take a smut peddler standing on a soap box seriously? We are only respected among our peers and NOT by society; nor have we ever been. So this need to seem “woke” and “progressive” in porn is absurd. Keep politics out of porn. People need a place to go without being preached to or have to deal with serious political issues. We deal in sexual fantasy. The only thing that happens when porn starts becoming political is widespread censorship trying to avoid “offending” anyone, when porn—by its very nature—is offensive to society as a whole. Porn has always been politically, religiously, and racially inclusive. There is literally something for everyone—no matter what you like. However, people should never be judged by what they like sexually. To be absolutely honest, whenever I see a PORN company preaching on a soap box I laugh, because they come off as ridiculous.
Rebecca Vanguard
One idea I have been toying with is equal pay for male and female performers. As I start my new websites, I’m not just performing, but producing as well. I’ve known for a long time that male talent performs at a professional level for a fraction of the price. So I wonder if some of our female counterparts would be okay with taking a small pay cut… if it went to their male talent that day, instead.
Jimmy Broadway
There is so much that needs to be done to solve all of these problems. But since you asked for just one thing, I would have to say open dialogues. The only only way we are going to get anywhere with these issues is if people in the industry can speak freely and openly about them. We can no longer be silent about the bad elements who have been protected for too long. The studios are going to have to listen to the talent and address their concerns if they have any hope of getting them back on set after this. And we need to talk to each other and work together to address the systemic problems that we are facing. The answers aren’t going to come from an individual, they will come from a community—listening to each other and working together.
Mandy Meadows
One thing I would do to improve the industry is placing confidence, maturity, and honest communication upon every interaction we have on set and off. If you are uncomfortable, address it immediately. Your self confidence is completely necessary in order to directly communicate how you are feeling. I understand this is easier said than done. If someone makes you uncomfortable, then have the confidence to tell them. 90% of the time no one has bad intentions. We cannot read each other’s minds; always be honest. Additionally, please less texting. It’s so easy to interpret a text the wrong way. Be smart, be careful, and please just be nice to each other.
Lisey Sweet
The industry has so much growth potential to improve how it serves the people—who are in it and the fans. The future is empowerment and pushing legitimacy to our industry, removing stigma and making sex and porn a topic we can freely chat about without shame. I hope to be instrumental in changing our industry for the better—supporting performers and getting fans the content they crave—all while encouraging healthy sexual relationships.
Michael Vegas
A system of accountability and reporting. A performer’s union. I think both are important.
Fallon West
One thing I would do to improve the adult industry is to have a more concise way to describe and agree upon what will be included and taking place on an average shoot day, job, or work venture, etc. It seems like there’s been a lot of confusion, miscommunication, and problems in defining misconduct and wrongdoing between performers, producers, crew, publicity, etc. From individuals to the companies as a whole team, there have been a lot of issues coming up because of many abusing their positions… and a lot of lies and coverups that have lead to suffering and stress for everyone involved. We must all build to resolve and outline the issues from everyone in this industry, so there can be a common unity and basis for the need to reconstruct and/or clarify any and all of these events, incidents, and subjects. Everyone deserves to have the right to address whatever they need to, and receive rational response and action to anything that is affecting this industry and our lives altogether.
Charlotte Stokely
It is my opinion that the legal age to perform in porn should be 21 years old rather than 18. If you’re too young to drink alcohol, then perhaps you’re too young to make this massive, life-changing decision.
Rebecca Love
I think the legal age to be in porn should be over 21. Too many kids are getting into this profession right from high school without knowing the consequences of their actions for monetary gain. I think there should at least be dialogue about it before they make that sacrifice in their life. It takes a strong person to film in the adult industry… and thick skin. I just think children should have a few years in the real world before they make this lifetime commitment.
Amilia Onyx
Having Human Resources on set.
Read our past Performers Roundups here!
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