~She's a He? Thoughts on being a T-Girl in SL Porn by IvoriLee Faith
The glamourous life of a porn star. HA! Okay, maybe that's a little harsh. I am not gonna lie, there are a lot of times where it is very good to be me. I love being a porn star and the um, perks... that go along with it. But if you thought it was hard to break into the biz as a guy or a girl, try being both. So let's have a little chat about being a TGirl in SL Porn, and SL in general, k?
One thing I hear a lot of is "I love you work and I wanna be just like you! Show me how to be a porn star just like you!" Well, I have some bad news for you: you can't. And that's a good thing. What is going to make you a success is the same thing that made me: Hard work, determination and (pay attention now, this is the key) your own style. There's already a me. My personality plays a huge role in my popularity with my fans. So unless you're the most boring person to walk this digital planet, you need to let people see what makes you special.
Okay, so you know you can't be me, but wanna try and make it as a tgirl porn star, what to do? Here's some advice that goes above and beyond the helpful guide this blog provides for you.
1- Your avi is a business, and everything you put on it is like a tool. What I mean by this is (and this applies to you dancers and escorts as well) that everything you wear, not just clothes, shoes and hair, but your very shape and skin as well are the tools you need to do this 'job'. If you don't have the right tools, they will give that job to someone that does. Castings are limited, so in order to get the gig, you need to make sure you look amazing. In someways, you have to look better than a lot of the females, just to get noticed. Spend the money and get good skin, hair, etc. Get a shape that is curvy and appealing. While you can't make money doing porn (unless you strip/escort, in which case it can be a great incentive for customers to spend their money on you) that old saying applies: you have to spend money to make money. And if you haven't gotten breast implants, do so. It's a competitive field, and a killer rack is going to get you noticed.
2- Produce your own content. I cannot stress this enough. Even if at the beginning you don't show anyone, take pictures of yourself and your various *ahem* activities in SL. Play with windlight settings and stuff. Experiment. Get on Flickr, and start a blog or Tumblr. When you produce your own content, and show others, you're creating a portfolio that photographers and directors can see.
3- Get involved. Don't just go to the parties. Talk to people. Introduce yourself. If you see casting calls for non-sex roles, take them. This shows you are willing to work.
Now, here's the discouraging part. There aren't many tgirls who can legitimately be called Superstars in SL Porn, and I am very fortunate to be one. It's not been easy, and I have thought about quitting many times, simply out of the frustration that comes from being a tgirl in this business. You get pigeon-holed. There are many roles you have no chance of getting, simply because of your gender. There will be people who will not work with you, and a good portion of directors/photographers want nothing to do with producing content involving you. You might even find yourself being a novelty act. I have dealt with all of this, and came out with dignity intact, proud of what I've accomplished, and able to show there's more to me in this wonderful world of SL Porn than a dude with nice boobs. My goal in SL all along has been to explore and expand my sexuality, and let others do so as well. The acceptance of tgirls, and alternate sexuality in SL Porn since I began has changed drastically, and I would like to think I had a bit to do with that, that and some special people who were brave enough to show me as I am: A bisexual tgirl, who gives and takes. It took a long time to get to that point, but I am happy to see it become so accepted.
So while I realize I might have painted a bit of a bleak picture for you, don't be discouraged. You can make it as a tgirl, and I am delighted to see so many that I am proud to call friends sharing their special gifts with the SL Porn world. SL Porn can be a very sexy and fun part of your SL existence, and we can show people that there's a reason why they call us 'the best of both worlds'.
Mz. Ivori, I adore you. One of the classiest, sexiest and most special people I have had the pleasure to know in SL porn. I can not be more fortunate.
ReplyDeleteYour article says volumes about you, about who you are not just in SL but as a human in life period and I hope new tgirls to the porn scene take a page from your book.
I'm looking forward to working with you and learning more about you and watching you evolve and expand even more and to being your friend.
Much respect to you and tons of xox.
omg stop already! If you're wondering why it's so laggy today it's because Colleen keeps pumping up my swollen head (the one with hair hah!). I adore you too, sweetie, and thank you for the kind words. Thank you also to Eva and Sere for letting me have this opportunity.
DeleteSo much truth to this. Thank you and much love Ivori!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent Blog post, a series with a lot of potential to help a lot of people. The answers were spot on, very good, and honest too, and should be very helpful. Congrats Eva and Ivori.
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