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I used to think that having intimacy via webcam was easy money. But I was wrong.
During my time as a university student in Poland, I was faced with financial difficulties. I struggled to make ends meet with my limited funds and inability to secure a job due to my lack of experience. Furthermore, my search for part-time work to accommodate my studies was met with resistance from potential employers.
In the midst of my desperation, I chanced upon a Facebook advertisement offering a potential income of $1000 for video chat services. Without much thought, I decided to reach out and found myself in the world of webcam modeling. This industry involves women engaging with men on erotic websites through intimate shows performed in front of a webcam. The participants are known as members and webcam models respectively. Although there are instances where the roles may be reversed, I did not encounter such situations during my time in the business.
For a total of one year and four months, I worked in various capacities within the webcam modeling industry, including serving as an administrator in a studio, a webcam model, and an agent tasked with recruiting new models. In the following sections, I will delve into how this business operates and why I regret my experiences in this line of work.
My goal is to warn!
This article is dedicated to young women who might be tempted by the idea of earning easy money by working as webcam models. While undressing in front of hundreds of strangers might seem like a quick and effortless way to make a living, the truth is that it comes with numerous challenges and risks. In this piece, I will share my personal experiences of working in the webcam modeling industry and how it affected me.
First and foremost, I want to make it clear that I am not advocating for webcam sites and studios in any way. Even those that offered fair payment and polite staff. In Russia, collaborating with such platforms often involves engaging in illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and the distribution of pornography. Although I did not consider these factors during my time working in Poland, it is now clear to me that I could have faced legal repercussions at any time.
Therefore, I strongly advise against following in my footsteps and making the same mistakes that I did.
How did webcams appear?
The webcam modeling industry originated from marriage agencies that used deceitful tactics to extort money from men. These agencies offered free photo shoots, not necessarily of an erotic nature, to entice young women to participate. The agencies then created fake profiles, complete with stories about hobbies, professions, and expectations of their ideal partner, and posted them on various websites. In some cases, the women had no idea that their profiles had been created and posted online. However, more often than not, they were asked for permission to use their photos after the photo shoot.
Men interested in these profiles would pay to communicate with potential brides, with the agencies charging them for each message sent. However, instead of communicating with the women themselves, the men corresponded with the agency operators. If the man wanted to give a gift to the woman, such as a toy, bouquet, or lingerie, the agency promised to buy and deliver it. However, in reality, they embezzled the money for themselves. If the woman was working with the agency willingly, she would be asked to thank the man or take a photo with the “gift” as proof. For this, she would receive a small fee.
As time went on, men began to demand more, and agencies that operated with the consent of the women started offering video chat services. The client would pay for every minute of the broadcast, with the agency operator still typing in the chat while the woman in front of the camera pretended to be typing. The agency paid her for this, and if she was willing, she could offer virtual sex and earn even more.
This is how the webcam modeling industry came to be. However, it is important to note that personal meetings between clients and web models are prohibited, with the business being focused solely on online communication and virtual sexual encounters.
How webcam sites work
Webcam modeling can seem like a tempting and easy way to earn money, but it is important to understand the risks and realities of the business. The profiles of webcam models on sites include personal information, photos, and preferences. The ranking of profiles depends on various factors, such as ratings given by members, frequency of broadcasts, and number of viewers. Models in the top spots can earn the most money.
There are three types of webcam sites: free chat, paid private chat, and third-party websites. In the free chat type, models wait for members to come to them and then entice them into private chat with payment. In the second type, members choose models based on photos and immediately enter into a paid private chat. On third-party websites, models perform shows and sell tickets to private shows, as well as connect wireless sex toys for tips.
A model can register directly on any webcam site, but she will pay a commission to the site, usually 50-70% of her earnings. She can also work through a studio, but in that case, she will have to pay both the site and the studio. It is important to note that working in the webcam industry is illegal in some countries and can involve illegal entrepreneurship, tax avoidance, and even distribution of pornography.
How are webcam studios arranged?
Premises
There are two types of studios available for models to work in – online and offline. I have had experience with both. Online studios operate remotely, allowing models to work from their own homes while the studio provides assistance and payment.
In contrast, offline studios rent out physical spaces, such as apartments or houses, where models can each broadcast from their own designated room. To ensure safety and privacy, the windows in these rooms are always covered with heavy curtains.
The importance of interior design in studio rooms cannot be overstated. While some studios may opt for non-traditional designs, such as a BDSM style or incorporating showers that can be used for video broadcasting, my own studio focused on high-quality renovations that prioritize comfort and equipment.
Staff
When working in an online studio, I only interacted with moderators, whose real names I was not aware of. I was uncertain if this studio even had a physical office or other employees.
In contrast, the offline studio I worked in had a team consisting of models, administrators, and a manager. I will discuss the responsibilities of the administrator further in a moment. The manager would only become involved in complex situations, such as conducting interviews, resolving force majeure situations, and dismissing employees. For the most part, our communication occurred through “Facebook” and email.
The studio did not employ a cleaner, instead, we hired a cleaning company to come in once every two weeks. Additionally, we only used decorative pillowcases and bedspreads, which we could easily wash in the machine and hang up on the balcony.
Commission
Typically, studios will take a percentage of the amount paid by a site to a model, which ranges from 50-70%. For example, if a model earned $8000, the site would first deduct a commission of $4000-5600, and then the studio would also take a portion of the remaining amount. This means that the model would receive between $700-1200 in hand.
Despite this, it is still generally preferable to work with studios rather than directly with websites. Websites only transfer payments twice a month, whereas some studios offer payment on demand. The studio where I worked allowed us to request payment as soon as we had earned more than $150.
While websites only pay through “PayPal,” studios offer a variety of payment methods, including electronic wallets, bank cards, and transfers through “Western Union.” Many studios also provide gifts and bonuses for good earnings, such as the bonuses I received twice for the purchase of sex toys.
How I had an interview at the studio
While scrolling through Facebook, I came across an advertisement promising the opportunity to earn $1000 by working in a chat. I sent an email to the provided address and was invited for an interview where the manager asked for my age and requested that I bring my passport. The interview took place in an apartment building that had been converted into a studio, with soundproofing to keep the activity behind closed doors. During the interview, I was informed that the job involved chatting with lonely men who were seeking attention from beautiful, smiling girls, with the goal of keeping them in the chat for as long as possible, as the payment was hourly.
Initially, I was unsure about the $1000 per month payment and was later informed that the job was as a webcam model, where intimacy was involved. Despite my reservations, the manager played on my financial difficulties and presented the job as an opportunity to have a flexible schedule and work during free time. I was assured that I would not be forced to undress or engage in any activity that I did not want to. However, the salary was based on the amount of time spent in the chat and the level of luck involved, with the possibility of earning only $3 a day or up to $150 if a generous client came along.
After some time, I was offered a job as an administrator instead of a model, a promotion that was only given to the best models in the studio. I agreed to the position despite the low salary, with a probationary period of receiving $50 per week for the first three weeks and then $350 per month. The workday lasted eight hours.
Before leaving, I signed a non-disclosure agreement and a contract, although there was no organization stamp on it. It was only after signing that I was informed that the studio’s work was illegal, and that I would be considered an accomplice if I reported it to the police. I was afraid to refuse the job, as my passport information had been taken, and the next day, I went to the studio as an administrator.
How I worked as an administrator in a webcam studio
Working schedule
There were three shifts available for the job, each requiring eight hours of work, and every shift had its own administrator. The administrators could decide for themselves when to start their shifts. In my case, I worked in the morning at the beginning of the week, at night in the middle, and in the evening at the end. However, this made it difficult to balance work with my studies.
During my shift, I did not have any breaks, unlike the models who were allowed one 60-minute break per day or four 15-minute breaks. The models did not leave the studio during their breaks, and neither did I. We usually ate at our workstations, where tea, coffee, biscuits, and sweets were provided. There was also a kitchen in the studio equipped with a microwave, a refrigerator, and a kettle.
Duties
I was responsible for a variety of tasks as an administrator, such as registering new profiles, providing technical guidance and explaining studio rules. In addition, I created schedules for the models and ensured that they appeared on time for their chats by linking their accounts to the studio’s email and receiving notifications when they logged in.
Models worked either 20 or 40 hours a week, and I tracked their earnings, issuing fines for missed work or lateness. Though I had limited proficiency in Polish, I was able to communicate with the models effectively and compile accurate reports.
In the studio, I took charge of ensuring that the door was locked, that computers, cameras, and lighting were functional, and that erotic clothing and sex toys were available to the models. I also managed the signing out and cleaning of toys. Occasionally, I had downtime during my shifts, and on one occasion, the manager suggested I register as a model myself. However, I declined.
Overall, I was content with my position, as it allowed me to avoid direct contact with the members while still carrying out my responsibilities competently. I had a positive rapport with my colleagues, and my salary was paid promptly, with an advance being provided on one occasion. However, I was unable to continue due to the schedule’s impact on my education, and after 4.5 months, I was forced to resign. Despite this, I was able to leave without difficulty, but my copy of the contract was confiscated by the studio.
How I worked as a web model
How I found a job
After I left the studio, I had some savings from my job there, but they quickly dwindled, and I had to rely on my scholarship. Realizing that it would be difficult to find a job with a flexible schedule and a decent salary, I decided to become a webcam model, but not in a physical studio, rather from the comfort of my own home. Given my experience as an administrator, I knew what to do to make good money.
Initially, I used the built-in camera on my laptop, but I later upgraded to an HD webcam, which tripled my earnings. Instead of working directly with websites, I opted to work through an online studio. I found an advertisement in a job search group on VKontakte, and I applied without signing a contract, only sending a scanned copy of my passport with a photo to prove my identity. It was risky because my information could have been sold for fraudulent activities or to confirm the identities of girls on other websites where I did not work. Therefore, I changed my passport later as a precautionary measure.
Where did I work?
The moderator of the studio recommended that I sign up on various websites to get an idea of which ones generated more income. There were approximately twenty different websites in total. On some websites, models needed to engage in free conversations to attract members to paid chats. On others, models provided free shows and earned tips. In both scenarios, I had an advantage as a newcomer, as my profile was prominently advertised, and members were eager to see me.
Initially, the first set of websites required a significant amount of effort. It was necessary to flirt constantly without any guarantee of success. Sometimes a member would request a private chat after a few messages, while other times, two hours of messaging would lead nowhere. Many members asked for favors without any intention of paying, and some would insult or manipulate me. These were known as freeloaders. However, ignoring or being impolite to them was not recommended as it would turn away potential clients.
It was initially challenging to identify financially capable clients as not all websites disclosed how much money a member had in their account. Furthermore, a large deposit did not always guarantee a private chat, as some members who deposited $500 would not use their funds for a year, while others would deposit $100 and promptly initiate a private chat.
Eventually, I learned how to reduce the time spent on messaging and began to establish a group of regular members. They provided a steady stream of income, and I did not fear losing a new client. On the contrary, members began to compete for my attention.
Additionally, I worked on the second type of website that earned tips. However, the shows were presented to a large audience, not just one person in a private chat. This proved to be psychologically challenging, as I did not understand why members would tip when everything was already available. On some occasions, up to 500-1000 men watched my show simultaneously, with only 10-30 individuals providing tips.
Tip-based websites only generated 20% of my total earnings. On one unfortunate day, I only made $2 in four hours of work. Consequently, I did not work on these sites for an extended period. Later, I discovered that one website had deceived the studio and did not pay for an entire month. Models worked on this site in vain.
How I lured money?
In order to entice members into paid chats or to encourage them to give tips, I utilized various methods, such as sex toys, gamification, and discounts for active clients.
While I was aware of sex toys that could be linked to the website and would vibrate more intensely with more tips, they were quite expensive. As a result, I purchased a regular vibrator from “Aliexpress” and pretended that it was responding to tips only. This deception went unnoticed by my clients.
I used to set goals for my subscribers, such as a specific amount of money to be raised in order for me to undress. However, I quickly learned that simply waiting for the money to accumulate was not effective, as my subscribers would grow bored.
I also introduced virtual dice games to engage with members. After a member paid for a roll of the dice, numbers would be generated, and each number would correspond to a prize, such as me exposing a part of my body or performing an erotic action.
To incentivize regular clients, I offered discounts to those who stayed in private chat for 15 minutes or longer. Starting from the 16th minute, payment would be made with a 5% discount.
My schedule and earnings
I used to work long hours, ranging from 6 to 10 hours, and sometimes even 12 to 14 hours a day. During my shifts, I would broadcast on multiple websites simultaneously.
My earnings varied greatly during each shift, with some bringing in as much as $150-200, while others not even reaching $1. For instance, during the World Cup, when affluent clients were at the stadiums, my income decreased by five times. Every shift that did not bring in enough income caused me a great deal of stress.
Initially, I was grateful to receive, for example, three private sessions, each worth $10-15, and tips ranging from $5-30, five times during a shift. But such earnings were rare. In the first six months, my biggest earnings were $1200 for 15 days and $700 per shift. However, the websites took 50-70%, and the studio took 50% of the remaining amount. Thus, I received less than a quarter of what I earned.
Gradually, I built up a regular clientele and reduced my workday to 6-8 hours. I primarily focused on websites with private chats, and I kept sites with tips playing in the background without engaging much with members. Despite my low engagement, members still saw me and left tips.
After a year, my monthly earnings increased to $900-1500. I never took a vacation during that time because I was afraid of losing my rating. Eventually, I became so mentally exhausted that I couldn’t continue working. I informed the moderator of my resignation, and they deleted all of my accounts.
How I worked as a girls recruitment agent
While working at both studios, I was actively recruiting models. I would find potential candidates, explain the terms and conditions to them, and guide them to the manager’s or moderator’s page.
To find models for the first studio, I created fake Facebook pages and added local girls as friends. However, my page was banned multiple times. So, I resorted to geo-targeting on Facebook, investing $20 to promote my ad, which yielded 30 responses, and two of them became models. For the second studio, I used targeting on Vkontakte, which helped me find over 10 girls in a few weeks.
I typically applied for chat operator or translator vacancies and talked about intimate matters only via correspondence. Or, I hinted at it by setting a lingerie-clad girl as my avatar.
For every girl I brought to the first studio, who made at least $100 per month, I earned $20. I recruited two models and received $40 per month. The second studio promised me 10% of the models’ income that I recruited. For the first few months, they sent me earnings screenshots, but after that, the payments continued without updates. Even so, I wasn’t worried, and I earned an additional $100-200 per month. One model alone brought in half of that amount, while others worked little and earned very little.
Why I regret working in webcam industry
Working in the webcam industry turned out to be a traumatic experience for me. As an administrator, I worked unofficially and illegally, which could have led to fines or even imprisonment for non-payment of taxes.
Although I don’t consider working as a web model to be sex work since no one physically touched me and I had the power to ban unpleasant clients, I was still objectified by thousands of men seeking sexual gratification. Many of these men made perverted requests and were often rude and offensive. Although I could ban them, I had to tolerate their behavior because I wanted to make money.
Some members tried to “de-anonymize” me by searching for me on social media and discovering my real name and address. To prevent this, I didn’t post any personal information on webcam sites and chose usernames that were not related to my real name. I also blocked access to my profile from all Russian-speaking countries, but members from Russia could still access the site using a VPN. I was constantly afraid of being recorded and blackmailed.
During my work, I felt degraded as a person since I only talked about intimate topics for hours on end. This made me disgusted with myself and stopped communicating with regular people. As a result, I lost interest in sex for a long time.
Although the only advantage of the job was the high income, there are other, more ordinary spheres where you can earn the same amount, including freelance work. However, you still need to learn, build a client base, and spend a lot of time. Unlike webcam work, other jobs like programming or copywriting are unlikely to make you feel humiliated and useless.