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BONDAGE UNIVERSITY |
ABOUT BONDAGE MODELS Finding Models, Interviewing Models, or Becoming a Model Lots of bondage-lovers who want to get into the bondage business. So whaddaya say we devote some scrutiny to that elusive dream?
Important things to remember when approaching the Bondage Biz: * This market isn't the same size as the mainstream adult video market. Therefore, this is not the land of big bucks. You should be interested in the work because you love it -- if you're dreaming of making money, forget the fetish stuff, and make amateur porn vids instead. * There are a lot of people who want to get in, but most don't. You must have something to offer that will make you different. Figure out your primary strength (experience, funds, time, energy, gift of gab) and lean on it!
So you want to be a FEMALE MODEL? Sounds great! Search the web for video companies and photo paysites; check their pix carefully to be sure you can handle the level of work they need. Email them or mail them a polaroid of yourself. Most fetish companies don't have the money to fly you around the country, even if you're drop-dead gorgeous ... so you'll have to offer to get yourself to their location. Don't assume your safety, though; take all the same precautions that you'd take meeting other strangers. You have the right to bring a "bodyguard" to meet the crew and see the location, but not all companies will let non-crew loiter on the set during worktime.
So you want to be a MALE MODEL? Hey, who doesn't? There are so many guys making the offer, you have to be special. * Do you have money? With all the men out there who want to be at a shoot, you can't expect to make $ like the female models. You may have to pay for the privilege. * Do you have looks? Think about how disruptive Ron Jeremy's physique is in the porn vids. It's not needed in a fetish vid either. * Do you have personality? If you're lucky enough to get an interview to be considered for modeling, you must make a perfect impression. You need to be able to get along with everybody, and project exactly the right blend of friendly and self- contained. Female models don't like a performer to drool all over them, literally OR figuratively. They want you to behave respectfully and not make jokes about how they're making your schlong hard. The director wants a performer who will do the work without dallying or trying to talk a blue streak between takes. Okay, if you've got what it takes, start emailing. (Send them a picture, don't make them ask.)
All performers: U.S. federal law requires that adult media document the age of each performer. For any photo or video work you will be required to sign a model release and present a photo I.D. (such as driver's license) and a second I.D. (such as Social Security Card), both of which will be photographed or xeroxed for the producer's files.
So you want to be a BONDAGE PHOTOGRAPHER? Ten years ago, magazines still mattered. Now it costs so much to generate content, edit the pages, lay it out on computer, make masters, print and distribute, that a magazine barely makes its own costs back. Most fetish magazines these days are actually supported by either their advertising or resulting sales of videos shown in the photo layouts ... so there are very few mags that are buying photos. So your realistic goals will be personal satisfaction or internet/website publication, not magazine publication. If you come up with good material, you can market it yourself via your own website, or you can sell your photos to a clearing house -- a company that sells images to various websites. There's a lot of demand now for new independently-shot bondage images. That's because most of the photographers working for these clearing houses
So you want to be a BONDAGE VIDEO DIRECTOR? Are you ready to work hard? All right, then! You can market your videos by yourself, or turn them over to someone else for distributing. Marketing them yourself: Pros: You retain all rights and keep the profits for yourself. Cons: You'll spend a lot of money on advertising, duplication, blank tapes and mailing. You'll also spend more work time preparing that advertising, duping those tapes, ordering supplies, and stuffing envelopes. Using a distributor: Pros: You don't have to mess with any of the junk work. Cons: Distributors take a cut of the profits. Most distributors will wind up with the final rights to your video. If you're not sure which route to go, here's my opinion: If you want to make videos for fun, as a hobby or a second job, then don't bother with running a company. Make the tapes and then ship them off to some partner-company for selling. If you want to make bondage videos for a living, start out doing the first option, and if it makes good money, then prepare over time to form your own company with its own website and duplication and shipping headquarters.
LINING UP MODELS In some communities, doing a bondage shoot might not be legal, so check it out before moving forward -- you don't want to do anything dumb. First you have to come up with models. There are quite a few sources: Modeling Agencies are found in all big cities. Check your phone book and call around to find ones that provide models for "topless" work, "solo nude" work, "fetish" work, etc. When you find an agent who handles the "adult" industry, tell him exactly what you want to shoot. Many agents require you to provide references and uh-oh ... you don't have any. This may be your big block, so bend over backward for the agent. Tell him you're just starting out, but you can bring photos of the kind of bondage you plan to do. Tell him you'll invite the model to bring her big bruiser husband along to watch you work. If necessary, tell him you'll PAY the husband for his valuable time. Anything to get a model scheduled! You can't blame these agents for being careful and looking out for their ladies. If you don't live in a city, consider making the drive to one for your first few shoots. Shoot in a hotel room if you have to. Things will get easier later, once you've produced some stuff and start establishing connections. Strip Clubs are great sources for models, whether you're in a city OR in the boondocks. Many ladies who work at strip clubs are interested in new experiences, and they're comfortable about showing off their lovely bodies. But just because they're brave doesn't mean they're stupid. If they've never been tied up before they're going to be hesitant. I recommend that when you're in the joint, just tell her she's lovely, hand her your card, and invite her to call if she's interested in doing nude video work. Don't yell in her ear about bondage in a loud, crowded strip bar. If she thinks you seemed okay, and she's up for nude modeling, she'll call you. When she does, tell her precisely what kind of work it is. Explain that bondage modeling does not include sex. Tell her how much it pays and for how many hours. If she wants to learn more about you before trying a shoot, invite her to meet for lunch in a public place (not dinner! -- dinner is a date). Tell her you'll bring photo samples of the kind of bondage you plan to shoot. Again, if you have to invite her boyfriend, do so. Ask her several times if she has questions that you can answer for her. You only get one call to "make the sale," so you want to be ready -- be organized and attentive. Many Social Organizations are collectives for people with idiosyncratic world views. These are the kind of women you'd like to meet, right? Look for clubs and conventions dealing with Science Fiction, Comic Books, Renaissance Faires, Gothic groups, and of course, the midnight movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Back when I was first doing tie-ups in my hometown, just about every gal going to Rocky Horror wanted to try a bondage photo session.) Don't rush this process -- enjoy the socializing and events on your way to developing model connections. Referrals will come fast and furious after you've done a few good beginning shoots. Your first or second model will probably start calling you to tell about her friend so-and-so who wants to try it. If this doesn't happen, you need to re-evaluate how you conduct the shoots. If the model doesn't think the experience was worth it, pretty soon you're not going to have anyone to work with.
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