Hello colleagues and friends,
COVID-19 has led to Shelter-in-Place (SIP) orders in many major cities, including Los Angeles. Our entire industry has called a halt to production. The APAC Board knows that these are scary times, and everyone is doing their best to adapt as things develop. We would like to offer comfort and resources to those in the adult film community.
Below you will find links to guides, blogs, and articles that we have curated for your education and enrichment, as well as our own contributions. The guides made by others do not reflect the unique needs of people in adult entertainment, so we have worked to fill those gaps for you.
FSC Advisory
This post from the Free Speech Coalition contains updates on COVID-19 as it relates to the adult industry, and is updated as the situation develops.
FSC Relief Fund
The FSC has set up a fund for adult performers or crew in need. Apply if you need the money, and if you don’t, please consider donating to help others.
Center for Disease Control Website
The CDC will have all the official information and stats on COVID-19.
COVID-19 Guide for Los Angeles
We love this guide. It is being updated with new announcements for the city of Los Angeles, and it includes local resources like food support.
San Fernando Valley Announcements
Much of the adult film industry is located in the San Fernando Valley. Here are the local announcements as of March 20, 2020. Check here for everything from federal relief programs to special store hours for seniors.
Ways to Make Money
We know it’s not easy, and you have spent time and energy cultivating certain forms of income that are cut off from you now. Not everyone will have the resources to do all of these jobs, and the markets may be flooded. But you still have options. Some of them only require a phone. Here are some ways you can create or supplement income during these uncertain times.
FSC Relief Fund
The FSC has set up a fund for adult performers or crew in need. Apply if you need the money, and if you don’t, please consider donating to help others.
Webcam performance
Use a platform like Streamate, Chaturbate, MyFreeCams, cam.com, or many more to connect directly with your fans. And get new ones from the traffic the site provides! Some sites tend towards public shows with tipping, others use paid private shows. Do some research and decide what platform looks right for you.
Fan subscription platforms
Performers can use these to charge fans for a window into your life, as well as personal nudes and videos. The most popular platforms are currently OnlyFans and Fancentro, but you can choose to have other accounts or multiples
Phone sex and sexting
Performers can offer phone sex on platforms like Niteflirt, or sexting on platforms like Sext Panther. There are also paid messages on platforms from OnlyFans to iWantClips, so monetize your fan interactions wherever you have them already.
Clips and customs
This is easiest if you already have a clipstore and a following, but now is your chance to get started. Make new solo clips in your home, whether they are hardcore masturbation or fetish clips. Clips4Sale gets a lot of traffic for fetish clips, ManyVides for sex, and iWantClips for femdom. But we encourage you to try out multiple sites.
Affiliate programs
Many sites have a way for you to get paid for sending traffic to them, through an affiliate program. Look at the bottom of any major porn site for the “Become an Affiliate” link. Using the link they give you, you could even get paid for promoting your own scenes.
Use PornHub
This site gets massive traffic and allows you to get paid for the ad revenue generated by your views. If you set up a PornHub account, you an use it to drive traffic to your other income streams, as well as getting paid for the people who watch the video.
Expand your platforms
Maybe you already do several of the things listed above, but you could get more traffic from appearing on multiple sites. You could use a service like Modetize to help streamline your uploading and get you on many platforms at once.
Consultation
A lot of people are flocking to these platforms and asking for advice. Perhaps you have expertise people need. Free mentorship is a great gift, but you could also offer to consult on these matters for pay. Many community members would pay for your expertise, especially if you offer a sliding scale.
Recycle content
Not only can you repackage content for new platforms, but you can also recycle content on the same platform. Consider making compilations or “Best of” videos to sell. In a pinch, you can even re-release content from years ago to keep your feed active and win you new fans.
Career development
Being at home allows you time to work on projects you’ve been putting off. Now you have time to develop yourself in ways that could poise you to grow when the lockdown is called off. Here are some ideas of things you could work on that will benefit you in the long run.
- Learn to use editing software like Adobe Premiere or AfterEffects
- Revamp or create your own personal website
- Design new business cards or banners
- Learn a language
- Create a vlog or podcast to connect with fans
Non-Erotic Online Income
If you are interested in other ways of earning income from home, there are always stay-at-home gigs available like customer service and transcription work. Look out for scammers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here is a blog with some ideas: https://mombuninit.com/sahm-jobs-ways-to-work-from-home/
Unemployment Benefits/Relief
EDD California
CA benefit programs for the unemployed and businesses
Labor & Workforce
CA workers’ benefits
Freelancers’ Co-op Relief Fund
Relief fund for freelance creatives. It is unclear whether they would allow adult performers to qualify, but this could be great for crew, makeup artists, etc
Survival Tips
Mutual Aid
The best way for communities to survive in crisis is to support each another on a local level. Mutual aid is a form of political participation in which people take responsibility for caring for one another. Stay in touch with your neighbors. Help others where you can, and reach out to your community to help you with your needs if you are sick, immunocompromised, or caring for an elder
Big Door Brigade
A resource to help understand mutual aid and create it in your own neighborhood
It’s Going Down
A directory to help you find mutual aid near you
Food Management
A lot of the current crisis revolves around people’s fear of food insecurity. Panic buying has led to shortages in stores everywhere, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can get the food you need. There’s not expected to be any supply chain interruption. If you buy at normal rates to replenish your pantry, there should be plenty of food for everyone. No matter the level of lockdown, you will not be banned from getting groceries, as that is considered an essential service.
Coronavirus Meal Planning from NPR
Pantry Staples and Shopping Tactics
Mental Health and Wellness
There are simple steps you can take while in your home to help foster greater mental health amidst the stress of lockdown.
1) Limit your social media usage. We are not suggesting you do not communicate with your friends, but scrolling through an endless feed of COVID-19 news can wear on your mental health. Try turning off notifications for these apps and setting a time to check them once or twice a day.
2) Create a routine. Your choices here are deeply personal. Whether it’s a morning workout, making your bed, shooting clips, guitar practice, or a goodnight call to mom— a routine will help you feel some sense of structure and control.
3) Call friends and family. This is especially important if you live alone. Human interaction is a great source of comfort. We recommend using video call software to see people’s faces. Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp all offer free video calling.
4) Celebrate little things. Think of something that might make a day feel special. Maybe that’s a home spa day, board game night with you room mates, or a virtual dance party over Skype. Set at least one of these a week, to have something to look forward to.
5) Get outdoors. In cities like Los Angeles, we are still allowed to go out to parks or on hikes, provided we maintain a distance of 6 ft from other people. Sunshine and fresh air work wonders for your psyche.
6) Stay physically active. Exercise creates endorphins and will improve your sense of well-being. There are many free videos online, as well as paid programs, that can show you how to work out using only your body weight.
7) Find a creative outlet. Whether it’s drawing, writing, dance, or music, art can give you an outlet for your feelings and a way to fill your time. Take this time to finish long-abandoned projects or learn a new creative medium.
8) Be kind to yourself. Some days you won’t feel great, or up for any of this. Don’t beat yourself up. Just make sure to eat, sleep, and shower.
This uncertain time can weigh on mental health, even if we try to “do everything right.” Please continue to take any medications you normally need, as well as maintaining your therapy schedule. If you need to locate a new therapist, many provide Skype sessions.
Pineapple Support
If you need to find a new adult-industry-friendly therapist, or if you need a stipend for your treatment, Pineapple is here to help
The Icarus Project Toolkit
If you or someone close to you is in crisis, this has tools and links to help, including hotlines.
Stay safe out there, and if you see something we’ve missed, let us know. We will be updating this post and adding blogs and infographics.
Much love to the adult film family,
The APAC Board