Porn Is a Job

One thing that people who don’t work in the porn industry seem to struggle with is the concept that porn is just a job. Working as a porn star is a specialized form of acting focused around sex. That’s it. At the end of the day, I am an actor, and so are all of my friends in the industry. It’s our job. But, instead of doing normal acting that cuts off when it gets to the saucy bits, we specialize in them.

When I say porn is a job, I want you to know that I mean it is literal work. I am expected to be on set at a specific time. I’m generally expected to bring my own wardrobe options. Sometimes I have to do my own makeup and hair, other times someone does it for me. Unlike with traditional work, a day on set goes for as long as it needs to go. We might have estimates, but nothing is a guarantee. This is actually pretty standard for any kind of acting, but it can be exhausting, and make for very long days. Porn is really very strenuous work that requires a lot of endurance. You’re almost always moving and exerting physical energy, and then any kind of BDSM scene requires a lot of muscular endurance, particularly for extended periods of time.

As actors, we’re expected to get and provide our own STD testing every two weeks to ensure the safety of the cast. At the same time, sometimes those will expire, and we can be pressured to work with someone without the safety net. You can always refuse, but in a self-regulated industry, there are certain risks, which can make it hard for new performers. Making sure that you are being cared for on set can be difficult too. Everyone works differently, but there are certain things that must be managed in order for you to stay healthy while performing. You have to stay hydrated, make sure you keep your blood sugar up, and also take the necessary precautions to avoid any kind of harm during more intense scenes. A lot of times directors help with this, but sometimes you’re left to fend for yourself, and your cast members. It’s what makes us such a tight-knit community a lot of the time.

My aim for this isn’t to disenchant the porn industry to you, but rather to shed light on the hard work that we all put in to bring you this art form. People are so quick to say “how hard is it to have sex for money?” But the answer is, it is hard. It is hard, grueling work. That would be true without the way society regards porn, and when you factor that aspect in, it is only that much harder. No one has ever worked in porn because they wanted to take the easy road, I can tell you that for a fact.