Do solo models sell on DVD ?

[Huskyhunks]

Just wondering if any of you put out solo models on DVD and how they do. Wondering if they do as well as the usual 5+ model DVD.

[hdkbill]

We have never had any luck with solo films.

If anyone has had any luck with them, let me know, I'll sell some to you.

Bill

[maxpower]

We have never had any luck with solo films.

If anyone has had any luck with them, let me know, I'll sell some to you.

Bill

LOL that was really funny man Ya you can sell them, but not very many of them comparatively

[Huskyhunks]

Hi Bill,

So solo doesn't sell regardless if there's 8 solo models ? I guess one model jacking off by himself just doesn't have the appeal of two or more guys having sex.

That's actually great information to know. Would hate to burn 500 copies and sell 5 of them, thanks for the info !

[hdkbill]

Hi Bill,

So solo doesn't sell regardless if there's 8 solo models ? I guess one model jacking off by himself just doesn't have the appeal of two or more guys having sex.

That's actually great information to know. Would hate to burn 500 copies and sell 5 of them, thanks for the info !

Husky,

We tried a few solo's and just never could get them to sell. You can always try and see how your market responds...and then burn off the DVD's as you sell them. Also, you have to keep in mind that each market is different. Our customers expect the hardcore stuff. The responses we got were "put him in a hot fu*k film and then I'll buy it".

Good luck,

Bill

[Huskyhunks]

I guess expectations have alot to do with selling dvd's. I personally get a little tired of solo jack off sessions that last more then say 5 minutes and that's usually amateurs guys in their bedrooms and not models.

Also, I'm thinking that distributors would not be very interested in solo performances because I don't really see alot in the sex shops and other outlets like that.

[gaybucks_chip]

Our experience, as well as what we've heard from retailers and distributors, is that DVDs with solo content only just don't sell.

I'm sure that there are exceptions to every rule, and there are probably a studio or two that have a formula that works for them, but, like Bill said, I wouldn't expect much in the way of sales.

[tombarr]

From my experience, both as a retailer and a producer, distributors don't want to deal with solo vids because they just don't move as well as hardcore......unless it is in a niche market where the market is not flooded with content. Even with that exception, you are not likely to move huge numbers. If you kept your production costs low (i.e. re-using solo content from paysite shootings) and produce it on DVD's, you have already expensed the cost of the models to your paysite, and then if you burn it on an "as needed" basis, you could generate a little extra profit from your content.
on our wehovideo website, solo is one of the worst performing sales categories.

But overall, the answer for me is no. not worth it as a major product line.

[Huskyhunks]

Hi Boyfunk, Tombarr,

I think what both of you said makes a whole lotta sense. It's hard to get a person to masturbate for 10 minutes let alone trying to get a whole dvd's worth of jacking off. You have to have them hanging off the chandelier to make it interesting

I find that more than 4 persons also seems really hard to film, definitely takes multiple cameras and most of the time alot of the actions gets missed, especially with the more amateur like productions (like my own). HDK is probably one of the best (if not the best) studios that can really capture that group energy and action on film.

[wwc-pajio]

Well i don't know if there's that much of request on Solo Models..
from our experience we didn't see anyone whom provide this stuff!!

Pajio

[Jeff&Deaw]

Hi all Jeff here:

We have never gotten into solos based on our discussions with distributor and sales teams. The story has always been the same Solo's don't do very well at the retail level. People buy / rent expecting to see couples or sex. When they don't see it they rage on the store manager or anyone else they can find. Then the store manager rages on the Sales Guy. So unless you got something really hot the sales guy is going to spend his time selling something else.

Our experience filming mutiples (more then four people in a scene) is very very diffcult. Its hard to keep the models up (if you know what i mean) and the camera's always seem to catvh somebody who doesn't know what to do or is in the process of going soft. So we stay with four or less as a rule.

Now there is one exception to this rule that we know of. Check out http://patandsam.com/ we haven't spoken in couple of years but i believe they were having pretty good success selling there solo DVD's. But as i recall they did all by direct mail / their website.

If your going to do solo DVD's our recommedation would be either burn you own until you have a need for inventory or get the lowest quantity your duplictor will make.

Inventory sitting on the shelf will make you real crazy fast...

Jeff

[Huskyhunks]

Hi,

I would say that I'm more inclined to do the hardcore couples and maybe group of 4 if they're was enough chemistry to make things interesting. Alot of times I find that new models have no idea how the affect of a couple of small camcorders pointed at them has. They become self conscious, throw in the bright lights and alot of times, they can't get it hard because it's such a different experience than in a dark room with your partner or whoever.

I like the idea of marketing just one product at a time, really pushing it hard, origina music, great editing... you know, quality over quantity approach that the bigger studios use.

[citiboyz]

Our solo videos sell really well and, in fact, have been nominated for GayVN awards. Hardcore action sells better, of course, but solo videos are a good money maker for us. We release 1 or 2 per year.

[desslock]

Husky:

I would say give it a shot. Here's why: I've reviewed many of CitiBoyz solo titles and they are quite good, and I can see why people would buy them. The trick is that you need to produce an engaging product, and I would wager that it is not easy. Another studio whose solo dvd's sell (I would guess) is Bel Ami.... because they just keep making those 101 Men/BoyWatch solo films.

Another solo project I would recommend for field study would be Rascal Video/ChiChiLarue's Str8 Shots #1 and #2. It's an extremely clever marketing idea - having famous and hot looking straight pornmovie guys participating in a solo project where they know they will be watched by gay guys. My friends have always wanted to borrow those movies.

Now for your target market, which is not twinks..... I would suggest that you go and find a copy of Nob Hill All Stars #1 from Raging Stallion. I think that is the only solo movie they ever did, and it probably didn't sell much. (there wasn't a #2)

But it was really really good; Chris Ward is such a fabulous director, it was interesting watching him switch from sex scenes to simple solos. It's been a awhile, but one thing it had that a lot do not was a good driving musical accompanyment. Most solo movies are just dead silence.

Nob Hill All Stars #1 was the first ever appearance of Shane Rollins, and Michael Brandon performs a jack off solo that made me understand why his own appearances at Nob Hill Theater were so popular.

Steve

[desslock]

Oh oooops....forgetful me.... after sending that I just remembered that I forgot about COLT's MinuteMan series. Those are all first-class productions. There's a lot of effort put into them. Look at my review of Minuteman 23 for examples.

Once again, I suspect they sell enough to form a significant part of their business. In fact, I've always thought that COLT was a textbook example of a successful brand in the business. And those solo movies of theirs are a big part of their branding.

Steve