Amateur Studio Needs Suggestions

[SebSloPro]

I have some questions on some suggestions.....

I own the studio Sebastian Sloane Productions. We produce videos of the amateur nature, some bareback, some safe sex, some with cum swallowing, etc. The model age ranges are 19-35.

We are located in Pennsylvania between New York City and Philadelphia. We're an hour from Philly, and an hour and a half from NYC.

We just have a hell of a fuckin time finding models. We get about 50 inquiries for every shoot. We search on Adam4adam, Craigslist, and Gay.com.

We get a shit load of guys from other states and regions who want to model for us. But unfortunately, we have a low budget for each shoot. We schedule a date once a month. About the middle of every month.

Can anyone provide methods of ways to find talent? I mean we get them, but we could cast a good 50 guys, only 1 or 2 of them will show. And we just need help on ways to find new talent.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

[gaybucks_chip]

First, if you're casting 50 and only 2 show, something is seriously wrong with your casting process. Either you aren't pinning them down and constantly staying in touch and confirming and reconfirming, or something about your approach is scaring them away. A certain amount of flakiness is always going to be part of the process, but a 96% flake factor means something else is wrong.

Second, you just have to be persistent and play the numbers game... you're looking in the right places, you just have to send out a constant stream of inquiries. A certain amount of attrition is expected, but if you just plan for it and keep a constant flow of guys expressing interest, you should be able to keep a good number of guys in your pool to choose from.

[Jasun]

I'm going to sound like an asshole here, but this business isn't a hobby.

If you're not willing to open up your wallet and shell out the cash to transport models to your locations, you're going to get what you're getting.

If you're coming across like a fly-by-night outfit, nobody is going to work for you. I woudln't, and I dont' know any worth-while talent who would.

We shoot 100% amateur, first-time models, and we fly them to the location, put them up, pay their expenses, look after their needs and make sure they know that any reservations they have are addressed. We have about 2 flakes a year.. and that's maybe a flake rate of under 5%.

chip's right.. you're doing something really wrong.

[Squirt]

JJ where are you interviewing the models and do you qualify them at the interview for the kind of content they'll be shooting for or do you wait and tell them over the phone at another time?

I don't mean to sound like a dick but something is seriously wrong here.

Can you walk us through your whole interview process step by step?

Here are some things to keep in mind for the interviewing process:

1) Interview in a professional place, not a hotel room, house, cafe, etc.
2) Qualify the model at the interview and know what their limits are and what they are comfortable being paid
3) Answer the phone in an office environment, or someplace quiet with no background noise
4) Stick to the terms and dates you agree to at the interview. Calling later to change terms makes a studio seem unprofessional or cheap
5) Be flexible and accommodating for re-scheduling shoots. I usually have a couple weekends a month I shoot to allow for re-scheduling (though I've only had to re-schedule 5% of the time)

Again.. tell us more about your interview process so we can help you further

[gaybucks_chip]

I'm going to disagree to some extent with Jasun here.

There are plenty of studios or websites, including ours, that are run by good, professional people and started out working with local models and paying less than what Fratmen or Gaybucks can pay a model (not to mention airfare, lodging, food, etc.)

I think if you're professional with people but up front about your situation (newer, smaller, growing company) that it doesn't count you out. You can still find good people who will work with you.

But I *do* agree with Jasun that if you're not in the position to fly people in or pay big bucks, you still need to treat everything like a business and act in a totally professional way with everything else you do. And it's not just with what you pay or what your website looks like... the intangibles are, like Squirt said, in how you answer the phone, if you sound professional when you're speaking with them, if you're flaky calling them back or rescheduling, that sort of thing. Of course, sometimes you'll have to reschedule if a model flakes, but as long as you handle it professionally, you can do it and give people a good impression of your company.

We still occasionally work with models that worked with us back when Ryan and I were shooting content, and they do comment sometimes on how much more organized and smooth and professional everything is now... but they also tell us that, even back when we were tiny, they felt comfortable with how we handled everything, and there are a *lot* of horror stories I hear about even fairly well-known sites that are simply unprofessional, and so the models flake, or don't want to work with them a second time.

I don't know, but I have a suspicion that somewhere in the communication process, the models are getting the impression it's a loose operation, and they can therefore be loose also.

[SebSloPro]

Okay, here's how the whole process works of how we've been doing it...

We find a guy on Craigslist, Adam4Adam, Gay.com, etc. They wanna do it. We say, "okay, here's the date" you have to do a solo, model interview, and at least 2 action scenes" they're all for it. So then we'll call them, talk to them on the phone that day. Then we'll email them basicly a "confirmation" of everything we talked about.

3 days before the date of filming, I'll call them again, they're all for it again. We'll talk maybe 15-20 minutes.

Then I'll email them the directions again 2 days just before the shoot so that they have them.

Then here's the shoot, they don't show up. You call them that day and they either answer their phone and say I can't come... basicly they're making excuses or they won't answer at all and you never hear back from them again.

I don't really meet with them before the shoots unless they're local. Majority of our guys are from Philadelphia, New York City, etc.

So it's more of a battle trying to get them to fight traffic or take a bus to get here.

And if they were taking a bus, I figure it's pointless for them to take a bus, ride on it for 2 hours or more just one way, get here and meet for a half hour or whatever, then they turn around and head back home on another 2 hour bus ride. I've tried that route, it just didn't work.

Flying guys in from other areas. No, not doing that. I don't have a budget for that yet.

I mean seriously, it's hard as hell getting guys here. I've even offered one model as much as $450 to come. But I'm paying $200, $250 at most because it's amateur.

[gaybucks_chip]

If you are really having a 96% flake rate with that sort of presentation, then something, somehow, is going wrong in the communication.

We did see a higher flake rate with locals than with fly-ins, but never anything close to what you're describing. One potential issue is the length of time they have to spend traveling. When we worked with local guys, it was pretty much always within a half hour or 45 minutes drive. Guys who had to take public transport were a lot more likely to flake.

Other than that, it might be luck of the draw. If you're getting people from Craigslist M4M, I would guess the flake factor to be much higher, because a lot of guys who are on there are spontaneous and driven by hormones, so if they aren't horny when it comes time to show up, they could flake. The guys looking in the "help wanted" are more likely to show up.

[Studio Cody]

I own a website for photographers working in the gay markets and have seen this discussion many times.

I find basically two types of models.

1- is the lazy model who will lay up in a free camhouse and wait for work to come to them. They have no ambition to work or to build a better life for themselves. These models are often partiers who are content with free room and board and three cheap shoots a month to support going out and playing with thier friends. I assure you that if this model already has money in his pocket you are likely to get stood up. But when he is broke he will call you 10 times a day asking for scenes.

2- Is the working man, either a laborer or even successful business executive. These guys could care less what they are paid and they do it for the thrill. They like showing off thier sexual nature and body and get a thrill that someone watches them and gets aroused in some way. This model will not only show up but be ion time too. Your check may well set in thier wallet before being cashed or deposited.

You have to understand a models motivator and use it as your negotiating element. I make it clear to the lazy model that if you don't show today there will be no work for you tommorrow. I don't have time for interviews and sometime don't even get to talk to a model before booking them unless they are brand new. I sum up thier purpose in being talent and I operate accordingly. I don't schmooz them or kiss thier ass. I am the boss and they do it my way or no way. I think this determination with them helps alot. Oh yes..I get more than my share of flakes in a transient city made of plastic men (ft. Lauderdale, florida), but I make it clear what is expected and what the future holds if they do or do not meet those expectations. I have a no bullshit reputation and attitude. I think they pick up on that and come straight forward with me as well.

Don't forget the power of referral either. Ugly is as ugly does and pretty does pretty. Most all my models have at least one friend/fuckbuddy that would also like to get in on the action. I give a 100 referral fee to my models if they send me a guy that I use. Also don't be afraid to offer that same 100 referral fee to anyone else who can send good talent. The hundred bucks is far better than paying cancellation fees.

Screw me once shame on you, screw me twice there won't be thrice. But then there are those that I would love to screw me over and over..just in a different manner of course..LOL

[SebSloPro]

Studio Cody, I highly agree with you and THAT IS PRECISELY what I see.

I get the group of guys who are spontaneous, they're horny, and say "hell ya, I'll be there" they promise everything in the world that I'll be there. Then there's the "catch ball" they start talking about their fantasies and what they wanna do, and you can just sense that they are there playing with their dicks, jacking off, whatever.

I am a dick when it comes time to get models. I stand my ground, because if you dont the models will come in here and they will say what they will do what they wont do, etc. and when they say that shit to me, I tell them the way it goes and what's going to happen. I'm not a dick about it, but yet sturn.

Then I get the druggies. The guys that need money for their next high. EVERYTIME I've hired those types of guys they could NOT get hard on film. So I'm very picky, but yet not really.

The out of town guys... I have bought bus tickets for them, I bought a plane ticket once for a guy to come from Chicago. He shown up. But the others didn't.

I pay for their stay... I put them up in my house - which is where I film. I pay for their meals. Basicly, the ONLY things they need to pay for is cigarettes if they smoke. Other than that, everything else is on me.

Once I actually get guys in the door. They ALWAYS want to come back for more. And of course, I invite them back.

It's just so frusterating getting guys sometimes. That's why I posted on here for advise. And yet to see if I'm doing something wrong. And I see I have been doing something wrong... I haven't been calling them and keeping up with them so to speak.

I really do appreciate your time in helping me!

[SebSloPro]

Okay Guys,

I read everything you said, this morning I had a meeting with my guys. I shown them this and we decided to do everything you guys have said.

We got our models this weekend. We started getting them in, interviewing, got them to sign a release, we took pictures, and we're good to go this weekend.

I had 1 guy coming to our weekends shoot and party yesterday. I now have 5 coming. I needed at least 4.

Thank you EVERYONE for your help! I owe you. Who's first for a blowjob? haha

Sincerely,
JJ

[Ounique]

You could always move.

[SebSloPro]

I've considered that. But I can't just pick up and move.

Thats not my style for one. And for two I own a business that's not related to porn. I'm getting married in August, thats not my cup of tea.

[Ounique]

. And for two I own a business that's not related to porn. I'm getting married in August, thats not my cup of tea.

They have stuff outside of porn?

Marriage I was married once. be careful divorce isn't cheap however I was pretty luck beacuse i got spousal support for a year or so. I mean we're still in good an all. anyway have agood one

[SebSloPro]

Yes, I have been with my boyfriend for 3 years long-distance. We have been living together a year and a half and we're ready for the commitment. We live in the state of Pennsylvania. But the state of New Jersey is allowing us to get married in NJ.

Yes, I have a business outside of porn. I have 2 antique stores.

[Studio Cody]

Thats really awesome JJ I wholey support Gay Marriage and couples willing to make that kind of commitment. Good on Ya!
I just thank Gawd I don't have to shoot weddings anymore..now just shoot the honeymoon..LOL