Dealing with Loneliness, Isolation, and Secrecy as a Camgirl

camming secrets
 
Camming is not all fun and games (or adoration and gifts). It’s fraught with serious mental health challenges like loneliness, isolation, and secrecy. As a camgirl, you not only face challenges of working for yourself, but also having to deal with the societal stigma regarding sex work, and keeping it a secret from even your closest friends and family members. It’s really no wonder that a lot of girls burn out within a few years and go back to “vanilla” work (aka “normal”, socially-acceptable jobs). My estimate is that a camming career last on average anywhere from 3 to 5 years.

Within that time, you can develop and exacerbate all sorts of mental disorders due to pure social isolation that can come with camming. Anxiety, social anxiety, depression can unfortunately become very present when all you do is interact online instead of the “real world”. When your time is spent on cam and your mind is constantly occupied with ideas of what to do during your next cam shift, you start to separate yourself from your previous life, the things you used to do and the people you used to be around.

Living every day with a lie and being secretive about what you do all day can wreak havoc on your mental state. It can lead to burnout, substance use and abuse and send you down a dark hole.  

So, what can you do to combat this, assuming the benefits you get out of camming outweigh the negatives?

 

First, try to not completely isolate yourself from your old friends and activities

Isolation and ensuing loneliness only alienates you further and locks you into your self-imposed box. It’s a good idea to keep seeing your old friends and not changing up your life too fast too soon. If you were going to an exercise class or another activity, continue with it, so that you don’t feel like you’re completely cut off from the world, spending your days in your camroom. You need to keep some normalcy in your life, so that your mental health doesn’t suffer. Plus, exercise is great for balancing and improving your mood!

 

Create a daily schedule that includes time with others and self-care

Having consistency in your daily life will help you feel confident and in control. Make sure you are not going on streaming binges/camathons and then spending days to recover. Having a set time for your camming shifts, as well as time to yourself (self-care is SO important when you’re a camgirl!), plus spending time with others will ensure you have a more well-rounded life. Moderation is key, even though it will be tempting to devote all your time and energy to camming when the earnings start to pick up. Remember, that while you do socialize on cam, you also need proper, face-to-face positive and friendly interactions. Don’t underestimate its impact it plays on your psyche.

 

Share your secret with someone you can trust

Keeping this double life going is hard. It weighs on you and can create a lot of pain and suffering. You might not even feel it at first, since you may be excited and exhilarated by what it’s like to make more money than you ever thought possible! However, at some point the excitement will wane, and you might be left with some unresolved issues about your job, your self-worth and this massive secret that you have to keep from others. Some girls may be lucky and be able to disclose their job to their parents, but most will keep it secret. In this case, it’s a really good idea to find a counselor you can trust, so you can work through some of the emotional issues. Journalling might help too, or finding a good friend to confide in. The point of this is to not keep your emotions hidden, and to express them in a healthy way.

Camming is hard, and you have to look out for yourself, because no one will do it for you. Take a look at my Camgirl Self-Care post for some more tips!

How to Start Camming on a Limited Budget

start camming guide

If you’re looking to try out camming but worried that you don’t having the right tools for the job, do not fear! The reality is, it is much easier to become a camgirl than you may think, and doesn’t require much money (or any at all!).

If you’ve already decided that you’d like to cam, and settled on a camsite or two (See my post about best camming sites here), the fact that you don’t have the latest and greatest technology (webcam, laptop, lights), shouldn’t hold you back from taking the leap. It is better to start sooner rather than later and not let perfectionism and hesitation stand in your way.

So, Here Are All The Basics You Need To Start Camming Today!

Webcam 

webcam camming logitech brio

Laptops these days have built-in webcams, though the quality is often not the greatest, so I would urge you to spend some money on a webcam before you start. A basic webcam, like this one from Logitech, is only about 20-30 bucks and should be affordable enough. You can also find used ones on Craigslist. After you reach your first payout, webcam should be one of the first things you upgrade, along with lights. A better webcam will equal more views, and more views equal more tips. Though, most of us have started with just a basic webcam.

 

Lights 

camming selfie light

Lights are often neglected by beginner camgirls, because they don’t realize how important good lighting can be. It elevates the quality of your feed and makes your basic webcam produce better video. Before you buy your first umbrella lights, you can use the lights you already have in your house. Just position a few table lamps or floor lamps in front of you to create a great diffused light. If you do want to buy something before you start, I recommend a ring light, which is pretty affordable!

 

Laptop

alienware laptop camming

Laptop is the least critical of the camming tools, so as long as your internet speeds are okay, you will do fine with whatever laptop you have at the moment. After a few months of camming, you could upgrade your laptop to one with a better processor, more RAM/memory, and better graphics. Here are some great options for when you’re able to buy an improved laptop for camming.

 

Lingerie 

camming lingerie

When starting out, lingerie requires the least upfront investment, because you can start camming in your regular clothes/pjs/underwear. In fact, lots of members love the girl-next-door, “normal” look and are not expecting you to be coming online in fancy lingerie. I think most of us start out this way… and some girls continue with this look for the rest of their camming career! However, if you want to have some outfits before you start, I recommend Pinkcherry or Yandy for affordable lingerie.

 

Toys 

Like lingerie, you definitely do not need any toys to get started, and some girls will *never* use any toys in their shows. It is totally up to you and what your comfort level is. If you’re interested in getting some toys, my recommendation is Lovense tip-activated toys, because not only are they fun, but they also make you money!

lovense camming toys

 

Don’t be intimidated when you see camgirls with perfectly set up camrooms, with the latest and greatest technology or fancy lingerie. Rememeber that they all started the same way and no one is an expert starting out.

Check out my Beginners Guide to get started today! Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.


Camgirl Blogs: How to Make One and Are They Worth It?

camgirl blogs

Camgirls and Blogging: A Match Made in Heaven?

Blogs are not only a great way to express your innermost thoughts, but for a cam girl they can be yet another way to earn income and create stronger, longer-lasting  relationships with members.

The question you need to ask yourself is: Is it worth it? Is making more money through increased interest, popularity and camroom traffic worth the time spent on a blog? It can be, if you love writing and sharing your thoughts on paper. Blogs can be very low-key and non-committal (unlike maintaining a paid membership site – You can read about them here), and if you like being creative and want an outlet for your thoughts, making a blog might just be right for you! It’s an underrated way for camgirls to foster better relationships wither her regulars while also making money semi-passively. A good example of a camgirl blog is Kickaz’s wordpress blog where members can get a more intimate look into her life and she can write about things she can’t fully express when she’s online.

I’m Interested! How do I Begin?

It’s really easy to get started with blogging, and you don’t need any specific skills and coding knowledge to get your blog up within literally minutes. Here is what you need to consider:

  1. Decide whether your blog will have PG content or if you’ll be posting NSFW pictures and videos of yourself. This will determine hosting provider you go with, as many don’t allow adult content to be posted.
  2. Decide whether you want to go with a free blog platform like WordPress (no ability to have ads, less customizability, “.wordpress.com” extension, no adult content) or Wix OR whether you want to have a self-hosted blog where you can choose your hosting company, have ads that earn you money, much more customization, and the ability to post adult content.

So, if you want to go with totally free blogging platform (remember, no adult content!), try out WordPress, Blogger, or Wix that has some really cool themes and is very easy to set up on.

However, my recommendation is to always go with a self-hosted blog, as it allows you complete control over your content and that is in addition to you having your own custom domain name (i.e. www.sexylexy.com NOT www.sexylexy.wordpress.com).

camming blogs

Which Hosting Company Should I Choose?

There are a number of hosting companies to pick from, and any of the ones listed below are a great choice. So, pick out your hosting provider, which will then take you through the install and integration with WordPress – a really easy process.

Allow Adult Content: HostGator, Dreamhost, GoDaddy

Allow Non-Adult Content: Bluehost. Great option if you want to keep your naked stuff on camsite only!

These hosting providers come with options like WHOIS protection, domain registration, storage, backups, anti-spam security.

Click on the banners below to check them out!


Ok, So How Do I Make Money?

Aside from just posting blog-style content and interacting with your members in comments, how can you earn money from blogs?

  • Sell videos with links to either your Manyvids account or post preview pics and include your offline tip button. 
  • Sell panties, various items (baked goods, crafts, art!), Skype dates, whatever you can think of! Always clearly display your tip link.
  • Generate interest for you OnlyFans account!
  • Have all of your social media links,  your cam profile, and your Amazon wishlist in one place, so that members can easily reach you and tip you.
  • Have banner ads that will passively earn you money from clicks.

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

How Long Can a Camming Career Last?

camming career
 
Every beginner camgirl wants to believe that she will have a long and lucrative career in the webcamming industry, however, there are a few reasons this dream may be not the most realistic one.

How Long Can One’s Camming Career Last on Average?

It’s hard to say, as there’s simply not enough data (and who’s keeping track of this data, anyway?) to know how long models stay in this industry. We know that most camgirls quit within their first 3 months, so, if you’ve made it past that, give yourself a pat on the back, you’re probably doing better than many. Considering that cam sites only started getting popular and becoming a lucrative way to make money online a little over a decade ago, not enough time has passed to make any clear predictions. Based on my personal experience and what I have seen and heard about, a lot of girls who don’t quit during that early phase, do move on after ~3-5 years.

Here Is Why I Think the 3-5 Year Camming Career Window is Most Probable:

Assuming you are a camgirl making average earnings and not the top girl making ranks every months and making 6 figures a year from camming, your first year or so will be filled with learning, trial and error, and hopefully enough motivation via tips and positive member interactions to keep you going. As soon as you master the “art of camming” and start to feel very comfortable online, you will likely see an increase in earnings in the following few years. This is the point where you should try to stay at and “milk” it for as long as you can.

Two problems arise, however: You either become burnt out, which is a very common problem for camgirls who don’t take enough time off and overextend themselves with offline tasks like Skyping, mailing packages, communicating on Snapchat/text. The second problem might be that your cam shows become stagnant and boring, either because you are not being as adventurous and interesting in your shows, or because you start to question your work and the sex industry as a whole, and it’ll show in your less-than-stellar cam performances. To compound these problems, there will also be young camgirls joining the site every day threatening to take away your members. It’s at this decisive moment that girls either step up their game and enjoy a few more years of camming or try to figure out their exit strategy.

Speaking of exit strategies, they are extremely important! You need to look at camming in the larger context of your life and see if you want to make it your “life-long” career goal, as many girls do intend to, or whether you want to move on to something else, be it going back to school, pursuing a new career or maybe even starting your own business.

The camming industry is so volatile and in some years it’s hard not to give up, but as long as you have a plan, you can at least be sure that you have a path to follow.

Check out some of the best camsites to get a great head start in camming. Good luck!
 

5 Things Camgirls Don’t Want You to Know

what-camgirls-are-not-telling-you
 
It should come as no surprise that camgirls keep some parts of themselves hidden from their viewers. Most girls like to have some separation between their real life and their cam persona, and there are certain aspects of camming that they definitely do not want you to know about. Here are Five Things Camgirls Don’t Want You to Know:

 

1) THE FACT THAT SHE HAS A SIGNIFICANT OTHER

The majority of camgirls hide the fact that they have significant others, be it boyfriends or husbands. A lot of the times, they address them on social media as “roommates”, since they need to acknowledge the fact that they live with them. If you hear camgirls speak of male roommates, it’s more likely than not that they are someone they’re dating or married to. Why don’t camgirls want to be open with members about their relationship status? Well, some girls are, but the majority prefer to keep that part of their life hidden and go with the “single, horny girl” fantasy. Admitting to the fact that there is a significant other in their life can cost them tips and members’ loyalty, as some members’ egos would not be able to tolerate that their favorite camgirl might be involved with someone else. It really ruins that fantasy and they no longer have the same drive to take care and spoil their chosen camgirl.

2) HOW MUCH MONEY SHE MAKES

how-much-money-camgirls-make

If you’ve been on camsites long enough, you’ll know that some girls make piles of cash daily. For anyone unfamiliar, check out my posts on the highest tips on Chaturbate and MFC. Of course, the majority of girls do not make these crazy payouts, but even an “average” camgirl is doing fairly well for herself. In addition to tips that you see online, there are offline tips, ninja (hidden) tips, and let’s not forget the offline money that most girls receive. This money is often never mentioned, but it should be acknowledged. Most camgirls receive not only Amazon giftcards, and giftcards to various stores of their choosing, but they also receive straight cash, be it via Paypal (not exactly recommended), Giftrocket, Snapcash, and plain $$$ in the mail! Considering that this additional cash is not reported to the IRS, your favorite camgirl is doing much better financially than you may think. In fact, she’s probably making more money than you.

 

3) HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES TO GET READY FOR CAM

You may think that camgirls can just jump on cam at a moment’s notice to entertain you, but for the majority, nothing can be further from the truth. It takes most girls from half an hour to 1hr+ to get ready for cam. I don’t only mean putting makeup on (even though it can take a lot of products!), and picking out outfits, but also getting emotionally ready to be cheerful, bubbly, confident on cam for hours at a time. It can be very taxing emotionally. Considering that a lot of camgirls tend to be introverted, this can be especially hard. So, if your favorite camgirl is yet again late for cam, don’t be too hard on her.

 

4) THAT SHE DOESN’T FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOU AS YOU DO ABOUT HER

camgirl-chaturbate

Ok, this one is bound to ruffle some feathers. You may feel like your life revolves around a particular camgirl and you feel real romantic feelings toward her, but let’s face it, an average camgirl interacts with dozens to hundreds of members every time she’s online and needs to keep all her tippers satisfied and happy. Of course she will try to come off as attentive, caring and interested toward you if she wants to have you continue come to her room and tip her. Since her attention is spread across so many other guys just like you, she cannot possibly have the same type of feelings toward you as you do for her. That’s simply the nature of camsites. Knowing this, you should be careful not to let your feelings become too entangled with her feelings for your emotional and financial support. This brings me to the last point…

 

5) HOW DEPENDENT SHE IS ON YOU

Yes, she needs you. Every camgirl you interact with on a long-term basis really does need you to not only contribute to her income, but also keep her life as a camgirl alive at all. If you and other members were to disappear, she would feel that loss, not only monetarily, but emotionally too. Life as a camgirl is fragile – for the most part, you are alienated from your former friends, coworkers and family members, so maintaining a high income and work satisfaction becomes extremely important. Some girls may not even realize how much they depend on you, but the loss is definitely perceived once you’re gone. (And that’s when the real panic sets in!).

So, with that last point, go and leave your favorite camgirl a nice tip or an Amazon gift to let her know that you care. 🙂

xoxo