Advice on starting my own content production

[tickleplayerotica]

Any established creators (or anyone at all) have any tips or advice for someone who's just starting out?

Have been toying with the idea since last summer, finally decided to go for it.

I have a twitter/x you can follow if you want to see how this goes-- @tickleplayreels

I'm mostly just curious to see if a person with no following whatsoever can gain a foothold.

 

[TMF Jeff]

The best advice I could offer would be - don't try to sell every minute of footage that you get. Throw away what you wouldn't pay for yourself and only sell the best stuff. You'll gain a reputation for quality and that's your fastest track to success, because if people pay for something they didn't like, especially in your early days, it could take them years to give you another try.

 

[tickleplayerotica]

The best advice I could offer would be - don't try to sell every minute of footage that you get. Throw away what you wouldn't pay for yourself and only sell the best stuff. You'll gain a reputation for quality and that's your fastest track to success, because if people pay for something they didn't like, especially in your early days, it could take them years to give you another try.

Good to know, thank you. I want to create a large backlog of content before I start releasing anything so I have lots to choose from once I start posting it.

My biggest concerns are not getting doxxed and finding models who are willing to give me a chance right at the start before I have any sort of following or familiarity. Any advice there?

 

[TMF Jeff]

Not getting doxxed will probably mean creating an LLC for your business. You can ask an AI for how to do that, it's not hard or expensive. And you might even make the question broader - "How can I create a public facing business and prevent my identity from being exposed to risk?"

Models will probably be willing to give you a chance - it's what they're in business to do. Just present yourself professionally and like a good, respectful person, and they'll be open to working with you. What I also did was offer them a fifty dollar commission for any friends they sent my way, and that helped me build more relationships with other models.

 

[tickleplayerotica]

Not getting doxxed will probably mean creating an LLC for your business. You can ask an AI for how to do that, it's not hard or expensive. And you might even make the question broader - "How can I create a public facing business and prevent my identity from being exposed to risk?"

Models will probably be willing to give you a chance - it's what they're in business to do. Just present yourself professionally and like a good, respectful person, and they'll be open to working with you. What I also did was offer them a fifty dollar commission for any friends they sent my way, and that helped me build more relationships with other models.

Excellent, and I'm already using the 50 dollar referral bonus. I'll look into the LLC. Thanks again.

 

[SoleMates]

In addition to what Jeff said, I'll offer three additional bits;

1. Don't expect to make a lot - if any - money right out of the gate.
2. Lighting. Lighting lighting lighting. Also learn how to white-balance and edit your footage.
3. Research 18USC2257 and KEEP ACCURATE AND THOROUGH RECORDS. Get models to fill out a 2257 form, take copies of their IDs, and have them sign a consent/release form. Way too many producers in this niche are stupid and don't bother with this and then their studios get shut down when payment providers/content portals get a burr up their butts about proof of consent, then they go all shocked-Pikachu about how ThEy DiDn'T kNoW. Don't do that.

 

[TMF Jeff]

Research 18USC2257 and KEEP ACCURATE AND THOROUGH RECORDS. Get models to fill out a 2257 form, take copies of their IDs, and have them sign a consent/release form. Way too many producers in this niche are stupid and don't bother with this and then their studios get shut down when payment providers/content portals get a burr up their butts about proof of consent, then they go all shocked-Pikachu about how ThEy DiDn'T kNoW. Don't do that.

Above all, this.

I had all of this stuff when I originally shot my videos, but I naively assumed I wouldn't still need them thirty years later. Fast forward thirty years, and suddenly I have a problem on my hands. Get this stuff, and save it forever.

 

[tickleplayerotica]

In addition to what Jeff said, I'll offer three additional bits;

1. Don't expect to make a lot - if any - money right out of the gate.
2. Lighting. Lighting lighting lighting. Also learn how to white-balance and edit your footage.
3. Research 18USC2257 and KEEP ACCURATE AND THOROUGH RECORDS. Get models to fill out a 2257 form, take copies of their IDs, and have them sign a consent/release form. Way too many producers in this niche are stupid and don't bother with this and then their studios get shut down when payment providers/content portals get a burr up their butts about proof of consent, then they go all shocked-Pikachu about how ThEy DiDn'T kNoW. Don't do that.

Good to know, thank you for your insight. 3 is another one of my biggest concerns. I will research it. I'm really going to slow roll this so that I do it right, I have no reason to hurry.

While I'm not expecting much money right out the gate, is it possible to turn this into a decent "make money while you sleep" side income? over time? or is that something I should put to rest right now?

 

[SoleMates]

While I'm not expecting much money right out the gate, is it possible to turn this into a decent "make money while you sleep" side income? over time? or is that something I should put to rest right now?

Your mileage may vary. Wildly. Also, define "decent".

I've been doing this for 13 years. I am far from one of the most successful producers out there, but I do regularly crack the top 25 in Foot Tickling on Clips4Sale and last November I made it to #3.

Expect to maybe make payout ($50) on a monthly basis until you get traction, or find a model that people really like. My average monthly sales went up to around $150-$200 in 2020 and have been hovering there ever since, with the occasional jump (like November) due to seasonal events.

So yes, sometimes I do literally wake up to having made $20-$30 overnight, but it happens less than you might think.

"Bad-Ass" Becky Berardi once told me that it was impossible to gauge how much money a particular model would bring in. And if she can't do it, neither can you. So don't bother to try and predict the market; you can run poll after poll here in the forums and do everything the peanut gallery says it wants and see zero results while some dork with a potato camera files their nails and monotones "no. stop. don't." and makes a million dollars.

Shoot what you like, develop your own style and brand, and the people who want that sort of thing will come. Pun intended.

 

[Soles_Scream]

Your mileage may vary. Wildly. Also, define "decent".

I've been doing this for 13 years. I am far from one of the most successful producers out there, but I do regularly crack the top 25 in Foot Tickling on Clips4Sale and last November I made it to #3.

Expect to maybe make payout ($50) on a monthly basis until you get traction, or find a model that people really like. My average monthly sales went up to around $150-$200 in 2020 and have been hovering there ever since, with the occasional jump (like November) due to seasonal events.

So yes, sometimes I do literally wake up to having made $20-$30 overnight, but it happens less than you might think.

"Bad-Ass" Becky Berardi once told me that it was impossible to gauge how much money a particular model would bring in. And if she can't do it, neither can you. So don't bother to try and predict the market; you can run poll after poll here in the forums and do everything the peanut gallery says it wants and see zero results while some dork with a potato camera files their nails and monotones "no. stop. don't." and makes a million dollars.

Shoot what you like, develop your own style and brand, and the people who want that sort of thing will come. Pun intended.

Good point, and you are dead on when it comes to really not knowing which model will hit a good return, unless you convert custom requests.

Consistency and a ton of losses in the early days or even years is going to happen. On platforms you gotta upload and you have to market constantly.

 

[Toesheldback]

Tickling is a niche fetish, so you may think about crossing over and creating other stores/brands with complementary and broader fetishes (ie, feet, straight bondage, etc) so you can get the maximum return on your paid shoots.

 

[Bdsmtickler]

Speaking as a consumer only, create a brand that position yourself within the niche: fist of course orientation, then, are you delivering playful, sensual, torture tickling. What level of nudity to expect? Bondage or not, and if yes, basic or inventive. Games, role plays, or straight out sessions?

Lastly, a very personal advice (more honest: wish): get models that are okay with touching beyond tickling. At least if more or less undressed. It may cross over to other kind of models and fees, but It's just seems, frankly weird, to me that those dancing tits weren't squeezed a single time, or the rump not given a single smack. I know ... personal preference.

Best of luck!

 

[TMF Jeff]

Tickling is a niche fetish, so you may think about crossing over and creating other stores/brands with complementary and broader fetishes (ie, feet, straight bondage, etc) so you can get the maximum return on your paid shoots.

This is good advice, especially for when a model turns out to not be as ticklish as she thought she was. Ticklishness can vary a lot depending on the day/circumstances