Well I made it through the year alive and well, and its been a good one. Really! Despite the fuckedup economy and all I managed to make a come up. This time last year I was up in Canada, broke, cold, and freezing my nuts off. I didn’t even own a video camera or a website other than this silly blog. In less than a year I’ve gotten all my camera gear, POV filmed about 30 girls, attended 7 porn conventions all over the country, launched my first paysite in almost a decade (Ndngirls.com) and am on the fast track to getting my shit back together, with many new sites and concepts in the works that I won’t get discuss. All I can say is these new sites of mine are fucking funny, and fun to create. I like what I do. Whereas before, 10yrs ago in the biz I didn’t. I didn’t really like porn actually, it was just a ways to a means. Now I like making porn my way, and its fun and lucrative. Its an enjoyable hobby, and even though it requires long hours of post production to piece everything together it is fun to conceptualize shit in your head and then get living breathing humans to follow through with it.

I could be working a square job still, like I’ve had so many this year just so I could hustle up cash for my video equipment and money to pay the girls and all, but that sucks. I don’t want a soul crushing, life draining occupation that makes my feet, back, and brain hurt at the end of every day. Whether you know it or not, a year ago I was delivering newspapers in Canada. I was an illegal USA immigrant up there, trying to do the ‘right thing’ and live near my kids and all and that was the only “under the table” hustle job I could get. I would strap on 2 80lb sacks filled with papers, and have to trudge uphill icy driveways in -40 degree weather in snowstorms and shit just to get by. I think I made 10 cents for every paper I delivered, and it had to be in their mailbox by 8am or I would catch hell. That job fucking sucked, and I nearly lost 2 of my fingers to frostbite its a miracle I can still type. Everyone has setbacks and hardships, not trying to say I’m all special and shit, and if you’ve got a blog with a similar story I’d love to hear/read it for reals.

So anyway after getting my shit back together, I returned up north to get my money from them niggas in the snow. I film about half of my girls up there, often in the same neighborhoods I delivered papers to in the morning. It brings a smile to my face to get some get-back, and make some cash at the same time. So in wrapping things up for this year, most of my goals have in fact been accomplished. Check out this earlier post from February 2009 to see what I mean and when you’re done, you can listen to my whole yearend wrapup podcast at shimmyshow.com

See yall in Vegas for AVN and Internext in a few days, happy new years and kwanzaa

Shimmy

Man, a nigga ain’t had a full nights sleep since I launched ndngirls.com a few days ago. So much to do in so little time, and here I thought filming the video and taking the pics would be the hard part, heh… i’m putting in about 18-20hrs a day on this shit doing video editing/conversion, layouts, and lots of misc. shit not to mention trying to get my affiliate program shimmycash.com rolling. So thats why my eyes are slung low and my whiteboard is full of “to do” shits to get done. Such is life, but I don’t want to put out a bullshit product and this is what must be done when you’re running a one man show. Its now 1:26am and I’ve been working since 4am on the previous day. I’m gonna have a powernap until 5am, go workout at the gym, and get my ass back to the grind and continue getting this site ready until I am satisfied with it in my eyes. So check it out, and also peep the shimmy show for a little audio blog about all this and my latest travels as well.

peaceout

To what lengths, are you willing to go in order to achieve the kind of success you want in the adult business (or any other business for that matter?) Are you willing to trade off all your free time, and in essence sell your soul to highest bidder, to finance your dreams and aspiration? If you are even 1% hesitant or have your eyes fixated on your moral compass, chances are you will not succeed anytime soon. If you are waiting for someone to give you a “hook up” or a handout, then this is not the business for you.

When I first began back in 1997, I was living off Top Ramen noodles, working 20+ hours a day… and yes it was all worth it. I made enough money to live off for the rest of my life… until I got married and had someone else control my wallet for 7 years. Regardless, it’s not really a big deal to start over from scratch once you’ve done something before. The only question at hand is, do you still have what it takes to be successful.

If you don’t already know by now, I’m making a series of adult films starting this summer, from about the time Exxxotica Miami kicks off up until the end of August, and these will be distributed on DVD, VoD, websites, content cds, you name it… and I plan to keep on rolling them out. Now for the money aspect, I have none. Zip. Nada. And very bad credit. Did I mention I am unemployed… what little income I do have is derived from adult website affiliate programs, so in order to finance these films I have put my black ass to work. When I am not acting as male talent in adult films for other studios/producers I am doing gig after gig from Craigslist, and taking up part time work when it becomes available. Since I’ve been out here in California (mid January) I have been a telemarketer, in-store product demo guy, door to door environmental canvasser, farmers market weekend worker, bar waiter, fundraiser, videographer, photographer, stadium concession salesman, you name it I’ve done it. My calendar is FULL. So when I hear people bitch about how bad the economy is, and how they can’t make money without a fulltime regular job I don’t buy it. You just gotta know how to HUSTLE. Leave your morals behind so you can eat, and travel, and live well.

So you’ve got obstacles huh… Don’t have a car? Neither do I, take public transit, and I ride a $50 bicycle to hop around town most of the time. Don’t have $1200 a month for groceries (I actually used to spend this much when married to a beast!) then live off rice, fruit, and smoothies… I’m saving every penny I can to finance talent, equipment, and production for my flicks, because I *know* that is the right path for me, and I’m meant to be on it. In fact, making dirty movies is one of the few things I have a passion for… as it allows me to be myself for the most part, be creative, have fun, and make the kind of money that lets me travel, enjoy life, live stress free, and do what the fuck I feel like doing most days. There is nothing more satisfying that waking up in the morning and seeing how many subscriber rebills took place while you were sleeping. Its like winning the lotto everyday for life. Guarantee I’ll be there by the end of this year, likely sooner. Lookout for me

Shimmy

I’ve been listening to a lot of music lately, notably Ludacris, TI, and Young Jeezy mixed in with my classic favorites. And more music means longer workouts, so I’m spending considerably less time in front of the computer especially on nice sunny days like today. Oh how I am grateful to be out of Canada, doing laundry outside in February and using a clothesline is a luxury I tell you. No more ice-cold slushy snow up to my ashy brown kneecaps. I felt so good I ran 7 miles in the hills today and I’m about to go log 5 more on the treadmill before the gym closes then dip in the hot tub.

So yeah, thats all I’ve been up to so lately… a little porno acting, script writing, and planning for future productions. I found a smokin’ good deal on a used Canon GL2 and I’m trying to scrape up funds at last minute to secure it. Funny how when you have money, shit is sky high expensive and when you’re strapped for cash you see real diamonds for sale at the dollar store. Life is strange like that for me I tell you. So I want this camera really bad and just sold my DLP projector, movie screen, and am now listing all this car audio in-dash tv/dvd crap I don’t really need. Can’t sell my Nikon gear as I need that for shoots, but would pawn and buy it back in a squeeze. Something will work out. If only that Volkswagen GTI would sell tommorow…

So thats where I’m at, doing alright overall. Can’t really complain so life is good, despite all the negative energy everyone is fostering about the economy etc… it too shall pass it’s not the end of the world. I picked up some books on screen acting at the library today too just because I was inspired watching India Summers perform at the shoot this weekend. And I’m not saying that just because I was in the scene, but she is a really good actress. I’ve never seen anyone remain in character so well, even Penny Flame… and  for the most part she is being her real crazy self both on and off camera. So I’d like to become a better actor, a modern Sidney Poitier if you will, and its something that interests me. You know what, since it’s been such a hot topic on Netpond (thats a porno webmaster board for you civilians) I thought I’d mention that I truly do have a love for the biz now, and thats something I did not have when I first got into it 12 years ago. Back then, money, and only the love of more of it was my motivating factor. I gave a shit about porn, and my focus was on quantity more than quality… building more and more traffic machines/traps to get sales. And that kind of widespread attitude is what has corrupted the internet porn industry to where it stands today. Lots of low quality bullshit, cookie-cutter, non-innovative scam sites ran by people who simply don’t give a fuck about their customers. And thats no way to run a business if you want to be around for the long term.

So I’ve taken the road less traveled, and have gotten into the human element of the business, doing my thing acting, producing, shooting, webmastering, billing, customer support, and everything in between and I must say that I love it. Even if I won the lottery for 88 gazillion dollars I would still want to make good quality fun porn because I have a passion for it and think I do it tolerably well. The money will come sooner than I think I’m sure, as I have all the right connections and experience, but for the moment I’m enjoying the process of doing everything in-house and learning learning learning while doing. There is truly “no business like ho business”.

Gotta run before the gym closes…

Shimmy

Ever wonder what a hotel full of internet pornographers looks like?? Well there you have it. It was tough crowd at the last convention. Bonus points if you can spot me in the group. Not a smile in the room during the seminars… Lots of complaining about whats wrong with the internet, credit card companies, politics, whine whine whine for about 4 hours a day for many days straight. Kind of like school without recess. And the solution? Of course Mister X speaking on stage is your salvation if you do what he says, pay him, and follow his expert business model you will make it in this business another year. Yup… As you can see in the pic, everyones bored out of their wits and itching to see some tits. This would have been the perfect opportunity for a hot babe to streak through the stale room. She’d be really rich right now just for making everyone smile she’d become the next big internet sensation overnite. Most of these guys loosened up after lunch and the open bar and thats really when the real traffic trading, good ol’ boy backscratching, and under the table business deals go down.

In this day and age networking is everything, you have to get on the inside track and show your face every now and then. I’ve been doing adult sites since 1997 and only in the past few years started doing shows, and its amazing what you get out of them compared to sitting at home working as a one man army. Its possible to make it without branching out, but it’s oh so much easier to get your foot in the door, know people, and basically have a rep. of people to vouch for you. Friends helping friends I think they used to call it. Thats Jayvis from DatingGold and me to the right.

One of the things I did this time was hop on the “Porn Poker Tour” circuit just for fun and to meet a few new people. We didn’t play for real money, though I actually won $25 from Mitch from Netbilling, for winning the blackjack tournament. Thanks man. And as I mentioned before, webmasters love to ‘try’ to dance so the best clubs… Rain, Moon, Playboy Club, and all the “Fantasy Tower” suites were all rented out to us… even the world famous Hugh Heffner Skyvilla, which has a pool on the 35th floor balcony that is just so over the top.

At these little gatherings you meet all the faces behind the websites. All are friendly, most speak english, and it’s a very “international” room… accents and all. Few things in life are funnier than a real stuttering englishman from england too. Matter of fact some of the best times I had there were with the Aussies and UK heads. You guys and gals make me wanna visit down under fo sho.

So you don’t really need poker skills to play in the poker tour. I sure don’t got em. But you do need to have people skills to network. You have to get out there, extend your hand, and meet as many people as possible. When you go to a webmaster/producer get-together, bring your biz cards, samples, and promo packs, and get cracking. Work the room, then work the next room. Be likeable, do the cape exercise like Tony Robbins says… walk around like you’re wearing an invisible cape. (I do this all the time anyway its just default behavior) but this is the time to get your shine on, and when you come across with charisma and be about your business you will go home with a stack full of business cards and connections that would have taken you years to bridge while you’re online at home. So go and kick it at the shows. Don’t be a drunk ass just because its an open bar. Drink water, or whatever that fancy schmancy “mineral water” in green glass bottles is they have there. You want to be on top of your game and also have a great time. And remember you’re not there to hookup with your favorite porno chick unless you’re booking her for a scene. She’s there to smile, and give you one of her business cards and some free promo junk too. Its great fun if you play the game too. I’m gonna give out free promo condoms with my site logos printed on them at the next gathering. So, with all that said, if you think you have what it takes to succeed in this business then you’re crazy not to try it. Keep your dayjob(s) or better yet get another one to help fund this business, until you can see some dollar growth. Stick with it, do what something you enjoy, and you’ll make it for sure.

Now that I’m back on the west coast for a bit, I resurfaced on some social networking sites to get ahold of some of my peeps in Cali that I haven’t seen in years. Now, a few of you guys have wrote me saying that you’ve seen this little web page and that you want to do what I do because you get to kick it with what they consider to be hot girls. OMG. I guess to them my wacky life looks somewhat glamorous, well its not by any means and I really don’t mean to paint it that way. Anyone with basic computer skills, a camera, and no shame can do what I do. Its not rocket science guys really… just turn the camera on and stick it in her butt. Well there is a little more to it than that,but its not highly technical… basic editing, lighting, marketing, distribution, etc. But its not too hard if you’ve ever sold anything before. You really need a knack for selling above anything if you want to be a successful webmaster, or hire someone who is. But there are other sacrifices in most peoples cases that the average person cannot make.

For the most part, you can’t really tell people, including your family, what you do for a living, and even when you have established a level of trust with them you probably shouldn’t give them all the play-by-play details. They likely don’t tell you all the ins and outs of their line of work right? So just treat it as another job. Actually treat it more serious than another job, and you should do alright. It seems the hardest thing for people in this world to do is to keep their trap shut. But some people just don’t have the social intelligence to do that.

People love to toss their doctrines on you about how what you do is wrong and how it exploits women, degrades western civilization, and is sooo filthy and perverted. These will become your best customers simply because they are so vigilant in pushing it away. Like Oscar Wilde, a gay-ass poet once said, the only cure for temptation is to give in to it. And this holds true. Now on the real, the only people that porn actually exploits are the guys who pay for it. They are the ‘victims’ if you can call them that. But deep down they have a sense of satisfaction that it was money well spent.

So guys/gals if you wanna shoot porn, make websites, and join “the game” thats great. But only do it if you’re passionate about it. Do it only for the money and you will fail guaranteed. There are fun conventions all over the world that are like giant family reunions for the industry. And Julius from Fubarwebmasters will follow you with a camera to all of them like a paparazzi, so practice smiling if you’re not in the habit already. You should be smiling often, or this is not the business for you. Free food, free drinks, and fun times await while you “network”. And none of us can dance but we do try (see video below). The downside, and yes there is one… despite the lavish shows this can be a very lonely industry. You’re isolated from what you now know as the regular world, kinda like the Matrix. You begin and end work when you feel like it, but there are often 18 hour days at a computer, editing code, optimizing traffic, rotating sponsors, building “feeder” sites to promote your main money maker site, and trying to find unique ways to market your site. And there is nothing sexy about that. Matter of fact eventually you will see so much tits and ass it will desensitize you. ‘Normal’ women begging for your attention will wonder what is wrong with you and how gay you must be for not gawking at them when they tease show you some skin. It gets even weirder.

This is only the web end of things. If you’re shooting content too, you may have to give up sleep altogether and budget your time with an hourly planner. I use a PDA everywhere I go. You’ll need a lot of energy (hence why I hit the gym so much) and also keep the creative juices in your brain flowing. Once you run dry of ideas and lose your passion for what you’re doing, the money will stop flowing. You basically have to learn how to make your own site your own, without copycatting someone elses idea. Be original and find your voice. And the money will come sooner than you think. Most people are not prepared to work for themself because they are only used to doing the bare minimum at their jobs, and I can’t blame them for that. But thats all they know. But if you’ve got a vision for something truly great, put down that idea on a notepad, make sure there is a target market for what you have in mind, and go for it! See you at the top. Oh, and as promised… the clip answers the question… what do adult webmasters do at trade shows?

Shimmy

Okay without the need for sounding like a Tony Robbins, I can’t stress the importance of following your passions. It will really make you a happier, more chill person that laughs more and stresses less. Back in my college days 10+yrs ago I was studying to get a computer science degree. I wanted to become a programmer, not so much that I like spacing out in front of a monitor typing machine code all day (oh joy!) but was more or less in it for the monetary rewards. In high school that was my career track, simply based upon the fact that I heard programmers get upwards of $80k a year being fresh out of school.

Now $80,000 sounds like a lot of money, and to a 16 year old that pretty much bounced from one ghetto to the other for most of his life it sounded pretty lucrative, and too good to pass up. So I studied my ass off, got minimally involved with sports, girls, and other high school/college functions and ceded to stay on what I thought was the path to success. Little did I know this would not be easy. Despite having a pretty good knack for banging away at a keyboard (which is really all programming is if you ask me) I was not prepared for the insurmountable prerequisites this university was throwing at me. After taking a few Unix courses and some C++ classes, I had to pass Calculus 1,2, and 3 along with Physics 1,2,and 3. Each course was a semester long, and you had to get at least a “C” to pass on to more programming stuff. Calculus 1 wasn’t too bad, I passed it first time around, same with Physics… but Calculus 2 OMG…. that is some alien math. I took that course 3 different times at 2 different universities and still no dice.

For those of you who have never done Calc2, they ask interesting questions like how much gallons are in a slice of water (I shit you not!). First of all wtf is a slice of water… its total abstract thinking, I was beginning to wonder if I got high like everyone else in the class maybe I would comprehend better. So I never got the full grasp of derivatives, limitations, and these other alien concepts so I was at a standstill for my degree. After failing that shit 3 times I needed a break… I dropped out and devoted all my time to working on my adult websites and haven’t really looked back since until now. Its been a wild decade for me. Sure I wish I had finished my degree, as I’m now playing catchup to all my peers who have somewhat stable lives, their first home, etc… I’ve kinda been there and done that on so many levels over and over it seems rather mundane to even bring up my own stories, but I’m happy for anyone that makes a way for themself.

Oh there I go drifting again… anyhow back to the topic at hand, following passions in your life is important or you will always be empty. If you choose to do a job just for the money, and it isn’t a short term “ways to a means” that you know for sure you’ll be exiting in the near future, then don’t do it. Whatever good money you make from it, you will expend just trying to forget about how shitty your chosen line of work is. I can’t picture myself in a cubicle for life anymore, banging away at a keyboard and subordinating myself to everyone who thinks they have a lick of authority over me, let alone the feeling of being so expendable would bother me to no end. So I’m glad I didn’t become a programmer. I’m just not cut out for it. Now that I think about it, I’m not really cut out for work in general, but if I had to “do a job” to eat and have a warm place to sleep I would want to do something like:

• hollywood stunt driver
• voiceovers for video game characters that need a black guys voice
• guy that makes real fruit smoothies in the food court at the mall
• running partner/trainer to gazillionaires
• massage chair tester
• classic volkswagen rabbit tuner shop owner
• professional sleep research guinea pig
• motivational public speaker
• tow truck guy who helps people for free who are broke down on the road
• man-whore for hire to rich and famous broads
• racing instructor
• classic films movie theatre proprietor
• amateur porn star/director

Ironically I’ve done about half of those things already to varying degrees of success, and my point is nowhere down the line did being a programmer entire the equation. I thirst for competition, fun, adrenaline, excitement, information, and helping people and being useful in general. There is not much I can do for the world, sitting behind a monitor with a blank stare while only using my fingertips.

So I hope thats a little inspiration for all of you to follow your passions. If you’re not happy with what you’re doing or where you’re headed then flip the script and make appropriate changes, because you’re only coming this way once. If you don’t have the knowhow or skills to do what you want, and you’re actually serious about pursuing it, then do your homework and step to the plate. As far as the porno game goes, I’m only going to be making films that somewhat interest me, that I may put a little bit of myself (no pun intended) into my work. After a decade of making sites that I don’t really care about for audiences that I knew nothing about, its time to inject a little passion into production and make some real good stuff. Be on the lookout me.

Shimmy