With the the coronavirus doing a number on the global economy, one of the worst hit groups are undoubtedly the sex workers who’s livelihood depends on human contact. According to reports and based on my conversations with my sex worker friends, social distancing measures have caused an almost 50% decline in bookings and this number is expected rise further over the coming months with strip clubs, massage parlours, porn studios being forced closed altogether.
These are truly unprecedented times for the community with no real solution but here are a few things you can do to deal with it.
Take Care of Your Health
I know this is going to be hard to hear but stop all bookings. This is not an STD which has been studied at length and can be prevented by wearing proper protection. The virus has a lot of unknowns but one thing we know for sure is that it is highly contagious and has a high probability of infecting you even if you are in a room with someone who has it. No amount of personal protective equipment will prevent you specially if you engage in intimate activity with someone who has it. If you get infected, there is a chance that the virus will permanently damage your lungs even after recovery. You will make some money in the short term but think about not being able to work after all this is over. Risking your health is not worth it!
Reduce Your Expenses
I personally expect this to last for at least a year. All sex workers are disproportionately affected because not only does it prevent them from meeting clients, clients are now stuck at home, often with their family and are saving money to prepare for a financial crisis if they are not already in one.
Start preparing for the worse yourself and save whatever money you have. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions, don’t be tempted to binge shop online, refrain from ordering takeout too much and learn another skill that will allow you to earn money online.
Take advantage of assistance programs
Both the Canadian and US governments have announced assistance programs for people at risk of losing their livelihoods because of the pandemic. Though the details are currently fuzzy on how these payouts will work, it is worth noting that self employed individuals like sex workers will be able to take advantage of them. Keep an eye out for these programs through the following links:
Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
Note that you will have to apply through a portal to take benefit of the package
US
https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus
In the meantime, many local Sex Worker advocacy groups are offering immediate assistance to affected individuals. You can check this WikiPedia article for groups in your area:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sex_worker_organizations
Consider Working Online
If you have considered doing camming or selling nudes in the past now is the time to really pursue it. Amateur porn industry is still very lucrative and will likely keep growing with more and more people getting used to the idea of paying for a personalized experience online. If you have already been doing sex work, you can try converting your existing regulars or social media following to paid customers for your content. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your existing clients and see if they are willing to do cam shows or buy custom clips. Leverage everything from an OnlyFans account to camming on a platform like Chaturbate. If done properly, you can at least make a living wage and then some from the comfort of your home.
Here is a complete guide outlining everything you need to get started:
https://medium.com/@legworkentertainment/beginners-guide-to-selling-amateur-porn-73fd0a76e531
For more tips feel free to checkout our articles.
Having worked with a lot of escorts and strippers, working in isolation without peers around or a management can get frustrating. Instead of a guaranteed pay for a slot of time you now have to become an online entrepreneur who has to run a full fledged business complete with customer acquisition strategy, branding and customer care. There is a lot of misinformation and a lot of competition in this work which does often scare away a lot of new amateur content producers. But we are here for you if you need absolutely any help. Feel free to send us a DM on Twitter @EluversTalent or send email to contact@eluvers.com if you want to consult with someone about working online.
We are always looking for new talent; join us, find your community and get everything taken care of while you focus on going online. We also serve as an agency and arrange collaborations with internal and external talent. We will cover your equipment, lingerie and sex toys to help you get started in this crisis. Check out our main page for more information or apply here.