I always hate having to prepare a bio (especially when so many of you know me), because I never really know what to tell people! Let me start with the basics: My name is Kayla Quinn, I am a 34 year old computer nerd. I got started online in late 1996, and opened my own website in July of 1998; I started as an "internet model" while I was still active duty Air Force, stationed at Nellis AFB, NV. I am quite proud of my military service and was highly decorated. I was presented with the Air Force Commendation Medal, at the time I was one of five Senior Airmen in the history of the United States Air Force to be awarded that medal.
Since I started my online life (my initial url was
www.kayla-marie.com, then
www.KaylaCam.com), I have grown and changed a bit. I have appeared in numerous adult films, mainstream movies and television shows. I have also been seen in magazines and calendars. I was awarded the KSex Radio 2003 Listeners Choice Award for "Favorite Amateur Porn Star 2003".
I enjoy my life online and strive to make it as fun for my members as I can. I try to provide the best porn that I can make and/or find without limiting my interaction with my members to porn. I am, above all else, a real person who likes to chat about everyday things just like anyone else. My website is not dedicated to mindless poking and prodding. My website is dedicated to me, David and my members. I still do everything myself, and still do the coding by hand. My website vascilates between being a labor of love and an arch nemesis, but I cannot imagine not having it.
And now...let me get started with the advice giving!
When I was first approached about writing this 'advice', I was not sure I was the right person for the job. I own not the largest nor most lucrative website...I do, however, have almost 10 years experience in this arena. What advice can I offer the noob? Let me state it simply, then expand upon what I consider to be the key: Be true to yourself. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It can be rough.
In this industry, there will always be someone telling you that you HAVE to do something in order to succeed. Listen to yourself, not to others. The only opinion that truely matters is your own. You cannot betray your own moral code/comfort levels and still enjoy this industry. Whether it be your own website or a film career, you must set your own limitations and stick with them This is not to say that limits do not change or that these are carved in stone. This is just to clarify that the only stone mason worthy of changing these personal rules is yourself. When I started out in films, I was told that I *had* to do anal, I *had* to do inter-racial, I *had* to do gang bangs, I *had* to do extreme scenes. I was also told that I was too old, too tall, too heavy and had too many tattoos to have any sort of a career in film. I set my own boundaries, decided what I was and was not willing to shoot and left the negative criticism where it belonged...behind me. Fourteen months later, I have reshaped my comfort levels and have shot approximately 80 scenes (some dvd, some internet site content). I have not let others hold me back, nor have I betrayed myself.
Keep in mind, as you are getting started in this business, that there is very little "wiggle room". Everything you film, produce, pose for, is out there for the world to see. If there is any one person you do not want finding out you are in the adult entertainment industry, be assured they WILL find out about it. Once you dedicate something to any medium, be it print, electronic or film, it is impossible for you to retract it and hide it from anybody. This is why it is so important that you stay honest with yourself and know your limitations. (If you feel you must have a drink or a little bit of some chemical to loosen yourself up in order to do a cam show or to film a scene, this is NOT the right business for you.)
Remember that one of your most valuable assets is your reputation. I was recently asked in an interview: Besides your own site, what amateur site would you recommend me to join? Why do you recommend this specific site?
After pondering that for a bit, my reply was simple, yet honest. "OY! This is a WAY unfair question for many reasons! I know far too many amateur gals to choose just one website to throw out there. Besides, there are tons of niches and specialty websites that appeal to a certain genre. The best I can say is this: Look for a website that looks like it is actually updated; no sense in paying a recurring membership for a site that has ceased to grow. Personally, I tend to read through a website to see if I can glean anything of the gals personality in the text. Bland, impersonal, or cliche text generally means a bland, impersonal, cliche website. I also look for little 'tips' that the site I am looking at is a fake-amateur website. Does it look EXACTLY like a few other websites that I have seen? (I usually go to the "Webmasters" link and check that out a bit if I suspect it is not a genuine amateur website.) I have a quirky sense of humor and am very experimental, so I tend to be drawn to those websites which are unique. I also read what they offer with their website. I am frugal...how much am I getting for my dollar? How much of that content is static (pictures, stories, etc) and how much dynamic (cam shows, chats, etc)...just to see if there is going to be something live on those late nights when I cannot sleep. I look for lies, too. Does the amateur claim to be a pre-med student yet have half the words on her site misspelled? If they lie about their bio, how can I trust them to tell me the truth about their members content. Then again, I might just be a little anal retentive about this sort of stuff...LOL"
Also, make sure you know how to do things yourself! Do not rely on anyone else to take care of things for you. You never know when that person might not be available and leave you stranded...this goes for fixing your website as well as for pumping up your....ego....
I realize this is a bit rambling and chaotic, such is the life of most porn chickies! I hope this offers some insight for those debating venturing in to this biz, if not, I owe you 3 minutes of your life back! ;)