[LEFT]This topic got lost in a thread about model compensation. I posted it in the new studios forum but am not getting any input so I thought I would post in the main forum:[/LEFT]
[LEFT]Where are photographers/studios finding their models? I know the big sites (like boyfun.com) can rely on their site to advertise to and recruit potential models. Those of us with smaller or less known sites are stuck with conventional means of recruitment. I’ve been using a gay dating app and its taken me 2.5 months to get 8 names and email addresses. And those are just names not committed photo shoots. Plus, you have to be strategic with how you use the dating apps because if you violate their policies you will be banned. (Its happened to me twice).[/LEFT]
[LEFT]I’ve also thought about paper advertising at gay bars where my target model types fraternize. Some of our gay bars in Minneapolis allow advertisers to advertise in their restrooms. I had also also thought about printing paper coasters advertising my site and having bar tenders hand them out on busy nights at the gay bars. Being gay, it seems to be easier to communicate with other gay men who are potential models. I wouldn’t know where to approach a straight man to ask him if he wants to take his clothes off for money. [/LEFT]
[LEFT]Any tips from other studios would be a great way to continue this thread.[/LEFT]
We do flyers at bars/clubs, we do partnerships with free gay magazines, we receive a good amount of applications on our social media accounts (especially snapchat where we post lots of behind the scenes stuff - people see that our models have fun and they wanna join us…)
This summer I have been traveling around to pride events together with some of my models, all wearing tshirts with advertisement, handing out flyers and connecting with people. In Berlin we also invited people to come party with us after the pride parade. Signed up 4 new exclusives after that night. Letting potential models connect with models who already work exclusively for us have been a very smart move for us.
We do monthly events with the biggest gay/twink club in Berlin - they show our films on their screens and we are there with some of our models connecting with potential models.
I done the app thing before and in my experience most of the guys who say yes will never show up…
Connecting with potential models, let them talk to your models, it makes them feel more comfortable and safe.
I have never experienced no-shows with models who already met me or any of my models before I booked them. Also when shooting, make sure models have a good time - buy them dinner and some drinks and give them a night out. If models feel happy they can also be great tools in your recruiting After we shoot we sometimes post on snapchat which club or bar we are going to after the shooting, and people can come and hang out with us - also a great way to connect with people (but make sure its fine with the models first! Not everyone like that kind of exposure).
Our next recruitment event is for our fetish project at Folsom Europe - we will be at a stand with some models , trying to find new hot twinks 18-23 for fisting films
If anyone looking for european models 23+ let me know and we can always pass along models who doesnt fit what we are looking for.
Craig List no longer allows ads for adult entertainers but as far as I know you could still advertise for Talent Scouts, just be careful how you word the ad. There are plenty of gregarious people out there who have no trouble approaching hot men and asking them to model nude.
I’ve also found drag queens to be a potential scout source. For some reason I’ve never understood, hot straight guys seem to be fascinated by drag queens. Find the ones who are most popular with straight men and offer them $50 or something for anyone they refer to you.
Last time I checked, Craigs List switched to paid advertising under the TV/Film/Video category. Price wasn’t bad at all. They will check your post before approving, so don’t go overboard with your verbiage being about porn.
Yes, but there are hardly any ads in my area under that Craig’s List category. I did pay for an ad in the gigs -> talent section and was able to include some “PG-13ish” photos from my site. And though these ads have generated a ton of traffic those that are responding are not even close to model quality. There are those too asking me to shoot them having sex with their wife or husband even though the ad clearly stated solo shoots only. argh
On to promoting at Gay bars and clubs. I’ll keep this string posted on my progress.
After we shoot we sometimes post on snapchat which club or bar we are going to after the shooting, and people can come and hang out with us - also a great way to connect with people (but make sure its fine with the models first! Not everyone like that kind of exposure).