SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

Webmaster Discussion
#1

In case you missed it, SNL did a kinda funny sketch last night where a guy brings his boyfriend, a gay pornstar, home to meet his parents. The dad (Sam Rockwell) recognizes him and, well, you can watch it for yourself below.

The sketch is worth noting because I think it brings up a reality the adult industry is living with. Rockwell’s character says that he normally “bootlegs porn off the tube sites” but he couldn’t wait for a particular scene to make it to the tubes so he became a subscriber. I wonder if this is the new norm, that most people get porn for free off the tubes and will only pay if a scene or pornstar grabs their attention that cannot be found for free and they absolutely must-see him.

The sketch was also notable for namedropping Cocky Boys. I seem to recall CB getting a shout-out in some other network TV show, maybe another SNL sketch? Just goes to show that sites should pick domains with catchy names that sound funny. Surprised SNL didn’t use GayHoopla or SpunkWorthy instead.

//youtu.be/gTnqJRFL7Gc

#2

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

[QUOTE=naked;175096]
The sketch is worth noting because I think it brings up a reality the adult industry is living with. Rockwell’s character says that he normally “bootlegs porn off the tube sites” but he couldn’t wait for a particular scene to make it to the tubes so he became a subscriber. I wonder if this is the new norm, that most people get porn for free off the tubes and will only pay if a scene or pornstar grabs their attention that cannot be found for free and they absolutely must-see him.[/QUOTE]

I believe this to be true. This is why I tend to promote the site or a performer rather than the scene.
The more successful sites for me are the ones that don’t have a wealth of content out there able to be found with a Bing video search.
On our own blogs we use various tactics to encourage visitors to see more of the model or the site, rather than just clicking through the affiliate link straight away. I do believe this increases the chances of a sale.

One of the biggest problems I see today is that sites are too willing to give too much away, or to allow their content to be pirated all over the place, thinking it’s helping them. It might be true that a mainstream TV show gets higher ratings after clips are shared around YouTube, but that’s a different business model which doesn’t rely on subscriptions. The same method of promotion doesn’t work for porn, IMO.

I also think a lot of affiliates are stuck in the same mentality they developed back when selling porn was far easier, before the tubes arrived. The entire system has changed around us, from competition to Google algorithms, but people are still just whacking up a bit of text and ten pics, linking out from every image to the same landing page, spamming their own posts with affiliate links to the point where Google can only deem them to be a spammy site.

#3

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

[QUOTE=conran;175098]
I also think a lot of affiliates are stuck in the same mentality they developed back when selling porn was far easier, before the tubes arrived. The entire system has changed around us, from competition to Google algorithms, but people are still just whacking up a bit of text and ten pics, linking out from every image to the same landing page, spamming their own posts with affiliate links to the point where Google can only deem them to be a spammy site.[/QUOTE]

While much of what is being said in this thread and, I’m simply perplexed. Being the content manager for our sites and responsible for promotional content and newsletters, I see a host of different ways the content is used to promote.

Regarding what you said here conran, I’ll use QueerClick as an example. Please don’t be mad at me Mary.

QueerClick will post images, text, sometimes with or without the trailer for our newest site SpunkU and the day they post the update, they’re making a sale or 2. Basically doing exactly as you stated here/above conran.

Another affiliate site that is just a tube site posting trailers, will send traffic but with poor conversions compared to QueerClick.

All in all, I guess what I’m saying IMHO is, I genuinely think it comes down to the type of traffic/followers these different affiliate sites have built up over the years.

There’s a reason affiliates stick with promoting certain sites and not others. Unfortunately, trying to get an affiliate to post something new and different from what they know to make money for them is next to impossible IMO. And let’s be honest, doing 1 post to “try” promoting a new site isn’t being fair to yourself as an affiliate or the site you’re attempting to promote.

We have another affiliate that never would promote Asian content for many reasons. I get that. However, he has now done 2 posts (I think) and has got a sale from each to his surprise. I applaud him for going the extra mile and giving it a try. It just goes to show that you never know. It’s impossible to know what your traffic is thinking or what their likes are on a given day.

As the old saying goes, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

#4

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

I think the writers on SNL do watch a lot of gay porn. Although they didn’t mention collegeboyphysicals.com and watching tube sites for free, there is a lot of innuendos and similarities to collegeboyphysicals.com site.

I do agree with the threads above, but I do want to add that it is very difficult to compete with FREE porn and this has been a common issue and discussion for many years now. Its a shame!

//youtu.be/F8TR34viNo0

#5

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

yeah, I think its quite close to the truth as well. At least from when Ive spoke to friends about their porn habits.

#6

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

Oh, absolutely! Those who managed to get in there and develop an audience and a following when it was far easier to sell a membership already have that going for them.
My point was mainly about bloggers who came into the business in the last 5-10 years or so.
I’ve been guilty of it too. We have a few domains that I can’t dedicate a lot of time to, what with writing for clients and so on, so we just keep them ticking over with quick text and pics every now and then, nothing fancy.

But, this is kind of what a lot of us have been saying for a while; it’s about community and becoming a “go to” site. QueerClick has that, RawTop has that, Bjorn has that with Gaydemon… the most successful affiliates out there have a brand that people recognize and a following of fans who come back to them because they know them, usually “from back in the day”.

Anyway, interesting discussion, sorry if this is a little off topic from the comedy sketch. :wink:

#7

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

[QUOTE=naked;175096]Just goes to show that sites should pick domains with catchy names that sound funny. Surprised SNL didn’t use GayHoopla or SpunkWorthy instead.
[/QUOTE]

Just what are you implying, mister?!?! :wink:

#8

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

Just what are you implying, mister?!?!

Only that SpunkWorthy probably would have got a much bigger laugh from the SNL audience. And a lot of people at home would have assumed it was a made up name. Not saying that to be critical… I think its a good thing! You might have got a lot of new customers from people googling the name to see if it was real. :smiley:

In fact if I were you I’d send bunch of SpunkWorthy caps or shirts to the SNL offices at 30 Rock and ask them to think of you the next time they write a gay porn sketch!

#9

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

that reminds me of a slice of real life from days gone by. in the mid-'70s, a friend of mine had a step-father who worked in construction. one of the step-father’s co-workers recognized my friend, a porn performer and model, from a wallet snapshot the step-father carried. the co-worker wasn’t able, however, to explain how he - a very macho, anti-gay person - happened to recognize my friend from his modeling and porn work… at a guess, i’d say he outed himself :wink:

#10

Re: SNL Gay Pornstar Sketch

Lol… I was kidding around. No offense taken. :slight_smile: It would have probably been a real boost in business.