For starters here are my appearances this month:
Seduction Feroce
June 14th 8pm $5
@ Era Art Bar in Oakland
Eco Sexual Queer Porn
June 16th 8pm
TallTree on Height in SF
Tickets!
Debauchery (dress rehearsal)
June 19th 8pm $10
@ the White Ho in Oakland
I haven't performed burlesque in a while. Let me tell you why. First I need to refresh you on the reasons why I do porn, burlesque, performance, and other art:
Reason 1.
I like attention. Blunt and simple. I need to have a show-off outlet so I don't do annoying show-offy or class-clowny things when it is not wanted in relationships. I see it as a type of therapy to get emotional shit out. Example: Someone asks, "What does it look like when a two year old doesn't get their way?" I put all my energy in what that might look like and I throw a tantrum. I muster up all that energy that I felt when I was an angry child and I scream and cry... and it feels good.
Reason 2.
I think it is activism. I think in order for trans people to be accepted as equal and valid individuals I must live as out and in front of the public eye. "Any publicity is good publicity." I also think porn is just entertainment. It is how a lot of people get information about life, sex, and pop culture. So if the only examples of trans people on TV and porn are Chaz Bono and "she-males" I want to broaden the view a bit, they do not speak for me and WE don't speak for all trans people. I also think pron is still a four letter word. I want porn, and other sex work, to be accepted as valid work. I want people to stop thinking porn is a bad thing, something that cheepens sex, or something to be ashamed of.
...
This reason leads directly to why I feel torn about doing burlesque and porn right now, why I haven't performed burlesque in a while. Most burlesque performers started out doing it for free. Free, not even minimum wage. Then after a few years they end up only getting around $50.00 for their work each night. I don't know if this is a fair price. A lot of performance artists say "I do this because I love it, not for the money." I think people should be paid for their work no matter if they love what they do or not?!
A lot of queer porn actors still only make between $200.00 to $300.00 for a days work. I made $250.00 on my first porn gig and unless I wanted to get my boy holes fucked and be called something I don't want to be called on the cover I don't have a chance in main-stream porn. I don't know if this is fair either. I feel torn because I see it as activism but I don't want people to think I am selling myself short, I think my time, energy, and creativity is worth so much more than the going rate. Is it charity and activism or is it work or both? I live in the gray area and I think that's the middle not the outside. I want to solve this problem and I know the solution is out there.
I have a few ideas about how to make this feel good for me. One is to get everyone to raise their prices all at the same time. I don't know how in the hell I would do this. I think I just need to go public with this idea and see what people think. What do you think?
Puck I was shocked and saddened to read the amount at which queer porn stars are often paid. I don't think what you're saying makes it 'all about the money' and less about the activism as you're striving for equality and that should also be reflected in your pay. A friend of a friend was a stripper through uni (in a "main stream" club) and she was pretty much able to pay her fees which is ALOT of cash. When you look at the sports world, there is so much inequality between the genders IE women footballers often have a 9-5 job on the side, I really think people need to take a proper stand and not just recognize they're working as hard if not harder than the people getting way more than they're receiving but also do something about it. I also think as performers you risk being almost permanently 'second class' in the industry if you're pay isn't close to "main stream" porn stars for here in England although it's way better people can be quite dismissive about female sport stars. I hope my opinions of some use to you :). Much love. Jade
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