Diary of an Adult Webmaster

Although this particular profession has always been typecast as seedy, devious and unethical (but highly profitable), I am using my journalistic involvement to reveal the true nature of an adult webmaster. This column is the first in a first-person series explaining what working in the adult industry is really all about (and both the joys and pitfalls that come with the job).

The first- and, perhaps, one of the biggest- myth that I would like to dispel is that everyone in the adult industry is raking in huge sums of money. Nearly everyone has seen the images of the Playboy mansion, of Italian-suit clad pornographers yachting in the Caribbean surrounded by beautiful women and of very-high-end exotic cars dotting the driveways of mansions in a tropical paradise. The mental image of Joe Francis, the mogul responsible for the "Girls Gone Wild" franchise, traveling to exotic destinations in his private bus and jet essentially permeates society.

Reality, however, is quite different. Every industry has its superstars who coupled brilliant business ideas with the luck of being in the right place at the right time. In terms of their business success, Larry Flynt is essentially no different than Ruford Murdock. These superstars aside, the bulk of the workers fall somewhere in the middle class just like any other industry. Many of the high-end cars and mansions traditionally associated with pornographic props are leased or borrowed; credit and lending are just two of the tools used in creating that infamous illusion of wealth.

I will not lie to you, my loyal reader; there is money in the adult industry. The industry is based on entertainment, one of America's highest-paying professions. This year I have been fortunate enough to vacation in the Caribbean, take several vacations, upgrade the furnishings in my home and spend a weekend in the heart of South Beach, all paid for with proceeds from porn.

Those luxuries aside, however, the bulk of my bills are paid by my "nine to five." I drive a Pontiac. I wonder if my electricity bills will overdraft my bank account. I occasionally eat fast food and have been known to use the phrase, "maybe next payday." My peers in adult webmaster forums profess to be in much the same boat, and such is the real life of the typical adult webmaster. Many of us work two jobs, and many of us- just like most of America- struggle to make ends meet. Aside from the work we do (some part time, some full time), we are no different than the average American shopping at discount chain stores. In fact, the adult industry is so prolific that you have very likely shopped, dined or even work shoulder-to-shoulder with your local purveyor of porn.

Fighting these misconceptions- and offering a rare glimpse into the private life of a pornographer- is what this series of columns will be eager to offer. In the coming weeks I would like to address some of the issues commonly associated with the adult industry such as ethics, spamming, recruiting models and security. Next time, I will be addressing the challenges facing adult webmasters while forming essential business relationships. If you are interested in the adult industry- or have maybe been toying with the idea of starting an adult project of your own- you will definitely want to tune in for that one.