Who are your porn mentors?
 

Flame wars and the like are a fact of board life but last night I was thinking about how without the help of some people I never would have been able to get to where I am at the moment.

So, I thought it was time to give shout outs to the good people in the industry. The people that have been - for lack of a better term - your porn industry mentors.

For me, I think the two people that if they did't exist I would have packed up and returned to the hell that was being a travel agent are Lisa Marie and Les of Thumblords, Go Postal, Hardbody Cafe, etc. When I was first starting to play with this part-time almost 5 years ago I wrote a couple emails looking to exchange links with other tgps and Lisa Marie reached out and helped me. So, much so that within a month I was reviewing for JJJ and did so for 4 years.

Todd - Sextoyking - reached out to me when things weren't going so well and has put me down a path that feels closer to success than I have been for a long time.

Other mentions:

Oscer - just a class act, nice guy with a lot of patience

Crow and others at pcbbs - not plugging other boards but when I went there for the first time there weren't many if any other boards. If Crow hadn't replied to a 'cry for help' post I posted I would have packed up. Tam replied to that thread too as well as a number of others that helped to show me you can make money in this industry.

Okay, so that is enough of being nice but the turn of others. Put down the flame torches for a second and let us know who your porn mentors have been.

lars

as far as mentors? absolutely no one.

companies that have been really good to me over the years? candid hosting and cybercat.

admiration? oxcash.

I've had to learn all the shit myself. I hate you all for not giving me all the info on a silver platter. Bastards.

my mentor, friend, guru, confidant... chAos.

simply the man.

mentor: Aga
motivation: being petrified of working 9-5 for 'the MAN'

you gotta work for it... everyone does, you just can't ask. but there'll be someone who'll take you into their fold and show you everything.. you may know alot, but then you'll discover there's tons of shit you don't know... it's almost an epiphany.

from your post youre already there, keep doing what you do so well.

I have to deal it all myself. Instead of mentors I prefer partners, and I have got several really good partners and friends.

Of course, the person who pushed me to accomplish and put my ass on work was... Choker (no joke). He does not like me and I do not like him very much, but without his help (banning me from his program) I would never put my ass on work and make all the programs and stuff I have made lately.

Well, life is a game... and I always win

It's good to be ME :)
:1orglaugh

Satan, of course:feels-hot

Seth Warshavsky

:1orglaugh

That cocksucker never made good on the checks he bounced.

he was an inspiration lol.

i loved that wired article on him back in early 98...

good shit. :glugglug

SixNine, KatDaddy for their ebony niche movement.
Lens, for his wealth building skillz.
AMP, for his design Skillz.
Kev (aka Kev Dog, aka Kev-O, aka Kevsterrr, aka My Boss) for his business sense.

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17580,00.html

Jesus Christ

Dr Bizzaro is who broke me into the business and showed me the ropes. Good man!

This may sound a little idealistic, but for me when we first got into the business 4 years ago I decided to do major research into it's roots and I came across the guy who I think broke down a lot of barriers for us all way way back in the 70's - Larry Flynt. Anyone that can go from the backwoods of Kentucky all the way to the supreme court deserves some recognition - and he's still ripping up the right...anyone ever visited his free speech site?

http://www.larryflynt.com

-joe

Party Goat

http://www.thosebears.com/images/goat.gif

nobody

Jenmarie of CurvyCats. Awesome lady, I did my first sets with her.

Online, probably you, sarah, for your fetish insites, Twinkley for trying to keep me in this business, and connor for a good 1st amendment debate :-)

Lars was always a motivator for us over the years. Minte is fantastic and always gives me the absolute best advice. Bake has been totally generous and helpful giving me a hand with my galleries. Crow was always the bomb (I miss you, Crow). Andy of SexSwap is a great guy and has done great things, he's definitely someone we've dealt with a lot over the years. I have a lot of respect for guys like Shemp and Sleazy, TGP is a tough game and they're on top of it, no doubt. There are just so many I don't know where to start, but if I left someone out, it's only because I just woke up. There are a lot of amazing people out there.

My friends MikeW & Sharky...mostly for inspiration and throwing work my way when I was in need (and for the barbecues - MikeW)...

KimmyKim is always my first source for info that works in this biz...

Looking for more - who is next? Would love more/new partners for projects in both paysites and traffic. Somebody teach me in exchange for my skillz :winkwink:

I should have mentioned her - the first site I had my own body on.

I owe Al4A for giving me some great advice early on :)

Al Hadhazy and Ron Levi

I got helped from a lot of people including but not limited to Wizdom from eliteplanet, Alex from San Diego (jasonandalex), r-c-e from juicybucks, Manga, Dr. Ace and many others. I hope I helped back some people as well.

Lot's of people who admire for their SMART work as well. I'll refer only to one now since im in hurry.......

Lensman for his perfect TIMING on everything he does in this industry. I bet some of you understand what I mean. You can have everything, the idea, the time and money to develop and promote it, but if the timing is not perfect most probably it will fail. Lensman has perfect timing, that's why he never fails.

I wouldn't say porn mentors but business models in the adult biz, and in biz generally speaking:
Fantasyman for his variety of reliable programs, continued personal support and everything he has done in this biz and together with us, webmasters;
Lensman for his open policy on this board;
Kevin for his great Topbucks program;
LA Mike for his great Silvercash program.
There could be mentioned many other things about them and what they have done for this biz, as well as about their helpful employees, or other respectable people in thiz biz, but since I made most of my money in time with them, and since I cannot mention all people here, they are in my top, and for this reason I thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.

Sarah,

Hugs and Loves my friend :)

---------------------------

Hmm not sure exactly who inspired me, well when I went from running bbs's to the net in 1994, there wasn't many people around that I know now.

1. Def. my best friend, biz partner and brother Fletch :)

2. Ron Levi as Serge said def. made me think about things and was a great sucess..

So many good people and friends I have met and made over all these years :)

sk8

Slap Happy - a class act from start to finish.

Simon from DrunkDollars.com :-)
Awsome guy always willing to help :thumbsup

That kid was a master manipulator of the media, and a GREAT marketer!!!

TOTAL EVIL GENIUS!!!

I learned a lot from him ... MOSTLY what NOT to do!

LOL

:winkwink:


Ron Levi

... another genius - NOT so evil!

I learned a lot from him too ... ALL GOOD SHIT!!!

:winkwink:


2 of the best learning experiences EVER!

Worked with BOTH guys at their respective peaks, and it was an incredible ride!!!

:thumbsup

Probably the best advice I've had came from quiet after I posted about making low 6's but not being able to push much beyond that.

Got me past a rut I was stuck in.

lil2rich4u2 is my reverse-lookup mentor.
Just don't do anything he does, and you're bound to make bling-bling :)

stroopwafel got me started on my first site, and gave me lots of help from design to traffic and business management.

later on i met s0laris, who has been the best partner in business I could wish for, and has helped me make this more than just a bit of extra income every month - but something I could live off.

countless other people have helped me accross the way of course.. theres so many of you :-) thanks guys!

Ron Levi was always great to hand out advice/comments/feedback when others were really tight lipped about things. And always would answer emails sent to him. This was about 5 years ago for me..

From 1998-2000 probably made more money from Cybererotica than any other program. Maxcash probably a close 2nd. This was the days of 1 in 30 front page raws, $40 free memberships etc..

I still remember Ron on a radio show talking about Max Cash.. Im like who is that?

Oy those were the days! Back then you could retire off 1 yahoo listing! I had one site making me like 20k a month and it is still the same site now it dont make 1k a year..hehe

I wish I had been more agressive back then.. I think I was too scared selling porn..haha

But Ron was probably the one I tried to follow the most when I was starting out.. and a large part of my "success" I owe to him.

So thank you Ron Levi!


Chris
aka pornoman

HOT

fantasyman for showin me how big biz in the porn world operates and that IT can be done and to think big... and secondly to joe holler for showing me how small to medium-time webmasters can make big profit and work at home comfortably and effectively....

even tho fm and i dont get along anymore, i learned alot...

in the non pornworld i am learning alot watching seth from IEG work, these 3 people are brilliant, no bullshit, take no prisoners businessmen and know how to make a dolla outta fit-teen cent like a mint!

Gallina Ivanova.
My mother.

great question, there's several people that come to mind.

Kong was a big influance(RIP brother)
aga, GREAT friend
tommy has allways been great
Greenguy awesome
meat, condom. net_pond one of the first to help
DoKK, you rokk bro
kimmykim, smart lady with looks:)
serge for many reasons
mikeai more recently
there's many and I could go on but wont:)
AND I want to thank them ALL
:thumbsup


check out my sig, 1 joins paying 15 bucks and it's converting like a MOFO :glugglug