This was originally a reddit response towards someone that wanted to use camming to make extra cash, but wanted to remain anonymous. She was seeking pros and cons to sway her one way or the other. When I realized how applicable it was to other women on the internet in a similar position who may have stumbled across me, I decided to include it here for assistance.
I definitely wouldn't suggest putting the effort into putting yourself out there as yet another camgirl unless you've got something that really sets you apart from all the other options, and as you don't wish to show your face or reveal any information (assumedly even to the private cam companies), this line of work isn't recommended. As a fourteen year veteran camgirl, I should also mention a few of the lesser known cons to camming-
1) Housing discrimination - i've had numerous landlords find out what I did by googling me, and have then found petty excuses to get out of leases. If I'm totally up front about all aspects of my employment, they usually won't rent to me. As I'm using it as my sole employment for so long, it's now even harder to avoid disclosure. I eventually had to move to a more liberal side of the country to avoid homelessness because of this problem in the bible belt.
2) Infections - Because of the nature of sex toys, sex toy storage options, sex toy materials, and increased sexual contact (both solo and otherwise), I've got a much higher rate of UTI's. I've had enough of these that now they usually immediately spread to my bladder, then my kidneys. They never go away on their own, and the hassle of going to the doctor every month or two is not awesome. Related antibiotics have unpleasant side effects as well.
3) Wandering Waitress Wage- As with many primarily commission and tipped positions, the series of smaller paychecks that dwindle in from camming lead to a much more difficult time paying bills, saving money, & budgeting. When paychecks are only for $50-100 at times, it's difficult not to blow through them as soon as they show up, leaving you feeling like you're always working and never getting any farther ahead.
4) Unless you live on your own completely with no neighbors, at some point someone else will hear you. Customers like a wide range of things, from loud weird shit like popping balloons to yelling insults. If you have to stay quiet, you'll make a lot less money. If you are uncomfortable with audio all-together, you'll make practically nothing, and have to deal with the constant inquiry about it and begs to correct.
5) It requires your undivided, positive happy attention, regardless of whether you're being paid or not. This also means that any and every emotional stimuli or illness can alter how well you can do your job. Customers will pick apart every face you make, every mood you're in, and will be subconsciously less aroused by you if you do not appear to genuinely be in a good mood. This is easily the most difficult thing about this job.
6) Self confidence issues (Related to above)- while camming will usually boost one's self confidence, if any other aspects of your life make you feel poorly about yourself for any reason (partners, health, etc), you will procrastinate and avoid camming at any cost. Negative confidence long term issues result in a sudden frequent drop in earnings with little way to predict when or how to avoid them.
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I definitely wouldn't suggest putting the effort into putting yourself out there as yet another camgirl unless you've got something that really sets you apart from all the other options, and as you don't wish to show your face or reveal any information (assumedly even to the private cam companies), this line of work isn't recommended. As a fourteen year veteran camgirl, I should also mention a few of the lesser known cons to camming-
1) Housing discrimination - i've had numerous landlords find out what I did by googling me, and have then found petty excuses to get out of leases. If I'm totally up front about all aspects of my employment, they usually won't rent to me. As I'm using it as my sole employment for so long, it's now even harder to avoid disclosure. I eventually had to move to a more liberal side of the country to avoid homelessness because of this problem in the bible belt.
2) Infections - Because of the nature of sex toys, sex toy storage options, sex toy materials, and increased sexual contact (both solo and otherwise), I've got a much higher rate of UTI's. I've had enough of these that now they usually immediately spread to my bladder, then my kidneys. They never go away on their own, and the hassle of going to the doctor every month or two is not awesome. Related antibiotics have unpleasant side effects as well.
3) Wandering Waitress Wage- As with many primarily commission and tipped positions, the series of smaller paychecks that dwindle in from camming lead to a much more difficult time paying bills, saving money, & budgeting. When paychecks are only for $50-100 at times, it's difficult not to blow through them as soon as they show up, leaving you feeling like you're always working and never getting any farther ahead.
4) Unless you live on your own completely with no neighbors, at some point someone else will hear you. Customers like a wide range of things, from loud weird shit like popping balloons to yelling insults. If you have to stay quiet, you'll make a lot less money. If you are uncomfortable with audio all-together, you'll make practically nothing, and have to deal with the constant inquiry about it and begs to correct.
5) It requires your undivided, positive happy attention, regardless of whether you're being paid or not. This also means that any and every emotional stimuli or illness can alter how well you can do your job. Customers will pick apart every face you make, every mood you're in, and will be subconsciously less aroused by you if you do not appear to genuinely be in a good mood. This is easily the most difficult thing about this job.
6) Self confidence issues (Related to above)- while camming will usually boost one's self confidence, if any other aspects of your life make you feel poorly about yourself for any reason (partners, health, etc), you will procrastinate and avoid camming at any cost. Negative confidence long term issues result in a sudden frequent drop in earnings with little way to predict when or how to avoid them.
