Gay Stars Make It 'Big' on the Web (Cybersocket)

[Guest ButchHarris]

ARTICLE - Gay Stars Make It 'Big' on the Web (Cybersocket) - ARTICLE

 

Web: http://www.Cybersocket.com

 

 

Cybersocket Magazine, March 2002 -- Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, there was a group of men who would have sex in front of the camera for money. These men, who put literally everything they had on the line for viewers' orgasmic delight, had only fleetingly heard about something called "the Internet" and never dreamed that the Net could help them make money -- let alone make their names known to a world outside of the gay porn community!

 

It used to be all about dancing and autograph sessions, the only way that these performers would have access to their fans. But with the Net, suddenly these performers were thrust into a spotlight that shocked many.

 

If you ask many of today's models, those who literally "grew up" in the Internet era, about life B.C. (Before Computers), you'd get blank stares. "What do you mean, no computer?" they'd ask. "How'd you guys survive?" Indeed, it's hard to imagine life without computers nowadays. Back then, fans would have to call studios or buy all the gay porn magazines, scanning for their favorite stars to see if they would be making appearances nearby. Now, all it takes is a point and a click on a performer's website and not only will you get their appearance schedule, you'll get exercise routines and what they ate for breakfast. And some, let's just say, get even more descriptive about what (and who) they do.

 

Take a look at some of today's most popular models. Would they be as popular without the Internet? We'd all like to think so, but without the Net and its far-reaching bandwidth, it certainly would be more difficult to connect with all their fans. Hit Butch Harris' terrific site [ http://ManNet.com ] -- his links page is huge and covers a diverse range of territory -- from twinks to daddies, from older stars to new.

 

Check out Logan Reed or Casey Williams' sites [ http://www.LoganReedXXX.com and http://www.CaseyWilliamsXXX.com ]. Both guys have been around for several years and are currently still very active in the gay porn community. The Internet helps extend a performer's "shelf-life" because they are still accessible. It used to be that when these guys retired, they were gone. But now look -- here's Randy Cochran, an incredibly popular black performer from the late ‘80s. Check out his website [ http://RandyCochran.net ]. He's still going strong!

 

Even performers who have died have websites! Hugely popular porn star-author Scott O'Hara even has a site that is dedicated to him [ http://ScottOHara.com ]. And he's been gone for several years. It's that kind of dedication that not only helps extend careers, especially with all the shrines that pop up everywhere [ http://AdamHart.com – http://KevinDean.com ], but keeps their careers alive. Look at http://ZakSpears.com -- specifically -- if you want an incredibly popular performer, look no further than Zak Spears. In fact, his shrine is so good; it's possible that the amount of popularity helped propel his comeback. (Okay, I'm sure there was cash involved, but knowing that you still have such a strong fan base, even after you've been retired for several years, has got to be a wonderful ego boost.) In fact, you don't even have to be a working porn star to be a successful porn star. And that is what makes the Internet so great.

 

Another example of how the Web has helped guide and shape careers is Chi Chi LaRue's Live and Raw site [ http://LIVEandRAW.com ]. Who else could steer the careers of so many performers besides the diva directrix herself and her insanely popular site? And securing a gig on Live and Raw is a nice leap. Not only do you get to show off your … assets for the camera, you get to connect with many of your fans. Her site helps expand the reach of the gay porn world and lets someone with a computer in Sioux City, Iowa watch his or her favorite studs jack off or perform live. Not only does it bring the viewers in, it takes the performers out.

 

Finally, let's not forget the computer savvy folks -- the models that know how to promote themselves and are constantly chatting with their fans, always scheduling live shows and creating links on their sites for maximum exposure. Stars like Will Clark [ http://WillClarkUSA.com ] and Nick Young [ http://www.NickYoung.com ] go out of their way to connect with their fans, and both have pseudo-retired from making videos, yet still have an incredible fan support. But for those performers who jumped on the bandwagon (and are still jumping), the Internet is a terrific springboard into making an unknown performer a gay porn icon. -- Jeremy Spencer

 

Copyright © 2002 Cybersocket [ http://Cybersocket.com ]. All rights reserved.

 

Jeremy Spencer works for AVN magazine [ http://AVN.com ] as Gay-Bi Managing Editor. He can be reached at [email protected].

 

Web: http://www.Cybersocket.com

 

ARTICLE - Gay Stars Make It 'Big' on the Web (Cybersocket) - ARTICLE