What does it take to get The Atlantic Monthly to talk about porno? A failing economy—with porn as the great recession-proof hope. (theatlantic.com, our savior Faye Valentine)
Original post by Lux Alptraum
We’ve all heard how porn is recession proof, how porn companies are posting record profits while the rest of the world lays off half their staff. But is that really the truth?
An anonymous tip just received by the Fleshbot staff indicates that things might not be so rosy—at least not for one company:
I just got off the phone with [a Naughty America staff member], who was telling me the story of how the entire Los Angeles production crew was laid off yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. As they were wrapping up their final shoot of the day, all of the employees who were at the studio—roughly 15 of them—were asked to sit down for a conference. Out of nowhere, Laura D. (executive producer) and Michelle (head of HR) appeared and informed everyone that they were going to be laid off. They were offered two options: two weeks severance pay in addition to the two weeks of vacation pay they were about to get paid—apparently the production crew were all about to go on a two-week paid hiatus, OR, two weeks paid vacation after which they would return to assist in the tear-down of the studio, which would probably take two weeks, and two weeks severance pay. Basically, four weeks of pay or six weeks of pay. It sounds like everyone was stunned and a lot of tears were shed, including many from Laura D.
Also from the phone conversation I learned that NA is sitting on about three weeks worth of unedited footage that will hold them afloat for roughly a few more months, but there isn’t any word what the company is going to do after that. I would imagine that those employees working in NA’s San Diego office who haven’t yet been laid off are wondering what kind of job security they have at this point. I’ve heard of at least three layoffs from within the San Diego office over the past two months. The economy is truly affecting us all.
If this is true, we’re both shocked and saddened—Naughty America has long been a Fleshbot fave, and to see them taken down by economic woes would be truly tragic. We hope this email isn’t a sign of things to come across the entire industry—it’s so much better when people are getting laid, rather than laid off.
· Thumbnail illustrates happier times at the Naughty Office (naughtyofficegallery.com, via Ask Jolene)
Original post by Lux Alptraum
newVideoPlayer(”/askastripper.flv”, 506, 423,”");
Say you’re a classy strip joint gentleman’s club looking to upgrade your marketing for the new millenium. What do you do? How about making one of those podcasts? That’s what the kids are into, right?
We can only assume that that was (more or less) the idea behind “Ask A Stripper Anything?”, a web video series produced by Rick’s Cabaret. The series, which has been going strong(ish) since mid-August, features Heather—the stripper in question—asking, and answering, questions about anything (though mostly about sex).
Well, if the adult industry wants to survive, it has to embrace new technology, right?
(And no, we don’t know why the title ends in a question mark, either.)
· Ask A Stripper Videos (ricks.com)
· Rick’s Cabaret (ricks.com)
Original post by Lux Alptraum
We often get asked if porn is “recession proof”—or, more specifically, if people will still be jacking it long after their unemployment checks run out (and paying for the privilege to do so).
We don’t think there’s an easy answer. Obviously, sexual urges will trump any financial hardship. But whether people will continue to shell out their ever dwindling dollars, especially in an environment glutted with free and easy access to pirated porn—well, that remains to be seen.
Despite our hesitation, however, there’s someone who seems fairly certain that the adult industry (or at least one adult publication) is completely indestructible: Jossip has legendary big boobie rag Juggs on their list of “indestructible” magazines. What makes Juggs so rock solid?
“How do porno magazines still exist,” you ask, “with such a proliferation of free pornography on the Internet?” Wake up, snob: The great majority of people in the world don’t own computers, and even some people who do own computers don’t have Internet access. What everyone in the world does have is a desire to reach orgasm. So while you sit in front of the computer, trying to stay aroused while battling relentless pop-ups, Joe Sixpack is going to the bodega, picking up Juggs and getting his rocks off the old-fashioned way. Also working in Juggs’ favor is that, despite its tremendously cheap production, it can still fetch around eight to 10 dollars—less if you buy it in three-packs (not that we’ve price-checked it or anything).
And, we might add, none other than Kelly Madison is on the cover of the December 2008 issue. Indestructible, indeed.
· 5 Indestructible Magazines (jossip.com)
· Thumbnail star: Indestructible Kelly Madison (kellyfind.com)
Original post by Lux Alptraum
A German brothel has come up with an interesting advertising plan (and economic stimulus package!): men who get the brothel’s name tattooed on their arm will get free entry into the establishment for the rest of their life (as well as discounts on certain services, like lap dances). So, uh, what would it take to get you guys to tattoo the Fleshbot logo on your arms? (telegraph.co.uk)
Original post by Lux Alptraum