Gay Porn Performers Want to Make This Much Per Scene

Porn is a big business. And though gay porn is only a fraction of that, it's still also quite a sizeable chunk. For years though, the performers have complained about the way finances are set up on the backend -- over the past few years many have defected to sites like OnlyFans and JustForFans. But some choose to continue on in studio work, and are calling for change in terms of rates.

"As performers can we go ahead and say that no one who is performing for a studio should be getting paid any less than 1k a scene," performer Joey Mills tweeted Monday. "I hear about some of these new models' scene rates and how multiple well-known studios are knowingly taking advantage of young performers." Mills is known for his work with sites like Men.com and Helix Studios. Vegas Nights, the Helix Studios feature film he was in, has been sweeping up trophies at recent award shows.

"If you're a performer making less than 1k, this isn't me coming after you in any way," he continued. "I just want everyone to realize what your worth is] instead of letting your studio decide for you." The tweets got other performers to speak out about their pay. One user said he worked for Boycrush in the past and was paid $400-500, and another said that he was paid $300. Nic Sahara added his experience.

"When I started out I was making $500 per scene," he wrote. "Now that I am more experienced, I feel like a model should make no less than 1k." Performer Owen Hawk said he was paid $300 back in 2003 to film for Titan in addition to airfare.

"I took it [because] I was trying to break into the industry, which was hard back then living on the East Coast," he wrote. "17 years later still going and I don't regret taking that pay for the opportunities it brought.

On its face, a scene rate of $1k may seem like a lot to some -- and it may seem like not enough to others. But once you factor in the fact that in the vast majority of porn, performers see no residual income from their work, it's a different story. So when you do the scene for $300, and it's out there for a decade, being streamed and viewed, and bringing in more money for the studio, you're just there with your ... $300.

According to Mickey Taylor, the rates in the U.K. pale in comparison. According to him, the average U.K. model can make as little as $50 for a scene. Alex Roman says this isn't just a U.K. problem but a Europe problem in general.

This of course points out a key difference with fan site platforms wherein as long as people are subscribing, the performer receives a monthly check. Roman said that he uses his studio work -- as many do -- as marketing and promotion for his fan sites.

There are few ways to change the industry standard but one is, of course, collectively setting a floor. That's what Mills is angling for, establishing that floor at $1,000, and getting all performers to agree to uphold it, essentially forcing studios to raise their offers.

"One of the most common predatory tactics studios use is insisting they're easy and take less time," Ty Mitchell wrote. "You're not being paid for just your time, you're being paid for the rights to use, edit, distribute, and monetize images of you."

"Labor organizing is often best when it's between workers face to face," he continued in a later tweet. "One of the best parts of this past month was having candid conversations with performers about studios, pay, work conditions. Use your JFF/OF dates to have these discussions!"