Source: Adult Industry News
By: Devyn Devine
The Hierarchy of Porn: What I Learned on the AEE Floor
Hi gang! Devyn here and let me tell you, what a great time I had in Vegas! The 2006 AVN convention was my first one and sure to be my most memorable! I learned so much about networking and other girls in the industry. Basically though, I just observed everyone and came to the realization that there is a hierarchy in the adult industry. Tons of people look at porn girls as girls who walk around naked and fuck all the time. Hell, I even classified us that way. But unbeknownst to me, I was wrong. There is this hierarchy in porn that is unspoken and even perhaps, unseen until you put us all in the same room. Let me tell you what I mean…
So, walking in to the AEE convention hall, immediately I see the five biggest booths right up front. They were Hustler, Wicked, Vivid, Club Jenna, and Adam & Eve. I mean, hell, you would think you would see the AVN booth right up front considering they were the ones throwing this whole shin-dig. But, I think everyone can agree with me when I say that Paul Fishbein is not as cute as Jenna J. And let’s talk about Jenna. Her presence was, at one time or another, through her career at three of the five booths in front. She started as a Wicked contract girl, and eventually left Wicked and started Club Jenna and is also a Vivid girl. Coincidence? Even still, I didn’t see hierarchy in that right off the bat. I just figured the biggest companies had the most money and could shell out the cool cash for an up-front booth. I realized that there was more to it than that. As I was walking around, I saw a difference in the girls at each booth and even myself, but it wasn’t until I scored an interview with Wicked contract star Stormy Daniels that the hierarchy became clear! Let me give you some background on why first.
So I go to the AEE on first day wearing the tightest corset ever! I did this for a few reasons. First, my good friend Steve was taking me around and introducing me to everyone on the face of the porn planet! I live in Seattle, so I am at a disadvantage because I don’t get to go to porn star karaoke or to awesome LA parties and make connections. So I took this opportunity to make as many contacts as I could. Saying that, I felt it necessary as new talent to really accentuate my natural girlie talents (as if producers couldn’t already tell that I have big natural boobs!). Throughout the course of the weekend, I tried to wear the smallest, most flattering clothing I could so that I would get hired. So where does Stormy come in? Well, I scored an interview with her for a radio show that I co-host. She was signing downstairs at the Private Dancer Magazine booth. I can not even begin to describe the crowds of people who horded in to see this girl. Looking at her, realization began to set in. Stormy was wearing a mini skirt, a top that didn’t show any cleavage, and boots. She looked suitable to be outside whereas, looking at what I was wearing, if I went outside, everyone would know I was in porn. Classy verse trashy? I don’t think so. It was just the hierarchy of porn – the bigger the name you are, the more clothes you can wear and still get the same attention. People have already seen you naked, so there is nothing left to prove to anyone.
Throughout the show of course, the bigger names also got the better seats, had the bigger parties, and the harder it was to get into their parties (I did get VIP to Wicked and Spice, though!). So I guess, like any other industry, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up the ladder. Unlike any other industry though, women have a chance to excel beyond the glass ceiling and achieve ultimate success and fame. We may make our names by lying on our backs, but the bigger you are in porn, the more freedom you have to say “I’m not just a cock-sucking whore. I have a brain and I’m gonna use it!”
So I look at the hierarchy of porn and I don’t get upset or jealous. There are many things I learned on the AEE floor this year. I learned when wearing a tiny corset, use tape to hold your boobs in place (until Ron Jeremy walks up to you and pulls them out to suck on your nipples), I learned that whoever invented high heel shoes should be shot, but only after having to stand in them and smile for four days, but most importantly, I learned that all of these girls had to start the same way I do, and if I could learn from the best, then I will follow in their footsteps until another new girl with staying power comes along to prove to me that I have begun to ascend the ladder of porn success. Send your comments to Devyn @ AINews.com [linked in the box to the right].
