Tag Archives: General Posts

A Post Dedicated to Our Friend Phin Johnson

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Back in January, our friend Phin Johnson died of COVID and a heart attack. The loss has been felt not only by us but also by many in our industry. Phin was the nicest guy and an uber fan of many of the girls. He went to all the trade shows and was always positive, smiling, and fun.

I met Phin when we worked with ArchAngel over five years ago–he was part of the Freaky Crew that promoted their brand and helped with social media. But Phin stood out, he was always offering to help in any way he could, and we became friends going out to dinner and texting each other. Phin sent us clients like Carmela Clutch and Rachael Cavalli.

I think the thing I will miss the most is his texts saying, “E how’s it going? Everything OK?” Of all the people I have known in the 15+ years I’ve worked in the industry, he was one I knew really cared about the girls, industry, and me. I trusted him completely and even hired him as security for one of our clients during AVN. As I write this, it’s still not real–I feel like he’s still going to text, and I can’t take his contact out of my phone.

If you didn’t know Phin, you really missed out. The Daily Memphian recently published a piece about him and his love of the Memphis Tigers. It’s a small snapshot of a great man who will be missed and definitely not replaced. Check it out at dailymemphian.com/article/19371/calkins-a-tiger-loss-a-tiger-death-and-why-hope-is-the-only-answer

Everyone Is Getting Canceled?

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Lady Gaga is a great example of using social media correctly.

A recent Yahoo article discussed how more stars are getting in hot water than ever before (aka canceled), in just the past few weeks.

Lana DelRey claimed she was “more unfairly treated than various women of color”.

Dojacat is rumored to have been in “an incel-friendly chatroom and recorded a song with allegedly dog-whistling lyrics”, which led to the trending hashtag of #DOJACATISOVERPARTY.

Ellen DeGeneres paralleled self-isolating in a multi-million dollar mansion to being in prison and has also received flack for treatment of her employees.

And, Jeffree Star named his latest eyeshadow palette “Cremated’ during a pandemic, which was received as “insensitive’ and got unwanted harsh criticism.

Because of the current COVID-19 climate, stars are under even more scrutiny than ever. When life and death come into play, these types of missteps get even more magnified.

A PR expert interviewed for the Yahoo article news.yahoo.com/everyone-getting-canceled-quarantine-why-073133054.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=ma had some very interesting thoughts including:

“Online backlash regarding celebrities’ lavish lifestyles is unwarranted because that’s just the reality of the rich and famous. ‘You’re looking at celebrities! Of course, they’re going to be in a beautiful home. If you can’t handle it, then don’t look at celebrities and don’t listen to them.’

We disagree–there is a time and a place for everything. When many people can’t afford to feed their families or pay their bills, it’s not a time to flaunt your wealth.

Eileen Koch, founder of Los Angeles based EKC PR, advised that celebrities should try their best to stay above the drama because not all of them are “emotionally strong” enough to interact with random social media users. “You’re not dealing on a fair basis. You’re not in a court where it’s controlled.”

Yes, they should try to stay out of the drama and think before posting to social media. It has nothing to do with being emotionally strong.

According to Koch, if a public figure makes a mistake, they should keep their apology to a minimum. “Less is more, if there’s something that you really did and you’re owning up to it, there’s nothing wrong with saying ‘I’m sorry.’ But if it’s someone’s negative opinion, then you’re just going to fuel the fire.”

Yes, you should apologize publicly. But, you should also consult your publicist for the best way to attack each situation–there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

We advise our clients about how to use social media when they start with us to avoid these types of blunders. Knowledge and self-control are your allies when using social media. If you would like to know more about our services and how we can help you, check out our site therubpr.com.

What Is a Publicist?

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This is the most asked question, besides what we do. Many people think we’re agents, managers, and/or even directors or studios. Our job is to get our clients’ names out there, or in simpler terms make them famous. This will elevate their image and careers, which can potentially lead to more work, recognition (nominations and awards), and standing out among a sea of other performers, cam models, clip artists, studios, directors or adult-oriented companies. We’re sure you have more questions, so feel free to ask us. Hit us up on email at info@therubpr.com.

Damage Control…A Reality in PR

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The adult industry has been part of some pretty awful press for the last year or so for everything from cyber bullying to drugs and beyond. Many times, when someone has bad press, they turn to a publicist or PR firm for help. Sometimes it can help, and other times not so much so.

We had a client who had a bad reputation for being difficult on set (and that’s putting it mildly). We told her to treat everyone on set with respect, no matter what their job was. Then, we suggested a name change and worked with her to come up with a new name. Everything was going well until she went back to her old ways and yelled at the director and his assistant. Then, her agency dropped her, word got around she was back to her old tricks, and then she couldn’t afford PR. She ended up leaving the industry. The lesson here is that if you want to fix your reputation is that you have to want to change and continue with the new behavior.

What about someone who has committed some horrible crimes? The crimes will be always tried in a court of public opinion–everyone has their thoughts. After they go before a court, that’s when everything changes. Based on that verdict, that’s when you will look at damage control. Even if that person is NOT found guilty, it will be hard to change public opinion. Going away for awhile or reinventing themselves might work, but it also might not. It’s all case by case.

We’ve become experts in damage control over the years. If you’ve had some bad press or image issues, we might be able to help. Hit us up at info@therubpr.com.

What Talent Agencies Do You Recommend?

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We get this question a lot. There are a lot of talent agencies out there in the adult realm, so it’s not an easy choice.

Based on the happiness of current and past clients, along with our relationship with agencies, there are two we recommend: OC Modeling and ATMLA. Why? There are many reasons., but here are a few:

  • Both agencies treat their talent on their rosters fairly and with dignity.
  • They run their businesses with integrity and do the right thing whenever possible.
  • Both Sandra McCarthy and Mark Schechter are people we respect very highly and are respected as a whole by the industry.
  • They both do their best to get their talent working, and as much as possible.
  • Both agencies have many award-winners on their current rosters.

If you’re looking for an adult agency, you should contact one or both. They’re both selective and not everyone gets in the door. But that’s true of many agencies, since so many people are trying to get into adult. If you’re looking to get into adult, a good place to start is with the right agent. Once you’re working, then you hire a publicist, and that’s where we come in.

Help Our Clients Get Nommed for Inked Awards

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You’re a fan and you want your fave inked performers to get nominated and hopefully win some 2018 Inked Awards. We’ve made it easy for you to get out clients nommed–go to https://inkedawards.net/nominations/ and #rockthevote every day through June 28th for our clients Savana Styles, Larkin Love, Kimmie KaBoom, Johnny Goodluck, Della Dane, Brooklyn Chase, Brenna Sparks, and Anna Claire Clouds in these catagories:

We’re Offering a New Service to Clients

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Our owner Erika Icon is an accomplished photographer with an art degree. Going forward, clients who are currently with us or join our roster will get free photo services for events. If you have a birthday party or event (which we will more than likely plan/organize for you also), we will photograph it for free and send you all the photos, as well as send them to AVN and other adult sites to post. This is included in our fee and another service we offer at no charge. We also take photos of our clients at all the major awards shows and events. Here are a few photos we’ve taken over the past year.

What Happens When You Stop PR

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Sometimes, people want to take a break from the publicity machine, other leave the industry, and some run out of funds. PR (aka public relations) is something you should budget is for, because it can make or break your career–you want it for longer than just a few months. With hundreds of girls entering adult each month, you need to stand out and we have been very successful in helping new, established and/or performers that just haven’t gotten the attention that they deserve.

So what happens when you stop PR? Your name isn’t constantly out there anymore. People forget about you when you just disappear. Your work could slow down…a lot. You don’t get nominations and/or wins come awards season. Your career isn’t at the level you’d like it to be. And, more than likely you will be out of the industry sooner than you had planned. We’ve seen this happen a lot in the over eight years we’ve been in business.

PR should be like your water or electric bill–a necessity. It’s money better spent than on an expensive purse or shoes. If you want to do well, you need to have a PR team behind you, but make sure it’s the right team. Even if you had PR in the past with a different firm and were unhappy, we can change your mind about how PR works. If you’re brand new or even established and want to take your career to the next level, you need PR. There are so many other reasons besides the ones we’ve listed. Hit us up at info@therubpr.com for details.

When Photoshopping Gets Out of Control

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With the rise of 4K and HD being used, it seems that photoshopping has gotten out of control. Sure, studios make the covers look great and know when to say when, but the real issue is with the performers who show up on set looking nothing like their agency photos. In the past, studios would have sent you home. But, time is money, and they just won’t hire you again. This is why many talent agenices demand non-photoshopped photos for their sites.

Of course, everyone does some sort of photoshopping or editing of their photos, especially for social media posts. But, how far is too far? When you’re literally shaving your nose in half would be an extreme example. Making your stomach completely flat when it’s not, covering it up with cinchers, and/or literally making yourself look one-third of your size are other examples.

When your fans go to meet you at trade shows and you look nothing like your photos, this is another issue. No one wants to be deceived, especially when you’re selling merchandise that really doesn’t look like you. We suggest you learn to love your body and embrace it. If you want to opt for plastic surgery and it makes you feel better, go for it. Even heading to the gym to do sit-ups and squats to make your tummy or backside look better is great. But, don’t be deceptive by photoshopping images of yourself so much that they don’t even look like you is something completely different.

Think before you use that Photoshop app or program. The competition may be fierce but looking nothing like your pics will decrease your chances of consistently working and disappoint your fans. Long and fruitful careers are based on your work and the love and support of your fans.

Don’t Let Anyone Tell You That You Don’t Need PR

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I was recently speaking with someone in the industry who told me a female performer is going around telling people they don’t need PR. I thought to myself this can’t be good. So out of that comes a new blog about why PR is crucial for your career, if you’re serious about it.

There are Hundreds of Girls Entering the Industry Each Month

Yes you read correctly. Without a good agent and PR, there’s no way you will stand out. Of course, there are exceptions, but it’s rare. Interviews, press releases, and all the other services we and other reputable PR agencies provide are important to keep your name out there and get you working. We have had several clients who have experienced a bump in the amount of work they get from having PR. And, with companies it’s definitely a requirement, especially if they are new and want to get the word out there about themselves.

You Need to Pick the Right Publicist

There are some publicists who don’t do much and/or don’t have their clients’ best interests. If someone starts off with the wrong publicist, it can sour them on PR. Make sure you choose correctly. Check their track record, speak to current and past clients, and always go with your gut. If you don’t see results in two or three months, it might be time to get a new PR firm.

Make Sure Your Expectations Are Realistic

Many girls and guys think because they have a publicist, they will definitely get mainstream coverage. It’s never a definite. We have gotten our clients TONS of mainstream coverage and even got them cast in mainstream movies and TV. But the world still isn’t very fond of our industry, so we do our best with this. Also remember you’re not the only client of any PR firm and even if you get specialized attention, they need to service their other clients, also.

You Have to Want to Engage & Work with Your Publicist

Most publicists want you to approve press releases before they go out. And you will need to respond when they reach out to schedule interviews. You will need to RT their Tweets and even come up with your own Tweets. It needs to be a team effort with you and your publicist.

Make Sure You Can Afford It

If you only have PR for a short time, you won’t get the full benefit. Plan to have it for the duration of your career, because once it stops, you won’t see your name out there, unless you sign a contract with a studio that has PR. And, choose a publicist that’s within your budget–the most expensive isn’t always the best. We offer affordable rates and deliver results.

Step Up & Make Your Own Choices

Be careful who you’re seeking advice from as to whether or not you need PR or anything serious about your career or brand. If someone is jealous of you or has an ulterior motive, they’re not someone that you should seek advice from. Your agent, industry veterans or people along these lines are the best people to talk to.