Advice from Anna Bell Peaks: To Finish with a Bankroll, Start with a Plan

Among us humans, there’s a natural tendency to divide and categorize things, in part to make them easier to understand. As such, it’s no surprise that people tend to think of performing in adult videos and camming not only as very different activities, but almost like separate, entirely distinct worlds.

There’s no shortage of adult performers who seamlessly traverse the two markets though, carving out successful careers in front of both ‘traditional’ cameras and the web-connected, real-time variety.

One such performer is Anna Bell Peaks, a dedicated, self-assured professional who says part of the key to her success is the fact she loves both camming and performing in adult videos, albeit it for different reasons.

“I don’t think I could just cam or just do videos,” Peaks told YNOT in a recent interview. “Part of the reason I have made it five years and been successful is that I varied my business platform with multiple services.”

For Peaks, the decision to tackle both camming and performing in adult videos wasn’t just about diversifying her business platform for maximum appeal to consumers and fans – it was also a means of keeping herself interested in and stimulated by her work.

“It’s not just smart business, it also means I never got bored, tired, or burnt out in any one thing,” Peaks said. “If I had just webcammed, 40 hours a week, for years, I would have burned out. If I had just done scenes, 15 or more a month, every month, I would have burned out. Variety really is the spice of life!”

As a well-established performer in both the camming and video fields, Peaks is never at a loss when it comes to advice for newcomers – including some tips which reflect her advantageous penchant for thinking ahead and being mindful of the long term.

“There’s lots of articles out there about best lights, tips on getting people into rooms, what to do or not do when on cam,” Peaks said. “But, if I had to give just a short piece of advice to a new person in the adult industry, I’d tell them to make a business plan, set achievable goals, save your money, and plan your exit. Because honestly, you will be more successful if you first lay the groundwork for your career. And ultimate success is being able to retire when you want to retire. I did this successfully, and I hope I can share that pathway and success with anyone who really wants to follow in my footsteps.”

As a detail-oriented DIY businesswoman, it’s no surprise to hear that among the things she loves most about camming is the freedom and self-determination it offers.

“My favorite thing about camming is I do what I want, when I want, and in the comfort of my space,” Peaks told YNOT. “I know that may sound oddly selfish or personal.”

Given her open mind and ability to adapt, it’s also unsurprising to hear that what Peaks likes best about camming isn’t a static affair, but something which has evolved over time.

“The truth is, my favorite things have changed over five years,” Peaks revealed. “When I first started, my favorite thing about camming was that people were so nice. I wanted to hear people be nice to me, and it helped build me into a confident woman. Now, I value my privacy a lot more. I think it’s because now I’ve ‘made it’ and I’m super recognizable, so I don’t have that privacy available to me. So, when I cam, I’m opening up my space, but I’m doing it on my own terms. I am letting people into my life for these moments, and it’s wonderful to both let everyone in, and then say goodbye at the end of the show and have my private life back.”

Always looking to expand her horizons – and to do her part in helping newcomers to the industry – Peaks has established a “Model Mentor Program,” a series of sessions in which Anna imparts what she has learned to newbies, enhancing their chance of replicating her success.

Peaks’ upcoming presentation at YNOT’s #Cammunity model summit will serve as the launch pad for a live component of the Model Mentor Program.

“I’ll be not only live at the YNOT #Cammunity in Hollywood, I’ll also be broadcasting the session live on my Model Mentor Program Platform for those unable to attend in person,” Peaks said. “My Model Mentor Program kicked off in January, with signups and referrals of performers with tons of content to web developers that could help them monetize that content immediately, and it’s been a great success already. Now I’m launching my Live Mentoring.”

Peaks describes her Live Mentoring program as “platform where every person who signs up has access to me, live, so their questions can be answered in real time, my strategies for success can be discussed and implemented, and I’ll be tracking results of everyone in my program weekly,” Peaks said – adding that anyone who wants in on the mentoring needn’t hesitate, as they can sign up now at  www.annabellpeaksxx.com/mentor.