Lala Ivey Talks Professionalism, Passion & Music

LOS ANGELES—There’s one word that comes up repeatedly in a conversation with Lala Ivey, the word that seems to best describe her approach to her career in the adult industry — “professionalism.” The 22-year-old Chicago native lists herself as an “entrepreneur,” a self-description she has proven worthy of over four years in the adult industry, largely running her business on an independent basis, starting with her work as a cam model and exotic dancer, which is how she broke into the business. But Ivey works both behind the camera and in front of it, serving as creative director for Exotic Vixen magazine, where it is her job to seek out and discover new adult industry talent. “I do a lot of their production shoots. I set them up, and do a lot of talent search. I do a lot of internet searching. It’s one of my passions. I feel like it was a passion before I even got in front of the camera.”  Ivey says she was discovered while stripping in a Chicago club, which led to her earliest scenes being filmed. “I got into adult filming independently. I wasn’t signed to an agent until a year after. I started mostly with my own independent content, on the pay sites and clip sites. I started webcamming also, during this time when I was dancing and modeling — just juggling all of these fun things.” Her independent approach, and ability to manage her own finances and career, also got Ivey through the COVID-19 pandemic, during a period when in-person filming was shut down to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus, leaving performers with few options for bringing in an income other than going independent. But Ivey had a four-year head start on the competition, as both veteran and new performers turned to camming just to make a living.  “I find that I have fans that have been around for a while. They’re like, ‘You’re my favorite. I’m here every time you're here.’ I have more of a loyal fan base. But I do see the fluctuation in new fans. They don’t stay around too long, or they go back and forth.” She has since signed with the VIP Connect agency, which she says appealed to her, due to their “professionalism.” “I feel like their communications, and their network, they type of work they find — it’s my type of work. It’s  very professional, very clean. I never really had a problem with any of the shoots I've worked with through VIP, or any directors they put me with. Or any companies. They’re all pretty legit companies.” It took about a year of scouting her, before VIP Connect persuaded Ivey to sign with the agency, she says. “VIP was one of the first agencies that contacted me,” she recalls. “But I put them on the back burner. I wasn’t ready to join an agency when I first got into the industry. After a year I picked VIP because they seemed pretty consistent. They were like, ‘Whenever you’re ready, we’re here.’ They were the type of agency I feel was best for me. I’ve been with them ever since.” The producers for whom she’s worked are also marked by that one quality, according to Ivey — professionalism. “I haven’t had anything too crazy with VIP — it’s been a breeze with them.” She singles of BangBros as one studio she has especially enjoyed working with, though she has worked for them just one time to date. “ I was pleased by their professionalism, and the way they treated me on set.And the way the content, my scene came out, a lot of my fans really loved that one. I was really pleased with BangBros.” Her experience with Brazzers also gets high marks from Ivey. “They’re always a pleasure to work with. I’ve worked with them a couple of times, and every time they treat me wonderful on the set.” The young performer, who has 52 credits over the past three years listed in her Internet Adult Film Database entry, is now looking to apply her distinctive combination of passion and professionalism to a second creative outlet, in addition to the adult industry — music. She took up music at an early age and is now working on producing her first tracks for public release. “In quarantine, I picked up more of producing music. I play piano, violin, and guitar, and now I’m getting into creating full instrumentals to actually include in my films. It’s pretty amazing,” she says. “I make all kinds of music — hip-hop, pop, alternative, electronic. It ranges.” She has not yet released any of her tracks, but she promises that her fans will be able to hear her new tracks “soon.” “I’m working on releasing a small website to display a little bit,” she says. “It would be part of Exotic Vixen magazine, to display more music for that.” Though her adult performing career, her behind-the-camera role for Exotic Vixen, and her music projects would seem to be plenty to occupy her time, Ivey nonetheless retains a chilled-out demeanor and overall lifestyle.  “In life generally, I love nature. I do a lot of meditating, and going on hikes and walks more than ever nowadays,” she says. “It’s been a very peaceful life for me at the moment.”