Meet Nikki Night, the porn industry's leading 'Camgirl Coach'

This is Episode 11 of Real Future, Fusion’s documentary series about technology and society. More episodes available at realfuture.tv.

It’s no secret that the internet is changing the porn industry. Adult video sales and paid website subscriptions have been falling for years, as streaming sites with millions of free videos take over. But there’s one part of the adult entertainment industry that is booming: live camming, in which men and women (but mostly women) get naked and perform adult acts on webcams, for an audience of paying fans.

Camming is estimated to be a billion-dollar industry, and it’s drawing in both amateur and professional models with its promises of autonomy, flexible hours, and less potential for exploitation than the traditional porn industry. But the camming industry is also filled with pitfalls, and breaking in isn’t as easy as it might seem.

Luckily for aspiring cam models, there’s Nikki Night—the head of performer training and development at CAM4—who has become the porn industry’s leading “camgirl coach.” A former cam model, Nikki now helps new models learn the tricks of the trade, including how to protect themselves from harassment and how to maximize their earnings. Her advice has become a vital part of the learning process for her students, and a powerful testament to camming’s potential.

In this episode of Real Future, we meet Nikki, follow her to a class for aspiring cam models at the Penthouse Studios, and learn the secrets to a successful career in camming.

Cara Santa Maria is a science and technology journalist, podcast host, Emmy-winning TV reporter, and a co-host of Real Future.