Interview with a Male Sex Worker in London

A nude webcam model explains how he makes close to $1,000 a week from his bedroom

The most surprising thing about G (referred to by initial only, as per his request) that crossed your mind when you first met him was how normal he looked. Blond, blue-eyed with a slim build and pleasant smile, he looked like a university student. When I first met him in the early summer of 2016 he was working in a popular gay bar in Central London. That bar was frequented by locals and tourists alike and looked pretty much like any other proper London pub. Except of course for that darkened back room that was, A — strictly for men and B — what members of the gay community called a “cruising area” — specifically meant for sexual activity.

Back to G. He was 25, Polish, attractive and had already spent a year in London working bartending jobs at various places. He was chatty too and talked to customers seated at the bar with ease in his charmingly-accented English. He was gay and from the moment I met him I noticed that he was very popular with a few older regulars. Cryptically, I heard one man whisper to G as he was mixing a cocktail, “Loved your show last night…” or something to that effect.

Intrigued, I discretely asked him about what the other fellow had mentioned.

G was completely candid and nonchalant. He just smiled and casually told me, “I work from home most nights, on cam mostly.”

I was unsure what he meant, but after a brief but lurid explanation, it turned out that during his days off G was performing in sex shows broadcast online live from his bedroom via webcam.

He was in his own words an “adult entertainer” slash “sex worker” and from what I gathered during my barfly eavesdropping, apparently quite a popular one too! He explained it to me thus: He basically offered porn watchers an interactive experience, taking direct suggestions and requests. It was, in his own words, “…much more raw and intimate than ogling a dirty magazine or downloading a porn video”.

I immediately wanted to interview him and learn more about his life and unusual profession. Not wanting to miss this intriguing opportunity I told him that I was a budding writer researching the subject.

He agreed and after his shift (it was already past 1 am) we sat down at a bus stop near King’s Cross Station where he calmly answered my questions.

How did you get started?

I came to London to get a job and improve my English, you know. Some of the guys I met while bartending told me I could make a lot of money with just my webcam.

So there were other guys doing it too?

Yes, and even before I started, just from what they told me, it was very good money.

How did you get hired for a job like this?

It was easy, just sign up with the cam site. All you need is a photo of your ID and a photo of you WITH your ID so they can be sure it’s you and you’re not underage. Oh and always look directly at the camera (he laughs) with no funny angles if not they’ll reject your application. Make sure the light in your room is good and bright. After that you get verified in a few minutes. Took me less than half an hour to get it all done.

Do you always work from that same site?

Yes, because my followers know me from there and I also have a Twitter account to tell them what time I’ll be on. They know where to find me.

How many times do you work a week?

I don’t really like to set a schedule but usually four nights a week. Sometimes not at night, but in the morning because I have viewers all over the world, in different time zones. I know another young guy who does it six days a week once in the morning and once at night! He makes a lot of money. But I don’t think I can do it, I have my bartending job too and (G chuckles loudly) honestly I don’t have that kind of stamina!

What exactly do you do?

So when I log in and turn on the webcam, my viewers who come on my chatroom can see me immediately. They can chat with me and tell me what they like. That is all free. But for more hardcore stuff they have to pay me in tokens, no cash. They have to buy the tokens from the site and on my chatroom, I set the rules. Like, “I’ll strip to my underwear if you pay me 20 tokens, add another 10 tokens I’ll play with my feet…yes many men like that… 50 tokens and I get naked”. That kind of thing. If I earn 80 tokens I play with myself, get an erection and start more kinky stuff. Usually I watch the other camboys on the site too so I know the going prices. And I learned a lot of new things too!

How much do you make a week, for example?

Depends, the camsite keeps 40% of my earnings, so when the tokens I make that night are converted to money I get about two to three hundred quid a night usually, but it all depends. Maybe seven to eight hundred pounds a week (approximately $1,000).

How long is a session?

As long as I want it to be. Usually one hour to one and a half. Longest was crazy one, maybe four hours for a private show but that was really exhausting for me.

So you do private shows as well?

Yes I usually get requests for private shows too. That means it’s just me and one viewer. I do whatever they want me to do (laughs). They cost a lot more than the public shows, and that’s fine with me!

Do you see the faces of your viewers?

Not while I’m doing a public show but on private I can set it to cam-to-cam that means we see each other, but only if the other guy is OK. Some guys like me to see them when I talk dirty with them, and there are some real exhibitionists who love showing you what they got (laughs again). As long as they pay me, I’m fine with it.

Are your viewers male or female?

I think all male and it’s because I clearly say on the camsite that I am gay. And also a few tell me they are married men too, I think they’re actually gay or bi but married to women, you know because of pressure from family, religion, whatever. A lot of guys say the are “bi-curious”, they say they are straight but want to experiment with other men. On cam I guess they can start experimenting with other men without actually going out of their house and physically doing it.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done on camera?

Well I had one strange request. I think the guy paid me for a full day on private. He asked me to make a cast of my penis and have anal sex using it!

Did you do it?

Of course, there’s a kit you can buy on Amazon (laughs) to make a silicon cast of your own penis! And I actually did it on camera with him watching. I think he thought it was kinky that I was having sex with myself! Well whatever, I made an absolute mess but it came out OK at the end!

Have you ever met a viewer in real life?

Yes but it’s usually guys who recognise me when I’m working at the bars. Some of them have asked me out or want to pay me to go over to their place but I don’t do that. It’s a little bit weird and I don’t want to end up in some psycho’s place alone!

Does it affect your relationships?

Well, I’m single now but when I have a boyfriend I don’t know, I might stop or if I continue he has to accept it, I guess. I like to keep it flexible. It’s not something I can do forever, I mean I can’t do this when I’m old! But for now I find it fun and I make good money.

Does your family know?

No, and I don’t want to tell them! My parents are quite old-fashioned Polish people, they’re not religious but they would be shocked if I told them what I did! They think I am a bartender, which is also true!

It was then that the night bus arrived. We said goodbye and I wished him good luck. He got on the bus, flashing his usual bright smile.

I’ve always had a fascination for the lives of those whose stories are often left untold — the ones who are both visible and invisible — the prostitutes and sex workers, drug addicts, transsexuals living in conservative societies, refugees, runaway teenagers and those abandoned by their families for one reason or another. I’m currently doing research for a personal project tentatively titled Half-Hidden Lives. I’m testing the waters, so to speak, by publishing abridged versions of some of these stories here on Medium, so feel free to comment about how you feel after reading them. Some of the experiences I’ve recorded are quite disturbing and I do hope that we can maintain this space as a neutral and non-judgmental one. Thank you, Brian.