Disclaimer: I understand that I'm not a model. I'm here to provide some relevant insight from a member's perspective.
First and foremost; Welcome to the ACF! It's nice to see new members joining our community.
As others have already suggested; it's a good idea to verify that you're a model here to acquire the official model status. I believe you need to provide a picture of yourself with a written note which states the name of the forum (AmberCutie Forums, or AmberCutie should be fine) in order to verify your identity. By gaining access to the model's only boards, you can learn a lot of the do's and don't of the camming industry. Our objective as a forum is to help models prosper. I personally wish you to have an enjoyable time on MFC - it's a very unique experience.
In regards to your questions about initiating shows (Groups, Privates, Skype);
It's the member's responsibility to send a request to enter a private/group show. It's customary for some nudity to occur during the duration of the show (on your part), but it's not mandatory. It's in the rules for you to inform the member within the first minute if you're going to do a non-nude show though, as private shows are quite expensive at 60tokens/minute (which costs between $5-6 for the member, per minute).
To establish some clear boundaries, you should consider making a good profile first. Good profiles shouldn't be like a questionnaire - it should be a way for members to get to know about you. It should include a set of rules and boundaries, a FAQ section which answers the commonly asked questions (which eventually becomes an annoyance, e.g. 'do u do skype an paypal bb?', 'r ur boobs real bb?', etc.), and a section for learning more about you. It may also act as a place for advertising miscellaneous sales, like videos/pic sets, and panties for example.
A general rule of thumb on determining whether a profile is 'good' would be to imagine if you stumbled across a profile that looked exactly like your own, that you'd find it enlightening and captivating. After all, it could be the difference between establishing a group of 'regulars' (loyal members who enjoy your company, therefore comes to your room frequently) or not.
Also, it's a good idea to discuss in private chat about the expectations - you don't want to initiate a private to be pressured into adhering to an absurd request (MFC manages to attract an abundance of strange people), and it's a good idea to have a token minimum for private chats (it's typically 300-400, but for a newer model like yourself, it may have to be slightly lower). Remember; It's not just a job, you're supposed to have fun too. Don't throw away your dignity for extra tokens - make sure you're comfortable with the requests before accepting them. It'll save you the regret later.
Do note that MFC does
not endorse the use of Skype. It's disadvantageous for many reasons, so it's best to stick with private/group shows only. If you're reported to do adult-orientated transactions using Paypal (the reason why 'Skype and Paypal' is so frequently requested), the company would freeze your account and return the funds to the consumer. It's essentially giving away a free show. On the flipside, Skype shows could act as a nice raffle prize (the use of games is pretty common here on MFC) as it's more intimate than a private show, and the video feed provides greater clarity + is less likely to freeze up.
On the topic of cameras; It's suggested for models to invest in a good camera with strategic lighting. If you've got established a fan base, then you want to make sure that your members are enjoying the visual experience. The suggested cameras for purchase; Logitech 9000, or the Logitech C910. The importance of investing in a good camera and a few lamps is very high for anyone who wants to take camming seriously; the difference between the feed is phenomenal. The differences could be in pixellation, colour distortion, motion blur, speed of auto-focus, etc. It's a basic principle that members are more willing to join a room with a better quality feed.
Other semi-relevant stuff;
As mentioned above; don't forget the lamps! You want to be clearly visible; an adequately lit room is a more positive atmosphere than a dimly lit one. Do make sure that the lighting doesn't obscure the visual quality though - light saturation could lower the quality of the feed. Your walls and surfaces should non-light absorbent - for example, the use of dark curtains could sometimes counteract the effect of the lamps.
Don't forget a watermark! On the internet, it's not uncommon for your shows to be recorded and uploaded onto a tube site. It's unavoidable, so your objective should be to turn that to your advantage. There's a program called 'ManyCam' that could place a watermark on your feed, which acts as free advertising for yourself. Jessi's post here is a fine example of what to do;
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1140&start=210#p127064. One thing you can't do is to claim copyrights on it, as you've agreed in your contract that all feeds, pictures, etc. of yourself are copyrighted by MyFreeCams.
Personality... there's so much to talk about here. Like most men, members think with their penis first, so it's important that you're visually appealing - that gets them through the door. Once that's achieved, you want to keep them in (and returning for more) with a highly desirable personality; it's the ultimate driving force of member retention.
Firstly, be positive! Having an upbeat, positive attitude, being open to new ideas, being appreciative of humour, etc. are all factored into one's personality. Members feel more relaxed and comfortable when you're positive as a model, so they're more likely to want to spend money on you. They come on MFC to immerse themselves into a fantasy, to socialize with models/members, and to escape reality. Being a Debbie-Downer is counterproductive (thus against self-interest) because it drives members away; they get enough shit in real life without an additional reminder.
Be yourself, not a duplicate of someone else. Why would a member tip an imitation of someone else? They want something that only you could offer, since that's what they're buying. They're spending money on
you. Also, when I say 'be yourself', I actually mean 'be your best self' - it honestly helps you to stay motivated for camming. You want to be unique, desirable, and humourous - but you don't want to come across as an oddball. It may be wise to observe other model's successes/failures by creating a premium account and taking notes. Here's some examples of successful models with highly likable personalities; AmberCutie, JessiD, D0mino, MadisonLeigh, EvaLee, JoleneJolene, etc. (I apologize if I forget some of you, I'm recalling them off the top of my head). Additionally, the other benefits of creating a member account include; bringing about a new perspective, and an insight into the dynamics of MFC as a whole. You could earn yourself a regular from helping a newbie, too!
Be vocal; The use of text cannot convey the same level of intimacy and emotion as speech. Heck, some people would stay in your room just to hear your voice. The use of text should be reserved for private messages and topics.
Don't let yourself get dragged down; To be a successful model, you have to be strong. It's almost inevitable that you're going to encounter
many of asswipes on MFC - it's just a place that attracts the worst people of the internet to join. The ages-old ideology regarding misogynistic views still surrounds the adult industry, unfortunately. You will encounter some bad experiences on the site, but there's good experiences to be had too. In the highly competitive world of MFC, it's sink or swim, so be the model who swims! If there's an obvious troll, you can choose to either ban him or to troll him back. To do neither is against your self-interest, as it hurts your room - trolls can elicit drama and damage morale very quickly, which drives away your customers. It's suggested for you to ban them asap, as the alternative requires neglecting your room (which isn't beneficial to you).
Games; If you're struggling to bring something new to the table, then the utilization of games could help entertain your customers. Or, at least, it could provide some entertainment for yourself. A comprehensive post by a fellow member here should have all the advice you would need on this;
viewtopic.php?p=86360#p90477.
I think I've covered most aspects of MFC. There's always more, which you could more specifically ask assistance for. I hope this post doesn't bore you, I apologize for its length.
Good luck with your endeavors,
~ hornygods.
