I get that this is hard, but overall you guys are taking this way too personally. OP, who might not be here anymore because this was posted a long time ago, def is putting way too much of her personal feelings in this. It's a job. You're doing it for money. It's not about how they feel, or if you hurt their feelings, or if they all told you you should give your body to them for free. Being new on cam means being surrounded by a swarm of assholes. Ban or block every single one of them who demands things, or says upsetting shit. It's not true that you should be free or cheap. That just means you don't think you're worth much. I started out with top tip levels for things, including privates, because I know I'm worth it. Cheap guys complained, told me I need more experience first. But I made the money, and plenty of favorites, anyway. Do what you want, on your terms. It's not up to them to tell you what to do, how to set your prices, or anything else. They will follow a woman who is confident. They will attack someone who looks weak and like she will do whatever they tell her to. This is not about their feelings in the least. It is about filling your bank account, or getting whatever it was that you were seeking when you joined - write out your goals for camming, and stop at nothing to honor your own needs. Block anybody who interferes with your happiness.
This unbelievable with your looks.
You really are not understanding this. It's got nothing to do with how you look. You need to do more research on Chaturbate. If your self esteem is really shaky, camming might not be a good idea for you because it will tug at all your hidden insecurities. But, women who look every kind of which way make good money there. There is someone for everyone. You don't have to be model-pretty. If anything, sometimes that is a hindrance because there are a million model/porn-type girls out there, and in some cases guys see them as unapproachable and not likely to date them in real life. A more "average"-looking girl is sometimes more endearing and makes more money. There are girls on there who would be considered "ugly" by conventional standards, and they are making bank! It is just a matter of how much competition you have for your body type and other physical features at any given broadcast time. You need to out-rank them all with personality. Confidence. Doing whatever is your online persona, better than anyone else who has a similar persona. Being kind, friendly, personable, flirty, feminine, masculine, aggressive, emo, fetish work, cute, youngish, MILFy, dismissive, curious, weird... whatever is your thing, figure it out and do it to the max, really brand your personality. When you get to the point that you know your name is synonymous with that thing you represent, then you have branded yourself. Come out of the gate knowing you are the best at being who you are, and that nobody else on that site can ever be you, and you will pick up regulars quickly, earn respect, and make money. Plus, you won't have to compromise yourself, or feel bad about yourself. Know what you have to offer. If you think you have nothing to offer that is different from or better than other girls, why cam? It's about marketing. If you look just like everybody else, have the same show as everybody else, why would anybody stop on your page, favorite you, much less tip you? There are endless porn options for them to choose from on the internet, many of them free. You have to be a competitor, and have a fighting spirit. At least to compete with yourself, and try to get more money or more followers this week or this month than you got last time around.
Aurora, I don't know your cam work, I've never seen your page. But, just looking at your profile pic alone, I see a bookish/shy girl with sex appeal. I might be reading a lot into it, because your pic looks a LOT like a girl I know, and so of course this makes me think of her personality, which possibly has nothing to do with you. But since I'm into women, this girl I'm thinking of, drove me wild with her elusive charms. She was smart, vulnerable but somehow also very commanding in some areas, classy, kind-hearted but sometimes bitchy and mean, very quiet and shy and kind of librarianish, romantic but very hard to ever get too close to... complicated. There's really only one of her. But her TYPE, is valuable and rare on a place like Chaturbate. If that were to be an image you wanted to cultivate, for instance, you could absolutely do that. You could be dominant, or submissive, sometimes some of each, whatever you want. You could be talkative and excitable, or not. But, be UNIQUE. Be sure of yourself on the inside, that you know what image you're selling.
I'll tell you, classy is very rare on Chaturbate. A lot of guys will pay more for a girl who has some clothes on, who flirts rather than cums and screams all over cam for free. Who speaks with intelligence. Who seems dateable in real life - like a girl he could bring home to Mom, but who really likes sex to boot! Flirting sometimes makes way more money than outright sex and nakedness, if you're good at it. Don't feel pressure to do what everybody else is doing, or compare yourself to them, if that's not who you are or what you enjoy. It's not sustainable, and you'll make less money. This girl that your pic reminds me of, she had low self esteem, never felt like she was pretty enough compared to other girls. Always lowered herself to try to compete with club-type girls, who had a much more superficial, plastic image. But what I liked about her, was that she DIDN'T fit the cookie-cutter image. That she was smart, and did things her own way. That she had her own style that fit her. Those other girls had nothing on her. She projected quality, and that's what guys saw in her. And ultimately what her husband saw in her. He was the type of guy who had previously been surrounded by a bunch of model-y look-alike girls. But he chose to invest the most of himself in a girl who was attractive in her own way, and who stood out a little more as being a real person. That's a perfect metaphor for how Chaturbate works. It's designed so people will attach emotionally. It's best to use that to your advantage if you can, to be the "girlfriend" type girl. Approachablle, quirky maybe, sweet, but always in control behind the scenes of your own destiny.
I'm having this same issue on CB. I like to chat but its hard getting people to talk to me and even harder to have people tip. I'm pulling 5-8 hour shifts and making $40-$50. I have great set ups, good cam, great lighting, hair, makeup and outfits are on point. I have the silly Lush thinggy which seems to be the only thing people tip for. I wish they played my games, tipped for the tip menu and chatted with me but its been a huge struggle. Ive dedicated three weeks of researching on this site and others for tips and then all night trying to make it work. I'm at a loss here.
The other thing I have to add here, as I've said elsewhere, is that it's an oversaturated market. Tons of people are racing each other to the bottom, to give more away for less. There is no cam model union, although there should be. Very few people who start new are making good money. You'll have to put in time, and have a lot of personality and patience, to do well and get regulars. Models who started a few years ago had a totally different experience from what it's like to start now. There is way more competition, and if you don't already have a ton of followers it's really hard to get them. On Chaturbate, nobody really cares about the lighting and equipment and perfect hair. You get more tips, based on if people feel personally connected to you, or if you provide something they can't get anywhere else. If you're doing the same thing everybody else is doing, or giving a lot of stuff away for free, they will just take what they can get from you and move on to someone else who is giving it away for free when they're tired. What do you have that stands out, that they can't get anywhere else and that is worth money to see? It's good if you like to chat... but man, those rooms are really slow until you get up a lot of followers, because most of them are too busy with their dick in their hand to type! So, have a plan for something to do that keeps you interested, but is not so tiring that it's sustainable for hours at a time, even if they don't talk much. Tell a story. Flirt a little. Show them a dumb trick that is non-sexual that gives some of your personality away and is kind of funny... like playing the flute with your nose. Whatever. They want someone they can feel attached to. Expect though that this will be a long haul, likely you'll have to work at it for a while before you start picking up more money. Stop spending money on making it fancy (I made that mistake also to start) and focus instead on just enjoying yourself in the room - that way even if you get very little pay, you'll feel like at least you had a good time and are not wasting your life totally. People like to see someone genuinely enjoying themselves, so over time you'll probably get more traffic, and regulars who are attached to your success.
But the idea that new cam models are overnight thousand-aires is a thing of the past. Particularly on Chaturbate I know, most people who are starting out in 2017 and after are really struggling in the first few months just to pay for equipment and a few outfits. So anyone starting out should spend only the bare minimum to get broadcasting, and focus on giving a good show that has that right balance of giving unique qualities or personality, but not giving too much away for free. It takes time to find your space, and your following. Upgrade to the better stuff when you have enough following and income to support it. All the old advice unfortunately on how to be a successful cam model doesn't seem to apply anymore, which is why I'm trying to write wherever I can to correct it. There are millions of people online competing with you now, always someone willing to set a lower price, always someone better looking. You need to be really sure of yourself, and really enjoy what you're doing and be something they can't get anywhere else in the world. If all you've got is a pussy and a pair of tits, those are going for mere pennies online now, because so many of them are free.
This is just business, not personal. Do what you want, give nothing that you don't. Show them who's boss. Respect for yourself, usually translates into respect from others (and thus, tips). BUT, it takes a while to build the following. In the meantime, block every negative asshole and user and manipulator who comes into your room. And when you're new, make sure you know the difference between a real tip, and those jerks who post a fake "tip" comment. Ban permanently anybody who posts one of those comments, trying to trick you into doing stuff for free. Look into other marketing techniques if you're comfortable, like Twitter and other social media accounts. Learn how to promote yourself like you're worth top dollar and have a buzz already (even if you technically barely have any followers yet). Camming is about fantasy. People buy image, not reality.
Probably everybody here already did the basic research, but the stuff about how to use bots and apps is also helpful, and certainly having a tip menu and using goals does help get things started. So if you don't have any goals that they're paying for, do read up on that. Games will earn a little bit too. But even with both going at the same time, plus a tip menu on top of it, Chaturbate is very slow for most new models in terms of money. Everybody's just looking to get something for free, and take advantage of the new girl. Never EVER trust what a customer tells you. They are not your pal, and are not looking out for your best interests. They will be mean, or nice, or whatever they feel like, just to get what they want out of you. Be friendly, but keep your emotional distance, and remember you are always in charge of your own room.
Note that other models say they make much better money on other sites. I have not tried them yet to confirm. It's worth considering though. Just remember that most other sites take a larger percentage of the earnings. So you have to make enough for that to be worth it in the long run.
Remember always that you're beautiful and worthwhile, and your financial success on a cam site, or lack thereof, has got nothing whatsoever to do with how hot you are, or how wonderful of a person you are. Don't ever let the pennies a guy throws at your chest determine what you know about yourself to be true, or how much you think your insides are worth. What they choose to pay, or not to pay, usually has very little to do with you, and a lot more to do with that particular guy's wallet size and ego on that given day. Sometimes they tip big just to prove they're a big man to other guys in the room. Not because they're into you at all. Don't take the job personally. All it is is a paycheck, and unfortunately, it's a pretty inexact science with an unsteady pay rate. Having photos and other things to sell on other sites can help with the income. But of course always remember, they will be around forever, you can't ever take them back. Internet sex work will always have a record.