In these increasingly desperate times, gay men are turning their bodies into product and turning to the internet to make money. Could you be next?

by Ken Knox

As Olivia Newton-John once sang, we’re “livin’ in desperate times.” With the economy still in the toilet and jobs harder than ever to come by, people have begun to think outside the box when it comes to paying the rent. For a growing number of gay men with a bit of an exhibitionist streak, that means using what they’ve got and flaunting it — or selling it — online.

This is by no means a new thing. Ever since gay men realized the value of using a gym membership, they’ve been stripping for dollars in bars and for porn directors. But now that body ideals are shifting (hello, stocky hairy studs and hot bald daddies!) and sexual attitudes are evolving — and with the increased prevalence of DIY porn sites — all kinds of men are getting in on the action. Seriously, anyone with a nice endowment, a special sexual skill or a fetishistic disposition can get in the game now. In case you’ve been mulling it over, here’s how you can create a career (or just a really hot side gig) for yourself in the online sex industry in three easy steps.

Create a profile on a sex worker site.

The first step in becoming an online sex star is simply putting yourself out there. Sites like the popular Rentboy.com and Men4RentNow.com are perfect for meeting local guys who are willing to put out for cash. All you need to get started are a few hot photos of yourself and the ability to express yourself clearly in words. The sites are simple enough: You create a profile that highlights your specialty, then wait for guys to start contacting you. For those who don’t really want to have full-on sex with strangers, try your hands at offering erotic massages. So what if you have to lay your hands on guys who aren’t necessarily your type? Whichever route you go, think of it as altruistic work: You’re providing a valuable service to these guys by relieving stress and relaxing their bodies. And who doesn’t love a happy ending?

Post a video on an amateur porn site.

Once you have your profile set up, why not give people an idea what they’ll be getting if they hire your sexy ass (or any other part of you, for that matter)? There’s no better way to do this than by filming it and posting it online for prospective clients to see. Invite a f*ckbuddy over, get naked and do what comes naturally while the camera rolls, then head on over to one of the hot tube sites (like PornoTube.com, RedTube.com, GayTube.com or the old standard, XTube.com) and upload it. There’s simply no better place to check out authentic homemade porn—or to market yourself—than these sites, which also give those just looking for some extra cash a lucrative way to do so by allowing users to charge between 99 cents and $5 for viewing rights to their clips. Imagine: filming a movie with your favorite f*ckbuddy, then collecting a nice little chunk of change as your view count—and your popularity at the gay bar—goes up.

Market yourself on hook-up sites.

As you’ve probably noticed, sites like Manhunt.net, Squirt.org, Adam4Adam.com and Men4SexNow.com aren’t just populated by regular Joe Blows looking for a Joe to blow them anymore. These days, hook-up sites are being used as marketing tools for escorts and massage experts cruising for new clients and any number of up-and-coming porn producers looking to find new talent. And why not? With so many men having taken to the ‘net to “find friends” and “just look around,” these sites make it possible to spread the word to guys who are trying to spread their seed. Create a profile, upload it to the site and then hope that word of mouth gets around faster than you do. Just hope that your mother never finds out.