My Favorite Pornstar: Tell us a bit about yourself?
Mark Schechter: I am 61 years of age, married to my wife Marjie who is always by my side at each and every industry event. Between us, we have 5 kids and 5 Grandkids. I started in the adult industry in 1998/99, initially as an independent affiliate for the few adult websites that existed at that time. That progressed into learning the affiliate marketing aspect of the industry in depth which led to a business partnership with a small production company and my role was to build and brand an affiliate program called Blazingbucks. A few years later I was awarded by XBiz for having The Best Affiliate Program. I stayed in that business venture for a total of 9 years, eventually selling my ownership to Gamma Entertainment, who previously invested into Blazingbucks and continue to operated the websites to this day.
My Favorite Pornstar: You used to be a partner at Blazingbucks, why leave and why did you purchase ATMLA?
Mark Schechter: Leaving my partnership with Blazingbucks/Gamma Entertainment to purchase ATMLA was primarily to initiate some sort of exit strategy for retirement. Being the sole owner of ATMLA will enable me to one day turn it over to my staff to fully operate, and be able to enjoy my senior years semi retired. My target for that is hopefully before I am 65 years of age. I am confident I am on track for this goal.
My Favorite Pornstar: Why should an adult performer use an agent?
Mark Schechter: There are many reasons for an adult performer to use an agent. I think a few of the more important factors relate to the protection and validation process that is provided by the agent when there is a booking request from an unknown client. Along those lines is the advantage of having an agent manage the performers scheduling and assisting the performer with the various industry events and trade show events, as well as maintaining exposure and awareness of the performers represented by the agency. Another benefiting factor is that more often, directors and producers will search out potential performers simply by going through the agency’s rosters that are always readily available and current.
My Favorite Pornstar: What’s the difference between an agent and a publicist?
Mark Schechter: An agent procures and manages the work that is presented to the performer. A publicist’s job is to provide exposure for the performer and the work that was previously done.
My Favorite Pornstar: How has the industry changed from an agents perspective?
Mark Schechter: Social Media has enabled more performers to manage and operate independently without an agent. This takes a dedicated person who has a very solid work ethic and a communicative skill set in order to achieve success without an agent. Also, the quantity of production opportunities continue to decline, therefore the overall number of new performers entering continue to decrease as the revenue potential does the same. In addition, with the growing sector of content platforms that enable individual performers to create their own content, this sector operates without any agency involvement, therefore reducing opportunities on the main production side of the business for studios and agency’s.
My Favorite Pornstar: Can you tell us a funny story about the industry?
Mark Schechter: Off the top of my head, its difficult to pull out any one of the 1000’s of funny instances I have heard or witnessed. But, one that comes to mind, may not necessarily be funny, but it certainly is grotesque. So, there is a technique that is used when a female performer is on her period and she is scheduled for a Boy/Girl sex scene. She would insert a Sea Sponge to prevent the flow of blood during the sex scene. Well, apparently, a young female performer forgot to remove hers after a scene once, and a few days later was performing in another sex scene, when during the sex part, the sponge somehow become dislodged and came out. Apparently, the stench that filled the room was so bad, that everyone ran out leaving the girl there wondering what the hell just fell out of her vagina.
My Favorite Pornstar: What’s the best thing about being an agent?
Mark Schechter: For me, the best part is when performers reach levels of success that they have been working towards. This could be anything from simply getting an opportunity with a particular studio, or getting on their first DVD Box Cover, or winning an award. This is the ultimate satisfaction for me personally.
My Favorite Pornstar: What’s the worst thing about being an agent?
Mark Schechter: I would have to say the overall demand this job takes on me. I am basically on call 24/7, and I am the type of agent that responds quickly to each and every performer or production clients needs. If I am out enjoying dinner, or spending time with the family, and a booking request comes in, I always will handle it. In some cases, I can delegate this to my agents that work for me, but in some cases, it may be a situation that I need to handle.
My Favorite Pornstar: What do you look for in an adult performer?
Mark Schechter: First is always going to be aesthetics, so basically how the performers body/face looks. Attractive and sexy is a good description in regards to that. Secondly, is the age factor, we primarily are looking for girls who are 18 – 21 years of age, as they will have the highest level of revenue potential. Thirdly, is the personality of the performer, this will have a huge effect on potential success. Fourth, but certainly not last is a good work ethic and absence of any drug or alcohol issues.
My Favorite Pornstar: Mark Speigler is on his phone 24/7 and Tanya Tate goes beyond the normal role of an agent as seen at the recent AVN’s what’s ATMLA’s selling point?
Mark Schechter: I think our biggest selling point is my reputation as a straight shooter. I am very transparent in everything I do, and have carried a solid reputation for 20 years as someone who is knowledgeable, experienced and trustworthy. When I am interviewing a prospective performer for representation, I will only provide 2 promises, and this is stated to each and every performer that I interview… “#1, a promise of an honest and integrity minded representation, and #2, you and I will never have sex” I always enjoy the visual evidence of relief when a performer hears this from me, as the perception is that they have to do favors in order to succeed, and that is just completely false.
My Favorite Pornstar: Do you cooperate with other agents or is there a rivalry?
Mark Schechter: I am very cooperative with all of my competing agents. I maintain good relationships with them all. There is certainly a rivalry regardless, we are all trying to find and represent that #1 girl, and we are all trying to capture various opportunities and awards for all of our performers.
My Favorite Pornstar: What’s the future for the adult industry?
Mark Schechter: That’s a very tough question, for obvious reasons, but for me, I think the future of the industry involves the continued growth of the content platforms sector that enable individual performers to create their own content. This will someday take over as the main source of revenue for performers. There will still be the larger studios out there producing content, which will simply be an entry point for new performers, as this is where they can build their necessary social media following that is crucial for them to succeed with creating and monetizing their own content.
My Favorite Pornstar: Have ATMLA ever ceased working with a performer and if so why?
Mark Schechter: Unfortunately, yes. We have encountered a few performers who under our representation have either committed crimes, or conducted themselves in unprofessional and inappropriate ways and have had to terminate representation immediately. There have also been others who became too unreliable to our production clients when booked, and we were forced to terminate to protect our reputation of having a roster of reliable performers.
My Favorite Pornstar: Can you tell us about the special relationship that you have with production companies.
Mark Schechter: Early on in my career in this industry, I was taught the importance of establishing, nurturing and maintaining valuable relationships with anyone I came into contact with. This evolved over the years, and created trusting and beneficial working relationships with just about everyone I encounter.
My Favorite Pornstar: How do ATMLA get there clients work with production companies
Mark Schechter: First we continue to maintain a very high level of exposure and reputation of efficiency that leads to production companies continually reaching out to us for their performer needs. ATMLA will receive a first look from many producers searching for a particular performer for a movie role. We maintain the largest number of active performers of all agency’s and employ a full staff top properly serve the production clients needs. Secondly, we try to educate and guide each and every performer so they are able to reach their own levels of success in obtaining work
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