I can't bring myself to actually watch one of the updated videos posted after my departure, but suffice it to say my candid feedback has, apparently, caused a rift between myself & the owner of Badpuppy. I emailed him in December shortly after their first update and after he shared with me some of the feedback they'd received. I was very candid & honest in my feedback & mindshare, but at no point was I ever disrespectful:
Thank you for sharing this with me. It appears, ironically, that the loyal CAUSA subscribers share the same perception as I – that someone within Badpuppy believes that just any fat guy in a black shirt can recreate the CAUSA identity & eroticism on video.As I read back through this email almost two and a half months after it was originally sent, I'm still not understanding what may have been so offensive. I very clearly stated that my intent was to continue the success of CAUSA and without malice.
Personally, I do not believe that someone to be you because several weeks ago when it was just the two of us talking about BEI’s acquisition of CAUSA, you got it. You were the first to say that I & my point of view are part of the brand and what I do helps to create that value.
Two weeks later when I broached the subject with you, it was as if that conversation had never taken place, and it was so casually conveyed that you had contracted with an outside producer.
I knew then that someone within BEI had your ear and was providing feedback regarding CAUSA’s future direction that wasn’t consistent with nor tied to its past success (I’ve always thought it to be the “skinny” guys who never understood why CAUSA was so popular nor how anyone could ever find erotic some fat guy giving massages – and note the two twinkish CAUSA models who were used in the artwork for the acquisition press release – not really an accurate representation of the diversity of men who’ve appeared on the site but more catering to the twink demographic).
I will say that I was offended when I saw my “replacement” in the pix on CAUSA. Is that really how I was perceived by folks within BEI? I think both I and my loyal followers were shocked by what we saw (from what I’ve read on the Badpuppy Forum and the email that I’ve received directly from subscribers).
As a result and based on my perception from your first update, you’re at a crossroads with the CAUSA brand & identity: a) do you try to closely replicate the content & feel of CAUSA’s historical videos & retain the core group of loyal followers and build upon that following with a more global marketing reach that I was never able to achieve, or b) do you decide to take CAUSA in a completely different direction and build a completely new following.
Either of those business models has the capacity to be successful, but I believe your biggest challenge if you try to marry the two, is leveraging CAUSA’s historical content (that enjoys a niche following) to build a new subscriber base for content that is going in a completely different direction. The two are the antithesis of each other (a fat guy giving Average Joes erotic massages vs. a producer like William Higgins shooting perfect, professional, adult models having perfectly-scripted sex).
Personally, I do not understand the investment in CAUSA’s historical content if the idea is to slough off its historical subscriber base in favor of a new subscriber base that wants to see completely different content. I believe some of that uncertainty in terms of what direction to take CAUSA, is apparent in the selection of “Rod Barry” for your first update – and why he fell flat with the CAUSA membership.
Over the past five years, I had many opportunities to work with pro-am models who had appeared on other sites or worked for the major studios. Very rarely did I choose to work with those guys because the focus of the CAUSA content was on true amateurs who weren’t out shopping for adult gigs and appearing on all of my competitors’ sites – with my reasoning being, “What is the incentive for someone to buy a subscription to my site if they can see my models on other sites of which a potential subscriber may already be a member?”
On the rare occasion that I did choose to work with someone who had appeared elsewhere, it was after having reviewed his prior content and knowing that I would be able to shoot a video with sexual activities in which he had not previously participated.
My one caveat was “Ken Mack.” Ken was the naked extension of me. For obvious reasons, he could participate in sexual activities on video that I wouldn’t be caught dead doing, and he understood the art of straight-guy seduction. So, I used Ken in videos to take the truly amateur straight guys to the next level in their sexual exploration (95% of whom were recruited off of AdultFriendFinder.com where they were online, searching for pussy).
The member feedback provided on the Badpuppy Forum speaks to my approach in filming – it’s about the entire sexual experience of the guy on the table (not just focused on his cock) and although the length & size of my videos were the bane of your existence, that is what the site membership has come to expect (a video that tells the complete story of the guy on the table’s sexual experience from getting naked to getting off).
Truly, I am neither here nor there in terms of which direction you decide to take CAUSA. I just want to see that it & you are successful (tongue planted firmly in cheek: if you do decide to take CAUSA in a new direction, that leaves room for “Casey Black’s” return in two years... ;-). My only tangible vested interest in CAUSA’s ongoing success, is the continuation of the Casey Black legacy. So, with that said, I am happy to provide you whatever counsel that you wish (if you so wish).
And ironically, given the downturn in the economy, a boatload of “old school” CAUSA models came out of the woodwork the past two months, wanting to shoot new content. So, if you do decide to continue CAUSA’s current content focus and would like to have me shoot content for you periodically, I will be happy to do so (as an independent contractor through my own company, Casey Black Productions – not JV2).
Finally, my first statements in this email were not said facetiously or with malice. I feel as though we have a strong enough relationship that I may share my unadulterated feelings & opinions with you and you know that I share them with the best interest of CAUSA in mind.
As I've said before, Badpuppy threw me a lifeline in December 2003 when my business partners were ready to shut down the site -- and threw me another lifeline in December 2008 when they bought the site after I was forced to cease production. So, there are absolutely no sour grapes on my part.
Anyhoo...
There are moments when I miss it and my "old" life, but given everything that I am reading about the state of the economy & its negative impact on the adult entertainment industry, I know that I made the decision that was in my best interest.
Slowdeatha is...
I guess that's that I can say about that. It just is. :-P
I'm a flaming liberal trying to survive amongst a bunch of raging conservatives! I'm enjoying my time with my family and am looking forward to classes beginning in the summer. The job market here absolutely sucks, so I'm spending my free time on Facebook, Twitter, and reading a LOT of political blogs. Overall, I'm hangin' in there and looking forward to kick starting my life in a new direction.
Again, much appreciation for all of your outreach of support. Please continue to keep in touch.
All my best,
CB
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