Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
AdultEmpire.com recently announced the addition of new content for the summer, including a new Weekly Update YouTube video channel co-hosted by Chelsea McCain. The videos treat fans to quick up-to-the minute reports on the latest news, reviews and podcast interviews, which contribute to the overall entertainment experience of the site. In this month’s edition of Women In Adult, we profile McCain to get her background and learn more about her professionally.
How many people can come into their place of employment, be able to speak freely about ideas, be creative, have involvement in such an interesting line of work, yet still do the business? Not many!
XBIZ: How did you get into the industry?
Chelsea McCain: In 2011, I answered a good old Craigslist ad for mailroom work. The position was to organize and sort bulk mail. When I found out the mail was actually porn DVD/Blu-Ray rentals, I think I fell in love with the sheer quirkiness of working in an area like this. Pulling and organizing the rental titles led me to data entry, data entry supervisor to catalog description writing, and now sex toy/novelty manager and part of the Adult Empire YouTube channel duo that reviews products, conducts interviews and acts like a goofball on camera. I miss entering the unique porn title names from time to time though. Those always put a smile on my face.
XBIZ: What did you do prior to working for AdultEmpire.com?
McCain: Oh goodness! I will be the first to say my past resume is somewhat of a mess. I was jumping from job to job just trying to find what made me happy. At one point I was selling shoes, just because I loved shoes. Another time I was booking loads for tractor trailer trucks, hoping to learn the trucker CB radio lingo and secretly wanting a set of my own mud flaps with nude girl silhouettes on them. I was marketing vitamin water, larger music festivals, fire and water restoration, and did graphic design at a handful of places as well. Now that I have realized that all I ever really wanted to do is learn new things, looking back at all the random jobs I had makes me understand why I was so scattered. I’m just happy now that I’ve found Adult Empire contentment.
XBIZ: What is a typical day like for you?
McCain: Well, there’s nothing like coming in each morning and sipping your coffee while you have a cock cage and realistic pussy on your desk. That’s always the first task! I like to do the email check, bug Becky (my YouTube sidekick) on good products to review and absurd themes to use for our videos which we film Tuesday and Thursdays. From there I surf a handful of distro sites to see if they have any new products released. I feel bad for my fellow employees who answer my constant questions on a daily basis since I do the knock on the door, face-to-face question asking. They also get bugged when I’m taking toy photos for the website. If there is an interesting product, I make sure to go around and show everyone. It excites me, but they are probably sick of me! Still, my favorite thing to do is get mini post-its and skim through product magazines and bookmark what I want to bring in for our site. It’s like the conducting of a sex toy wish list!
XBIZ: What challenges have you confronted in your career and how have you overcome them?
McCain: Trying to keep up with fresh products, keep my mind creative when thinking of silly things to make our product review YouTube videos fun, and last I would say dealing with closed minded people. You see genitalia all day and the products that get them excited, and the moment you walk out these office doors you have to censor yourself a bit. It’s a challenge sometimes to realize how desensitized you become. When someone asks what you do, and you tell them, they seem interested but you sometimes feel the judgment a little bit. I’m learning not to care and I tell ya what, it feels great.
XBIZ: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
McCain: Being able to handle some of the greatest toys that give people mind blowing orgasms, as well as driving to a job daily where I am just able to be myself! How many people can come into their place of employment, be able to speak freely about ideas, be creative, have involvement in such an interesting line of work, yet still do the business? Not many! I’m glad I get to go home every day, sometimes frazzled, and not have to groan about how I don’t want to go to work tomorrow, because in the end, I truly like what I do!
XBIZ: What is your personal motto or mantra that you live by?
McCain: I think I am still trying to find this out, but when I do find it out, it will be the signature at the bottom of all my emails. I’ve always wanted a good email signature quote! Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t enjoy food, squeezing a nice ass, and who can’t enjoy a hot cup of coffee. That can be my motto/mantra placeholder for now.
XBIZ: What career accomplishment are you most proud of?
McCain: My first year in the sex toy/novelty position was the highest grossing year in toys. Certainly a good feeling!
XBIZ: What are some of your professional goals for the future?
McCain: I want to start to read more about sexual science/psychology. I wouldn’t want to be a Dr. Ruth or anything, but understanding the body and why people truly want to use and look at the products our company sells in a more in-depth way interests me. I’m also excited to discover the innovative toys people are creating these days, which never cease to amaze me, and keeping up with these review/interview YouTube videos is steady on my mind as well. I’m glad that Becky and I are showing that seriousness isn’t always the way to go, especially when it comes to sex.
