By Peter Berton

MONTREAL – When self-described “bi guy doing gay porn” Marko Lebeau decided to explore entrepreneurship by opening a talent agency in his native Canada, it was only natural for him to focus on the gay side of the business.

Eight months later, Ménage à Trois is brimming with male talent and has branched out into the distaff side, as well.

Lebeau’s goals have expanded, too. At first, he aimed to bridge the needs of adult studios and models by representing local talent and helping out-of-town studios access local production resources. Now, Lebeau has his sights set on serving the entire North American adult industry.

He spoke with YNOT about his philosophy, what it takes to run a modeling agency and future plans.

YNOT: Define Ménage à Trois as it exists today.

Marko Lebeau: Ménage à Trois — or Menage-a-3 — is an adult model agency based in Montreal. We represent guys and girls who want to do straight, gay or bi porn. We match models and studios wishing to produce adult content, whether it be for photography, videos or both.

We aim to fill a void by helping newcomers make their way in the industry by linking up to reliable producers of content. And we help content producers find the talent they need.

What made you decide to tackle talent representation?

I started out in porn a few years ago and was not very well informed about the inner workings of the industry. It wasn’t always easy to hook up with different content providers.
So, I created the agency with the purpose of bringing together good talent and reliable producers. Montreal is a growing location for content production, and no one was here to fill that niche.

How do you go about matching performers and jobs?

We refer models, girls and guys, based on their preferences. Some are experienced, but most are newcomers. Some will do straight work. Others are bi and will perform with both sexes, while others are gay and only work in same-sex performances.

Most models are on our website. Some are not, however, as they prefer to approach porn in an ad hoc manner.

How do you find your models?

Some hear about us, or we about them, through word of mouth. We also do some internet advertising, and we get referrals.

Is it difficult to serve both straight and gay markets?

It can sometimes be a challenge that can be overcome by the differences between the two sectors. The most important thing is to be aware of those differences and be sensitive to their varying needs.

What other challenges have you encountered with the business?

Taking the plunge into adult entertainment can be, for some people, a very daunting decision. This means we have to help them have all the information so they can make the right decision for themselves.

As well, people’s personal circumstances can sometimes change rapidly. This means models may sometimes change their minds midway through. This happens, and you need to respect a person’s individual evolution.

Also, it is very important that each model’s limitations be respected when we book them for shoots. This requires a lot of back-and-forth discussion and logistics, so patience is an essential ingredient.

What skills does one need to work with adult models?

Like I said before, patience. Also a keen eye, an open mind and a good ear. It is important to recognize good talent when you see it. You need to have a good understanding of the needs of those you are there to help.

On any given day, a model’s ability to perform can be influenced by outside events in his or her life. Having a good ear, empathy and a willingness to help are essential.

Your website states “We are particularly drawn to amateur models, i.e. new faces just starting in the adult entertainment industry.” What kind of people make good models?

Different kinds of people can become good models. Personality and a willingness to innovate are obviously great assets, and good looks are obviously an important ingredient.

Looks can be defined differently when we are talking about adult performers. They may not be what we are used to seeing. An inherent ability to interact with the camera can often weigh more in a model’s success.

Has the agency business been affected by the glut of free porn on the web?

Free porn has definitely had an impact, making it more challenging for content producers to make money from their work. That makes it more challenging for us to find job for models.

Free porn is here to stay. What allows content producers to keep moving forward is their ability to offer a value-added experience on their sites — something unique; complementary content that enhances a subscriber’s experience on a site.

What are your future plans?

We want to continue developing our model base and creating new opportunities for content producers. We want to build on strong foundations, so we want to move progressively, one good shoot after another. There’s no desire here to build an empire, just an effective agency.