Adult cam sites are all the rage. There has never been a better time to interact with a live cam girl. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we all feel so isolated, and connecting with a live model is more satisfying than watching prerecorded videos.

These days, most adult actresses and models offer their services via virtual camming platforms. There are quite literally hundreds of thousands of cam girls you can video chat with, so how in the world do you choose? These cam sites deliver the goods in terms of adventurous women, seamless camming experiences, and sexual gratification. But each site is unique in its own special way. From private shows to free options and special performers, there is a lot to digest.

We’ve taken the time to break down which cam sites are best and why. Stick to this guide and you’ll certainly have the best cam experience possible.

The Best Adult Cam Sites of 2022

RankSiteBest For1.JerkmateBest modern cam website2.Cherry.tvBest newcomer3.ChaturbateBest overall cam site4.LiveJasminMost gorgeous models5.MyFreeCamsBest free option6.ImLiveGreat for watching couples7.CamSodaGreat for specific fetishes8.Cams.comTeledildonic features9.Flirt4FreeProfessional cam models10.XcamsMost diverse cam models11.StreamateThousands of streams at any given time12.Lucky CrushRandom one-on-one cam shows13.StripchatBeautiful live stripteases14.BongacamsEasiest cam site to navigate15.BabestationBiggest UK cam site

1.  Jerkmate: Best modern new cam site

Jerkmate is a really unique cam site because it allows its users to filter the models they search for by personal preference. You can specify your preference in gender, kink, and even body type. It’s a matching system between viewers and cam girls, which makes it feel pretty special. Once you match with someone, you have the option of also becoming a cam model. You can stream a video of yourself watching the cam girl, which is pretty nice. Think of it as if Chatroulette, Tinder, and Chaturbate had a love child. Most people enjoy watching private cam shows because they are longing for a connection, sexual or otherwise. Jerkmate delivers that in spades.

Jerkmate also hires actual pornstars and professional cam girls to stream live. Going one-on-one with one of the pros is unlikely and really expensive. However, if you prefer your cam girl to be an actual pornstar, you can view their live shows with other users on the site. These women will expect you to give them tons of tokens if you want them to do anything specific, but this is pretty normal for camming websites.

Beyond the two unique and exciting options that Jerkmate provides, it’s also very easy to use. It’s got a modern feel to it and selecting a show to watch could not be easier. If you don’t love who you’ve been matched with, you can also browse the expansive list of categories that Jerkmate has to offer. Those categories range from BDSM to Sex Toys and everything in between. As far as pricing goes, it’s up to the model. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour watching one of the Jerkmate shows.

Pros:

Models can see you if you wantIntuitive search functionAdvanced personalized features

Cons:

This is a pricey option

2. Cherry.tv:Best new cam site

Cam sites such as Jerkmate and Chaturbate may have the lion’s share of attention, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other sites popping up all the time. While many of these aren’t worth your trouble, some of them may turn out to be major competitors.

One such site is cherry.tv, from the people over at Cherry Models. The site has only recently gone live and is still in Beta mode, which means for now they only have cis-women and trans women cam girls. That said, the platform will be opened up to everyone in the next version. 

One cool thing about Cherry.tv is that it isn’t just another cam site like any other. They’re attempting to introduce more “gamification” to the concept, so cherry.tv allows models to “level up” by gaining experience points (xp). Streaming gets cammers XP as well as receiving certain gifts from fans. 

Cherry.tv won numerous awards in 2021, such as “Best Emerging Company” and “Emerging Web Brand of the Year.” They are also one of the best sites out there in terms of compensating streamers. So, if you want the vast majority of your hard-earned money to go to the actual cam model, then cherry.tv is a great option for you. 

Pros:

Relatively affordableFun, game-like interfaceStreamers receive almost all of the tips

Cons:

In beta mode (no male models or couples)Just started so not a ton of active models yet

3. Chaturbate:Number one cam site in the world

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Chaturbate. Not only is the name genius for a camgirl site, but Chaturbate has managed to stand the test of time. We can’t believe it’s been ten years since it was created back in 2011! It’s hailed as the best cam site available by millions of users because it has the most diverse and explicit portfolio of models who use the platform to stream.

When you get to the Chaturbate home page, you’ll be greeted with various thumbnails of women or scenes. That’s your sneak peek for what is to come when you actually click on one of these images. Immediately you’ll be launched into a wonderfully raunchy cam show completely free of charge. At first blush, it looks like most of these cam girls are doing solo shows, but once you take a deeper dive, you’ll find couples, threesomes, and other unique and interesting live shows to choose from. You can also search for shows by filtering by the huge list of categories or tags. Though busy looking, Chaturbate is very easy to navigate and explore with so many live feeds to watch for free.

You’re probably wondering if Chaturbate is completely free. The answer to that is both yes and no. While you can enter any live show for free, you are really walking into a teaser of sorts. The women on Chaturbate are trying to get you to eventually pay for a private show, which is what most people want anyway. We will admit though that the teasers are often very explicit and can usually get the job done before you even grab your wallet.

You likely will reach for your credit card though, because Chaturbate is famous for delivering satisfying one-on-one shows. They operate on a token system. As you spend more time watching the show, your tokens will begin to dwindle.

Pros:

AffordableBest cam site availableGreat one-on-one performancesYou get a lot out of a free account

Cons:

Most models need to reach a certain token amount before they fully perform

Check out our complete Chaturbate review if you’re looking for more info.

4.  LiveJasmin: Known for having stunning models

The most noteworthy thing to say about LiveJasmin is that the women on this site are drop dead gorgeous. They are diverse, in shape, stunning, manicured, and all around perfect cam girls. You will notice this the minute you hop onto the home page. It looks extremely put together, modern, and professional.

These women don’t seem to be filming themselves from dimly lit bedrooms. Instead, it feels like a whole studio operation with professional porn stars. This is a pro for most, but some viewers enjoy that amateurish feel. If you are into the amateur stuff, then steer clear of LiveJasmin because it’s all top notch here. LiveJasmin is full of very recognizable and famous cam girl faces. That’s what makes it one of the best cam sites around.

Other than the beautiful stars and modern interface, there’s not much about LiveJasmin that makes it stand out (except for the fact that they have a nice mobile option, but who wants to watch a cam girl on their cell phone?). It’s set up like many other cam sites and takes you through the same process and the features are the same. A nice perk though is the fact that LiveJasmin caters to every type of gender and sexuality, giving it a distinctly diverse library of models and streams to choose from.

Pros:

Beautiful recognizable modelsMobile optionRange of genders, sexualities, and kinks

Cons:

No amateur option

5.  MyFreeCams: Actual free shows

For those of you shopping for cam sites on a budget, there’s no better site for you than MyFreeCams, also known as Jerk N’ Cum. Yes, the shows on this site are actually free. This is obviously the biggest perk that MyFreeCams has to offer.

Because it’s free and the models don’t charge you to watch their shows, you might be skeptical of the quality but you truly have nothing to worry about. The women on MyFreeCams are as skilled as they are gorgeous. They are also down to get into some very kinky activity, which is why you’re watching cam girls in the first place!

The one thing that you can’t really access on this site is private chat or one-on-one video sessions. But what can you really expect from a cam site that doesn’t cost you a dime? You can of course purchase tokens on MyFreeCams and try your luck asking one of the models for a private show, but it’s not very likely to happen. These models are used to the dynamic of the site and aren’t normally willing to make an exception for anyone. These models also aren’t the most responsive to requests in their chat box. That’s potentially because it’s oversaturated with guys like you asking them to do a million different things. If you’re OK with just being a voyeur for free, MyFreeCams is a fantastic budget-friendly option for you.

If you decide that you’d like to pay for MyFreeCams because you can afford to or you’ve got extra cash lying around, you will be given the keys to their entire library of cam girl archives. You can check out their old videos. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there are folks out there wholove it.

Pros:

Genuinely freeFantastic performances

Cons:

Can’t view private shows

6.  ImLive: Old-school cam site featuring couples

ImLive is the granddaddy of cam sites. It’s been around for almost 20 years and has managed to continue to captivate viewers with the changing times. ImLive is a streaming site where models and couples perform sex shows for their audiences. There’s not much more to it. However, not all sex cam sites offer couples shows, so if you like watching two people get it on then ImLive is your best bet.

The pay structure at ImLive gives you options, which is a definite plus. You can either pay by the minute or send models tips. There are also plenty of models and shows to choose from, so you’ll never have a dull moment on this popular cam site.

Yes, ImLive dubs itself a free cam site, but we know what that really means. You can watch archived shows for free, but the live goods are going to cost you. The shows are usually worth it, but don’t expect a ton of interaction from the models. They tend to fall short in their personal relationships with viewers and fans; however, the shows themselves are a treat to watch.

Pros:

Great for watching couplesDifferent payment optionsFree archived shows

Cons:

The models aren’t very interactive

7.  CamSoda: Cam girls with the best personalities

CamSoda operates like most cam sites do. There are free rooms that you can enter to view live adult cam shows, but if you want the women to do anything specific during the show, you will need to spend. However, CamSoda is really affordable. This is because the models don’t charge you per minute. It’s based solely on your donations.

The one drawback to CamSoda is their pricing structure. Most cam sites will allow you to enter free cam shows, but not before informing you of what you should tip the model or what each naughty activity costs. Getting a girl to perform a desired sexual act is going to require linking up with the other guys in the chat and pooling that money until the model’s “goal” is reached. Each model comes up with a different money goal per show and tries to seduce the viewers into paying up. You can’t blame them; camming is their job.

Private shows aren’t really a thing on CamSoda. However, the models on this cam site are very interactive. They actually pay a lot of attention to the chat as their show is live and they make you feel like you are actually in the room with them while they are performing. People have complained before that some models on CamSoda talk too much or spend too much time replying to their fans.

Pros:

Interactive models with personalityCaters to a variety of fetishes

Cons:

The models don’t list their prices per naughty activity

8.  Cams.com: Cam site with a teledildonics option

Cams.com is one of the more unique and advanced cam sites on this list. You might not know it by just visiting their website because initially, it looks like your average cam site. There are free shows that you can enter and you have the ability to filter by model, body type, and gender. This is one of the few sex cam sites that contains female shows in addition to male shows, trans shows, and nonbinary shows. We find that to be a huge plus as it caters to a much wider audience of viewers.

Cams.com is not only ahead of the game in terms of their diversity, but they are also very technologically advanced. If you are someone who watches a lot of VR porn, you are familiar with the term teledildonics. In VR, teledildonics are bluetooth sex toys that synch up to what you are watching. For the purposes of cams, it allows you to control the sex toy that the performer is using, which is insanely cool and futuristic! It brings an entirely new level to cam shows and makes you feel like you are intimately interacting with a model right there in the room with them.

This cam site is one where you have to pay by the minute, which can get really pricey if you plan on spending a lot of time on the site. Yes, there are free shows, but they aren’t all that good. It’s worth checking out the paid ones though because of all the unique features.

Pros:

Teledildonics!Advanced search functionDiverse models

Cons:

If you aren’t in it for the teledildonics, there are better options

9.  Flirt4Free: Intuitive search function available

When you visit Flirt4Free you might be inclined to believe that it’s a site like Chaturbate where tons of amateur models can stream their sexual activities. However, Flirt4Free is for the pros. These are seasoned pornstars who deliver gratifying shows to a very hungry audience. And Flirt4Free knows how to give the viewers what they want because it’s been around for so long.

Flirt4Free is certainly one of the most intuitive sex cam sites available because you are able to filter the models on this site by kink and fetish, like BDSM or couples. If you find a model that you particularly love, you can also take a look at their schedule so that you never miss a show.

Flirt4Free might reel in newcomers with the “F” word (free), but cam site enthusiasts know that you’ll end up paying at some point. To their credit though, Flirt4Free allows you to watch public streams and get information about the performers. Private shows will drive you to pay for tokens so that you can direct the lovely cam girl who you’ve chosen to watch. Performers decide their own price-per-minute, so keep an eye out for that before you end up breaking the bank.

Pros:

Free public showsTons of filtering optionsProfessional, pornstar-quality models

Cons:

Models operate on an expensive price-per-minute structure

10.  XCams: Diverse Euro models

XCams is a special cam site for folks who have eyes for European cam models. They flourish on XCams, though it’s a lesser-known site than the rest. It’s surprising that it flies under the radar because there are always so many models available at any given time for anyone to watch.

Diversity is the name of the game over at XCams. While they feature tons of Europeans, these models are really diverse in their backgrounds, performance styles, and kinks that they love to get into. It’s fun to browse through the thumbnails of videos on the XCams homepage because you get a peek at all the unique shows they have to offer.

Each model decides what you’ll pay for a show. Before you commit, you’ll be shown a preview, told where the model is from, and told how many credits you’ll need to pay for your time. You will get 25 free credits just for signing up, which will give you about five minutes on average.

Pros:

Beautiful diverse cam girlsVery kinkyGreat previews for private shows

Cons:

Models operate on an expensive price-per-minute structureSmall amount of free credits when you sign up

11.  Streamate: Most options

If you’re after quantity, Streammate is a good option. There are literally thousands of models online at any given time when you head over to the site. It doesn’t matter if it’s during your 12 PM lunch break or after midnight, this site is always busy. It’s the cam site that never sleeps.

The Streamate performers also love to please. Truthfully, it’s because they want to be tipped well, but you can rest assured that any model you watch on Streamate will work very hard to earn your affection. They are very engaging, personable, and (of course) sexy.

Streamate is a no-frills site that takes you straight to the action. It doesn’t need all the bells and whistles because it provides a large amount of really great shows. You can use their simple and intuitive search function to filter your options, making Streamate one of the easiest sex cam sites to navigate. And their filtering options get really specific, so you can find exactly what turns you on. There is also a “Newcomer” section for the viewers who love to watch fresh talent or want to discover new models.

Pros:

Thousands of models to choose fromAmateurs and professionals available

Cons:

This site has a lot of annoying adsOutdated web design

12.  LuckyCrush: A combo of a cam site and Chatroulette

LuckyCrush is a cam girl site that randomly matches you with flirty ladies. It’s newer, but it has managed to attract millions of users on a monthly basis. People like to say that LuckyCrush is a healthy mix of a cam site and a random chat site like Chatroulette. It’s probably what you wished Chatroulette could be when you were too young to know about cam sites. Men and women are randomly paired for an erotic video chat.

LuckyCrush is confident in its unique model, which is why it offers first-time male visitors a brief free trial. After that, you will need to purchase credits to enjoy the site. Women come to LuckyCrush hoping to make money, so stocking up a little bit will do you some good.

Because LuckyCrush is totally random, you might be paired up with a hottie who is on the other side of the world. Don’t worry if you don’t speak her language. LuckyCrush has a built-in translation feature that makes it easy to communicate with models from all over the world. It’s an exciting approach to cam shows.

Pros:

Personally meet models from all over the worldExclusively private shows

Cons:

You can’t filter or searchNot for everyone

13.  StripChat: Interactive stripteases

StripChat is a cam site with some special perks. On the surface, it’s a way to view beautiful live stripteases performed by stunning models. Some of them just like to strip and others take it up a notch by displaying naughty activities. In that regard, it’s a little different from your average sex cam site. You can check out the videos for free and tip the models, like you normally would. These tips are given in the form of tokens, which you will need to purchase beforehand.

The women on StripChat are not amateurs. They are women who seem to fit right into the porn industry. They really know what they are doing and they are fantastic at putting on a show for an audience. This is also a site that sadly caters exclusively to the male gaze. In other words, there isn’t any real gender diversity unless you head over to their couples section. However, everything, including the lesbian scenes, seems to be shot exclusively for purely heterosexual males.

What separates StripChat from the crowd is their VR feature. Now, if you don’t have a pair of VR goggles, you are going to want to stop reading because this next part is going to make you really jealous. StripChat’s VR function allows you to throw on a headset and opt in for a private show from one of their pretty performers. It takes live interaction to new heights and is a deeply satisfying cam experience. The videos are in HD, so you won’t miss a thing!

Pros:

HD stripteasesVR featuresProfessional cam girls

Cons:

Sometimes, you only get a striptease

14.  BongaCams: Affordable, transparent

On the surface, BongaCams likes to pretend that it’s a free cam site full of women, couples, and trans people. If you’ve made it this far in reading cam reviews, you won’t be surprised to learn that every site is going to squeeze some coin out of you at some point. That’s just how these things work. But BongaCams isn’t going to suck you dry by charging per minute. Their models make a living based on their tips, and you are going to eventually want to tip them through the token payment structure.

The good thing about the BongaCams pricing setup is that there are really no surprises. When you enter a free live show, you are shown a list of the models prices per a given activity. For instance, erotic play between two beautiful lesbian models might cost you 100 tokens. You’ll be informed of everything up front, which helps you figure out which shows are worth watching based on your personal preference and what you can afford. You can also try your luck at jumping into a show and mooching off the other viewers who will send tips, but it might test your patience.

BongaCams delivers incredible shows but doesn’t provide many private show options. In the end, BongaCams is a pretty predictable cam site with a token system and great performers. You’ll find a lot of new girls on this site too, because it’s very welcoming to girls who want to get into camming for the first time.

Pros:

Very transparent about priceGreat site design

Cons:

Not great for private shows

15.  BabeStation: Huge UK cam site

BabeStation has been around for nearly two decades and is the biggest cam site for UK models. Of all the cam sites, BabeStation is not one that you want to breeze past because it has a lot to offer.

Most sites that have been around for as long as BabeStation have pretty much nailed the cam girl experience. This will become clear to you immediately upon visiting the site. Rather than staring at a bunch of thumbnails, you’ll be plopped into a live show right away. You can of course exit and search for a show that’s a bit more your flavor, but it’s nice to know that you can freely view HD cam shows from the jump.

One thing that BabeStation is missing is an easy way for new visitors to browse and filter. Most of the models are great, but this site isn’t designed to cater to unique fetishes because it’s hard to navigate. Some of the performers are also a little dry. They will sometimes just keep their camera on while they go about mundane tasks, which is more of a voyeuristic experience than an interactive cam show.

BabeStation does offer a ton of promotions at any given time, making it feel very affordable when you decide that you do want to tip a model.

Pros:

Biggest UK cam siteCan actually watch shows for free

Cons:

Not an easy site to navigateSome performers lack engagement or personality

How to Have the Best Adult Cam Site Experience

If you’re brand new to cam sites, you might feel a bit lost. There are a lot of them, and they’re not all worth your time. Check out the following four tips to ensure that you end up on the best sites and have a great experience. 

Browse before you buy

Do you buy a car without test driving it? Do you buy a house without seeing it first? When it comes to spending your hard-earned money, it’s always good to avoid wasting it. And a good way to throw away your money is to start spending a ton of it on cam sites.

Your best bet is to browse around some of the top cam sites before you sign up for any subscriptions, premium memberships, etc. Many cam sites can even be browsed for free—even the biggest one, Chaturbate. So, it’s recommended to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the various sites out there before spending any cash. 

Privilege quality over quantity

There are some sites with thousands of cam models who are active at any given time. Yet, all those choices may be overwhelming, and it might feel like finding a needle in a haystack to find something of high quality. So, you might be better off finding a site with fewer models but with a higher percentage of fun and engaged and attractive ones.

That said, the biggest cam sites like Chaturbate give you different filtering options and the default is to show you the cammers with the largest number of viewers. This generally means that you can find high quality content without having to look too far. 

Stick to the big names

Camming has exploded in recent years. As you might expect, there’s been a lot of people trying to get a slice of the pie. Tons of cam sites have popped up, and not all of them are created equal—in fact, it’s not even close.

To avoid getting scammed and wasting your money and/or time, stick to the biggest names in the camming world—sites like Chaturbate and MyFreeCams, for example. 

Participate to maximize the experience

Cam sites are all about participation. This is what inherently separates them from regular porn sites. If no one participated—neither chatting nor giving any tips—the cam site wouldn’t exist. The models depend on tips for it to be worth their while, and the chatting helps keep things fun and engaging. 

So, don’t be shy to participate. You might find that it really enhances your overall experience, especially if you tip to get into private shows. Otherwise, you might as well just stick to regular porn. 

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There is more to this week’s Savage Love. To read the entire column, go to Savage.Love. 

Q: At a party recently I was chatting with a parent who mentioned that he lets his (elementary school age) kids look at porn. He had a laissez-faire attitude about the whole thing, but I found it disturbing. Am I being a judgy childless witch?

A: There were no middle schools where I grew up, so an “elementary school age” child could be a six-year-old first grader or 14-year-old eighth grader. For the record: I obviously don’t think a six-year-old should view porn, and a responsible parent would not allow a young child to view pornography. I also know it’s almost impossible for a parent to stop a motivated 14-year-old kid from looking at porn. So, if this man’s children are older, perhaps he said, “lets his kids,” when he meant, “can’t stop his kids.” Whatever his kids’ ages, you can’t stop him from not stopping his kid from looking at porn, but you are free to offer him some unsolicited advice. (Is there anything parents enjoy more?) You could also send him the clip of Billie Eilish on Howard Stern talking about how watching porn at a young age really messed with her head.

Q: My husband likes to be naked all the time at home. I think he should cover up when he’s in front of the big window in our front room and can be seen from the street, but he says I am being body shame-y. What do you think?

A: I dated a guy who thought he should be able to walk around in front of his large picture windows at home, naked and sometimes hard (morning woody), and he was adamant about it. And then one day the police came and arrested him for indecent exposure. Anyway, you should put up curtains and/or plant some tall bushes in front of those picture windows.

Q: 44-year-old here who’s on the dating scene for the first time in 11 years. A few months ago, I hit it off with a hot, hot guy. Great! My problem/question is about distractions during sex, and I need a sanity check. Once during intercourse, Hot Guy called out an answer to an NPR news quiz that was playing in the background. Is this behavior rude? I’m operating under the assumption that if one’s mind wanders during sex, one should at least pretend to be focused.

A: “Maybe this letter writer should’ve chosen a more appropriate time for intimate relations—like when This American Life is playing,” said Peter Sagal, the host of Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me!, National Public Radio’s long-running news quiz program. “Still, I completely understand why the letter writer would be offended by this man’s behavior. First, by thinking our show would be appropriate as an audio background for lovemaking—although Bill Kurtis is known, for good reason, as the Barry White of anchormen. And second, the fact that he actually answered questions out loud while in flagrante. But the letter writer shouldn’t think he was completely ignoring her to concentrate on us: our questions aren’t that hard.”

Follow Peter Sagal on Twitter @PeterSagal.

Q: Been playing with one of my fellow guys recently—I’m a gay guy—who says he’s into men, but who absolutely refuses to let me (or anyone else) touch his butt. What is this?

A: The Ass Ceiling. (It’s also a boundary of his, and one you must respect—but you’re free to ask him about it. Conversations, even follow-up conversations, about limits, boundaries, and reasonable expectations are not inherently coercive. Wanting to better understand a “no” doesn’t mean you didn’t hear it and don’t respect it. But at the start of a follow-up conversation like that, you need to emphasize that you did, indeed, hear that “no,” and will, of course, continue to respect it.)

Q: I’m a 40-year-old cis het man. For more than 20 years—most of my life so far—I’ve been obsessed with one woman. We were never a couple, and I haven’t had contact with her since my mid-20s. How to get past this? The easiest way would probably be to start a relationship with another woman. Or I could get therapy—but I don’t know if my insurance would cover it.

A: Some days my Instagram feed is mostly memes about how straight guys will do literally anything to avoid getting the therapy they clearly need . . . and your question brought every one of those memes to mind. I mean, you’ve been miserable for almost two decades and you can’t be bothered to check whether your health insurance covers the therapy you so clearly need? Jesus, dude. Make that phone call, get some therapy, don’t date anyone until you’ve been seeing your therapist for at least a year.

Q: My husband and I (bio female, newly transmasc) recently became poly. We have created a “closed kitchen table poly quad” with our two best friends. The breakdown is one older married couple, one younger engaged couple, and it’s getting serious. We are now talking about moving in together. Any tips on living together for poly newbies? I think we have a chance at making it work long-term, but I don’t want to add pressure.

A: Here’s a tip for poly newbies: don’t move in with other singles, couples, triads, battalions, etc., you just started dating. If moving in together is the right thing to do, moving in together will still be the right thing three years from now. If it’s the wrong thing to do, moving in together will be a disaster three months from now. Take it slow.

Q: A date recently tried acting out a Daddy Dom roleplay with me. I don’t want to judge, but . . .

Go to Savage.Love to read the rest.

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The Chicago Bears are hoping that Justin Fields becomes the franchise quarterback that they’ve always been lacking. Pretty much everyone that tried to take on that role ahead of him has failed. Now, he has a unique opportunity to go out and do it.

Earlier in the week, he went out there and was terrible against the Green Bay Packers. Following the game, he was on the podium and had some questionable things to say about himself compared to the fanbase.

Fields said that the fans don’t work nearly as hard for the wins as the players do. He also mentioned that the players care about the losses even more than the fans.

To be honest, nothing about what he said is wrong. However, it was a terrible thing t say after getting beat by the Green Bay Packers again. This fanbase does care a lot and although the players put their lives on the line to play, the fans pay the bills.

Justin Fields is a good kid that is going to do great things for the Chicago Bears.

Fields came out and did a press conference a few days later and cleared his comments up. It took incredible courage and maturity to go out there and do that. It will be good for getting him back in the good graces of all fans.

Again, Fields was right in what he said. It just wasn’t the time or place to say that. With that said, it also doesn’t make fans feel good when they spend lots of time and money on their favorite team. This is especially true for a team that just keeps being terrible and getting destroyed by their rivals.

Now that this is in the past, we are on to Houston. Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears will host the Houston Texans in what promises to be a fun battle between two teams that are trying to rebuild things back up. Either team could win this one.

There aren’t going to be a lot of wins this season but there could be a lot of development. It starts and ends with Justin Fields which makes it exciting. Most losses won’t make people as mad as the Green Bay loss so it is just time to move on. Fan, player, or coach, we are all in this together.

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Always a staple of the fall dance season, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival opens tonight at 8 PM at Ruth Page Center for the Arts (1016 N. Dearborn), and continues through 10/1, Fri-Sat 8 PM. Among the pieces this weekend is work by local artists and companies, including Joshua Blake Carters JBC Choreography, Daiva Bhandari, and Hot Crowd, as well as Florida’s Jacksonville Dance Theatre and former Chicago (by way of Moscow) dance artist Dmitri Peskov, who is now based in Utah. Next weekend’s program features many local favorites, including South Chicago Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dancers, Aerial Dance Chicago, and Mordine & Company Dance Theater, along with Cleveland, Ohio’s Marquez Dance Project. Tickets are $35 per program ($18 seniors, military, and students with ID) at hccdf.com. A livestream is also available at $25 per program. (KR)

Who you callin’ two-faced? Idle Muse Theatre Company brings to the stage the granddady of split-personality horror tales with The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adapted by Michael Dalberg from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella and directed by Morgan Manasa. In this version, Brandi Jiminez Lee plays Dr. Henri Jekyll, a struggling Victorian woman of medicine who finds the cards stacked against her when her father dies. Her alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde, seems at first to offer salvation and a way to navigate the deeply sexist world Dr. Jekyll is caught in—but we wouldn’t have much of a thriller if that went according to plan, would we? The show premieres tonight at 8 PM at The Edge Off-Broadway (1133 W. Catalpa), and continues through 10/23, Thu-Sat 8 PM and Sun 3 PM. Tickets are $20, $15 students/seniors, and $10 for Thu industry nights at 773-340-9438 or idlemuse.org. (KR)

Ready to embrace the darkness? DJ Flores Negras, aka Chicago musician Amanda Flores (Reader staffer Jamie Ludwig introduced us to her earlier this month) holds court tonight at Necropolis, an event at the downstairs space at Subterranean (2011 W. North). Necropolis is described as “a gothic paradise” on its flyer, and with a live performance by Embrasa, and DJ sets by Flores Negras, DJ Eser, and Faith Betinis, you can expect a full evening of industrial, dark techno, synth-heavy dance goodness. The music starts at 10 PM and attendance is limited to those 21 and up. Might be a good afterparty choice for those of you who were intrigued by Reader staffer Micco Caporale’s description of Cold Waves! (SCJ)

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Always a staple of the fall dance season, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival opens tonight at 8 PM at Ruth Page Center for the Arts (1016 N. Dearborn), and continues through 10/1, Fri-Sat 8 PM. Among the pieces this weekend is work by local artists and companies, including Joshua Blake Carters JBC Choreography, Daiva Bhandari, and Hot Crowd, as well as Florida’s Jacksonville Dance Theatre and former Chicago (by way of Moscow) dance artist Dmitri Peskov, who is now based in Utah. Next weekend’s program features many local favorites, including South Chicago Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dancers, Aerial Dance Chicago, and Mordine & Company Dance Theater, along with Cleveland, Ohio’s Marquez Dance Project. Tickets are $35 per program ($18 seniors, military, and students with ID) at hccdf.com. A livestream is also available at $25 per program. (KR)

Who you callin’ two-faced? Idle Muse Theatre Company brings to the stage the granddady of split-personality horror tales with The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adapted by Michael Dalberg from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella and directed by Morgan Manasa. In this version, Brandi Jiminez Lee plays Dr. Henri Jekyll, a struggling Victorian woman of medicine who finds the cards stacked against her when her father dies. Her alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde, seems at first to offer salvation and a way to navigate the deeply sexist world Dr. Jekyll is caught in—but we wouldn’t have much of a thriller if that went according to plan, would we? The show premieres tonight at 8 PM at The Edge Off-Broadway (1133 W. Catalpa), and continues through 10/23, Thu-Sat 8 PM and Sun 3 PM. Tickets are $20, $15 students/seniors, and $10 for Thu industry nights at 773-340-9438 or idlemuse.org. (KR)

Ready to embrace the darkness? DJ Flores Negras, aka Chicago musician Amanda Flores (Reader staffer Jamie Ludwig introduced us to her earlier this month) holds court tonight at Necropolis, an event at the downstairs space at Subterranean (2011 W. North). Necropolis is described as “a gothic paradise” on its flyer, and with a live performance by Embrasa, and DJ sets by Flores Negras, DJ Eser, and Faith Betinis, you can expect a full evening of industrial, dark techno, synth-heavy dance goodness. The music starts at 10 PM and attendance is limited to those 21 and up. Might be a good afterparty choice for those of you who were intrigued by Reader staffer Micco Caporale’s description of Cold Waves! (SCJ)

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Amid the tidal wave of turnovers at theaters large and small in Chicago the last two years, we also learned this past February that Deb Clapp, the longtime executive director for the League of Chicago Theatres, was stepping away from her job in June. Last week, the League announced her successor: Marissa Lynn Ford, recently the associate managing director for Goodman Theatre, where she spearheaded IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Anti-Racism) initiatives among other projects. (Ford was also apparently the top staff choice for the executive director’s position at Victory Gardens Theater before the board decided to fire artistic director Ken-Matt Martin and the rest of the staff; the latest news there is that VG will no longer be a producing entity, but a presenting/rental facility.)

Ford is coming into the League job at an interesting time: in addition to the aforementioned changes at Victory Gardens, there’s a new artistic director starting at the Goodman (Susan V. Booth), and Chicago Shakespeare will be looking for new talent to fill the roles of artistic director and executive director soon to be vacated by Barbara Gaines and Criss Henderson, respectively. Other theaters that have seen top leadership change over the past couple of years include Steppenwolf; Writers in Glencoe; Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights; Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; TimeLine; and more recently, Second City and Steep Theatre, as noted below. (That’s just a short list. There truly have been more changes in artistic administrative staff in the past 24 months or so than at any time I can remember in Chicago theater.)

Theaters are also struggling to regain audiences after the long COVID-19 shutdown. The nationwide protests against racial injustice in 2020 and the release of the demands from We See You White American Theatre (We See You W.A.T.) shined a light on long-simmering dissatisfaction in the industry with the way systemic racism is fostered by old models of season selection, casting, and production (among other issues). Theater workers also are demanding pay equity and better working conditions across the board, as exemplified by On Our Team’s development of the Chicago Pay Equity Standards.

So Ford will undoubtedly be expected to address all of that. But when I talked to her earlier this week, she sounded energized, rather than daunted, as she listed some of the priorities she has for the League, which was founded in 1979 as the Off Loop Producers Association and has grown to represent around 200 companies throughout the region during most of the past couple of decades. 

“I definitely think audience development is huge. How do we get our audiences back, and what does that mean for onstage and behind the stage?” Ford tells me. “What does that look like in this new generation, post-COVID? Employers definitely are making changes with the burnout in the industry right now, and people are reprioritizing their lives around different things. So we definitely want to collect data and do research, but also talk to our theaters, our artists, and make sure that we’re supporting them in the best way possible.”

The League offers career-development programs for theater professionals, as well as services for audiences (the latter is perhaps best exemplified by the Hot Tix discount tickets program). Unlike New York, where Broadway’s commercial producers tend to dominate (hence the trade association, the Broadway League), Chicago theater is mostly about nonprofits. But obviously there can be big differences in what a large LORT house like the Goodman and the scrappy itinerant non-Equity companies look for the League to provide.

“I would call Chicago more of a family city when it comes to theater, because I think a lot of the work I did with [now defunct] American Theater Company, with Collaboraction, with Broadway in Chicago—as they say, it’s a small world after all,” says Ford. “So it’s a very tight-knit group of people that really supports one another. We back each other’s shows, we back each other in terms of programming and our different communities. And I think how we continue is through strengthening collaboration. Those relationships are really gonna be important in these next two years.”

Ford hints that reminding civic leaders of Chicago theater’s place in the cultural and fiscal ecosystem will also be an ongoing priority. “We want to make sure that people are aware that theater is for everybody,” she says. (For the past several years, the League has sponsored Chicago Theatre Week, a midwinter initiative featuring reduced prices to encourage new audiences across the spectrum.) “Every industry can benefit from what we do and what we bring to Chicago and to our stages.” 

“We can also look at how we ask the city to support us in our industry together as we go through these changes and try out these new plans and new leaders in the field,” Ford, who begins her new post in October, adds. “I think it’s a two-way street because you have new leaders coming in, but you still have a great representation of people who came before us and who we definitely should pay attention to. There’s a trade of ideas and learning and wisdom. And having the opportunity to support one another in these roles, but also having people who have been around for a while to help us navigate those waters, is really important.”

Ed Wells, the new CEO for Second City Credit Timothy Schmidt

Second City and Steep announce leadership shifts

Second City is one of the Chicago theaters that has been on a wild leadership ride. In June 2020, longtime owner, CEO, and executive producer Andrew Alexander stepped down in the wake of public allegations of systemic racism at the comedy institution. Anthony LeBlanc served for a time as interim executive director until Jon Carr, a vet of the Atlanta improv scene, took over in December of 2020. But Carr stepped down in February of this year. Meantime, private equity firm ZMC bought Second City and the instructors began a movement to unionize.

Who better to try to negotiate all that drama than a resident of Sesame Street?

OK, not exactly. But Ed Wells, who Second City announced earlier this month as their new CEO, comes to Wells Street (not named for him!) from Sesame Workshop, the parent nonprofit of the beloved children’s show and related initiatives, where he served as executive vice president and global head of media and education. His background in growing new media opportunities is likely one of the things that made him an attractive candidate for Second City’s brand. (On the opposite side of Sesame Street, Wells also worked for WWE, so those of you who’ve been praying for an improv/wrestling mash-up—now’s your time to speak up!) 

A native of Detroit, Wells also has a background in international studies, and he’s a strategic advisor for the Ali Forney Center in New York for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Steep Theatre is also looking at a change in leadership. Executive director Kate Piatt-Eckert announced that she’s stepping down from the job she’s held for the past nine years in November. Piatt-Eckert most recently helped guide Steep through the loss of their longtime Berwyn Avenue venue and into another Berwyn Avenue home that they’ll finally own for themselves. During her tenure, Steep doubled its operating budget. She also helped Steep open its bar/performance lounge, the Boxcar, in its previous venue. No word yet on Piatt-Eckert’s next move; the company says that artistic director Peter Moore and various members of the board, staff, and ensemble will share her duties until they can name a successor early next year.

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Amid the tidal wave of turnovers at theaters large and small in Chicago the last two years, we also learned this past February that Deb Clapp, the longtime executive director for the League of Chicago Theatres, was stepping away from her job in June. Last week, the League announced her successor: Marissa Lynn Ford, recently the associate managing director for Goodman Theatre, where she spearheaded IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Anti-Racism) initiatives among other projects. (Ford was also apparently the top staff choice for the executive director’s position at Victory Gardens Theater before the board decided to fire artistic director Ken-Matt Martin and the rest of the staff; the latest news there is that VG will no longer be a producing entity, but a presenting/rental facility.)

Ford is coming into the League job at an interesting time: in addition to the aforementioned changes at Victory Gardens, there’s a new artistic director starting at the Goodman (Susan V. Booth), and Chicago Shakespeare will be looking for new talent to fill the roles of artistic director and executive director soon to be vacated by Barbara Gaines and Criss Henderson, respectively. Other theaters that have seen top leadership change over the past couple of years include Steppenwolf; Writers in Glencoe; Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights; Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; TimeLine; and more recently, Second City and Steep Theatre, as noted below. (That’s just a short list. There truly have been more changes in artistic administrative staff in the past 24 months or so than at any time I can remember in Chicago theater.)

Theaters are also struggling to regain audiences after the long COVID-19 shutdown. The nationwide protests against racial injustice in 2020 and the release of the demands from We See You White American Theatre (We See You W.A.T.) shined a light on long-simmering dissatisfaction in the industry with the way systemic racism is fostered by old models of season selection, casting, and production (among other issues). Theater workers also are demanding pay equity and better working conditions across the board, as exemplified by On Our Team’s development of the Chicago Pay Equity Standards.

So Ford will undoubtedly be expected to address all of that. But when I talked to her earlier this week, she sounded energized, rather than daunted, as she listed some of the priorities she has for the League, which was founded in 1979 as the Off Loop Producers Association and has grown to represent around 200 companies throughout the region during most of the past couple of decades. 

“I definitely think audience development is huge. How do we get our audiences back, and what does that mean for onstage and behind the stage?” Ford tells me. “What does that look like in this new generation, post-COVID? Employers definitely are making changes with the burnout in the industry right now, and people are reprioritizing their lives around different things. So we definitely want to collect data and do research, but also talk to our theaters, our artists, and make sure that we’re supporting them in the best way possible.”

The League offers career-development programs for theater professionals, as well as services for audiences (the latter is perhaps best exemplified by the Hot Tix discount tickets program). Unlike New York, where Broadway’s commercial producers tend to dominate (hence the trade association, the Broadway League), Chicago theater is mostly about nonprofits. But obviously there can be big differences in what a large LORT house like the Goodman and the scrappy itinerant non-Equity companies look for the League to provide.

“I would call Chicago more of a family city when it comes to theater, because I think a lot of the work I did with [now defunct] American Theater Company, with Collaboraction, with Broadway in Chicago—as they say, it’s a small world after all,” says Ford. “So it’s a very tight-knit group of people that really supports one another. We back each other’s shows, we back each other in terms of programming and our different communities. And I think how we continue is through strengthening collaboration. Those relationships are really gonna be important in these next two years.”

Ford hints that reminding civic leaders of Chicago theater’s place in the cultural and fiscal ecosystem will also be an ongoing priority. “We want to make sure that people are aware that theater is for everybody,” she says. (For the past several years, the League has sponsored Chicago Theatre Week, a midwinter initiative featuring reduced prices to encourage new audiences across the spectrum.) “Every industry can benefit from what we do and what we bring to Chicago and to our stages.” 

“We can also look at how we ask the city to support us in our industry together as we go through these changes and try out these new plans and new leaders in the field,” Ford, who begins her new post in October, adds. “I think it’s a two-way street because you have new leaders coming in, but you still have a great representation of people who came before us and who we definitely should pay attention to. There’s a trade of ideas and learning and wisdom. And having the opportunity to support one another in these roles, but also having people who have been around for a while to help us navigate those waters, is really important.”

Ed Wells, the new CEO for Second City Credit Timothy Schmidt

Second City and Steep announce leadership shifts

Second City is one of the Chicago theaters that has been on a wild leadership ride. In June 2020, longtime owner, CEO, and executive producer Andrew Alexander stepped down in the wake of public allegations of systemic racism at the comedy institution. Anthony LeBlanc served for a time as interim executive director until Jon Carr, a vet of the Atlanta improv scene, took over in December of 2020. But Carr stepped down in February of this year. Meantime, private equity firm ZMC bought Second City and the instructors began a movement to unionize.

Who better to try to negotiate all that drama than a resident of Sesame Street?

OK, not exactly. But Ed Wells, who Second City announced earlier this month as their new CEO, comes to Wells Street (not named for him!) from Sesame Workshop, the parent nonprofit of the beloved children’s show and related initiatives, where he served as executive vice president and global head of media and education. His background in growing new media opportunities is likely one of the things that made him an attractive candidate for Second City’s brand. (On the opposite side of Sesame Street, Wells also worked for WWE, so those of you who’ve been praying for an improv/wrestling mash-up—now’s your time to speak up!) 

A native of Detroit, Wells also has a background in international studies, and he’s a strategic advisor for the Ali Forney Center in New York for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Steep Theatre is also looking at a change in leadership. Executive director Kate Piatt-Eckert announced that she’s stepping down from the job she’s held for the past nine years in November. Piatt-Eckert most recently helped guide Steep through the loss of their longtime Berwyn Avenue venue and into another Berwyn Avenue home that they’ll finally own for themselves. During her tenure, Steep doubled its operating budget. She also helped Steep open its bar/performance lounge, the Boxcar, in its previous venue. No word yet on Piatt-Eckert’s next move; the company says that artistic director Peter Moore and various members of the board, staff, and ensemble will share her duties until they can name a successor early next year.

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