Tyler Rush is one of the best of the new wave of fresh, young porn stars; energetic, colorful, playful and sexy. His co-production of the Insert Coin party, held regularly at Seattle's legendary Eagle Bar, heralds the latest craze in graphic novel evolution; Cosplay, where adults dress up as their favorite superheroes. He's also one of the leading performers in a new form of sex play: jock bondage, easily accessed via Bound Jocks.com. The Nob Hill Theater will feature him as the accomplice and sidekick to muscle stud Hans Berlin this weekend. Make your own pun about "the dynamic duo," as the Bay Area Reporter gets the scoop.
Is this your first time performing at the legendary Nob Hill Theater? What are your expectations?
It is. I've only been there once before, to see a friend who was performing. My expectations are good. My costar, Hans, and I have worked together before and we have a good natural energy. I'm expecting a fun night with a great audience.
What made you decide to begin dancing nude and performing live?
I've been performing and dancing in Seattle for a few years now. I enjoy dancing, "showing off" and giving people a good time, in general.
What do you think you'll bring to the NHT stage that no one else can?
Well, myself, for one (haha). But, I like to think I bring a fun energy. That, combined with the great natural energy myself and Hans plan to bring to the stage!
What are your best and worst experiences as a dancer?
My best experiences as a dancer would have to be all the people I get to meet in my adventures at the different clubs. So many talented individuals, be it dancing, costuming or just working a crowd with their energy. The worst experience would have to be with a promoter I was dancing with for a bar who thought he owned me and a few other dancers, because we worked one of his regular events. There's nothing more insulting than being told someone owned you, especially when you are not on any sort of exclusive contract.
What do you wish that people understood about nude dancers?
Nude, in underwear or otherwise, people �"especially mixed with alcohol�" tend to assume dancers are there for sex and are dancing because they need this line of work. For me, there's nothing more insulting than someone getting too handsy or trying to stick fingers where they don't belong. Dancing for me is a fun activity that lets me express myself in a way a desk job can't.
When did you begin dancing at the monthly Insert Coin Party? Please tell my readers about the party.
I started dancing at Insert Coin the first night it started as I was half of the brains behind the night itself and helped to begin it. It was six months ago now, and the party is doing better than ever! Insert Coin, as it implies with its somewhat sexual, game-related name, is a sexy video game-themed night that we have every month at the Seattle Eagle Bar. We bring in a bunch of game consoles from classic Super Nintendos to PS4s and we provide a safe and fun environment for gay and straight people to come and show their love of games, while allowing for a fun environment to wear your favorite costumes or sexy gaming gear. My active involvement also includes creating nerd-related costumes to dance in and they always seem pretty well received. It's a great party with a wonderful energy!
I see that you're into Cosplay, which I think is brilliant. Again, please explain to my readers what it's all about, and what drew you to it.
Cosplay is short for costume-play, dressing up as or playing a character in a costume from some sort of pop culture, TV show, video game, cartoon or comic book character. Many people have seen or heard about Star Trek conventions or Renaissance faires, and that's a good way to begin to explain what cosplay is, wearing a costume from something you love and going to a convention or gathering and just enjoying the atmosphere and energy of everyone there.
Cosplay nowadays is generally seen at anime conventions and gaming conventions, and is still about showing your love for a character or show by dressing up and creating costumes. Some people, like myself, make their costumes from scratch, while others purchase their costumes online. Regardless how or where you get your costume, Cosplay is about celebrating your love for whatever you're dressed up as. I am a huge video gamer. I love my anime here or there and used to frequent anime conventions when I turned 16. Since then, I've attended 40 or so conventions and have created about 60 or so costumes.
Who are your favorite characters to dress up as, and will you bring any of that flavor to your performances at the theater?
I always loved bringing out my Altair costume for a gogo gig; it's fun and the hood allows for a bit of anonymity. As for what we will be doing for the show, I can't give away all of that just yet!
What superpowers would you love to have?
Either the power of transportation (like Nightcrawler from X-Men) or the power of transformation (like Mystique).
Who's your fantasy superhero sex partner?
Hah, I guess that'd be Wolverine. He looks like he'd be a fun hairy daddy in bed.
What's your opinion of the negative responses to Cosplay, most notably from certain factions of the leather fetish community?
I honestly don't see a negative response to Cosplay in the leather community often. Kinky and nerdy overlap a lot in most guys, so costumes are generally well received. Cosplay in the general public eye does get a negative view on occasion for how revealing some people dress; skimpy outfits or half-naked girls get slut-shamed all the time, and for that I'm on the fence. Anime conventions are a much different place than a 21+ bar. Kids to adults who are cosplaying should be mindful that a public convention space probably isn't the best place to have your boobs hanging out.
Morphing from Cosplay to bondage, your youthful good looks lend themselves well to the Bound Jocks type of bondage, well-lit and colorful, which I think is modern. Your thoughts?
Thank you! As for my thoughts, I'm always a fan of thoughtful sets and colorful creative bondage. It looks nice and when mixed with colored ropes, jocks and socks, it definitely has a bit of a costumey feel and leans on a more modern approach. I personally have always been a fan of BoundJocks for their sense of color and space in that artistic way, even before working with them.
What were your feelings going into bondage for the first time?
I knew I was into bondage since I was 13 or so. Going into it for the first time (around 20) I was eager and excited.
What about it interests you off-screen?
Kink/bondage/leather has been a very active off-screen activity well before I was ever on-screen. I love dressing in leather. It's like Cosplay in a way, putting on an 'outfit' to put out a different image of yourself. Similarly, bondage and kink provide that outlet to express yourself in a different way than you do in your everyday life, very similar to Cosplay and dressing up.
What's your fitness regime, which helps you look so great in your tight, colorful costumes?
I work out 4-5 times a week, hitting on different muscle groups. I eat generally well, and have a fast metabolism from sports, growing up.
What first drew you to the porn world?
I was first drawn to the kink world, then, I would attend events like IML [International Mr. Leather] every year, making friends with people in the industry. I was asked to do a scene one year by a director I was friends with, and it all just continued from there.
What's the first porn film you ever saw?
I honestly couldn't tell you, but, I would guess it was something to do with bondage.
How do you prepare yourself (physically, mentally, emotionally) for a scene?
Preparing for a scene, for me, starts with a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast. Physically, I prep my body: shave, clear and clean certain areas, do my hair. Mentally, I get into the mindset of whatever sort of scene we are shooting: kink, vanilla sex. Sometimes I will scroll through Tumblr or Twitter and get myself excited and ready before the scene even starts. As for emotionally, I always work better when I know who I'm working with, beyond their sex life and what studios they've worked for. Knowing someone more intimately helps me get more emotionally and sexually invested.
Who's your fantasy porn company or director?
It had always been BoundJocks for me, and with Mr. Kristofer Weston.
Who's your fantasy scene partner?
I always love the sexy daddies out there. My fantasy scene partner in that respect has always been Dirk Caber. He's as sweet and intellectual as he is sexy.
Have you ever fallen for a scene partner?
I have. But even then, we both have our expectations and rules in place and we understand what our relationship means both outwardly to the public and to each other. It's very healthy in that respect and he's a great guy.
Since you're relatively new to the adult industry, what stereotypes about it have you found to be true and/or false?
There are many stereotypes that flood the industry, but some are very true and others quite false. In my own personal life, I have been given grief about how I must have tons of STDs because I'm having sex with all these guys; when in all honesty, I get checked about twice as much now than I ever did before porn. I really don't partake in sex in my everyday life because I'm traveling so much. Another fun one is the assumption that being in porn is a full-time job and pays incredibly well; I know some guys who make it a full-time job and who make a good living; I'm not saying it can't be a good life, but that life is only for a very small percentage of the models out there and they work incredibly hard. For me, porn is a side gig to my full-time job, it's about fun, and allows for me to travel the world while getting paid.
How active are you on social media?
I would like to think very active. I like updating my followers on what I'm doing or working on. The social aspect of this industry, I think, is what gives it purpose. Without my followers and friends on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, there would be no audience to buy my scenes and no one to meet at live events.
I like the saying, "Dance with the ones that brought you," meaning I will always try to show love to those who have supported me and shown me love in return. I try to appreciate my fans as much as they appreciate me.
Where do you see porn going in the 21st Century?
That's the million-dollar question now, isn't it? With social media being so easily available, not to mention free, the porn industry is definitely taking a hit. The term "porn star" no longer exists with everyone having a production studio in the palm of their hands. With social media being so prevalent to our everyday lives, I see porn being less about the studios and more about the back and forth interaction an audience and personality or model have. Almost in the way YouTube, a free social media, has people making money from content they produce daily and market for free to an audience of millions. But maybe I'm the only one who thinks that. Only time will tell.
Barebacking. Pro or con?
You do you, and when I say that, I don't mean, "Go fuck yourself," but that you do what you feel is right. I don't let people tell me how to have my sex and don't plan to tell others how to do it in their personal lives. Get educated, get tested and get on PrEP, if that's what you feel is the right way to go.
Final question: How do you think you'll feel when you see your name on the NHT marquee, and your films 30x40 feet on its screens?
I'll be excited, it's definitely not something everyone can say they've done, and I'm naturally flattered to have been asked to perform with Hans. I'm looking forward to it.
performs with Hans Berlin at the Nob Hill Theatre, March 27 & 28, at 10pm, after Berlin's 8pm solo acts. $25. 729 Bush St. at Powell. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Follow Tyler at https://twitter.com/TylerRushXXX and his Seattle club night Insert Coin at https://twitter.com/insertcoinsea.