So You Want to Become a Model? (PLEASE READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING)

[Deleted member 49693]

^ Which agency is it?

 

[kaytlin]

^ Which agency is it?

It's not really an agency, but they could get me work. I don't remember the name of it, it's huge and recently had a casting call in Houston. It's a modeling/acting school/agency. I checked them out, it's not a scam. I'll try to find the name of it.

 

[BetteT]

Red flag! When you said the word "school" ... it' tells me that they are interested in your money, not in representing you. Of course they are interested in you ... they are interested in anyone who has the money for tuition. Walk away!

Here's the facts:

Models do not need to go to any school. Agencies (real ones) sign untrained models ... girls off the street. They don't care if you've had training or not ... all they care about is what you look like. They will coach you and with practice, you will learn what you need to know. Once in a rare while, if they are using you for runway, the agency might bring in or send you to a runway coach, but that doesn't happen that often either.

You don't even need to know how to put on makeup to be a model ... when you go to casing calls they want to see you looking natural and when you work, they bring in makeup artists.

"Modeling" school is a waste of your money ... you'll need it for other things like a portfolio, zed/comp cards and photos.

Modeling schools are little more than charm schools where you learn things like grooming, makeup, poise and yeah ... posing and walking ... but they don't prepare you for the real world of modeling. And the real clients don't go to schools to find models ... they use real agencies. Things like John Casablancas, Barbizon ... are legit, but really just charm schools. OK if you want to pay for building self esteem and confidence ... but absolutely not necessary to break into modeling.

Find a real agent and then you will pay them only after they find you work ... in the form of a commission.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

^
Yes I know, they didn't send me the standard email..
I think I have to try calling, thanks!

Good luck, keep us updated when you have news

 

[cutxpaste]

I'm so frustrated....
I met with a mangement company in June. They have placed their models at agencies like IMG and DNA and they were very interested in me when we met. So recently my dad emailed the president of the company about meeting with agencies in New York sometime in the fall and he replied back pretty promptly only saying that we should wait until next summer. My father emailed him back asking why he thought so and so far we havent heard anything back (it's been like 5 days). I think he is "nicely" trying to tell us he isn't interested anymore.
This is so frustrating. How did I mess it up? How did I go from him saying how beautiful and photogenic I am and promising to take me to meet agencies to him not being interested anymore?? Ugh, I don't know.
I'm thinking of maybe submitting pictures to agencies online (still, I have a feeling this isn't going to work out either... I did it once before like a year ago and I most interest from Vision but then they rejected me, as did every other agency). Do you know if DNA accepts online photo applications? I don't know, I really wish some agency was interested in me and it actually amounted to something concrete....ugh. Also, do you think I should submit pictures from my tests or just some digital pictures that are like polaroids? I'm afraid if I don't submit my tests, agencies are just going to dismiss me and I'll get another "we're not interested" email.
About the mangement comapny, it could be that he said to wait till next summer because during the meeting the president kept saying how young I was compared to most of the other models that he has managed. Most of them are at least 16 or 17 and I have yet to turn 15. ...still, his email feels like a rejection. It could that they really are interested just because I am young want me to wait a year and havent emailed back yet because they are busy or dont feel like they need to explain, not because they're not interested... I just don't know.
Ugh... sorry for listening for my rant. I kind of just wanted all of you guys input on what I should do.

 

[LilyBird]

^I'd say your age might be a factor...14 is still really young and maybe they think you'd be better off waiting another year?

You could submit again to agencies online or travel to NYC and go to open calls. Agencies usually let you know right away if you're "right" for them...

Also, since you're in Boston why not try Click there? They take online submissions.

Good luck!

 

[smokebreak]

It's not really an agency, but they could get me work. I don't remember the name of it, it's huge and recently had a casting call in Houston. It's a modeling/acting school/agency. I checked them out, it's not a scam. I'll try to find the name of it.

...It is a scam. A modeling/acting school/agency (agency can be stated because they could be a placement agency which is not the same as a real agency) it's the definition of scam in the modeling industry. Don't do it, you'll go nowhere with that and waste precious time.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

I don't know what agency you're with so I can't say if you can trust them or not. But to be honest, it doesn't make any sense to go as beginner to New York for modeling. Their market requires a very strong book and you need a lot of experience before you get jobs there. I don't know any new face who starts in New York. Usually agencies never send their girls first to New York. Even if they send you there, it doesn't mean you'll actually get jobs. So that might be the reason that they want to wait with you going there. You're very young, you can start working now on other markets and when your book is strong enough you can try your luck in New York. Good Luck

 

[smokebreak]

^^ I was first sent to New York and so are a lot of girls I know. They have sections of their agencies called "in development" where they build their books and do tests with the models but they stay off the market including the agencies sites until the agency feels they and their books are ready to be presented to clients. Most high end clients only want BRAND NEW models, ones who haven't been circulated with lower names and the lot. High fashion designer's aim to claim credit for having the new hot face that hasn't been tainted more or less. New york is high fashion so if that's your field, you should really go there first. Anything else, ie. commercial types shouldn't bother because they can make bank in places like LA, Miami, and Chicago where it's a much bigger market
Sometimes agencies and mother agents with girls outside of new york just tell the girls "you're not ready for new york" because saying "you wont make it in new york" isn't easy to break and their profit is elsewhere.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Are you from the US? That might be the reason for you starting in New York. I'm from Europe and a lot of people (models/booker) told me New York requires a very strong book. I met a lot of models from the US too on European markets and they told me their agents sent them first to Europe to build their book before they can start working in America. So I always thought it's the best to wait until you got a lot of very good jobs and then go to New York. (By the way, yes I'm fashion type not commercial at all). So you started in New York and they didn't send you to any European market first ?

 

[Chatoyant]

Yes... that would make all the difference. Few European girls are sent straight to New York, for obvious reasons. Why send them across the pond when Paris, London, Milan are right around the corner (and doesn't require you to get a visa or anything).

Also, in Europe you have plenty of respectable if small local (ie national) fashion industries. Even tiny countries like Denmark or Sweden, hardly high fashion hotspots, have their share of internationally renowned designers, photographers and publications.

Whereas in the US, girls can possibly work a bit locally, or they might get sent to Europe or Japan first. But then NYC, as the sole high fashion market on home turf, would be the place to go.

 

[smokebreak]

Guess I was speaking more currently for the prestigiously rotated ones.

 

[Deleted member 49693]

Red flag! When you said the word "school" ... it' tells me that they are interested in your money, not in representing you. Of course they are interested in you ... they are interested in anyone who has the money for tuition. Walk away!

That's what I thought. It doesn't mean that you are not model material. It is just that modelling schools just want money. You don't need to go to a modelling school to become a model. You learn it through experience....

 

[laurenpossible]

Thank goodness I read this thread! There is a pro scout open call here this week and I was gonna go and probably get suckered out of a lot of money. I am going to have a friend do the suggested shots and I'll send them in online to as many legit agencies I can find websites for.

Thank you all so much for giving us newbies advice.

 

[cutxpaste]

I'm so frustrated....
I met with a mangement company in June. They have placed their models at agencies like IMG and DNA and they were very interested in me when we met. So recently my dad emailed the president of the company about meeting with agencies in New York sometime in the fall and he replied back pretty promptly only saying that we should wait until next summer. My father emailed him back asking why he thought so and so far we havent heard anything back (it's been like 5 days). I think he is "nicely" trying to tell us he isn't interested anymore.
This is so frustrating. How did I mess it up? How did I go from him saying how beautiful and photogenic I am and promising to take me to meet agencies to him not being interested anymore?? Ugh, I don't know.
I'm thinking of maybe submitting pictures to agencies online (still, I have a feeling this isn't going to work out either... I did it once before like a year ago and I most interest from Vision but then they rejected me, as did every other agency). Do you know if DNA accepts online photo applications? I don't know, I really wish some agency was interested in me and it actually amounted to something concrete....ugh. Also, do you think I should submit pictures from my tests or just some digital pictures that are like polaroids? I'm afraid if I don't submit my tests, agencies are just going to dismiss me and I'll get another "we're not interested" email.
About the mangement comapny, it could be that he said to wait till next summer because during the meeting the president kept saying how young I was compared to most of the other models that he has managed. Most of them are at least 16 or 17 and I have yet to turn 15. ...still, his email feels like a rejection. It could that they really are interested just because I am young want me to wait a year and havent emailed back yet because they are busy or dont feel like they need to explain, not because they're not interested... I just don't know.
Ugh... sorry for listening for my rant. I kind of just wanted all of you guys input on what I should do.

He emailed back. He was busying with scouting (was or still is at ProScout) and said that he is going to take me and my family to New York in March so I will (hopefully) be placed in April and able to work on my book during the summer.

 

[MikChick]

^^ good news! good luck girl

 

[indie]

The thing is that I've always wanted to be a model but today when I was actually in a photoshoot (I am not a model though, it was just for this article I'm part of) and it wasn't even long (1 hour) and without make-up artist/hairstylist & my own clothes etc. it kinda frustrated me. I don't know if I like posing, or those lights hurting my eyes or anything. The photographer said I was easy to shoot and complimented me but I think the the most fun part about the whole thing was putting outfits togheter...but I am going to walk to an agency next year (don't worry, I know all the good ones in Finland), and see how they like me.

 

[MikChick]

^ there's a thing I don't understand.

You said that posing kind of frustrated you.......why are you going to an agency then? If you don't do this for fun then I think you'd better stop here....

 

[indie]

well, I can do posing, I've danced my whole life and I guess it could be fun...but I had to hold almost the same position for an hour...I don't know if this is normal in the modelling biz..

I guess it just surprised me how..boring? it was. I still could do that for a living/ extra cash if I had the chance, but I'd rather be a stylist

 

[BetteT]

Sometimes you must hold your pose ... for a reason like they just need one perfect shot of a garment or an accessory for an ad or something.. But if you are doing things like catalogs, they will expect you to hit your various poses to show of the clothes very quckly, the a quick cahnge to the next outfit ... maybe and many as 30 or more.They need to shoot a lot of clothes in one day.

For most shoots, you will be expected to move around some ... but it's different in every situation. Sometimes you will need to be able to have the strength and flexibility to hold still in an awkward position for a long time, then be able to snap to different poses after every exposure and sometimes to be fluid and keep moving.

A Tip for new models:

Practice posing in the mirror with some fashion magazines to learn what works for you ... so you can do it without a mirror. You need to learn "body memory". Pracitce with floaty skirts on, a pencil skirt, pants and boots, then a swim suit, try all different types of clothes. You'll find that you will need to move a bit differently to show off each of these items and still look good, yourself.