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

[iperlchen]

What about Luca Gadjus, you guys?

http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25525&highlight=tall

 

[city girl]

sorry to be random but...im 175 cm is that considered 5'9 or 5'9 and a half?

 

[Pastry]

Well, 173 cm in 5'8" so yeah, I guess.

 

[iperlchen]

Oui, 5'9".

 

[AshtonK]

Model Mom, two questions:

1)Who makes the call whether a model should premanently relocate to NYC, th the agency or the model him/herself?

2)How much time should a model give him/herself before making any kind of headway in the industry? 3-9 months, roughly? If s/he's not getting anywhere, should s/he call it quits after that point?

Thanks

 

[model_mom]

New York agencies have the final say and whether they think you should relocate. They know(with the right amount of luck and perseverance) who will make it in NY city. You have to move there or at least have a home base in NYC for it to work. Any model can choose to move there but to really suceed you need the agency's backing.

Some models are stars right from the beginning. Everything comes together for them.They impress the right client or a top photographer makes them his/her muse. Case in point(Heather Marks) I met her the first time she came to NY and by the end of that show season she was on her way and hasn't stopped since.
Othe models work a few season and then all of a sudden they start to be seen everywhere. Then you have the hundreds of models who are the next "new face " and they fade into the background at the end of show season. Who knows?? If we knew that we'd have it made.

 

[AshtonK]

Follow-up questions

New York agencies have the final say and whether they think you should relocate. They know(with the right amount of luck and prseverance) who will make it in NY city. You have to move there or at least have a home base in NYC for it to work. Any model can choose to move there but to really suceed you need the agency's backing.

Some models are stars right from the beginning. Everything comes together for them.They impress the right client or a top photographer makes them his/her muse. Case in point(Heather Marks) I met her the first time she came to NY and by the end of that show season she was on her way and hasn't stopped since.
Othe models work a few season and then all of a sudden they start to be seen everywhere. Then you have the hundreds of models who are the next "new face " and they fade into the background at the end of show season. Who knows?? If we knew that we'd have it made.

Do the agencies based in NYC make contacts to other international agencies in an attempt to "scope out" new talent, or do aspiring models have to directly make themselves visible to the NYC agencies (via open call or mail-in photos) in order to gain some kind of recognition by them?

If an NYC agency feels that a model should re-locate to NYC, are they 99% certain that s/he will make it big? It must be rare for a model to relocate all the way to the Big Apple and not get any work, b/c that would show poor judgement on the agency's part. Also, do NYC agencies help pay for anything like apartment rent or plane tickets?

Thanks, again!

 

[AshtonK]

One more thing...

Is it common for models to start out in European cities like Milan and Paris BEFORE making any kind of contact to the NYC-based agencies, just to get their feet wet?

 

[s*t*a*r]

For the agencies paying for things, they will usually advance for at least the apartment, but in the end, you'll owe them the money.

 

[AlmostFamous]

One more thing...

Is it common for models to start out in European cities like Milan and Paris BEFORE making any kind of contact to the NYC-based agencies, just to get their feet wet?

That is very very common. NYC is one of the hardest markets to break into, and some girls never get there, therefor its usually the last stop on a new model tour. (Not counting the girls doing shows, already)

 

[Choisir]

They are willing to deviate from those min. heights though. Think: Mona, Polina, Jeisa, Marina, Sara Ziff, Anouck, Anne Marie, Bianca Balti, Ciara Nugent, Luca, Diana Dondoe, Valentina, Liliane, Karen Elson, Isabeli, Shannan, the list goes on They are all under 5'9". Although some of them are sometimes listed as 5'10".

Good thread! It's good to hear the opinions from people who have actually experienced the whole course.

It seems like even different agencies have different ideas of what the industry is looking for. One agency I went to for an open call in toronto called Elmer olsen (Daria W and Teagan D's agency) said I'd have to grow 2 inches to actually be taken seriously in high fashion (I'm 5'9.5") whereas another said they could just list me as 5'10" and it'd be fine.

 

[Pastry]

The fact that they told you to grow a couple of inches at your height is obscene. My friend went around agenecies and they did tell her to grow too, but thats concidering the fact that she is 5'8". I was shocked when I saw this thred. I suppose theyre willing to make exceptions. But how many, and how beautiful do you have to be?

 

[Choisir]

Yeah it can be a bit ridiculous, but I guess it depends on other factors as well. This other model I know who's with that agency can't possibly be taller than 5'7" but they still stick with her. I guess because she kind of has a pixie-ish face european face, as opposed to me with dark skin and very african features and most models in that 'category' tend to be tall.

I guess I didn't mind because I personally went to the agencies on a whim thinking maybe I could make some extra cash doing local stuff while I'm in school - but it's somewhat worrisome for girls who pursue this as their dream.

 

[Pastry]

Have you tried doind Toronto Fashion Week, Choisir?

 

[Choisir]

No, but some of my friends and I thought about going to the castings a couple of seasons back but we chickened out. It looks like its getting more sophisticated now and booked mostly through agencies but I dunno

 

[yourbestfriend]

I just saw a documentary on TV just now on CTV canada following a few Canadian male models on casting trips, talking to their bookers, tim blanks from fashion file explaining the business and other things involved. One of the bookers was saying that a working girl after fashion week can get about $160,000 without being on top!! While a top model can get $50,000 a show. Crazy $$$

I think it was a booker at Ford following a guy named Kelly something..i dont remember.

 

[rhiannonmars]

Still wondering if anyone has a listing of agencies to look into?

 

[AlmostFamous]

^^ models.com has the top ten agencies for women.

modelnetwork.com also has agency listings too.

 

[lovelyNikky]

I surely wanna be a model,but......I'm only 5'7 tall(I think),and I'm not that beautiful~~!!I'm not that kinda beautiful girl~~!!just lack confidence..........

 

[CoreySuprStr]

I'm getting ready to send my pictures off to the agencies(Male). Whats the usual time it takes them to respond if they like you, and if they do, then where does it go from there? Pack up and go to NYC a few weeks later?