The Model Agency Mega Thread (January 2004 - March 2010)

[jakeee]

thnx for sharing that article model mom!

 

[Surfbunny]

What do you do when you want to switch agencies?Is it enough to write a letter to your current agency cancelling the contract?

 

[tristan]

What market are you in? It depends what your contract stipulates. Most contracts in New York, Milan, London and Paris are pretty binding for the entire term of the contract. If you switch you can get sued for a breach of contract. If you're in a smaller market it probably doesn't matter as much but still consult a GOOD contract or entertainment lawyer. Usually if you are leaving an agency to just stop modelling you can just talk to them about it and they'll understand. BUT realize that if you use this as a lie and they see you in a catalogue or an ad then you'll get sued.

 

[model_mom]

Can an agency ever buy out a model's contract from another agency?

 

[carola]

I'm curious about something. There are not a lot of agencies where I live (most of them are modeling schools too -- that's how they get most of their girls, I don't think they do a lot of scouting, don't think they got scouts either). My point is: sometimes I'm walking around town or at the mall or at a nightclub, and I'll see a girl that has potential to be a model but is definitely not a model yet (bad skin, bad hair, etc), most of the time they don't look like they can afford to pay classes at a modeling school, and I'd like to tell them that they should try modeling but then what? Where am I gonna tell them to go? This happens quite often, just would like to hear your thoughts on scouts and scouting. Thanks in advance!

 

[Surfbunny]

What market are you in? It depends what your contract stipulates. Most contracts in New York, Milan, London and Paris are pretty binding for the entire term of the contract. If you switch you can get sued for a breach of contract. If you're in a smaller market it probably doesn't matter as much but still consult a GOOD contract or entertainment lawyer. Usually if you are leaving an agency to just stop modelling you can just talk to them about it and they'll understand. BUT realize that if you use this as a lie and they see you in a catalogue or an ad then you'll get sued.

Well I'm in Germany -not a huugee market,but not exactly small either. It's just that I'm with them for 6 month now and only had 2 test shoots (one of them was free, so they only payed one)..I tried to talk to them several times but they don't really seem to care.I don't wanna waste more time.
So since there is no money involved it should be pretty easy to get out of the contract no?I feel like they wouldn't even care,but am still afraid that they'll get angry or something!

 

[tristan]

Can an agency ever buy out a model's contract from another agency?

Oh that's a really good point. Well when we hear about agencies buying out contracts it usually means that the agency that the original contract was with will garnish commission for the remaining term of the contract. Or they'll get 10 percent gross or 25% of all monies PROFITED by the agency. Usually agencies will just steal models and then deal with the contract stuff afterwards. If the girl is amazing then an agency will offer to pay for all legal fees incured by the move.

 

[tristan]

I'm curious about something. There are not a lot of agencies where I live (most of them are modeling schools too -- that's how they get most of their girls, I don't think they do a lot of scouting, don't think they got scouts either). My point is: sometimes I'm walking around town or at the mall or at a nightclub, and I'll see a girl that has potential to be a model but is definitely not a model yet (bad skin, bad hair, etc), most of the time they don't look like they can afford to pay classes at a modeling school, and I'd like to tell them that they should try modeling but then what? Where am I gonna tell them to go? This happens quite often, just would like to hear your thoughts on scouts and scouting. Thanks in advance!

Where are you based? Scouting is a job that you can take as far as you like. For every ten girls that I scout maybe five of them will call back (and it's not like they'll think I'm hitting on them....I'm gay). So you must scout alot to make it worthwhile. There are people like ginny edwards and JJ from management first who are all about development/placing models. I'd say that unless you have really strong contacts with the agencies it's easy to be pushed around and taken advantage of.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

what are the best agencies in Madrid/Barcelona, Rome and Lissabon?And do these cities have good markets? Which is the best for editorial work?

 

[A la mode]

How much money do you need to be ready to invest if you are going to make the move to say New York or other major market. I mean an agency is not going to pay for everything. So what do you need to be ready to pay for…plane tickets, a place to stay, possibly a test shoot, printing fees for comps and pictures?????

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

in general yes. but you can stay in a model apartment you don`t have too look for an own place to stay. and you don`t always pay for testshoots.
for me it would be different as i`m already working and so i don`t need testshoots at the moment,printing new composite cards...
but first you should try to get an agency there, i`m sure they`ll help you with some organization stuff

 

[xmodel citizen]

Does anyone know if there's a decent, legit modelling agency in vegas? I know that there is plenty of modelling work to be had, but it's mostly provacative/pretty p*rn-ish stuff. I've seen a few good editorials in "Las Vegas" magazine, but the models were from agencies in Arizona. Is there a true modelling agency in town, or would a model have to go to a different market nearby, like LA or AZ?

 

[tristan]

what are the best agencies in Madrid/Barcelona, Rome and Lissabon?And do these cities have good markets? Which is the best for editorial work?

Traffic, View, Group, and Elite. Traffic, View and Group have offices in both Madrid and Barcelona.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Thanks a lot tristan Karma for you.
Do you know the best agencies from Lissabon and Rome? And do these cities have good editorial jobs?

 

[xmodel citizen]

^ I'm guessing you mean Lisbon Portugal? If so, there's Elite, L'Agence, Just Models, Best Models, and DXL Models that I know of

And for Rome, Glamour Model Management and Gierre Management. I'm sure there's more, but that's all I know of.

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Thank you so much for your help xmodel_citizen Yeah I meant Portugal.
I wish I could give you karma again but I can`t right now.

 

[NicoleRenee]

Anyone know anything about the Greek market? Don't they have their own Vogue? Anyone know what are the best agencies there?

 

[xmodel citizen]

I believe that Greece has a decent sized market. They have their own Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, etc., but I'm not sure about Vogue. I know for sure though that some agencies send their girls there to develop before introducing them to the big markets. I know a girl who is going there this summer.

As for agencies, I think Ace Models is really great. There's also Image Management, Action Management, NBP (Nothing But People), and Fashioncult. Ace seems to have the most big name girls though You can find links to their sites here.

 

[NicoleRenee]

Thanks so much xmodelcitizen.

Do you know anything about the agency X-ray in Greece?
www.x-raymodels.gr

 

[*DiamondQueen*]

Athens has lots of commercial jobs (in Athens there are countless commercial companys-Steffi,Movie Lab etc.) and editorial work(Madame Figaro,Vogue,Beaute...to name only a few).

The best agencies in Athens are Ace Models, Image I-M, Action Management, NBP (Nothing But People).

X-raymodels is good/ok, but it doesn`t belong to the top-agencies in Athens like the ones mentioned above.

Also don`t forget to have a look at the location of all the agencies, some of them are in the best/central parts (Plaka,Kolonaki) while others are quite outside. In my opinion location is very important in Athens.

Are you greek or do you want to come there for modeling?

About the sizes...It is not true Athens requires bigger measurements. Look at the top agencies and you`ll see they match international standards like in every other fashion city.

These days in Athens there is very very much competition! There are countless girls because nearly every agency all over the world sends their girls to Athens for getting a better book. So it is no longer so easy to get great jobs there.