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

[Edita]

What about Vivienne Models in Munich?

 

[fashionispassion]

thanks for the info, fritmatyo!

 

[Frenger.]

Yesterday I got scouted by an agency here in Sydney. They claim they are 'Australias Leading Agency' but Ive never heard of them! I had a look on the site and they look a little bit dodgy, but the models appear in a few good magazines.

http://www.nkmodels.com

do you think I should bother joining? I've always wanted to be a model, but i was aiming a bit higher. What are your veiws on this agency?

 

[agee]

Fritmayo, thanks for your response to my question above.

What percentage (in general or a range) does an agency take from a model? What is the geographic breakdown? I have heard that the US is 10% and that in Europe it can be ridiculously high like 70%, but I assume that is not typical? I don't know about Asia, but that a model may actually get incentive pay. Does it differ based on the agency size?

I am referring to the pure cut that they take for being the agent, not deductions that repay the agency for things like lodging and test shots, although I would appreciate that being addressed separately as well.

Thanks.

 

[fritmayo]

Fritmayo, thanks for your response to my question above.

What percentage (in general or a range) does an agency take from a model? What is the geographic breakdown? I have heard that the US is 10% and that in Europe it can be ridiculously high like 70%, but I assume that is not typical? I don't know about Asia, but that a model may actually get incentive pay. Does it differ based on the agency size?

I am referring to the pure cut that they take for being the agent, not deductions that repay the agency for things like lodging and test shots, although I would appreciate that being addressed separately as well.

Thanks.

The monney the agency "keeps" does not always mean that all money goes to the agency.
For exemple in France, the agency is responsible to pay the taxations on the models earning. it is quiet usual for an Agency in Paris to keep 55-60% but from that money, 30% goes directly to tax institution, and also they must pay the mother agency or the scout out of that. So what they keep at the end is not much different than in other market. For the models obviously in leaving 60% to the agency, it is quiet hard to earn any money at the end, it needs to be already a good working girl to expect to earn money in Paris.

In Milan, they dont have to keep the taxation, so they usully keep just around 20%, that make a big difference for the girl.

Clearly for girls "good worker but not super top", asia is the best place, almost sure to earn money at every trip, agency just keep 20% and girl is paid in cash before departure.

Also notice that what the agency take can be discussed depending of the girl evolution, as of course a top girl that many agencies wants can ask to the agency to reduce their comission. Many models switch between agencies are discussed around that...the agency comission.

 

[Paws]

Clearly for girls "good worker but not super top", asia is the best place, almost sure to earn money at every trip, agency just keep 20% and girl is paid in cash before departure.

^In Japan the agency takes 40% and does paid the model in cash (but will wire it for them if requested).

Canada is 20%

 

[fritmayo]

^In Japan the agency takes 40% and does paid the model in cash (but will wire it for them if requested).

Canada is 20%

If 40% there is a part for taxation, and even if some agencies insist for that, it can be avoided...if the mother agency is good.
Also...Japan is just a part of modeling in asia, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Thailand, even Korea there plenty of places over there where to make monney

 

[Paws]

If 40% there is a part for taxation, and even if some agencies insist for that, it can be avoided...if the mother agency is good.
Also...Japan is just a part of modeling in asia, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Thailand, even Korea there plenty of places over there where to make monney

^The mother agent is the best in Canada. 40% it is.

And I know that Japan is just a part of modelling in Asia - that is why I just said Japan because I know about Japan.

 

[Frenger.]

Hey guys, as i said before i got scouted by an agency but it wasnt all that good (at all)


would there be anything wrong with just joining, getting a few good photos and some experience and then leaving to go to a hogher agency?

are there any consequences or rules about doing that or anything?

 

[*Bianca*]

why don't you just send some simple snaps of yourself to the better Australian agencies first? you don't really need any previous experience to be signed.

 

[waffles]

I agree with *Bianca*, it'd be a waste of time. Usually the test shoots set up by smaller agencies suck anyway and it's nothing you could use for your book at a "real" high level agency.

Send in some digital snaps to the big agencies. If they're interested, they will take care of your development. Having previous experience with some crappy agency is not an advantage at all, they'll probably laugh at the photos.

 

[Frenger.]

Thanks for the advice guys, so you reckon it will decrease my chanses or just do nothing at all?

 

[wednesdays child]

Better to start at the top, if they say no, then you can look at smaller agencies, but if a better agency says yes, then ofcourse thats better

But without knowing the name of the smaller agency that wanted you , its hard to say whether it will hurt or help you, the small agency could be a total ripoff scam or a legitimate boutique or newer agency

At least with the respected Sydney agencies, priscilla's Viviens, chic , chadwick , you know what you are getting, if any of these agencies accept you, then you know you have what it takes to potentially work well as a model.

 

[Frenger.]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll take it. Yes the site was extremelyt dodgy

I was looking through the models and came across one girl with 8"5 written as her height.

 

[Label Basher]

A friend of mine has been approached by an agency called Mission Models in London.

Has anyone heard of them? Good or Bad stories. Any info will do.

I don't want her going off somewhere dodgy.

Thanks

 

[penny609]

Just have a look at their website and I guess you can have good idea of the kind of bookings she could get with them. Not high fashion, for sure. Not high commercial as well... http://www.missionmodels.co.uk/html/mission_girls.html
Hope it helps

 

[Label Basher]

^ thanks for you reply. We did look at the web but I just thought I would check here in case anyone had any inside info or goss

 

[AboveAverageJoe]

What are the best lesser known fashion agencies?

In your opinion, what are the best lesser known fashion agencies ? They don't have to be totally obscure, but just outside of the common big names.

 

[penny609]

In your opinion, what are the best lesser known fashion agencies ? They don't have to be totally obscure, but just outside of the common big names.

Which area ? It's a bit hard to tell without knowing which area/country/city you target

 

[AboveAverageJoe]

I think I may be in over my head, sorry . To tell the truth I know mostly photographers and makeup artists more than agencies and just made the thread (before knowing about this one) just to try to contribute, but I could go back through the thread and read up, I guess .