Well, I'm currently using my iPad for putting together this blog post. Unfortunately, I'm unable to add my super sweet picture of Aladdin and his girl flying through the Arabian sky. Maybe when I finish writing this I'll go back and try harder to make it work....I love Disney...but anyway, this blog topic struck me for a special reason.
I'm not sure if anyone other than our professor as noticed, but my attendance record hasn't been to hot, and that's not because I hate school or anything. The reason is, a little over a year ago I began to peruse a career in modeling. At first, it was tough for me to break into the industry, for several reasons. 1. There isn't much to anything here in San Diego that's worth my time for work, mainly random events or catering jobs which no model wants to do, unless they're desperate for work. So I had to spend a good chunk of time in bigger modeling cities like NYC, MIA, and LA in order to build my "book" or "portfolio" just so I could get signed to agencies.
It took me at least a year to get all of this done, and once I finally had my foot in the door, I realized it was only the beginning. It started off slow, but over time I began getting more "direct bookings" meaning I would get hired without having to go to auditions. These auditions, or "castings" as they're referred to in the biz, really only take place in those major cities I listed above. Because I'm still a student and am determined to graduate in a timely manner, I remained in San Diego and would drive to LA 1,2, or sometimes even 3 times a week! Crazy, I know.
Fast forward to today, and I've now reached a level in my career were I feel comfortable with the work I'm getting and feel comfortable in the industry. At first, it was difficult to understand how this business worked. I'll break it down for you...&;
First, to be a model and get work, you need an agency. In order to get signed to an agency, you need some proof that you look good on camera. For this, you need to do a couple of "test" shoots with skilled photographers. In order to know who's good and who's not, you need someone to point you in the right direction. This is usually done by you "mother agent" who in most cases is the person who scouts you. Your mother agent is also responsible for setting up meetings with agencies and also gets a 10% cut of the jobs you do. You have to be very careful with these people because in many cases, mine included, they sometimes try to take advantage of the models. It wasnt until I began working when I asked my agency in Miami about how I'm supposed to pay my mother agent. She told me I should never pay him a dime. In fact, whoever books my jobs in supposed to charge the client an extra 10% which ends up being the mother agency fee. Thankfully, I never did pay my mother agent and terminated my contract with him before shit hit the fan. That's just a little peek at how the industry works, which you can't fully grasp until you go through it.
Another interesting thing about the world of modeling is that each city has its own season when it gets the most activity. Miami pops off in the winter, NYC gets active on n the spring, Europe is the summer and fall, and I guess LA is year round. I think it has something to do with the weather...but who knows lol.
I'm currently writing this blog post from my changing room on set at Dillard's (a department store in the south that a bet non of you have heard of haha). But that's just a little peek at the workings inside the world of modeling. Everyone's path is different, but we all (models) have to learn how this industry works and ewe have to learn quickly because it is very easy to be taken advantage of. I've seen it happen and it's a sad thing....
Like I mentioned earlier, I'm technically challenged and suck at uploading pics, but if you want to see some of the things I've done, check out my instagram @nick.stenman.
That's another thing, you have to have an instagram these day, so my agents tell me. I guess clients like using models with big following because it's just another outlet to market whatever clothes, accessories, cars, or whatever else it is being advertised. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog and have fun in class today...I'll be heading to the airport then...
See y'all Friday!
Woah, that's really cool that you're able to model and are involved in this whole other world that a lot of people frankly have no idea about. We see models everywhere, on billboards, in magazines, in commercials and usually I think they just represent the humans we see ourselves as - or the kinds of humans we strive to be. With modeling I'm sure that there are all kinds of ways of communication between client and model and agent (and customer) including contracts like you mentioned, a portfolio, an instagram. Wow, so many different avenues which seem like they wouldn't be regarded as literacy from an outsider's standpoint, but actually when you're in the business are such an important part of one's reading material. I see how it's crucial to understand those things in order to get ahead in your industry.
ReplyDelete-Meghann Vallecillo