The internet is now overflowing with offers from various modelling agencies who promise to turn an ordinary girl into a world-class model in a short period of time. And, obviously, not all of them will make you or your daughter a top model, their goal will be achieved when your money is transferred from your account to theirs.
Then there will be a few months of «training», and then they will stop picking up when you call, and if they take it, they’ll say that your type is not in demand right now, or, worst of all, will continue to pull money at every opportunity: refill your portfolio, change of image or style and so on down the list.
But in order not to get caught at the tricks of dishonest «entrepreneurs», it is better to check the modeling agency in advance. And if you check out a decent agency, they’ll take it perfectly normal.
Safety tips for models:
One of the easiest ways to check a modelling agency is to ask a close friend who is not a model to ask the agency to become a model. If the agency agrees to take the girl is not a model of appearance, forget the way there, the modeling agency only works for their own pocket or pimping.
When choosing an agency, you should pay attention to how many models have become popular and how often you see models from this agency on the catwalk or in the pages of magazines. Do not hesitate to ask such questions at the first interview.
Large agencies have a division into three types of employees who work with models.
Beginner models
Models with steady demand and earnings
And, of course, the top models whose names and faces represent the agency.
With each type of model and at each stage of the models works its own staff — agents, managers, etc. And here it is very important in the first phase to get the right person who can work with you to create a unique look and give you an initial boost.
A very important indicator of the model agency is the employment of models and the level of events to which they are sent to work.
If you do not want to take part in the opening of pharmacies and shops in small towns, as well as providing escort services, then try to avoid agencies with such popularity. By the way, this kind of work at the beginning of your career can have a big impact on your later success or even put an end to your career.
In every city there are a number of independent modelling agencies or branches of large agencies offering a range of contracts for aspiring models. In their advertisements, they promise fast career growth, popularity and big fees. But don’t be in a hurry to sign every paper they give you, even if they don’t charge you any money. Before you go to a modelling agency in your town, you should check it out. For example, read its history and make sure the agency doesn’t move from place to place but has been working for many years and has a good reputation in the press and positive feedback on the internet. You should not apply to a modeling agency that has just opened and no one knows anything about it. It’s best to sign up for an interview with several agencies at once and visit them all before making a decision. This will help you to reasonably compare and weigh up the pros and cons.
Large modeling agencies often cooperate with scouts, which is normal practice as it makes more sense to send a few scouts to a particular region than to open a branch there. And it is not uncommon for a person to come up to you on the street and introduce himself as a scout and offer you to become a model. It can happen to any girl anywhere. Scouts do go around the world looking for talent. They can go to a remote village or to a dangerous area on assignment from the agency. But all they have to do is find a beautiful girl and leave her their card. Which, by the way, should contain not only the scout’s name and phone number, but also the name of the company he represents and all the necessary details. But very often, scammers, who have nothing to do with the model agency, approach the girls under the guise of a scout. Scouts are often hired by modeling schools to lure girls. It is important to know that no self-respecting agency forces girls to go to modelling school for a fee. Yes, agencies like Ford Models and Elit certainly have modeling schools, but the models there are trained for free. So if a scout tells you that you must go to modeling school and then there will be a chance to get into a modeling agency — this is a lie. And by the way, by no means give your phone number to a scout, by the rules he has to give you his business card and limit himself to one sentence.
As in the case of the model school, each major modeling agency has its own photographer who makes a starting portfolio for models. So if you are told at your first interview that you have to pay a photographer or make a portfolio yourself, don’t agree, look for other options.
If you did decide to sign a contract with one of the many modelling agencies and you are unable to consult a lawyer when signing the contract, then make sure you carefully read all the clauses of the contract, especially the ones that are written in small print, and demand copies of all the contracts signed. They may come in handy in disputed situations.
Of course, it is possible to become a model without an agency or personal agent, but it means that you will have to monitor all the events, shows, and photo sessions, make arrangements with clients yourself, solve financial issues and keep yourself in a perfect working order.
No agency can give a 100% guarantee that a girl will become a super model. But if a girl is taken to a top-level modeling agency, it means they have seen something in her and will now do everything possible to make sure she gets to the top of Olympus. To do this, a model is assigned a booker who selects not only lucrative commissions for the girl, but also those that will affect her career growth. One wrong move and the model’s reputation can suffer.
Still, the main person in every model’s career is the manager, on whom the model’s career and employment depend completely. So when you come to a modeling agency, you need to pay attention and ask other models about the work of managers. Their working methods may be rude and managers may be unfriendly to models, but that is not the main thing, the main thing is the result.
And remember, it is better to wait and search than to sign a contract and then regret and suffer from the unscrupulous work of a modeling agency.
