Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

I know the phrase, “Sell Yourself,” sounds suspect but when I was 15-years-old, this is what I was taught when I first got into the industry as a model/actor. Over the years, I’ve come to know how important this concept is and have made it a point to implement it when I mentor, coach and consult models. The idea of “selling yourself” is quite simple: in order to convince agencies, clients, casting directors, etc. to work with you is to know how to pitch yourself to them. Essentially, learning how to talk about yourself in a confident and conversational way is one of the greatest secrets to booking gigs and building/maintaining a solid networking environment. Aside from the many castings I’ve been to over the years, I’ve also had the opportunity to be a part of the casting process and experience things from the other side. It never ceases to amaze me how many models have a hard time talking about themselves. If you’re new and/or inexperienced, that’s one thing but I’ve seen mode...

Whether you're a freelance model or agency represented, if you've had a bit of experience in modeling and have attended castings and go-sees, chances are you've filled out your share of paperwork. In order for clients to make their final selections for bookings, it helps if they know a bit more about the models up for consideration. Aside from filling out a sign-in sheet, many castings also have models fill out and submit a brief questionnaire that contains basic information such as statistics/measurements, contact info and level of experience. However, you may have also noticed a section that asks you to list any "Special Skills." What Are Special Skills? Sometimes included in the section of the questionnaire that asks about hobbies or special interests, special skills are any kind of talent or skill outside of modeling that you are really good at. Examples of common special skills worth noting include but are not limited to: Dance (ballet, tap, jazz...

(This post will be mainly beneficial to male and female freelance models. This post is in regards to castings for modeling jobs, not open calls for modeling agencies). I'm a pretty easy going person but nothing grinds my gears (Family Guy reference for those of you who didn't know) more than people who don't follow directions. This is especially true for castings where models are submitting themselves for jobs. Long-time readers likely already know I'm a HUGE stickler for professionalism, including following instructions. What do I always say: a good model follows directions! This goes for applying to modeling jobs, not just agencies. When submitting directly, you as the model are representing yourself to the client. If you've ever been on the receiving end of a casting call, you already know how hectic it can be. Even the smallest, low budget project could easily get as many as 25-50 or more replies from models hoping to get hired. Going through all those ...

To avoid any confusion, this blog post is referring specifically to the castings that models go on where they meet with the client in the hopes of getting hired, not "casting calls" where agencies allow models to come in without an appointment to be evaluated for free. Actors attend "auditions" and models attend "castings." I've found this is an easy way to understand the concept of a casting. "Go-sees" fall under this category as well but I like to keep the two terms separate since go-sees are usually reserved for fashion models who go in to meet with a designer/client, try on their garments and then do a runway walk to determine whether or not they'll get hired for a fashion show or editorial shoot. Go-sees are usually really fast, in-and-out type of meetings. For the sake of argument and to keep things simple, in this post I'll be talking about general castings that aren't as speedy as go-sees and cover a variety of model...

Those of you that are pretty familiar with my blog probably know that I participate in bridal fairs year-round within the Northern California area. As I've advanced in my role as a model and right-hand gal to the model coordinator for the bridal fashion shows, I've also had the great opportunity to be a part of the casting call process each season. While I don't sit on the judging panel, I am the first person the models meet at the casting call after signing in. I conduct the mini orientation where I explain what the panel is looking for in its bridal models, as well as demonstrate an example of the runway walk the judges expect to see. The Spring bridal season for the Bay Area Wedding Fairs is starting soon and it's time to find new faces! Below are the details of the casting call...I definitely encourage any of you that is interested to attend: Who Can Attend? We are currently seeking male and female models of all ages, as well as child models (ages 5+). We...

Went on my second casting call through my new agent for a company called Citrix about a week ago. They specialize in creating technology and software for a variety of different uses. I was told to choose wardrobe from either of the following descriptions: business casual, casual or business professional/formal. I opted for business casual and wore black heeled boots (closed-toe), black slacks and a white short-sleeve blouse with turquoise and green flower designs on it. I got to the casting early, signed in and filled out a short info sheet, which asked for my name, email and my agency information (agency name, main contact, phone number). I knew it could be a bit of a wait so I brought a book along with me. When it was my turn, I was taken into a room where there was only one person running the casting. She actually worked for the casting office and wasn't an employee with Citrix. So I knew the client wasn't going to be present and the casting office would simply email...

A little over one week after signing to a new modeling agency, I went to my first casting for Nike Vision Eyewear. If booked, I would be paid $1,000 + 20% (agency commission) for working a full day (10 hours) or $600 + 20% for working a half day (5 hours). According to my agency's instructions, I was told to dress sporty or hip/street casual. The wardrobe description was a bit vague so my agent sent a few images of Nike Vision's previous ads so I could get a better idea of what to wear. I decided to go with hip/street casual: dark blue skinnies, Converse sneakers that were white, black and pink and a solid colored, maroon tanktop. I was a bit torn between wearing the tanktop and a t-shirt that was the same pink color as my shoes but ultimately I went for the tanktop because the pink t-shirt had a graphic on the front that I thought would be too distracting. I wore my hair down and curled. Makeup-wise, I kept it natural: concealer, blush, powder, mascara and lip color (MAC...

I'm becoming pretty familiar with Hollywood (haha), since I had the chance to go back to the area a few days later for a test shoot for the clothing line, Crooks & Castles, which is located next to H&M off of W. Sunset Blvd--yes, it was a few blocks down from Le Posh Salon, where the Oribe Hair Care casting was...talk about a small world! Crooks & Castles is an urban men's clothing line (they also have a women's collection but it's mainly focused on menswear) that is pretty big with a lot of celebrities and artists in the hip hop industry. In fact, people like Jay Z have been trying to buy the label from the owners because the style of "hip hop couture" is gaining more momentum. Of course the owners know a good thing when they see it so they've continued to turn down any offers to be bought out. Anyways, I submitted myself to one of their casting calls. They're working on a new lookbook and other related print material to showcase the...

This past Monday I had the opportunity to head to Hollywood for a casting for a huge hair care and fashion show event taking place in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel in May. The show is featuring Oribe Hair Care, which is a pretty awesome product line. They've styled some amazing editorial and fashion spreads in magazines like Vogue, Vibe and V Spain, among many others. Here is a link to one of their online portfolios of the celebs and various magazines they have worked with (talk about impressive!): Oribe Hair Care Portfolio Based in New York, Oribe was casting for hair models to do the event and decided to have the casting call in Los Angeles at a place called Le Posh Salon, located off of W. Sunset Blvd. Out of the models that applied, I received a personal invite to the casting. Being "invited" to a casting is always a good sign, since it means it won't be a huge cattle call and shows that they've already weeded out most of the people that have appl...

I know that my blog gets visited regularly by models, both new and established, but there have been others in the industry that at one time or another have come across Modeling 101--photographers, stylists, randomly curious people, etc. So I figured that maybe, just maybe, there are those that may find themselves in need of models for various projects. Now, I can't cure all the ills in the world relating to the modeling industry but maybe by making this post I can positively influence clients into taking the time to post worthwhile castings for models. Goodness knows I've come across so many wrong ones that I felt it may be helpful to future clients out there if they had some helpful tips to assist them in this often intimidating process... Think Out Your Casting Call Carefully  There is nothing wrong with writing a draft version of your casting. Make sure you know what you want and that you are properly communicating that in your post. Regardless of whether you use Cra...

***I have to say a huge THANK YOU to one of my readers, Kliah, for showing me where to find the most recent submission info for JET Beauty of the Week...below you'll find the updated submission requirements.*** JET Magazine is one of the most well known and well read publications targeted towards the African-American community. One of the magazine’s most popular features—if not “the” most popular—is the “Beauty of the Week.” The opportunity to be published and have millions of readers looking at your photo can be quite an accomplishment and is great exposure. If this is something you want to give a shot, keep reading. Here is the link to the new way to submit yourself for JET's Beauty of the Week, which has been taken right from JET Magazine’s website so it’s all you’ll need to know in order to have your shot at becoming Beauty of the Week (BOTW). I've also included a link to the pdf that contains the details of what photos and other information candidates will need to ...

After waiting in line about an hour to an hour and a half, I finally reached the entrance to the Westin Hotel, which is where the casting was taking place. The man at the door asked to see identification that showed our date of birth (you have to be 18-27 in order to be eligible). They took us in groups of seven and directed us to the elevators, where we got onto the third floor and were instructed to sit in a large waiting room. As we walked into the room we were handed a sticker with a number on it (I was #173) and another application (this one was one page, compared to the 15 page official application I filled out a few days before) and were directed to our seats. Check out my video coverage (sorry if it's kinda dark--the lighting in the room wasn't that great): This is video of how quickly the room filled up after about 45 minutes: This is where we proceeded to wait until 10am. During that time I changed into my heels, had a quick snack and filled out the one pa...

When I found out about the ANTM casting, I visited the CW Network website (www.cwtv.com) and first read the Eligibility Requirements to make sure that I was indeed eligible to apply. I then printed out the Application and filled it out. Because I planned on attending the open casting call in San Francisco, I did not do a videotape submission. However, if you plan on submitting your application via snail mail then you will need to include a 3-minute videotape (DVD or VHS) of yourself, along with other materials so please read the Eligibility Requirements and the Application to make sure you are following the right steps. I work up at 6am, got ready, got stuck in traffic due to the horrible storm that hit the city and arrived at my destination around 8am. What I brought with me: - Application, completely filled out - Photo ID (driver's license) - Small bag that had my application carefully tucked away from the rain, a book to read, snacks, and my heels (due to the rain I ...

Yes, you read right. I attended a casting for ANTM. Why, you ask? Well, here are a couple of reasons: - While they are premiering cycle 12 this week on television, they are currently already casting for cycle 13 (yes, folks, in the TV world even “reality” is prerecorded). The twist with the cycle 13 casting is that ANTM is only looking for girls that are at or under 5’7”. That means cycle 13 is all about petite models! - Because this has never happened before, I knew it was something that I at least wanted to experience. How often does Tyra take an interest in anyone that is under 5’7”? - I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. In the eligibility requirements it states that it’s okay if you have modeling experience but they prefer to not have contestants that have appeared in a national or international campaign within the past 5 years. I mostly model locally and the only mainstream thing I’ve done was being the “Beauty of the Week” in JET Magazine but that w...

Today I got to break up the monotony of my office job to head to San Francisco for a casting for a Verizon print ad. Luckily, the photography studio where the casting was being held was right on the outskirts of the city and right next to the freeway. That meant no crazy maneuvering within the city and plenty of free parking! The great thing about this casting was that no appointments were needed...all I had to do was show up anytime between 1pm-5pm so I gave myself plenty of time. I made sure to arrive a little after 1pm, and sat in my car for a few minutes to apply my lipstick and add a touch of powder to combat any shine. Because Verizon is a very commercial product, I kept my outfit business casual: black capri slacks, peep-toe heels and a short-sleeved, emerald green shirt with a scooped neckline. I didn't apply any eye shadow, just mascara to give my lashes length and a subtle pink shade of lipstick with a tiny touch of gloss. I signed in and filled out a contact sheet...

There is a great site called GreatGlam.com that sells really sexy and fashionable clothing and accessories online. You can see their ads on popular sites like Myspace. If you live in Florida, GreatGlam.com is looking for models, both pro and aspiring to model their fashions, which appear on their website. They are looking to hire models for $40/hour, which each shoot lasting between 2-3 hours. The hours are flexible and you have the chance to pick up more work when other models aren’t available. It’s a great chance to build a portfolio and get exposure, plus experience of course! Your face isn’t always shown in the photos since they want to emphasize the clothes but for promo purposes and online ads, your face will be visible. This is great for models that live in or near Brandon, Florida, which is just outside of Tampa. Note that for models who live further, they don’t compensate for gas or travel but welcome those who don’t live in Brandon. To take advantage of this opportunit...

Modeling contests are a fun way of trying to break into modeling, whether you're new to it or not. Of course there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to searching and submitting yourself to them. You can find modeling contests online through search engines like Google, although the results will be so numerous, it can be confusing. You can also try looking for modeling contest info at online modeling communities like Models.com or ModelMayhem.com. Sometimes the people who are putting on the contests advertise on sites like those in order to get models to enter. Regardless of how you find out about them, be sure that you only enter modeling contests that you qualify for and be sure to read all the contest rules. There may be things listed in the fine print that aren't stated up front elsewhere. Many also have age requirements. Most will be 18+. Unfortunately, teen model contests are pretty rare but if you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find them. Wh...

A Go-See is actually what it sounds like: you go to see a client that is interested in booking you for a gig, whether it's a photo shoot for their brand/company, a runway show, etc. It's important that once you know the date and time for your go-see, that you arrive early with plenty of time to spare. Give yourself plenty of time to get gas, run errands or get lost trying to find the place. There have been many times when I've left super early if I had to go somewhere that I wasn't familiar with. It makes you feel a whole lot better when you're lost and driving in circles, to know that soon as you find your way, you'll still have a good half hour or so before your actual appointment time. There is no excuse for you to show up late to a go-see. That's one way to lose a booking right away, not to mention that it makes a bad first impression. When you meet the client, be polite and personable. Give him or her a firm handshake and a genuine smile. ...