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

Ah, the almighty modeling contract. Obtaining agency representation is the ultimate goal for a majority of those that want to get into the industry professionally and having a contract secured is the first step towards reaching those goals. However, one of the biggest mistakes newbies can make is signing without understanding what they're agreeing to. Some of the worst cases I've heard from those who have reached out to me for advice and assistance have to do with contracts. I feel so bad for those individuals because 9 times out of 10, I can't really help them at all because it's all after the fact . Folks, signing on that dotted line is a serious business decision and obligation. This applies to underage models as well, namely, the parents. Once you've put that signature down, the options for trying to get out of the contract are dramatically decreased. Models get "stuck" in contracts all the time but I hope this post will prevent this from happeni...

Modeling contracts can be intimidating and it's no wonder that I often get panicked emails and messages from model hopefuls with all sorts of questions. I have a handful of blog posts that talk about modeling contracts but I know it never hurts to add more content to expand on the subject. And I do plan on adding more posts to that category over time. This post will focus on the main parts contained within the typical modeling agency contract. But please note that each agency has its own contracts it uses and the clauses contained are specifically relevant to how that business operates. Because I don't know what every single agency contract looks like, the purpose of this post is to shed light on the most common clauses that can be found in a majority of these types of documents. Also keep in mind that I am by no means a legal professional (or claiming to be one). The terms and descriptions I'll be referring to are all based on my experiences and knowledge of the m...

The almighty modeling contract is what just about every model entering the industry hopes to obtain. This document is one that can make or break the direction a model's career goes in. Because it is a legally binding document, there is a lot of confidentiality that comes with modeling contracts and what they say, which is why you'll be hard pressed to find an authentic contract from a well known agency like IMG, Ford, Elite, DNA or even a boutique agency, for that matter. Of course for those of you that have never had representation before, you're probably super curious to know exactly what a modeling contract looks like, what it says and what terms you'd be agreeing to, should you be offered one. I actually still have a copy of my contract from when I was with Ford but due to confidentiality, I can't publish any of those contents here, even though I'm no longer signed with them. But what I can do is share with you what a sample modeling contract looks lik...

I've talked a lot about modeling contracts and I know that this almighty document is one that many of you aspiring models may be wondering about. Lucky for you, I was able to find some actual contracts that you can read. I will state, however, that each agency has its own modeling contract drawn up and not all of them contain the same things. The only way you can get a real modeling contract in your hands is to either work at an agency or be a model who is about to sign one. Other than that, the majority of agencies keep their contracts confidential, and with good reason--not only do they want to keep the terms of their working relationship with their models safe, they also don't want the competition to see it. Lots of legal stuff involved there. I have a copy of a modeling contract, which is a SAMPLE--that means it isn't a contract from an existing agency--it's more so a template of what a typical contract will look like and a great way for you to get familiar wi...

Modeling contracts can be very intimidating for new models so I've decided to clear a few things up about them. What is a modeling contract? A modeling contract is a piece of paper (usually more than one page) that establishes the professional and official working relationship between the model and agency. It also contains the rules, regulations and guidelines as to the duties and obligations the model must fulfill as a committment to the agency and vice-versa. What does a modeling contract talk about? These contracts basically give the essential information such as how much the agency will take as their finder's fee from the model's booking (also known as "commission." The current percentage agencies are allowed to charge per booking they get their models is around 20%), the way payment works , the types of bookings and jobs the agency will get for the model and the way the working relationship will be run. What is an exclusive modeling contract? An ...

You've found an agency that's interested in you! YAY! This is the moment that all model hopefuls wait for. But just because there is someone who wants to represent you, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a complete green light. Thoroughly check out the agency (if it's a top market agency like FORD, Elite, etc., then it's a given that they're the real deal), learn how long the agency has been in business, how many models it represents and what the list of clients are and who they've worked with in the past. When you meet with the interested agent, take your time getting to know them and don't just listen to them talk about themselves. Ask questions, even ones you may think are dumb and make sure you are satisfied with every answer they give you. Lay out a clear outline of what the agency expects of you and vice-versa. In other words, make sure that you know how the agent is going to market and represent you and let them know the type of mo...