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

Before diving into this post, make sure to read the original article I wrote to get caught up: MODELING INVOICES . Happy November! Wondering why I'm writing about a topic that's already been covered on my blog?  Well, that original post was penned back in 2008 and a lot has changed since then so I figured it couldn't hurt to add a few extra updates where they apply, especially since that particular post was mostly aimed at freelance models. GETTING PAID AS AN AGENCY REPRESENTED MODEL Similar to actors with representation getting paid, models with an agency behind them have the convenience of payment being taken care of by their agent. This could involve the agent billing the client directly after the work has been completed or you might be required to have a blank voucher signed by the client as proof of the work done and time put in. Once the client has been billed, it's time to wait for the payroll process to kick in and your agent will send you your cut by check or d...

The worlds of acting and modeling both fall under the entertainment industry but they don't always share a lot of the same factors.  Whether you want to become a model or an actor or if you want to do both, it can be helpful to understand exactly what kind of training/background one should have to pursue these paths properly. There's always an opportunity for misinformation to arise or people identifying a chance to make a quick buck with engaging content encouraging model and actor hopefuls to pay X amount of money to fast track them towards success. While the industry has evolved and adapted to keep up with the latest happenings online and in the real world, not all of it has completely changed. Many of the same things that were true for getting into the industry back in the day still holds true today. In this post, I'll focus on modeling specifically. DO MODELS NEED FORMAL TRAINING TO SIGN WITH AN AGENCY? The short answer is, "No." Why? Because modeling is the ...

As we all know, repeat business is good business. Once you've impressed a client the first time around, it makes their decision a lot easier as to who they'll want to consider for other projects down the line.  Not only does this mean money in your pocket but a surefire way to establish a solid reputation as a model everyone should work with.  Below are some easy tips to wow clients every time and keep your name in their mouths (in a good way) long after you've clocked out. TIP #1: BE ON TIME!      "Early is on time, on time is late and late, you're fired." I have lived by this motto my entire career and it has never failed me. In fact, it isn't unusual for me to be at a gig before the client. To be praised for something that should be common practice says a lot about how other models conduct themselves. Arriving 10-15 minutes early affords you the opportunity to prepare mentally for the work ahead. Who wants to get to a gig late, stressed out and feeling ...

***This post is not the place to stir up debate, debunk safety measures or air out your stance on the pandemic. It is for informational purposes and not intended to be taken as medical advice. Any negative or inappropriate comments/links will be automatically deleted.*** Whether we like it or not, there's a lot going on that has taken all of us out of the norms, routines and habits we've all come to enjoy. When life throws you lemons, you make lemonade and every industry in existence has had to learn to overcome unexpected hurdles, do damage control and adapt to conducting business in an entirely new way. The modeling industry, both the freelance world and at the agency level, is no exception. Navigating the best way to conduct business safely should be the main priority for everyone and you should never be subjected or pressured into coming out of a comfort zone that you have established so let's make the clear up front.  By the same token, it is also crucial to consider t...

It's been a while since I've received a modeling scam email so I felt pretty special about receiving this one earlier this year, mainly because I felt it would make for a good blog post.  I meant to post about this sooner but it happened in March and COVID decided to hang out so...you know the rest. I've written about modeling scams in the past but because they tend to change over time I figured why not see what this latest fraudster has to offer? Below are the telltale signs that immediately signaled to me that this clown was one to add to a long list of shady individuals looking for a gullible model to take the bait:  FORMATTING ISSUES You know when you copy and paste text from different sources into the body of an email or a program like Microsoft Word and the result is a bunch of text of varying sizes and font styles? Super annoying, am I right?  So why on earth would anyone in the professional realm of the fashion/modeling industry send out an email where none of the...

Freelance modeling isn't for the faint of heart. It takes time, dedication, networking, luck and know-how to establish a professional career in the freelance world.  Although models who work for themselves don't have to pay commission like agency represented models do, that doesn't mean this approach is free.  It's difficult to say exactly what the price tag of freelance modeling could be due to the variety of factors, not to mention that no two people's journeys are exactly the same. There are a few basic ways to break down certain expenses as a starting point. Keep in mind any price ranges mentioned here are not set in stone. Also consider the fact that the actual expenses/costs incurred will be different from market to market. To get the gist of this type of scale: New York, Los Angeles and Miami are considered examples of "large markets" in the US. The industry professionals you may encounter will have their own set price ranges based on their portfoli...

*This post will be especially beneficial for freelance models. The modeling portfolio is what helps clients determine whether a model has what it takes to sell their product/brand/idea/concept. Even the most basic project casting could result in a client reviewing dozens of portfolios. One of the best ways to stand out is to make sure your images are relevant. By "relevant," I mean the photos in your portfolio should showcase the types of modeling work that matches what clients are casting for.  Do you want to be a swimwear catalog model? Then your portfolio should have several pictures of you not just in swimwear but posing in the style that a catalog model would, both in studio and on location. Is bridal modeling your dream? Then your portfolio better have you in a wedding dress at some point. See where I'm going with this? The very first line of this blog post mentions freelance models and I stated that for a reason. Models with agency representation already have suppo...

Let's see where we're at so far in this mini blog post series: 1st Installment - Modeling Portfolios 2nd Installment - Comp/Zed Cards 3rd Installment - Modeling Vouchers So what are we looking at for the 4th and final installment of what to keep and what to toss in 2020? That would be modeling websites! I feel like you already know the answer to this one so I'll make it easy for you... KEEP IT OR TOSS IT: KEEP IT! Although this one is a no brainer, there might be those of you who want to know why or how relevant it still is to have a modeling website when social media is king and a lot easier to create and maintain? Well, I have an answer for that. Anyone who has been a reader of this blog for a while knows I take modeling as a business very seriously and believe in taking certain steps to establish your brand to stand out from the rest. The care you take to craft who you are, what you do and what you want out of your career is essential in attracting clie...

In the FIRST INSTALLMENT of this mini blog series, I talked about modeling portfolios. The SECOND INSTALLMENT  covered comp/zed cards. For this third entry, let's tackle the subject of modeling vouchers. To catch you newbies up on what modeling vouchers are, check out this blog post I wrote about them: M ODELING VOUCHERS . The use of modeling vouchers to receive payment from clients is pretty exclusive to agencies, meaning 99.9% of the time you, as a model, will encounter or deal with these types of vouchers is if you're signed to an agency. KEEP IT OR TOSS IT: IT DEPENDS I know...that's not definitive answer but hear me out. Models signed to an agency that still uses vouchers will likely keep using vouchers. The decision to discontinue their use is entirely up to the agent so if you've been using modeling vouchers and haven't been told otherwise, then these will keep being part of your life in relation to your modeling career. Freelance models don'...

In the first entry of this mini blog post, "Modeling in 2020 Pt. I: What to Keep & What to Leave Behind" , I talked about modeling portfolios. In this second installment, let's talk about modeling comp/zed cards. For a crash course on what this tool is, check out the blog post I wrote on the topic: Comp/Zed Cards WHAT IS A COMP/ZED CARD? Think of this as a model's business card but larger and with more information on it. Agencies use them to conveniently promote their models to current and potential clients. Freelance models also use it as a networking tool. Because it has photos, contact info and the model's statistics (height, weight, clothing sizes, etc.), it quickly tells the person looking at it what they need to know. KEEP IT OR TOSS IT: KEEP IT! When it comes to modeling agencies, the use of comp/zed cards is still a common occurrence, especially in larger markets and at agencies specializing in fashion, runway and editorial work. New mod...

Growing and evolving is a natural occurrence in life. If you don't grow and evolve, you get left behind. This applies to nearly all businesses in all industries, modeling included. With the Internet, social media and the way in which we all connect and network across borders, it makes sense that the modeling world has had to reinvent itself or at least tweak a couple of things to stay relevant with the times. So what does that have to do with you as a model? Whether freelance or agency repped, the tools commonly used in the day-to-day activities of your modeling career should probably be evaluated to see if they are still necessary, obsolete or at least something to have around just in case. Let's start off this mini blog post series with modeling portfolios. WHAT IS A MODELING PORTFOLIO? Also known as a model's "book," a portfolio is a hard copy collection of a model's strongest images, including tearsheets from published work. It is organ...

***This post was scheduled to be published several weeks in advance and not meant to be applied in real time among what's happening with the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone should be taking all precautions to be safe, including practicing social distancing and staying indoors. This post is not meant to encourage people to move forward with shoots, fashion shows, booked gigs, etc. Keep yourself and those around you safe!*** (This post will be especially beneficial for freelance models.) It can be a pain but to ensure each shoot goes according to plan but it helps to go the extra step of learning how to implement confirmation and check-in emails with the people you choose to work with. This isn't rocket science--just common sense. Life gets busy and oftentimes things come up at the last minute that could cause the cancellation of a scheduled shoot, meeting or related appointment. Sometimes the other person will actually forget they had a scheduled obligation. Oops. ...