Answering a Reader Question #24

Anonymous Wrote:

Hi i understand everything you said about the contracts but what if you signed the contracted and they asked me to pay 250 dollars a year for three years for the website crap, plus an additional 20% which i know is normal when i ever get a job!. I've already signed the contract like a dummy and its almost a year and i've only been to one audition! How can i get out of this!

sign, Help I've been fooled!

Uh-oh! That sounds fishy to me. The 20% is fine but what's with the $250 a year stuff?! I know that many agencies (not all but some) now have additional fees due to website and gallery features that have their models on it, which is totally legit, but that price is pretty steep. I pay $9.00 a month to have myself listed online for one of my agencies (I have two, one for acting and one for modeling) and even then it isn't as much as $250 a year.

The fact that you've only received one audition does not justify the amount of money you are putting into it. If you haven't spoken to your agent about the lack of work, you should. Before severing ties or getting out of your contract you should do everything you can to communicate what you want your agency to do and how they can meet your needs. However, if you've been there and done that, it sounds like it's time for you to move on.

In order to get out of your contract, which all models are allowed to do by law, you'll need to refer to your actual contract. It should have a clause that explains what steps you need to take in order to opt out or terminate your contract. Usually you have to give a written notice but it varies from agency to agency. So take a look at your contract and see what it says. If you can't find your contract or it doesn't state such a clause then write a letter stating that you would like to terminate your contract effective immediately. You don't need to go into detail and you don't even need to explain why. Keep it brief and note the date you wrote the letter and snail mail it to the agency. Do not send it via email because it is easy to delete and you would never know if they received it or not.

I hope that helps and feel free to send me a personal email if you need help with this matter further. Good luck!

Comments

pinup_girl said…

It's so awesome that you take the time to answer everyone's questions like this.

August 28, 2008 at 1:01 PM

Want to Be a Victoria's Secret Model?

(*Due to the number of comments and questions I get from aspiring models about working for VS, please be sure to read my post on this very carefully. If you don't meet all of these requirements then you cannot become a model for VS. If you are not tall enough, if you are not signed to a top agency, your chances are not good. If you don't meet the requirements, please don't be too upset about it. Find another field of modeling you may be good for. There are plenty of other modeling opportunities for models outside of being a VS angel. They may not be as good or as well-known as VS but it's better than nothing.) I know I’d jump at the chance to be offered a gig modeling for Victoria’s Secret (although I think they’d be irritated by Photoshopping my stretch marks HAHA, yeah, I said it, I’ve got stretch marks!). All silliness aside, the gals of Victoria’s Secret are probably the inspiration for a majority of aspiring models out there. Not only do they get to wear the s...

Male Models & Height

(This particular post is in reference to male models seeking to do fashion and runway modeling only, not commercial/print.) So I realize that many of my posts are directed at female models because, well, there are so many of them out there! But I do acknowledge and recognize the male models out there, too, and believe me I do my best to try and squeeze in posts that relate to you guys as well. While I will say that much of the information I provide (casting calls, submitting to agencies, etc.) can be applied to male modeling as well, I don't want anyone to get confused or feel they have to sort out exactly what applies to females and what applies to males so I decided to start trying to do more posts for male models or those aspiring to be one. The height factor is not just an issue with female models but male models as well. Unfortunately, there are even less "exceptions to the rule" when it comes to male models than female models. There are definitely the Ka...

How Old is Too Old to Model?

It’s no secret that the media has made a big deal out of youth. Think about it: how many people have you heard say, “Gosh, I can’t wait to get wrinkles!” Worldwide, selling the idea of youth has made many companies billions of dollars. Without the models, however, they wouldn’t get very far. So that’s the obvious stuff but what about the question of age and being older in the modeling industry? Well, for starters, if you plan on being in the fashion and runway field, the younger you are the better. The longevity for this type of modeling is extremely short for the majority of models involved. Agencies sign girls as young as 13 years old and tend to hesitate if a model is over 18. This topic, like the height issue, is a reality of the industry that you don’t have to agree with but you will have to accept or at least get used to. It’s just a plain fact that agencies and their clients can get more work out of youthful models than those who already show the signs of aging. Sadly, this...

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

Search This Blog