Answering a Reader Question #203

Lucp92 Wrote:

Hi I'm a little concerned about my contract I just signed and I almost feel like it's not a legit company. But like any contract its hard to get out of but I want to get out of it! What should I do? Please help

Hi, Lucp92. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with such a situation, yikes! What is it about your contract that makes you feel like they aren't legit? Knowing that info will help me give you more accurate advice about how to handle this. If you want, you can email me more details about your contract at: daniadenise@gmail.com. Since I don't know the specifics, below is a general answer:

Any contract has what is known as an "Exit Clause," which is a specific part of the contract that explains how to terminate it. Go through your contract page by page (hopefully it isn't super long) and look for this clause. If no such clause is there, then look for a phrase/sentence that says something along the lines of, "Either party can choose to terminate this contract/business relationship..." Usually that phrase will contain some info about how to get out of the contract.

The contract you have is going to be the key to figuring out how to terminate it. In most cases (not all), all it should take is writing a letter stating that effective immediately you are terminating your contract with X company. Make sure to put the date that you are writing the letter as the "effective date" so that they know you want out right then and there. It is important to mail the termination letter traditionally and not through email. To make sure it gets there and someone has received it, send the letter "certified," which means that whoever gets the letter will have to sign for it. You'll receive a copy of the signed certification. This is to have solid proof in case they try to lie and say they never got the letter.

I hope that helps and good luck with dealing with that situation. In the worst case scenario, if you are still having trouble, I would recommend seeking legal counsel and having an attorney who is experienced with modeling/entertainment contracts review yours to see what your options are.

Comments

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks

Modeling 101 - A Model's Diary

Search This Blog