It makes sense because agencies are the experts, they have the connections, established working relationships with clients large and small, as well as the know-how to market models and negotiate the best pay rates for gigs.
I have written many blog posts related to the topic of modeling agencies but figured it would be helpful to do an updated post of sorts that provides a basic breakdown of just how to choose an agency that would be a good fit for you.
Of course I can't speak for everyone so consider the information below as a more generalized version of tips and things to keep in mind during your agency search.
LOCATION IS KEY
A general rule of thumb is to submit to agencies that are no farther than a 2 hour's drive from where you live. Being further makes agencies hesitant because they need models to be available on short notice.
Despite how confident a model may feel that she/he can accommodate a last minute casting, the truth is it's often difficult to drop everything and make arrangements to drive far or spend money on a flight to try and make a casting. Agencies know this and would rather not take the risk of trusting a model's word alone. Being close to the agency's location and client base is vital.
The concept of relocating to be closer to agencies is a risky and expensive one that should be made very carefully. Runway/fashion model hopefuls may have housing options offered to them once they are signed to an agency but this is not guaranteed and not all agencies provide housing. So don't assume that will automatically happen for you should you choose to pick up and move.
Commercial/print models don't receive housing from agencies like runway/fashion models do so aspiring print models should definitely be realistic when it comes to which agencies they plan to submit to in terms of location.
When looking at potential agencies to submit to, think long and hard about where you are currently located in relation to the market you want to work in. If you live within commuting distance then you're good to go. Live outside of the 2 hour driving window? Then you'll want to start evaluating how realistic it will be for you to try and make a last minute casting or booking, as well as how you would convince an agency to believe that the distance won't affect their ability to work with you.
MATCH AGENCIES TO YOUR MODELING GOALS
Some aspiring models want to do it full-time and be the next supermodel. Others want to try something new and see if they'll like it. There are also those who simply want to do it for fun part-time as a hobby.
Make sure you know what you want to do with a modeling career and match that to the types of agencies you're considering.
If you want to go all in with modeling then clearly you'll want to seek agencies in large markets. Already located in that market? Then the next step is to review the submission guidelines of the agencies you're interested in and prepare accordingly.
Do you live in a small town that isn't known for modeling? Then you'll want to see about signing with a local agency to gain experience, build a resume and portfolio and then possibly plan to submit to agencies in a larger market that may require you to relocate. Or you may get lucky and find a mother agency locally whose job will be to place you with larger agencies in other markets nationally and/or internationally.
DON'T IGNORE YOUR GUT
When attending open calls and interviews pay attention to the atmosphere in the agency offices. Are the phones ringing, do the bookers appear to be busy and interacting with clients and models? How are the staff treating you? Do they seem genuinely engaged with you in conversation or are they a bit snooty and act like you're in the way?
Don't ignore your gut. But that doesn't mean you should over analyze and scrutinize every little thing. Make mental notes of how you are treated, if there are any awkward moments or if you felt completely at home the entire time. Think about the conversation you had with the agency staff and how they handled any questions or concerns you raised.
Remember: the modeling agency you end up signing with will be people you'll be interacting with for the duration of your contract so you want to make sure you're picking an agency that you look forward to working with. Even if an agency is the biggest and the best, if you feel uncomfortable or get a bad feeling that something's not right, it's likely a sign that it's not a good fit.
DON'T PAY UPFRONT FEES & NO HARD SALES TACTICS
If a contract isn't being offered to you first, there is no reason why an agency should be asking you to pay upfront fees for services like training, portfolio creation, comp card printing, etc. Additionally, it is not appropriate for an agency to pressure you to sign a contract right then and there without allowing you to take it home to look over for a few days.
Anytime an agency makes it seem like they'll snatch the opportunity away if you don't get on board on the spot, take it as a red flag and politely decline. If they're asking for personal financial information like a credit card, definitely get up, walk away and don't look back.
WHAT KIND OF WORK DO THEY BOOK?
Do you dream of walking runway shows in other countries? Do you want to appear in clothing catalogs and billboards? Do you see yourself modeling accessories for online websites or are you more interested in doing tradeshow/promotional modeling and hosting and/or acting? Then you'll want to thoroughly browse through agency websites to see what types of clients the agency has worked with.
Typically in the About section of the website, there will be a description of the types of projects booked, along with names of clients and/or a list of recent gigs the agency has gotten. Tracking down this information, along with learning more about the history/story of the agency, will allow you to see whether or not your goals are in line with that particular agency.
LOOK AT THE CONTRACT
Getting a contract offer is the goal but don't sign on the dotted line if you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Legitimate agencies allow you to take the contract home to review and will give a deadline for when to provide them with a signed copy if you're on board.
If your goal is to sign with more than one agency, don't sign an exclusive contract and vice-versa. Find out how long the contract is going to last. Not sure if you want to commit long-term to an agency? Then you'll likely be more comfortable signing a 1-2 year contract and not a 3-5 year one.
Understand how to get out of the contract if you want to terminate the working relationship early for whatever reason. Knowing where the "Exit Clause" is in the paperwork and what steps you need to follow to exercise that right will be important to identify before signing.
How much commission is the agency charging? 10-15%? 20-25%? These are things you need to know.
SUGGESTED PHOTOGRAPHERS VS. USING YOUR OWN
You've just gotten signed to an agency and you couldn't be happier. Now it's time to create those marketing materials that will allow the agency to do their job: headshots, comp/zed cards, portfolio, etc.
Many agencies will offer a list of recommended photographers to work with. This is common practice because they've undoubtedly worked with a fair share of photographers and want to know they can trust the quality of the images they receive.
However, the agency should not force you to use any of their photographers. The ideal situation would be to get this list with the understanding that the use of their recommended photographers is optional and that you are free to select anyone you want, as long as the quality of the work is up to their standards.
If you've got a photographer you want to work with that isn't on the agency's list, don't be surprised if the agency wants you to provide a link to that person's portfolio. Again, they want to make sure the quality is what they want so it's only fair that you show them your choice is a good one. If they agree, then you're golden. Should they not agree and tell you to find someone else, don't get discouraged, especially if you've got other options of your own to consider.
At the end of the day, it should be your choice whether or not you go with your own photographer or select one of theirs--not a decision you feel pressured into making if you don't want to or can't afford. A legitimate agency will work with you, not against you.
ASK QUESTIONS
Don't be afraid to ask questions and get clarification on anything you don't understand. It is the agency's job to educate and inform you about their contracts and methods of operation.
Make a list of questions ahead of time so you don't forget anything during the open call or interview you really want to ask. It's also a good idea to do your homework and check whether or not the agency's website has an FAQ page. Oftentimes that alone will answer most questions you probably already had in mind.
Find out how many models they have in your division and roughly how often they send models out on castings and go-sees. Ask what the agency's process is for setting up test shoots for building your portfolio and creating headshots and comp cards. Find out if they have a list of photographers they recommend or if you're free to choose our own.
These are all run-of-the-mill questions agencies are accustomed to addressing so there should be no reason why they should give you a hard time, get defensive or otherwise not provide you with answers. The way an agency interacts with you in the beginning is a great way to get an idea of what moving forward with them would look like once you accept the contract offer.
Comments
Because I am unrepresented and new to the commercial/print modeling, I guess I should pursue my local market, Phoenix. Would you say the smaller agencies of medium-size cities are of a ‘type’ designed to fit part-time models more? I say “part-time” as I’m being realistic about how much paid work a new model in my field can actually secure. Do you think most agents would not object to a model being represented by non-competing agencies in Denver, Phoenix and Los Angeles?
How common are the mother agencies, do they consist of both large agencies and affiliates in other states? I am the William H. Macy lookalike in the Showtime TV series, Shameless. Showtime will not talk to me directly, but said they would talk to my agent. But when I talked to agents in Arizona earlier this year about making the connection for me, it felt like they did not have the connections or interest that a mother agency might have. Even the largest lookalike agency in the world, Mirror Images of LA, could not find enough interest for a Macy lookalike. So it’s hard to know how to make that connection work… Though if given the incredible opportunity to appear on the show, I would travel to the filming locations in LA or Chicago in a heartbeat.
In one of your previous blog posts on modeling agencies, you may have recommended to applying to several agencies at the same time, so that if you are offered representation by more than one agency, you will have a choice. I’m guessing that for the average model , the odds of being called back for an interview are about 10% and being signed around 2%. But let me know if I’m wrong with the numbers. So I would think that any offer of representation by a legitimate agency would be a good career move? I’ve been able to create a fairly extensive portfolio with professional photographers, does this mean an agency is more likely to sign me? Are these considered to be test shoots?
When you say “What kind of work do they book”, there are some agencies that state their specialty in their website, but it’s not clear if most agencies, especially the smaller ones, are more generalized and scrambling for any work they can find for models?
I may have gotten a bit side-tracked by applying for numerous figure modeling jobs. But if I understood you correctly, will these types of jobs on my resume are not the main area of expertise that talent agents are seeking?
It takes time and money to create a portfolio of 8 ½ x 11” prints, though I bought a book this size per your recommendation. Since most agency submissions are on-line, at this stage, am I ok with just bringing in some 4 x 6 prints (and writing my contact info on the back) and business cards,to interviews for agents to keep?
Steve Norwood
Please visit this link: http://amodelsdiary-readerquestions.blogspot.com/ and you can view your post there. Thanks for reading!