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

Happy 2024, Modeling 101 Readers! I don't know about you, but I've been busy since the new year started and I couldn't be more excited for all that this year will bring. I also want to make good on my promise to keep the momentum going with this blog.  For now I'm going to aim for 1-2 posts per month and I felt the timing for the beginning of the year was right to ask you guys to respond to this poll below to help me determine the direction this blog should go in from here on out. I'll keep this as a running poll for now with no set deadline...if I get at least 20-30 replies, that'll make the final results much quicker to gauge.  Thank you in advance for taking the time and feel free to vote even if this is your first time visiting my blog or if you haven't checked it out in a while. All your votes count!

Did you guys miss me? 😄 Okay, I know I've got some explaining to do, haha. Even though I haven't posted in a long time, as you can see, I've kept my blog active and I've also continued answering reader questions and publishing responses via my other blog dedicated to that very purpose. I'm sure you've got questions so I'll make this post an easy one to digest as far as updates in my world goes... Why Didn't You Keep Your Blog Updated? Not gonna lie: I was simply too busy. Being an entrepreneur, managing projects, teams, deadlines, and maintaining my own on-camera career had me moving in a million directions. I wasn't in the right mindset -- or had the energy -- to craft the informative, candid, and quality content I used to.  The last thing I wanted to do was put out subpar posts. That would be a disservice to my readers, many of whom have been following this blog since it was first started all those years ago. I always knew I was going to come back...

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 ...

 

It's always been normal for models to experience slow seasons but with the pandemic still making itself at home out in the world, many of us have been grappling with how to stay productive during a slow year. The modeling business is still thriving--just at a much slower pace and with the holidays now here, many agency offices have either closed for the rest of the year or dramatically reduced its activity since the clients they typically work with have also gone into holiday hibernation. Are you wondering just what to do with yourself in the meantime? Allow me to throw some ideas your way if you've been feeling stuck lately (or for a while): LEARN TO DO YOUR OWN MAKEUP Being self-sufficient is a wonderful trait for a model to have, male or female. Thanks to IG, Tik-Tok and YouTube, being a DIYer couldn't be easier. Playing around with makeup and hair for fun is one thing but step it up a notch and focus on mastering these skills as it relates to modeling. Of course, that d...

Ever since COVID 19 decided to make itself at home, every industry and business known to man has had to make changes.  I already did a post about modeling during this difficult time but it's also important to highlight some useful information for aspiring models on the search for agency representation. Unfortunately, this isn't such a hot time right now for agencies when it comes to finding new faces. Not all agencies operate the same way and each market has its own guidelines for how to pursue "business as usual," so your experience submitting to agencies will vary widely depending on where you live, what market the agencies are located in, the type of modeling you want to pursue, etc. To help curb any anxiety or confusion, below are a few things to keep in mind to prepare you for what to expect: NO OPEN CALLS A majority of modeling agencies have suspended all open calls until further notice. This announcement is a common one splashed on the homepages of many agency ...

***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...