Info/advice on modeling

[mamajoan]

Hello knowledgeable Diser's!

DD-19 has started doing event promotion jobs, and would like to begin in modeling.

Can any of you with experience in these areas give us some advice, alerts, how to's and clues?

I am keeping very close watch on her activities. Some of you know dd thru previous posts and pm's. She struggles with academics. She has already been disappointed and I told her this is part of the world of modeling etc. I have warned her not to sign anything without letting me or her BIL (Lawyer) look at the paperwork. I have told her to be leary of people promising her things.

Thank you for all responses... any and all are certainly appreciated!

 

[kidzmom3]

my daughter was asked to model when she was younger. It can be a very hard thing to break into. She needs to be wary of anyone charging her for services. Many of the big agencies have open casting call days. I would try to attend one of those if I were her.

She should be aware that she is on the older side to begin modeling. They were trying to recruit my dd when she was 11.

 

[Beca]

1) Don't sign with anyone who requires you to purchase headshots thru them.
2) Don't sign with anyone who requires you to pay fees for classes thru them.
3) Don't go to those modeling events where they promise to bring in casting agents all weekend for the low low fee of 10 million dollars per child!!!

Get onto google and type in "model scams" and read as much as you can.

 

[mamajoan]

Thanks folks.... any one else have info/advice. ??
She is working as a model for live events and promotions. She has just started doing this as I felt she could handle it now. She has been approached by people for years but I did not feel she was able to handle the ups and downs. I am not really sure she is now.. but thought it was time to let her try.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Take her into chicago (which looks like the closest big city to you) and sign her with a reputable local agency there. Look in the yellow pages, avoid the ones with ads, just look for one lines, ie Elite Models, address, phone #, L'agence models, address, phone #, Next Models, address, phone #. Those are three that are legit and may be in the chicago area.

They'll want her to do head shots, but they'll also send her on go sees and help her build up her book and deflect a lot of the undesireables away (the worst creeps tend to want to work outside the agencies).

She'll need to pay for head shots, the agency will take 15% of her gross income from jobs. She'll need to pay quarterly taxes and she'll need to keep track of her deductibles and do 1099's.

Call the agency to find out when they're doing open calls for new models. Bring a head shot and a body shot that you take. They can tell how photogenic she is from that. Don't wear too much makeup, too little is better than too much. If she's under 5'8" don't even bother bringing her in to Chicago. It's just a hard and fast truth in the industry that those under 5'8" absolutely do not work, and really she needs to be 5'9" to 5'11" to be successful (unless you are Kate Moss, and she's the exception that proves the rule).

95% of models do not work, of the 5% that are working, maybe 1% are profitable. I would not advise it as a main career choice for anyone.

 

[mamajoan]

most awesome info! Thank you for your honest insight.... we have told her to continue with her classes at the local community college. That this modeling thing can be for extra side money. She seems to be going along with us.... but really wants to try hard at this right now.
Actually, we are 15 minutes from St. Louis. She is under 5'7. She has been told that she has a good, different look as she is bi racial... black/white