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Posted by: MSIModels (12.243.147.242) on November 05, 2002 at 00:50:09
Location: USA
In Reply to: Verification posted by Roger on November 03, 2002 at 00:29:29:
Well, I've read this whole thread and here's my 2 cents. I've been doing this since January of 2000. Trying exactly what you are looking to do. What Roger says in his last paragraph really hits home. Although I surf the web and invite models that I think are marketable and realiable and motivated, I find that Roger has pinpointed the biggest problem with what I do. I've lost so many clients because of unreliable models.
Like you I started out doing this out of the horror I saw going on with working for agencies and being in the profession as a photographer since 1979. These agencies I'm talking about are more local idiots posing as legitamate, even licenced model agents but were nothing more than dirty old perverts trying to steel candy from babies and trying to get their, well, I won't go there. What interested me the most was the girls they represented. I could go to a circus freak show and find better models!! I see it on the web as well. So many sites that charge the big bucks to "represent models' display a list of models that only show how they are only in it for the fast buck. Why don't these "victims" realize this???
After 2 years doing this as a "labor of love" and being a totally "Free Service", it has gotten to the point where I have to start weeding out the serious from the non-serious. It's a road that you will find unrewarding most times, simply because the offline industry sees the Online industry as a joke of sorts which they have proven again and again with unreliable models and the lag of communication.
We get clients inquiring about a model, only for that model not to be as enthusiastic and reliable as they claimed. I'll give one example... One of the biggest online Magazines(don't know if I can mention the name) wanted 3 of our models. When I contacted model #1, I got a reply from her manager that she is under contract not to do any nudity for any other site. Funny we were promoting her as a former Penthouse Pet at her request!!
Model#2 Said she was very interested and wanted to do it after we had sent her the requirements of the job which included some nudity. The client asked to see some bikini pics and something more revealing. When I requested the photos from her I got head shots. I sent her another letter stating the details again and I got more head shots. I then emailed her very frustrated at this point and asked her why she was sending me head shots when the client wanted head to toe bikini and nudes, and she replied, oh sorry I don't do nudes. (I'm now going bald from pulling hair out of my head)
Model# 3 turned down the job because of the nudity.. It was great to get an instant reply from at least one of them even though it was a turn down. Needless to say we have never heard from that client again. This has happenned so many times in the last year, my head is spinning.
The issue here is how much to charge. We have been kicking this around as well since doing it for free is not working. We need to start charging for our time and energy and hopefully this will weed out the serious from the non serious. I was once advised if you are serious enough about your career, you'll do what it takes to do it. If a model is not serious enough about her career to pay for the tools that she needs to get the job done then she is only looking for a free ride and I realize after these experiences that she will never make it out her front door. However it also takes a little common sense to weed out who will help and who's just out to take your money.
To any aspiring models that may read this, PLEASE!!! Look at the other models that these so called agencies or promoters have!!! If they look like they only belong on "The Ozbornes" BEWARE!!!
ALSO.. do research on companies that promise the world!! and one of my biggest pet peeves in this industry is modeling schools.
Layla, I hope this helps you in some way to make your decision. I don't know if you are planning on charging 20-40 per month or per year and what you plan on offering but if you do it for free, you get freeloaders. I applause anyone who is willing to help aspiring models get a start in this profession. However you can get taken advantage of from them as easily as they can get taken advantage of. If you do decide to do this, feel free to contact me anytime.
Dave
: Putting up a site and letting people post pictures on it (or doing it for them) is pretty much useless unless the actors/models can be easily contacted and are ready, willing and able to work. I can't think of a single web-based "agency" that has solved this problem (most don't even try). If you do, you will at least have one of the primary issues dealt with. But as I indicated earlier, there are lots of others.
I think to solve this problem, you would actually have to be an online agency or model management company that always knows the where abouts of everyone of your models at all times. However models online are listed with so many other agencies and services it would basically be impossible unless you had exclusivity. Online Model Management would be the way to go, but don't go crazy trying to get hundreds of models to manage unless you have a big staff.
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