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Looking for an Agency
There are some very important things to remember when you decide that you are ready to find a model or talent agency.
You can find agencies that help you find work in your local market, or you can find agencies that help connect you to a major market agency. There are secondary market agencies that you will find in cities like Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, or other similar cities. Some of these agencies will offer model development courses. This is not necessarily a scam. Many people assume that because you must pay for modeling courses, it is a scam. Sometimes in smaller markets, this is the easiest way for an agency to continue its business. Sometimes it is a scam.
Larger market agencies can be found in places like New York City, LA, Tokyo, Paris, and Milan. These are the agencies that can connect you to real work with major designers, tv shows and movies.
Some things that will help you distinguish between a scam and a legitimate agency:
- check with the BBB (better business bureau)
- do a google search on the agency, just to hear what others may have said
- ask the agencies for references
- check out who they claim to represent, if they claim to represent lots of "famous people", but yet you have never heard of the agency, do research and find out if the agency really represents the people
- be wary of agencies that say that "everyone can be a successful model", it is the harsh truth that modeling has specifics that need to be met in order to be a successful model
- meet with the agency in person, if you are under the age of 18, bring a parent, if it feels shady at all, don't go, or at least bring a level-headed person with you, as it is easy to overlook things in the excitement of possibly becoming a "model" or "actor".
- just because someone approaches you and calls themself a "model scout" does not mean that you should rush in and pay money to sign with their agency
- beware of anyone that asks for your money. As I stated before, this can sometimes be legitimate, but please keep in mind that most aspiring models that pay out big bucks to "sign" with an agency and take their courses, never earn back what they spent. I have heard from countless models about the large sums of money they payed, classes they took, and never got called for many paying jobs.
- modeling classes can be great for self esteem, but remember, for most people, that is the only thing they receive in return
- do not give in to pressure that "scouts" and "agents" can put on you, look over their contract and allow yourself time to think over it
- if a smaller market agency tells you that you will make thousands or millions of dollars by signing with them, they are just saying that to get your money. Smaller markets can give you gigs that pay $100-$200 at best, usually.
- get everything in writing
- check out where the agency operates from. do they have an office, or are they running this "business" from somewhere else? If they ask you to meet them at a private location or a home, don't go
- many photographers claim to help young models get started. many, many, many of them do not have ties to any agency, and will coax hopeful talent into modeling nude or other styles, hoping that they will later become a "real model". do not trust these people. they will not help you.
- if your gut tells you that it is a scam, or is dangerous it probably is
You can find agencies that help you find work in your local market, or you can find agencies that help connect you to a major market agency. There are secondary market agencies that you will find in cities like Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, or other similar cities. Some of these agencies will offer model development courses. This is not necessarily a scam. Many people assume that because you must pay for modeling courses, it is a scam. Sometimes in smaller markets, this is the easiest way for an agency to continue its business. Sometimes it is a scam.
Larger market agencies can be found in places like New York City, LA, Tokyo, Paris, and Milan. These are the agencies that can connect you to real work with major designers, tv shows and movies.
Some things that will help you distinguish between a scam and a legitimate agency:
- check with the BBB (better business bureau)
- do a google search on the agency, just to hear what others may have said
- ask the agencies for references
- check out who they claim to represent, if they claim to represent lots of "famous people", but yet you have never heard of the agency, do research and find out if the agency really represents the people
- be wary of agencies that say that "everyone can be a successful model", it is the harsh truth that modeling has specifics that need to be met in order to be a successful model
- meet with the agency in person, if you are under the age of 18, bring a parent, if it feels shady at all, don't go, or at least bring a level-headed person with you, as it is easy to overlook things in the excitement of possibly becoming a "model" or "actor".
- just because someone approaches you and calls themself a "model scout" does not mean that you should rush in and pay money to sign with their agency
- beware of anyone that asks for your money. As I stated before, this can sometimes be legitimate, but please keep in mind that most aspiring models that pay out big bucks to "sign" with an agency and take their courses, never earn back what they spent. I have heard from countless models about the large sums of money they payed, classes they took, and never got called for many paying jobs.
- modeling classes can be great for self esteem, but remember, for most people, that is the only thing they receive in return
- do not give in to pressure that "scouts" and "agents" can put on you, look over their contract and allow yourself time to think over it
- if a smaller market agency tells you that you will make thousands or millions of dollars by signing with them, they are just saying that to get your money. Smaller markets can give you gigs that pay $100-$200 at best, usually.
- get everything in writing
- check out where the agency operates from. do they have an office, or are they running this "business" from somewhere else? If they ask you to meet them at a private location or a home, don't go
- many photographers claim to help young models get started. many, many, many of them do not have ties to any agency, and will coax hopeful talent into modeling nude or other styles, hoping that they will later become a "real model". do not trust these people. they will not help you.
- if your gut tells you that it is a scam, or is dangerous it probably is
