Due
to some recent communications I've had, I think this is worth re-posting. It
was originally a Facebook post, but the same type of issues keep getting
brought up fairly frequently, so I decided to make this a blog post so that it
can be more easily read from my website. .
I get weird messages sometimes.
This
afternoon, I received one from a young lady that I'd estimate to be in her late
teens or early 20's. She asked me to be her agent. I said no. If you need me to
help catch and relocate a possum, I can do that. I don't even need a net or a
possum trap. I can help you worm your goats, too. I can even do goat CPR. But I
don't have any ability, connections, or skills that would qualify me to be an
agent, and unlike some people, that will make me decline to be your agent.
She
said "I've heard that you can help people get paid modeling work." I
told her (truthfully) that I really can't. I can count on the fingers of one
hand, the number times that I've recruited models for paid projects during the
past few months. I doesn't happen often. Don't come to me counting on paid
work. Learn a vocation. Have something to fall back on that offers more
financial security than depending on the odd project I can refer
you too.
The
young lady ended up telling me her story. She had "signed" with what
she believed was a legitimate agency. Her dad didn't like the agent. She
thought her dad was just being overprotective. She thought he was stupid. She
didn't listen to him.
Over
the next few months, she traveled around to different locations to what is best
described as "group shoots" where multiple creepy old guys with
cameras photographed her and other girls. There would be 5 guys with cameras
photographing her, and others, all at the same time. She never knew who to look
at. They didn't care. No one gave direction. They made inappropriate comments and close up photos of her
butt using a zoom lens. (Apparently, that happens a lot, I've been told this by
others). She just stood there as multiple flashes fired. Modeling wasn't what
she though that it was going to be.
She
had been led to believe that she'd make some money. She spent her own money on
wardrobe stuff, travel, and motel rooms. She partied after the shots with the
creepy old guys. Partying is expensive. She did this because it was explained
that socializing was part of the expectation of the agent/agency. She put miles
and miles on her car. All of traveling, parting, and clothing purchases went on
a credit card that she's now struggling to pay off. She never received a dime in
payment or a even decent photo from any of the old dudes with cameras. . To
make things even worse, the environment at these group shoots were bad. Very
bad. "Somebody could go to jail" bad.
And,
the creepy old guys with cameras had paid the agent to attend, make pictures of
the models, etc. The models got nothing other than humiliation and credit card
debit.
I
was asked "can you help me?" My reply was "I can give you some
advice. First, avoid guys like that." I explained the business model of a
legitimate agency was the agent/agency takes a cut of money that a client pays
to the represented model. For example, a clothing company needs some material
on their new line of clothing. They hire a photographer, make up artist,
stylist, secure a shooting location (or use a studio), provide some
instructions on what they need, and they hire a model or two. They will go to a
legitimate agency (not some old creepy guy), and through the agency, hire the
models. The agency will take a cut (usually 10 per cent) of the money that the
model is paid. The agency has a vested interest in getting work for the model
becasue that's the source of their income.
One
"scam" business model that non-legitimate agencies do quite
successfully is recruit young people who have stars in their eyes, and make a
bunch of promises. These are the guys that approach you in the mall and ask you
to come back for a screen test, or something along those lines. The
"agency" will charge all kinds of ridicilous fees (thousands) for
photos, classes, etc. And the newly signed model will never see a dime of
payment. This type of agency earns their income from the models that are
recruited. They have no interest in booking paid work for their models since
their income is derived from the models.
Apparently,
a new scam is an "agent/agency" recruiting models to pose for
workshops, group shoots, etc, by promising them good exposure that will lead to
future paid work, fame, fortune, etc. The agent is getting paid by the
workshop/group shoot participant. From what I'm hearing, the models aren't
getting a dime.
I
was asked how do you know if the agency is legit? It's easy. How does the
agent/agency make money? Who pays them? If it's for clients hiring models, and
paying a cut to the agency, that's legit. If the income comes from the models,
it's a SCAM! If there are a bunch of creepy old guys simultaneously trying to
photography one young lady, well, there's a good chance that's a scam too. It's
definitely not going to be a positive experience or good for a modeling career.
A legit agency is going to encourage you to protect your image, and avoid the
creepy old dudes with cameras because, at best, what you are going to get is a
bunch of close up mediocre images of yourself floating around all over the
internet. And that is the opposite of protecting the marketability of your
image.
This
young lady asked me three times to be her agent. I declined. I explained it's
not as simple as saying "Ok, I'm an agent now." I explained that I
don't have the time, desire, or ability. Or connections. I help out a few
friends, who are legitimate photographers, recruit models on occasion. And
these models are treated well and they get paid. And they also get a few shots
of themselves that are great. I can do that because I have a more or less good
reputation and it's known by those who make it their business to know that each
of these shoots are laid back, fun, but very professional. But I don't get the
opportunity to do it very often. And the reason for that is I am not an agent.
I
was told "But I really really need an agent." I replied "No, you
don't. You need to slow down, be careful, and take the time to research some of
the people you've been shooting with. Look at their previous work. Talk to some
of the people who they have photographed." I threw in the normal stuff
such as always check references, always take along someone with you, etc. And I
covered the basics about not ever flaking, don't be wishy washy about showing
up, try to avoid wasting the time of photographers, MUAs, etc, by not canceling
at the last second, etc.
This
is one of those situations that scare me. A young lady got lured in the field
of "modeling," and immediately aligned herself with some very bad
apples. She had a few bad experiences, she hasn't really learned yet, and she
keeps coming back for more. Each time, she was subjected to some bad behavior
by males who are a disgrace to this gender and she lost more and more money.
And
to top it all off, she immediately tries to hire a weird old goat farmer as her
next "agent" just because she heard he's "nice" he can get
people paid work (he can't).
It
pays to be careful. Don't jump in with both feet until you do a bit of
research. And never hire a goat farmer to try to get you runway shows in Paris!