Diary of a model
Lily spends her days as a model and rushes from shoot to show and on to yet another casting. On Amayzine, she tells you all about what her life is really like. Under a different name, that is true, but that means she can share all the juicy details. This week: what to do if you get scouted?
My niece came running to me, excited to tell me that she was scouted by a model agency. Of course, being an old hand in the business, I could see at a glance that the agency was not right. The modeling world sometimes seems like a crazy alien place, and when you look from the outside, it's hard to see what is a good agency and what is not. At first, I thought it was a matter of gut feeling, a ’sixth model sense’, some might even say (and by ‘some’ I mean myself). But the longer I looked at the website, the more things stood out to me. Therefore, this week: what should you pay attention to when you get scouted?
21,500 per month
If you want to register with an agency, you should NEVER pay for this. Registration fees are an absolute no-go. Also, expensive photoshoots that you have to pay for yourself are a big red flag. Of course, as a starting model, you need to invest, but with good agencies, those costs go to the agency itself. At the moment you start doing paid jobs and earning money, you first pay back the agency's investments. You can see it as a kind of bank account you have with the agency. First, you go a bit into the negative, but as soon as the jobs and million-dollar contracts (ahem, in my dreams) come in, you quickly rise above that zero again. If it doesn't work out to get started as a model and there are no paid photoshoots, then those investments are tough luck for the agency.
Check the website and the models
In this beautiful modern world, you can endlessly stalk online. Check the agency's website in advance, google the models listed on the site, and check their Instagram. Do you see the girls doing shoots or shows that you would also like to do? Are they working for some decent brands or magazines? Great! Do they have hundreds of girls, most of whom only have a few photos for a white backdrop, or are they selective with the models and photos that are on the website? Also, think about where you would feel more at home. For me, it applies: the fewer girls, the more individual attention there is per model, but that can vary from person to person.
Visit the agency
For me, it was very nice to go to the first meeting with my agency together with my mother. I was fourteen at the time and still really a child. It's nice to have a support system and someone with you who looks on with the concerned eyes of a parent. Also, all the information can be quite a lot and overwhelming: two remember more than one. It’s smart to bring a piece of paper with your questions and to take notes during the meeting. An agency that indicates they prefer you to come alone should immediately go on your blacklist.
Action plan
Do you want to move to Paris as soon as possible, or would you rather finish your school first? Do you find it exciting and want a lot of guidance, or have you already traveled the world on your own and don’t mind being alone? These are all things you need to discuss with your agency. It’s also important to ask what they see for the future. No one can predict exactly what will happen. Especially in the fast-paced fashion world, it’s impossible to plan more than a week ahead (even that often doesn’t work), but it’s still important to discuss the initial goals and the plan of action for that. Who knows, you might see yourself doing a Prada campaign, and the agency says they want to introduce you for the Kruidvat newspaper. Make sure you’re not caught off guard by unexpected surprises.
A warned person counts for two. The chance is high that now and then you will still hit a wall, but at least you can put on a helmet.
XX kisses from Lily
