Fashion Fashionista: Modeling behaviour
Everyone dreams of the glitz and glam life of being a model or actor. Whether you've got what it takes or not to succeed in such a competitive industry, there is a lot to watch out for as there are agencies out there that get ahead by ripping off innocent people.
Without naming any names, London is home to an agency that claims to be legit; however most of their ‘talent' rarely gets work in the modeling industry. This city isn't exactly the fashion capital of the world, and truthfully, jobs are few and very far between around here. You will have to travel to the nearest booming city such as Toronto to go to castings and auditions for work. Although there are never any guarantees, it can take up to months or even years to get a single casting.
The requirements to be a model are also very specific. You can be very beautiful, with flawless skin and teeth, however if you don't ‘measure up,' you will be better suited as an actor or actress.
The brutal truth remains that it is very difficult to make a career out of modeling, as it is such a competitive industry. However, even if you are pursuing it as a hobby, there are key elements to keep in mind while looking for a legitimate agency to represent you.
First of all, you should NOT have to pay hundreds of dollars to be a part of an agency. If a director of an agency thinks you can get work, she/he will not make you pay a fee to join or make you enroll in ‘workshops' to ‘learn how to be a model', or convince you to pay hundreds of dollars for a beginner photo shoot. A lot of jobs can be attained by a simple Polaroid that shows you just as you are, and although comp cards are an asset to have, they are not always necessary.
Comp cards are professional images of you that usually display work you have done in the past. They are a visual resume that is built over time, not in one weekend attached to a $1000 fee. Although as a model starting out you will need to invest in yourself, just be aware of what exactly you are paying for.
Even if an agency claims to be a member of the Better Business Bureau, it doesn't mean that they are not going to rip you off. It just means they have been able to get away charging hundreds of people thousands of dollars for workshops and courses that claim to further your career, but have never been seriously reported.
Keep in mind that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Continue to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. Just be cautious when entering the modeling/acting industry for the first time. Do some research, ask around and most of all really look into the type of work and frequency of jobs other models get from the agency you are looking into - ask questions. Make your dream a reality, but just don't pay someone who seems credible a lot of money do it for you - chances are they probably won't.
Without naming any names, London is home to an agency that claims to be legit; however most of their ‘talent' rarely gets work in the modeling industry. This city isn't exactly the fashion capital of the world, and truthfully, jobs are few and very far between around here. You will have to travel to the nearest booming city such as Toronto to go to castings and auditions for work. Although there are never any guarantees, it can take up to months or even years to get a single casting.
The requirements to be a model are also very specific. You can be very beautiful, with flawless skin and teeth, however if you don't ‘measure up,' you will be better suited as an actor or actress.
The brutal truth remains that it is very difficult to make a career out of modeling, as it is such a competitive industry. However, even if you are pursuing it as a hobby, there are key elements to keep in mind while looking for a legitimate agency to represent you.
First of all, you should NOT have to pay hundreds of dollars to be a part of an agency. If a director of an agency thinks you can get work, she/he will not make you pay a fee to join or make you enroll in ‘workshops' to ‘learn how to be a model', or convince you to pay hundreds of dollars for a beginner photo shoot. A lot of jobs can be attained by a simple Polaroid that shows you just as you are, and although comp cards are an asset to have, they are not always necessary.
Comp cards are professional images of you that usually display work you have done in the past. They are a visual resume that is built over time, not in one weekend attached to a $1000 fee. Although as a model starting out you will need to invest in yourself, just be aware of what exactly you are paying for.
Even if an agency claims to be a member of the Better Business Bureau, it doesn't mean that they are not going to rip you off. It just means they have been able to get away charging hundreds of people thousands of dollars for workshops and courses that claim to further your career, but have never been seriously reported.
Keep in mind that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Continue to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. Just be cautious when entering the modeling/acting industry for the first time. Do some research, ask around and most of all really look into the type of work and frequency of jobs other models get from the agency you are looking into - ask questions. Make your dream a reality, but just don't pay someone who seems credible a lot of money do it for you - chances are they probably won't.
