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So You Wanna Be A Model?

So You Wanna Be A Model Huh?? Are You ready to put in work?  Are you ready for rejection? Do you have more than just a pretty face and killer walk?  Are you business minded and not just looking to be social media famous?

(DE-FI) Models is committed to protecting the safety, personal information, images, and well-being of our models and those wanting to become a model. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, transparency, and authenticity and believe it is important to advise models of the legitimate dangers that lurk within the fashion industry. Please be careful when dealing with individuals who contact you online through social media or via email.  Please be aware that there are individuals who will prey on your modeling ambitions by impersonating agents or other modeling organizations and contact you directly, please take the necessary precautions including:

1. Always independently verify the identity of any individual claiming to be a representative of an agency or organization.
2. Legitimate modeling agencies may contact you through a social media application or through email…PAY ATTENTION TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES. For example, legit agencies WILL NOT contact you  from a gmail, msn, aol and etc. account. When in doubt go to the agency’s website to confirm their email address AND Social Media Handles to know  if it is a legitimate interaction.
3. Legitimate agencies NEVER request photos in the nude or lingerie MOST legitimate agencies and organizations DO NOT conduct interviews using Facetime, Skype, and etc.
4. When using apps to book a job, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Model apps are awesome for freelance models and in some cases you pay less in commission than  you would if you were signed with a legit agency. #ReadingIsFundamental

 The Golden Rule of Modeling: Never pay an agency to represent you and sure as hell don't pay an organization to be in their show or represent a brand, and no, you don't need to buy a book! If they are asking for an upfront fee to cover their production cost or must pay for unsold tickets…RUN!!!!

It’s that simple, it is NOT the models responsibility to make sure that their show goes on and that their expenses are covered. Legit fashion weeks/organization (regional, national, or internationally known) never charge models to participate in their events. #Period

It does not cost money to sign with a legitimate agency. Legit agencies are paid commission, meaning you MUST be paid for work that you do before they EVER are paid a dime. While agency laws vary from state to state most legal limits are 20% meaning if your agency books you on a job and you are paid $500 your agency receives $100. In smaller markets like Dayton, you may be required to pay for your own portfolio, but we’ll touch on that in a few more tips.  #WeSaidWhatWeSaid

"You should start with modeling school!" Said no legit agent ever! Modeling School are a waste of time and money. No respectable or legitimate agency HAS EVER recommended a modeling school for aspiring models. Do not be talked into taking the classes to get images for your portfolio either because the images that you receive from a modeling school will NOT be useful for legitimate agencies, you will be told to throw them away and start a new portfolio designed around your newly rebranded image. Besides, almost every Modeling School in Ohio and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin have reached out to (DE-FI) to see if we'd be willing to work with their models. In short... #JustSayNoToModelingSchools

Model Conventions can be legit AND COSTLY! Truth be told, legit agencies do participate in Modeling Conventions. The key is DOING YOUR RESEARCH DO NOT MORTGAGE YOUR HOME TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE CONVENTIONS they can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000. Yes, these conventions can be fun, however, out of the sometimes week long conventions, only one day is really needed and that’s the day that you meet the agents. If it cost more than $500 it’s not worth it, create a budget, find out how much it would cost you to travel to Chicago, New York City, or Los Angeles and visit the same agencies in person for their FREE Open calls. Which during COVID-19 most agencies are only accepting online submissions at the time.

Keeping in mind that if you did NOT receive a callback after you’ve tried Tip # 4 and #5 free of charge, you need to become more realistic about your future in the industry. If that’s not enough, DO YOUR RESEARCH, how many models can you find that were “Discovered” at a modeling convention?  Last but not least, Do NOT Go out and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on photos for your portfolio IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SIGNED TO AN AGENCY!! Aspiring models do NOT need to have professional images to be considered by LEGIT Agencies!!

Things to remember when taking images for agency submission:

1. Keep it simple use your cellphone camera
2. Do NOT wear Makeup
3. Have your hair pulled back
4. Do NOT wear prints or logos on your clothing
5. Visit the agencies website for specific details on what kinds of images are required for submission. 

Once you've snapped those agency submission images with your cell phone camera. Now you have to decide what is the best market for you! 

• Female at least 5'7 and Males at least 5'9 look for agencies in the Miami, Florida market.
• Female's at least 5'8 and Male's at least 6'0 look for agencies Dallas, TX or Los Angeles, CA.
• Female's at least 5'9 and Male's 5'11 look for agencies Chicago, IL
• Female's at least 5'10 and Male's at least 5'11 look for agencies in New York, NY.
  

Other FAQ, if you are at least 16years old and under 5'7 odds are you will not be signed to a modeling agency however...you very well could become the next Kate Moss who. But if you can't cut it as a model, acting may be your true calling and to be completely honest with you, in Ohio, odds are you will get more acting jobs than modeling jobs.

It is important that you do your research first and DO NOT be afraid to ask questions. Most of the agencies in these markets do represent children again you MUST do your research because some agencies will require that the child live within 40 miles of the agency to be represented.

So, You've Followed the First 2 Rules and You're Still Not Signed...Now What? You Have Two Options:

1. Resubmit your images to the agencies in the major markets every 6 months.
2. Find a local Mother Agency in smaller markets...like (cough cough) (DE-FI) Models Agency. What's a Mother Agency you ask? A mother agent or agency is usually the first modeling agency you begin working with when you start your modeling career. A mother agent can also be a scout that discovered you and helped you get your start (Hint hint...that's what we do!)
   

Again doing your research is important, many states, Ohio included have very lax laws surrounding the fashion and entertainment industries which put aspiring talent at risk.

This is a "Here Today, Gone Today" industry! Don't let signing a bad contract ruin your dreams!!!

We cannot tell you the number of horror stories we have heard from models that we have worked and are signed with agencies in smaller markets. Anywhere from Mother Agencies blocking models from being signed with larger more reputable agencies due to the overly eager model OR their parents not understanding the exclusive contract that they signed with the smaller agency. 

To models scrapping their very last dime together to purchase one- way plane tickets to fly across the country to meet with a booking agent JUST to find out that their Mother agent did not properly arrange a meeting. To models agreeing to pay a Mother agent for 10 years after their contract is over for any paying modeling job that they may receive after leaving said agency even though they didn't book them on that job. 

It is important to ask as many questions as you can before signing your name to a contract. Legitimate agencies will not be offended by your questions, if an agency gets angry or pressures you into signing anything walk away and DON'T look back because odds are you are about to scammed!!