How Modeling Agencies Arrange Modeling Jobs For Male Models
During the time when you are a beginner in modeling and not well known throughout the modeling industry, you seldom get hired for Model Jobs just because someone saw your photos. There are steps involved before you actually get a modeling job. If you act professionally during these stages, and participate in this hiring process multiple times for different modeling jobs, you greatly improve your chances of being successful in your modeling career:
- Go-see
- Call-back
- Being put on hold
- Being booked
You can either obtain modeling jobs on your own or sign a contract with a modeling agency who will obtain jobs for you.
Modeling agencies do not hire you for modeling jobs. They arrange and negotiate for you. Your agnet will write you a check, but it was the ad agency or client who hired you. This is because the ad agency pays you agent, who then deduct his commission before writing a check to you. In summary, the agent ironically works for you! You do not work for them.
After you have given your agent adequate photos he or she can work with – the tools they need to get you modeling jobs for you, they begin submitting copies of these pics to casting directors and advertising agencies who are seeking models for a particular modeling job. Eventually someone who hires models will respond and request that you come to a Go-See. This will be the first time you hear from your agent after supplying photos to them.
Go Sees
The first step in getting a modeling job is normally a ‘go see’ is the first real step in the process of actually getting a real paying modeling job. The purpose of a Go-See is for the casting director to ‘see’ you after seeing your photos. The casting director is the person who hires models. An agent does not hire models. Agents act as ‘representatives of models and promote you, not hire you.
Casting directors do not hire you just by only seeing your photos; they need to ‘see’ you face to face. Your photos are sort of a ‘sampling’ of what you have to offer. This is why you may not spend more than a few minutes face-to-face with a casting director at a Go-See: Besides the fact that they have many models to get in and out at a Go-See, they simply want to see you in real life. Not talk to you or hear your life story or have you say how you really want the job - which most new models try to do. They just want to see you, so don’t be freaked out if they scoot you out of the room after 2 minutes.
When your agent calls
Most importantly, answer the phone when your agent calls. It is not adequate to check your voicemail and call them back when you have time to talk. Experienced models carry their cell phone with them and make sure they answer all calls form agents on the first or second ring. Do not ask to take another call while talking to your agent. Do not ask the agent to wait while you look for paper and pen to write down what the agent is saying about the Go-See. Have paper and pen near your cell phone at all times.
If you cannot be available to answer the phone or can’t carry a pen with you, then don’t try to be a model. Be assured, there are many, many guys who are willing to make the effort of carrying a pen with them and answering the phone. Missing a call is acceptable once in a while, but your agent must call many guys, not just you alone. If you are consistently difficult to get in contact with, the agent will call another guy instead of you.
The modeling industry does not cater to your schedule. These professionals are busy. Most modeling jobs are cast within a matter of days. Sometimes jobs are filled in a few hours. Sometimes a casting director will give the job to the first male model's agent who calls back to confirm that their model is available. So, you miss out on jobs by waiting hours.
Being available is more important to your modeling career than having the best quality or impressive photos in the world. Remember these professionals are busy and have all sorts of stuff to deal with besides your schedule.
Remember, you are not being offered a modeling job by receiving this call. Someone simply wants to see you in person after viewing your photos.
Write all information on paper
While talking to the agent, you need to obtain all the information about the modeling job and the Go-See. Remember, the Go-See is not the modeling job. Make sure you write down Who, what, when, where… Before you agree to go to the Go-See, you need to decide if you are available or want to pursue the modeling job the Go-See is for:
Write down this info:
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When: date and time of the modeling job’s photo shoot
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How: How much the job pays you
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Where: Location of the shoot (This can be a big deal in Los Angeles, because a job in Orange County may be impossible if you live in Santa Monica.)
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What: What is the modeling job for? Who is the client or product?
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What clothing do you need for this job?
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What role will you portray in the photo? (Will you be acting as a football player in the photo? Someone’s son? A dumb guy?
If you still want to pursue the modeling job after hearing these details, you need to know the Who, what, where, when about the Go-See (not the photo shoot):
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Where: Where will the Go-See be held? In Los Angeles, you also want to know where to park, if they validate parking, the name of the closest street that intersects the Go-See’s street and the neighborhood where it is held.)
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When: The time range of the Go-See. Choose a time near the beginning of the time range. Models who casting directors see earliest during the Go-See tend to get hired more than the guy who was last seen in the day.
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Who: The name of the person you should introduce you self to at the Go-See when you first walk in
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How: How should I dress?
Finally, say yes or no if you will attend the Go-See during this phone call. You cannot ‘think about it’ and call your agent back. They need an answer now.
Audition Details Are Vague
Don’t bother asking, ‘Can I get more details’ about this job. You will have time to accept or reject the job after the hiring process is underway. You may receive vague information about the job. Keep in mind, casting directors may be dealing with an ad agency that does not want their product’s competition to know details about a surprise ad campaign that may appear months later. So, they can’t tell all the details to some model who has not even been hired for the job.
Keep Audition Info confidential
Some guys get excited and tell their friends about the modeling job and think they will try to get their buddy to be hired for the modeling job, too. This is highly unprofessional. Do not bring your friend – even if he has a better chance of being hired for the job. Do not tell other agents or models or post the information on the Internet. Nothing is a faster way to get banned from being hired than bringing your friends to a Go-See and saying ‘he wants to model too.’ If you cannot be independent, then don’t try to model. Modeling is not like lifting weights where you need a lifting partner.