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Becoming an agent
My question is for the agent/photographer. I just started shooting models and love beautiful women and can see potential in women that they might not see themselves. The question is, how does one get into being an model agent? How would one find work for his models? If there is anyone who can help me get a better understanding of what it takes to be an agent please, please, please respond. Thanks Jul 01 06 11:13 pm Link Great topic. I just moved to Nashville TN. A beautifully growing city with a lot of talent and full of beautiful women. Many of them want to model but are not finding the opportunities they want. I'd like to seek out more opportunities for them but not really sure other than creating my own opportunities for them. I'm interested in seeing the response on this subject. "Allure" Jul 01 06 11:20 pm Link I dont know but if you find the answer,,come find me some work,I NEED and WANT lots more work;-) ClaudiaG Jul 01 06 11:24 pm Link I wanted to be "007" but it was taken..... Jul 01 06 11:27 pm Link For the most part, if you decide to become a talent/modeling agent, you pretty much have to give up the idea of making photography a career, as most of the states that require special licensing for talent agencies also have laws which mandate that they may not be affiliated with other business entities (especially photo studios, modeling schools, printing companies). The Screen Actors Guild also have regulations which are similar to the laws stated above. Some states (and Canadian provinces) require that Talent Agencies be specially licensed to do any business in that state regardless of whether or not the agency is licensed in another state. Those states include (but are not limited to) California, Texas, Florida, and NY. Usually, in order to obtain a license, the executives of the talent agency must go through a background check, obtain a security bond, and pay fees. In Florida it is a Felony to act as an unlicensed agency, and it is also illegal to hire an unlicensed agency. Other states that don't require specialized 'Talent Agency' licenses may require the agency to be licensed as an employment agency. Depending on the jurisdiction, employment agency licensing may have similar requirements to the Talent Agency licenses previously mentioned. Some jurisdictions have no special requirements for Talent Agencies, other than to obtain the same type of business license as any other business would be required to do. A good talent agency will have excellent knowledge in the fields of labor law, marketing, and business. Talent Agencies that provide Actors should also have good connections in the film, TV, and stage industry. Model agencies should also have knowledge in event planning, conventions, and fashion trends where applicable. REAL qualified agents typically do not recruit via the internet, and as stated above they are normally not directly affiliated with photo studios. Most of the internet agents and managers are total frauds or grossly underqualified. Here are some links for more information: http://www.agentassociation.com/ http://www.sag.org http://aftra.org/news/talent.htm http://www.internet-law-library.com/pdf/Talent.pdf http://www.iplegal.com/lib/needknowtamgr1.html http://library.findlaw.com/2000/Dec/1/131199.html http://www.talentmanagers.org/history.php AZ http://www.ica.state.az.us/Labor/licfaq.htm CA http://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/dlselr/talag.html CO http://www.state.co.us/oed/industry-lic … .cfm?id=39 FL http://www.filminflorida.com/ela/tma.asp http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ind … PART07.HTM http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/talen … ndex.shtml GA http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/1997 … /hb257.htm NY http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/modeling_scams.htm TX http://www.license.state.tx.us/talent/talent.htm http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisio … q/laws.htm http://www.license.state.tx.us/LicenseSearch/ Jul 02 06 01:09 am Link imagesbyMAT wrote: Just out of curiousity, if you don't know how one finds work for models, how can you conceive of becoming an agent, other than the fact you love being around babes. Jul 02 06 03:55 am Link KM von Seidl wrote: ROTFLMFAO! Kinda wondering that myself! Jul 02 06 04:24 am Link great topic , try to contact my photographer he does that. He is amazing. I work with him more than a year. Take care Jul 02 06 04:33 am Link A good agent should know something about contract law, intellectual property law as well as some details of the workings of the advertising, print and video/movie industries. Labor and contract law also helps if you want to stay out of trouble (don't forget SAG and AFTRA rules). Not only do you have to know enough about the industry to find them jobs, you have to know how to negotiate the prices, contracts and working conditions which any decent company hiring them would expect you to know. That means you have to have a good idea of what the real world prices of jobs are and where your model is going to fit into the market. Then you have to train your models to keep the clients happy (show up on time, do a good job, behave like pros - not hoes) and you'll have to collect the money and pay the models. Oh, and don't forget the 1990 tax forms and IRS regulations. So if you want to do more than hustling girls into local promotions and GWC shoots, you're going to have to do some serious learning. I noticed that you asked your question to the "agent/photographer". Have you noticed the bashing threads that have been posted? And that most photographers hate them or won't deal with them? Or that there are conflict of interest issues here? Jul 02 06 04:38 am Link Marie Spring wrote: Ummmm... Jul 02 06 04:39 am Link Marie Spring wrote: And who is your photographer? Jul 02 06 05:22 am Link Whats kinda funny about this question is. If you watch TV about Janice Dickerson modeling agency. It kinda like tells you about what you need to do. Wich is spend ALOT of $$ and hire lots of models Sign them and then HOPE you can find them work. With all these tc programs Next top model J. Dickerson. and other reality shows. Alot of people Want in and well if your not living in a place where you can find work for people and YES GUYS included. you might want to stick to hanging out with models for the day. And just enjoy the scenery.. lol Oh and don't forget your camera. Jul 02 06 05:44 am Link If you want to know the ins and outs of agencies, I suggest you apply to join one of the good agencies as a booker and work your way up. Jul 02 06 05:48 am Link Others have dealt with a lot of the issues. Let's try a different one: imagesbyMAT wrote: Can you really? Perhaps, but I doubt it. There is nothing in your portfolio to indicate it. Jul 02 06 08:07 am Link just to throw my 2 cents in, the few models I know who have gone the route of the "photographer/agent" it has always ended HORRIBLY. these were the typical problems: 1. guy wanted to monopolize all the model's time with testing 2. guy made her rates so ridiculous, that nobody would consider her 3. guy had no conenctions to any work in the industry, therefore, could not find her or himself work 4. guy was super controlling I agree with the previous comment about getting a job as a booker and working your way up. That is really the best way to do it. Jul 02 06 10:48 am Link rachelrose wrote: Those are some great examples why California (and other states) instituted laws that prohibit photographers from being 'talent agents', although it's not the major reasons. Jul 02 06 11:08 am Link imagesbyMAT wrote: You can "see potential" in women. what potential is that? Do you have any idea of what "looks" are marketable? If you don't know how to go about finding work for models, then why on earth are you even considering becoming one? The fact of your asking these question on an internet forum shows you have absolutely no idea of what being an agent is all about. If you really want to become an agent, find a job as a booker for a quality agency and spend a few years learning the industry. Floundering around with it will do great damage to a number of potential careers in modeling. Jul 02 06 11:34 am Link SayCheeZ! wrote: yeah i totally agree with you, of course all those problems can still happen with a licensed agency, but i don't think it is as likely. at least not with the bigger agencies out here (los angeles). i just dont like the idea of the blind leading the blind- licensed or not! Jul 02 06 12:10 pm Link OMG this thread is funny.... If you just want to be around sexy women you may want to look into being a pimp....no license or bond required. Being an agent is very hard work, you have to know people in the industry to be successful and you better have some money to invest, you can't just put "AGENT" by your name and open shop....You can open shop as a "web model manager" with no money, no experience, and no talent but in my opinon thats a step down from pimp, pimps actually make money.... as a pimp you can escort girls to real paying jobs where you're paid in cash, you dont even have to give uncle sam a cut. Just an idea. Jul 02 06 12:20 pm Link If you don't have any connections which you should already have before thinking about being a model mnager, then you are just wasting models times. Models and tallent get with agencies because of the work and connetions they have to people looking for models. So learn about the industry abit, secure some connections with people who will "need" models for jobs, then maybe look into starting an agency or being a manager. Sounds like you just want to be a go between guy and get a cut and not really know the game. Jul 02 06 12:29 pm Link Mary wrote: Yep and "testing" would be a lot more fun too. Jul 02 06 02:29 pm Link imagesbyMAT wrote: A top agent to Stephanie Seymore etc. Paul Fisher (I believe), let me sit in on one of his seminar classes on how to be a top agent. Jul 02 06 02:37 pm Link Neyrissa wrote: Landing a paid job as a booker is kinda hard. Most that I know stated off as unpaid interns or worked there way up from front counter receptionists. (brutal job, btw) or got into it coming from within the industry say as a art director or something that had great contacts. Heck if you can land a assistant booker job off the street you are super lucky. Jul 02 06 02:39 pm Link |
