This article is part 2 of everything you need to know about modeling agency meetings and specifically what you should ask them.
The multi-part series on everything I wish I had known when I first started to consider modeling
What Are You Looking For? Sink or Swim? Or Someone to Hold Your Hand?
One isn’t always better than the other it just depends on what you are looking for and what you are comfortable with.
In the last article, we discussed what an agency meeting is, what to expect, and how to present yourself. I also explained that an agency and the agents alike technically work for you. It is their job to submit you to clients, help develop a strong book, and provide guidance and development for new faces.
The thing to keep in mind, is not every agency is going to do this. It is your job to know how much help you need and decide if you want an agency that is going to do everything short of holding your hand through your first year in the industry or if you would rather have an agency that will throw you into the deep end and let you sink or swim.
This brings me back to the conversation of mother agents/agencies. If you are unsure what a mother agency is refer back to my first article in Modeling 101 here and check out the section titled What Kind of Agency is Right For You?
A mother agency is almost always going to lean more toward the hold-your-hand route. In contrast, a large, well-known booking agency may not provide the same kind of one-on-one support, especially because you are one of sometimes 50-100 models on a single board.
However, if you are turned off by the idea of a mother agent or you want to overall get the most out of whatever agency you sign with then keep reading because I am going to break down everything you need to ask them.
So if they work for you, what questions should you be asking?
Think of the agency meetings like a two-way interview. You are going to bring in money for them. If you do end up making a name for yourself you will bring attention to their agency and in turn make them even more money in the long run so do not be shy, learning to advocate for yourself is a must and you have every right to ask any question you may have but there are a few that I recommend you never miss.
Below I have listed them all, if you need further information as to what the question means or why I suggest you ask this, I will go into each one further below.
13 Questions You Need the Answers To
- How long have you been in the industry?
- While I have an idea of what kind of work I would love to book I am interested in hearing what clients you think I would be a great fit for.
- Would this be an exclusive contract? For just this market or nation/worldwide?
- If I were to book work in another city do you offer a model apartment or have deals with any hotels to get models a discount?
- Is there anything about my appearance you would want to change? Hair cut/color measurements, piercings, etc.
- Does your agency provide any training? Such as runway, industry, or posing/movement?
- Do you advance costs such as test shoots, plane tickets, hotels/model apartments etc.
- If you do advance is there a timeline in which I need to book work to have it paid off?
- What are the website/comp card fees?
- Do you see me participating in fashion week whether that is Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer, Bridal, or Swim week?
- Are you willing to help place me in other markets?
- Would you be considered my mother agency? (This only applies if you don’t already have one or if this is a large booking agency such as Elite, Select, Wilhemina (a.k.a. Willy), Ford, One, NY Models, State, etc.)
- How quickly could I expect to be paid? Is it when the agency receives payment or do you have a set schedule?
How long have you been in the industry?
Asking them how long they have been in the industry and even more specifically how long they have been with their current agency will give you a good preview of what you can expect from them. It is normal for a lot of turnover in the modeling agency both from models and from agents. Everyone is constantly changing agencies however, if you can avoid having to do this and instead find an agency that you are happy with from the beginning it can save you a lot of time and money.
If an agent is extremely new to the industry I wouldn’t just write them off because they may have gotten into this industry because they have connections already and have a passion for it. On the other hand, they may be a great Junior agent who just needs a little more time to build up their client list and in the meantime, you need someone who has the abilities and clients already.
It is not bad to want to feel a little more stability. So I would recommend making sure that there will be another agent managing you who has a little more experience. Preferably a minimum of 3-5 years in the industry and at least two at the current agency you are meeting.
\If there is an agency where it seems agents aren’t lasting more than a couple months to a year it might be a red flag. It could mean the work environment isn’t the best, or they could be overworked and understaffed making them spread too thin and limiting your chances of getting the exposure you need especially as a new face causing you to get lost in the crowd.
While I have an idea of what kind of work I would love to book I am interested in hearing what clients you think I would be a great fit for?
As I mentioned in my last article there are so many different types of modeling and in addition to that it is always good to have goals for yourself. Maybe you have loved alo since the day it launched and it is your dream to be in their stores someday. It is smart to make sure that the agency you are signing with has goals that align with you and also have the connections to help you get there. Some agencies are better for a certain market than others. For example, there is an agency in NYC, Stetts Model Management that is well known in the Fit Modeling market so if you are looking to walk the runway they might not be the right fit for you.
It’s also a good sign if they already have models who have worked with the clients you want to work with and have those solidified connections already. There’s also a chance that the vision they have for you does not align with what you have for yourself and it is good to have that information in the beginning and more importantly before you sign a contract so you can make an informed decision when deciding what agency is right for you.
Would this be an exclusive contract? For just this market or nation/worldwide?
When you are brand new to the industry it is so easy to want to sign whatever contract is put in front of you especially if it is coming from one of your dream agencies but you need to keep a couple of things in mind. Do you want this agency to represent you worldwide and rule out all other agencies in every market before you have had any experience with them, good or bad?
Normally I would recommend you do not do this. Contracts are negotiable and it is not uncommon for models to want to change something in the contract within reasonable boundaries, it is also a green flag if the agency is open to discussing your concerns and negotiating your contract.
If you start working with the agency and are interested in signing with them in another location they can set up a meeting and help make that happen but if you sign with that agency in every location before you have even worked with them and decided if you like them or not, it will be much harder to backtrack.
Some agencies have amazing NYC offices but the LA office isn’t quite what you are looking for or vice versa but if you already signed a nationwide/worldwide contract and they want you even though you don’t want them and might even have another agency in mind, you will be out of luck, you already signed that contract and it is no longer your decision.
If I were to book work in another city do you offer a model apartment or have deals with any hotels to get models a discount?
Let’s say you sign with an agency in two markets, for the sake of this example let’s call them Agency A and you are based in NYC but also sign with Agency A LA.
Agency A LA books you a job, there’s a couple of ways that booking could go.
- The client books you under a rate and in addition to that, pays for the flight and hotel.
- The client books you under a rate and pays for the flight but not the hotel.
- The client books you under a rate and pays for the hotel but not the flight.
- The client books you as a “local” meaning they will pay your rate but nothing else so you need to cover the flight and hotel.
When it’s anything but the first option that means there are going to be upfront costs for you, the model. You need to decide if it is even worth it to do the job in the first place and when you have to travel, and usually any job at all your booking agent should reach out to you and make sure you are available before confirming you.
If you are new, which I am assuming you are if you are reading this, then I would recommend as long as the cost to go is either equal to or less than the rate, take the job. Building up your client list is important and sometimes it comes at a cost, literally.
But what if you don’t know anyone you can stay with when you are there and don’t have the liquid cash to book the ticket or hotel? This is where advancing comes in. The agency will front the costs of the ticket and/or hotel and they will take it out of your paycheck when the money comes through. This will be on top of the agency fee and commission that is already taken.
Some agencies will have a deal with hotel chains so you may get a discount when booking their through the agency if you are in that city for work.
Model apartments are a cheaper alternative to staying in a hotel. Think of a hostel only for models. It will either be an actual apartment or a small house depending on where it is based. For example LA would most likely be a small house but NYC would be an apartment. These are not luxurious in any way. It is a bare-bones apartment usually 1-3 bunk beds per room. Toilet paper, maybe some pots and pans, hand soap, a sponge, bath towels and basic furniture. It really is only the absolute necessities in the apartment but sometimes the much cheaper option is the way to go. They are not for the faint of heart though, given if it is the busy season it might be a packed house and that can lead to a bit of drama.
Is there anything about my appearance you would want to change? Hair cut/color measurements, piercings, etc.
This just falls into the “it’s better to have all the information upfront” category. If there is something that they would want to change it is nice to have that information prior to the signed contract. I say this mostly because after you have signed on to work with an agency you may feel a little more pressure to agree to their requests so you might as well know what you could be getting yourself into.
Not every agency will even have anything they want you to change so don’t let this scare you. In my experience, it is more often that they are happy with my appearance before signing and the most they want to discuss is maybe a subtle haircut.
Does your agency provide any training? Such as runway, industry, or posing/movement?
I don’t think it is too often that agencies will provide a lot of free training but most (not all) will provide something. If they don’t then odds are they have coaches or photographers that they have worked with and like who they can refer you to but that is another cost that you will have to absorb.
Remember to keep track of your costs related to modeling as they are a tax write-off!
However, some agencies really do invest in their models and do so by providing great training. I would take full advantage when it is offered. It will help you become more confident both at castings and on set in front of the camera. If you have some stage fright it will help ease that as well along with just being a great place to meet other people in your industry because you don’t have an office where you will be able to go in and make friends over time.
Do you advance costs such as test shoots, plane tickets, hotels/model apartments etc.
Remember the example above where you were booked as a “local”?
Some agencies will cover all the costs and you won’t have to pay for the hotel or flight upfront and it will be taken from your paycheck instead, but not all agencies will be willing to do this so it is important to ask in your meeting.
If you are a new face especially, you will have to do test shoots to build out your book and this is a massive investment.
I’m talking thousands of dollars.
If you don’t have that kind of cash lying around then that is yet another reason to make sure you cover this in your meeting so both you and your agents know what to expect when development begins.
If you do advance is there a timeline in which I need to book work in order to have it paid off?
Some agencies will only advance when it is related to a job because they know the money will be coming soon, other times they will advance under the agreement that there is a specified timeline, often 90 days, where you need to book a job to repay the agency otherwise they may request you pay it out of pocket when that date rolls around.
You don’t want that date to come as a surprise, so don’t be shy about asking.
What are the website/comp card fees?
You should NEVER pay an agency to sign with them. You will hear this a lot, and that is very true. However, you will always be charged a website and comp card fee once you are signed.
The website fee is for when you log onto the agency website and you see the models they represent. You will pay a fee to be on that website. It is also not really an option to be on the website, Luckily this fee does not come out of pocket it will come out of a paycheck and it is a monthly cost of roughly $30.
Comp cards are another one. It is like an actor’s headshot and resume except for modeling. It will have one headshot on the front and then normally one picture on the back along with your measurements and agency name on both sides. The agency will make them for you, but it will come at a cost once again.
Do you see me participating in fashion week whether that is Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer, Bridal, or Swim week?
No matter what market you envision yourself working it is good to make sure you are on the same page because the heavy runway seasons do require a lot of attention and time. You need the right heels, you may need to do a test shoot specifically for the fashion week that is coming up, and you may need to take time off work, possibly even travel so it is good to know if you need to prepare for this,
Are you willing to help place me in other markets?
Not all agencies will and that is fine. If you have a mother agent they will be the primary ones placing you all around the world but if you don’t have a set mother agent your booking agency can help you get placed in other markets/countries if you want their help but this will also most likely create an agreement that they are also your mother agent and they will continue receiving commissions off the jobs you book through the other agency they helped to place you with.
Would you be considered my mother agency? (This only applies if you don’t already have one or if this is a large booking agency such as Elite, Select, Wilhemina (a.k.a. Willy), Ford, One, NY Models, State, etc.)
As I mentioned in the last question, your booking agent could become your mother agency as well and if you want to establish that right away or if you want to prevent that from happening have a conversation about it.
How quickly could I expect to be paid? Is it when the agency receives payment or do you have a set schedule?
Models get paid painfully slow.
The fastest I have been paid was roughly two weeks for a job that I did, which is incredibly fast in this industry (shoutout to Girlfriend Collective for that one). Or I have waited well over nine months to be paid for a job. You want to make sure that you have it set up that the money is directly deposited into your personal banking account and not just held in your agency account. Sometimes an agency will also have a payout date such as every Friday meaning they received payment from the client on Tuesday and they will send it to you the following Friday.
I do kind of see this as a red flag, but I am not going to tell you to completely write off an agency because of it.
That’s all for this one! Thank you so much for reading and I hope this was enough to calm your nerves and come prepared to your next modeling agency meeting. You are going to kill it! As always if you have any questions at all feel free to leave a comment or find me on any of my socials and shoot me a DM : )
You can find the rest of my Modeling 101 series here, and if you would like to explore the rest of my blog, you can find that here!
Until next time 🖤
xo
~ A.
