non-exclusive and you can freelance in your own
Ok so now we understand the pitfalls of being
time (meaning you can find your own opportunisigned exclusive with an agency and not being ready
ties).
as a model. But what if you are ready, you have the
walk, you know this is a good agency, then should
Why is this a good thing? Lets say you live in beyou sign exclusive?
tween Chicago and Milwaukee. Two very big markets in the modeling world. You could essentially
If you feel confident in yourself and you feel consign non-exclusive with an agency in Milwaukee
fident in the agency then test the waters and only
and sign non-exclusive with an agency in Chicago.
sign for one year. See where that year leads you and
This opens you up to two very large markets. This
if it gets you paid jobs. If in a year you feel they did
gives you more chances for casting calls. See how it
not do enough for you as an agent then its time to
goes throughout the year. Furthermore, since you
perhaps shop around for other agencies or ask to be
are non-exclusive, you can act as a freelance model
non-exclusive with the agency.
in your own time, which means you can look for
modeling jobs on your own. Agencies do not always
The biggest pitfall in all of this is not being ready for
know all of the jobs going on in their market, esthe opportunities an agency will present to you. So
pecially if they are unpaid jobs. Is it worth it to do
what does it mean to be ready as a model? It means
unpaid jobs? It depends. If you need practice, if you
you need to invest in yourself.
need exposure which every model does,
You need to look
if you need photos, then yes it is worth
good, take care of yourself, and You need to understand
it. But first, make sure the unpaid job
STUDY, STUDY, STUDY.
the ins and outs of how is good for your brand. Check out my
everything works. Not
next article about Branding Yourself as a
You need to buy posing books,
Model and what to avoid. I could write
watch the best modeling docu- only do you need to feel
comfortable in front of volumes on that alone. I know countless
mentaries, and study photogmodels that are signed non-exclusive
raphers. You need to underthe camera, you need to in both markets mentioned above, and
stand the ins and outs of how
bring a repertoire of fa- right now they are working in New York
everything works. Not only do
and have used their free time to freelance
you need to feel comfortable in cial expressions & emotions out at any moment because working unpaid jobs gets them
front of the camera, you need
both experience and exposure. Being
to bring a repertoire of facial
non-exclusive allows you to experience
expressions & emotions out at
the best of both worlds. However, if you
any moment, and perform any type of runway walk
are having trouble signing with an agency, as most
in every kind of shoe possible. You need to have a
models do, then you need to either fix your brand,
model bag ready with all essential items, you need
improve your modeling skills, or become the best
to learn proper interviewing skills, communication
in the freelance modeling market which means you
skills, have a fabulous comp 6&B