10 WAYS TO TELL IF A MODEL AGENCY IS REALLY A MODEL AGENCY by Richard Austin-Rees.

Richard Austin Rees works freelance in the events industry which has seen more and more work within the fashion industry over the past two years (see foot note at the bottom of page) and continuously works with new people breaking into the mainstream of the industry.

This document is designed  to help guide models, musicians, dancers and aspiring actors and extras. HOW TO TELL IF A PERSON OR COMPANY ARE REALLY WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE... Because unfortunately everyday on facebook i see someone  popping up with a new group or profile page giving it all that !

many people both new and professional are being taken in and mis-advised by people claiming to be something they are not .

The following helpful list has been put together by IPRS 

The owner of I.P.R.S has supplied models for many videos and print work for the likes of Westlife, Boyzone, Liberty x, Beverley Knight, Gabrielle ,Jamiroquai, Ndubz, Pride and London Fashion Week to name a few. All of this was done by working hard and gaining the trust of good casting and production companies you CANNOT just set up a facebook page and now tell yourself and others that you're an agent it DOES NOT work like that. It takes years to build trust and understanding with the companies you work with, and because a wannabe artist with no record deal has asked you to supply models for their music video because they don't have a large budget, again this DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN AGENT.  

Facebook is a very good networking tool YES but the problem is that too many people are claiming to be things they're are quite clearly NOT. No one  wishes to discourage people trying to set up there own businesses, (we all started somewhere) but there must be decency and integrity in your business ethos. These kind of people only make it harder for real companies to operate because so many people are claiming to be photographers or agents. This also makes it very hard for aspiring models and actors to separate the real from the fake. So I.P.R.S have put together 10 ways to tell if someone is telling the truth about what they are.

1. Does this company have an office address if so ask for it.

2. Does it have at least 2 landlines as most real agencies will do.

3. Does the company have a fully functional web site? Does it give a landline phone number.

4. Ask for the company registration number or vat number. Check these .

5. Ask for proof of work they have done recently.

6. If they want you to do portfolios ask for samples of photos for at least 3 years previous.

7. How many members of staff work there.

8. Ask for the names of production and casting companies they have worked with, not the names of artists as anyone can name drop and show you pictures of them and celebrities and say I've done this and done that. Do check . Dont take their word for it .

9. Competition sites within which you need to phone or text for a model to win are NOT going to help you get work and are not agencies. This is database building .

Anyone who wins these competitions has done so because they have more friends. Not because they are worthy of being the winner. Please also read the small print as you will normally find there may already be pre approved finalists . 

10. If the video they have asked you to appear in is not being filmed by a registered production company.

Always check. 

ALSO if they state they have years of experience  ask for proof !

Unfortunately especially on Facebook, some people are also pure fantasists and actually completely lie to achieve their own hidden agendas.

You cant set a page up on facebook overnight and claim to to have worked in the industry for 20 years and are one of the top agencies or photographers in London .

MODELS.... DO NOT SIGN EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS UNTIL YOU ARE SURE . THIS IS YOUR CAREER !

there are only a few occasions when you should sign exclusively and the money should then exchange hands YOUR way ! You should never ever have to spend money ! 

Any model requiring fair and impartial advice please contact 

www.modeladvice.info/blog

www.modeladvice.info/contactus.php



Footnote

I work constantly with many hi-fashion & commercial fashion models, make up artists, hairstylists & photographers within various assignments, from Runway shows to editorial shoots. Despite booking many models  in London and abroad, I state i work freelance in  Event & Fashion Management and book individuals when contracted to other agencies and corparate companies or businesses.  I never  claim to be or want to be an agent or agency. I do however make constant recommendations to reputable agencies and my own personal recommendation is to work with more than one agency unless exclusively signed with one of the top 5 . Naturally not many agencies will agree with that, however it is YOUR career!