Congrats to Model of the Year Alexa Kissling!

Pretty…

Alexa Kissling, by Charles Martin

Commercial…

Alexa Kissling commercial headshot

Editorial…

Alexa Kissling channeling Courtney Love

Alexa Kissling or… Marilyn Monroe?

Beach Babe…

Alexa Kissling swimwear

Striking…

Alexa Kissling headshot

This girl’s got it all!

Stay tuned to see where Alexa lands in 2018. I have no doubt that she has an exciting career ahead of her!

Congrats to People’s Choice Winner… Pierce Kang!

Adorable…

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Bookish…

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Sporty…

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Cool Kid…

Pierce Kang, shot by Bonnie Nichoalds

Another versatile model with a great future ahead of him!

I can’t wait to see your 2018 submission. Send ‘em in! Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search

Congrats, Marisa Barnard!

Marisa Barnard by Fadil Berisha

Height: 5’10″    34-25-37   Size 4  

Based in New York

Seeking Representation

Photo by Fadil Berisha

Marisa caught my attention for a few reasons, beyond that pretty face… Like me, she chose to finish college before launching her modeling career, and she loves to write. Marisa has a cool blog, where she posts about fashion, style, philosophy, and my favorite city: NYC, of course! Check out HappensForaReason.com  These days, having a voice is key. Brands want to be associated with models who have something to say. 

Marisa Barnard by Fadil Berisha

I also recognized the style of Marisa’s headshot and sure enough, it was taken by Fadil Berisha—longtime supporter of Tear Sheet magazine and a wonderful human being. He did my headshots many years ago. I recall being wowed by his gigantic studio on a go-see when I first got to New York; later he shot the cover and beauty stories for my magazine there and I came to call him my friend. It was a whole different way of feeling I’d made it in the Big Apple, which is a good reminder that being ON the cover isn’t the only route to success. There are so many players on a photo shoot, and each is exceptional in a different way. (To read about another type of “player,” check out How Big a Role Does the Casting Couch Play in the Modeling World).

So what more can I say about choosing Marisa as my Model of the Month winner, except… it happened for a reason!

Remember, your submissions are still eligible for next month (I received this submission many months ago).  Also, SEND ME YOUR FAVORITE FESTIVE MODELING SHOT FOR MY DECEMBER HOLIDAY MODEL OF THE MONTH CONTEST!

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month

Model Winner Alexa Kissling!

Alexa Kissling, by Jenna Ashton

Height: 5’9″    Age: 18    

34-24-34     Size 1–2

Based in Baltimore

Seeking Representation in NYC

WOW! This stunning model has an incredibly versatile look, that goes from girl-next-door to bombshell, sassy to sultry…

Alexa Kissling or… Marilyn Monroe?

Alexa Kissling channeling Courtney Love

Alexa Kissling headshot

Alexa Kissling commercial headshot

Alexa Kissling swimwear

Alexa graduated from high school in the spring and is at the perfect age to take the Big Apple by storm! 

Remember, your submissions are still eligible for next month! This spectacular submission actually hit my inbox in April. I’m backlogged, dear readers. Be patient

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month

Guide to finding Acting/Commercial Representation If you are interested in acting and commercial modeling, the process of finding an agent is different from that of fashion models (as are the agents you will approach). Seasoned actor, teacher, and acting coach Jenny Mercein generously offered to guest blog and give you this invaluable Guide to Finding an Agent Actor and Acting Coach Jenny Mercein Acting Classes and Workshops Getting an agent is extremely challenging at any age. Although it can be frustrating to pay money to meet with industry professionals, pay-to-play places such as One on One and Actors Connection are a legitimate way to obtain representation. In fact, that’s how I got my agent! It may not always seem like it, but the majority of agents and managers who agree to give these classes and workshops are genuinely interested in finding new talent. Agent Connections Be selective in terms of who you target. If you have any personal connection to an agent or manager, however tangential, try to sign up for a session with that person. A mutual friend or a friend who is a client will be good fodder for small talk. And talent reps are not just casting you for a specific role, they are looking to form a long-term relationship. If you have a friend who can follow up on your behalf and attest that you are an honest, reliable person, that is just as important as picking a great audition piece. On the flip side, don’t presume friends with fancy agencies will open doors for you. Use your best judgement in terms of asking for a referral, and don’t be offended if your friend declines. This is a tough business. If you are just starting out, you might be best served by a smaller agency. Casting Director Referrals The best referral for an agent or manager is a casting director. The first question agents or managers will ask you is “Which casting directors know your work?” I would strongly advise you to take workshops with casting directors. If you can afford it, take a multiple-week class so you can form a relationship and the casting director can really get to know your abilities. Again, be selective in terms of whose class you invest in. Pick five television shows or movies that you feel you could be cast in, look up who was the casting director, and see if that person or someone from his/her office offers classes anywhere in NYC. Don’t expect that the casting director will offer to refer you to an agent, but when you meet with an agent (through a referal or a paid session), you will have a few casting directors to mention who know your work. This is incredibly important to agents and managers. Referral-Only Agencies You won’t have any luck at referral-only agencies such as Innovative or WME unless you have a referal. You will waste your time, energy, and money by sending in unsolicited material or cold calling /emailing. Again, my advice is to form relationships with casting directors. Take classes and workshops with folks who cast for projects you’ve loved (film, television, or theater). Volunteer to be a reader for a casting director. If you are fortunate to make a strong personal relationship with a casting director, you can ask advice on how to obtain an agency or ask for a referral to a specific agent. But tread lightly! You can undo all of the good work you’ve done in building a relationship with a casting agent if you become a nag or have unrealistic expectations about what he or she can do for your career. Follow-Up When you meet any industry professional, ask them how they prefer to keep in touch. Some will give their email or phone number, others still prefer postcards. In either case, keep in touch. Almost five years spanned between my first meeting with Abrams Artists Agency to signing with them, but my patience, persistance, and periodic postcards paid off! Eventually, I signed with their commerical department. They’ve been loyal and amazing agents for almost ten years now.

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If you missed Part I, Read Bicoastal Fitting Models

What size is a standard fit model? 

Standard fit models today range from size 4 to size 8, even size 10, with size 18 being the main fit size for the Plus industry and 32 or 34 waist for Men with a 40 chest being the Men’s standard. The most interesting thing I have observed over the years is the shift in the fit business from almost all Women’s Production fit being done on size 8s to the range of sizes now. Many contemporary brands led the way fitting on size 6 or 4 so a company could save money and have samples that were smaller and therefore thought of as “cuter” in the showroom by making the fit and showroom sample the same size.  Alternatively, they could cut samples in an 8 for production and a 4 for sales (to hang in the showroom or shoot on the models) but these requires more work and therefore more expense. Fitting on size 8 was the standard because it was generally the middle of a size run… companies producing garments in size 2 up to size 12 usually.  You would only fit on the one standard fit model, and then grade the pattern up and down for other sizes.  By being mostly in the middle of the size run, the margin for error is slimmer between sizes. If you fit on a size 2 or 4, by the time you grade up to the 12 garment you are pretty far away from the body you made the clothes for and possibly not fitting those larger sizes as well. Though, of course, companies spend a lot of time determining the best math to perfect their grade.

Print and Fit Model Ashley Sumner

How much does a fit model generally make and how often do they work?

We have fit models making great 6 figure salaries, and maintaining their careers between and after pregnancies into their 50s if they maintain there specs. Keeping your measurements consistent is a top job priority.  Represented Fit models generally take home anywhere from $100-$250/hour depending on experience level and location (prices vary dramatically in the locations we have booked fit models which include Boston, LA, NYC of course, and Hong Kong).  In NYC for instance, many fit models are making between $100,000-$250,000 year working anywhere from 8-20 hours a week on average.  Of course, there is travel time between accounts that is not considered in those hours, and time working out to maintain specs, and other general image maintenance (Mani-Pedis, Waxing, Skin care, etc).

Fit Model Joe Vollen

Is there more flexibility regarding height and age for commercial models than in the fashion world?

The Commercial world has a huge range of requests and thus a huge range of talent.  What we seem to lack on our boards would be professional models/actors who are 40 to 70. In the 20s market, there is a lot more talent and a lot more competition amongst talent.  There are far fewer “older” models available for things like Pharmaceuticals, Insurance Companies, Cruise lines, and other ads we have submitted to (so better odds of being booked). The great thing about the commercial market is that anyone can roll the dice if they are near a market, such as NYC, invest in a good headshot, which can be as little as $150-$200, and find a good manager/agent to submit them. Why not? If you have the time or interest, there may be a casting director who needs someone just like you! But, making commercials or commercial print your main source of income is a bit more challenging and you are still statistically in the single digit chances of booking a job when most casting directors cast with a several reps and then call in dozens of options to pitch to their clients. Nonetheless, if you are selected it is generally high pay for a short amount of time so I would say think positive and explore this avenue to anyone who was interested.

Plus Model Suzette Green

Where are your offices located?

Our office is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and we work from there on our bookings for both domestic and international clients.

How do you scout models?

We scout models all over… we have found models on the subway, on the sidewalk, in gyms, waiting on our table at Balthazar, via other models who refer their model friends, and via clients who refer models who need representation. It is always fun to start working with someone new!  We get a lot of email submissions, as well.

Tell us about your modeling background?

I modeled here and there as a teen (think mall modeling) and then while in college found my first agent and began doing showroom gigs once a season. As a 5’8″ size 6/8 I was not going to book runway or fashion work, but I was referred into Fit. It took a while to establish myself as a fit model, but after a year of near misses I booked Ralph via Jones New York and Tommy Hilfiger and things snowballed from there! While pregnant and a new mommy I shot an ad or editorial or two, but I always ended up finding Fit work as my mainstay. I liked that there was longevity to it and that you were often expected to contribute to the process and really be a part of the team!

Advice for aspiring models?

Give it time. Test shoot as much as you can with reputable photographers… get to know your best angles. Stay positive. Stay in touch… we like when our models/talent email us to let us know they are eager and ready to work! And when booked, show up on time, hair/nails/clothing clean and look your best!  Be friendly but don’t chat too much with clients, they are working and probably super busy so know you are there to help them do their job and your professionalism is also required.

Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search and get discovered!

April Model of the Month… Congrats Logan!

Logan Morris, shot by Debra Somerville

Hair: Red    Eyes: Green    Age: 14    Height: 5’7″    33-26-34    Shoe: 8

Represented by the Johnston Agency in CT

Logan is a gorgeous girl from Connecticut, and the first redhead to make Model of the Month. It’s about time! She has the inviting all-American look of a commercial model, but her perfect heart-shaped face also reminds me of a “shorter” girl who took the fashion world by storm: Kate Moss. Keep an eye out for Logan, who is the lucky winner of this stunning pave diamond bracelet from Lera Jewels.

Watch for exciting prizes in months to come. There is no limit on how often you enter the contest. If you have updated photos, try again!

Don’t forget to “like” the page of your favorite Model of the Month

My 10-year-old son got an agent in New York at age 8 and we were thrown into the high-pressure, unpredictable audition process in sink-or-swim fashion. We’ve had to learn everything by trial and error. If I’d read casting director Jen Rudin‘s book then, I could have saved my son from a lot of heartache and humiliation.

Inside the Casting Process

The casting process is almost always entirely mysterious and this book works magic: taking the reader behind the scenes of the casting process and into the head of a casting director. It’s an easy and engaging read, covers every question a stage parent/actor might have, and is written by an expert who has been on both sides of the casting table. My son and I loved the “Epic Success” and “Epic Fail” audition sidebars, in which actors shared their audition experiences. All the direct quotes from other experts in the field were illuminating as well.

Jen Rudin’s Mock Audition Boot Camp

Thanks, Jen, for giving actors and stage parents such a useful tool and fun book to read (I read it in one day—could not put it down). I also highly recommend Jen’s acting workshops, which my son has attended. Instruction from the people who actually cast actors in major movies and Broadway shows—it doesn’t get better than that.

Buy “Confessions of a Casting Director”