Toys-R-Us Booking, Take 2 (and some male model eye candy)

Posted by jill on Aug 31, 2012 in Child Models, Motherhood | 3 comments

After T’s last Toys-R-Us booking, I had a feeling that I rarely had when I was a model: They’ll book her again. This was not necessarily good considering the net profit situation (see Toys-R-Us Booking Equals Mega Bucks?). But you don’t say no to your agency—or your kids’ agency—unless you get to the point where the masses know you by your first name (or your agency is asking you to pose in the buff or wear fur or do something you’re just not comfortable doing). Although driving for an hour and a half does make me uncomfortable (bad back; from all those stilettos I modeled in?), that doesn’t really qualify as a good excuse. Relatives visiting? No, that doesn’t either. So off we went yesterday on Toys-R-Us booking #2, this time a little farther into New Jersey, with my GPS on the fritz.

Due to a huge delay at the GW Bridge (add 1 hour to aforementioned drive time), we arrived late—huge no, no. I imagined several mini models waiting, parents glaring at me as we entered the studio. Fortunately T’s shot was a single. And fortunately she made up for her tardiness with a stellar performance having an animated conversation on a toy cell phone with her hair in two cute little buns (modeling perk: new hairstyle ideas). The photographer—relaxed, nice, phew—got the shot so quickly that he added another shot, which involved T singing into a pink microphone. She requested “Call Me Maybe” as her boogie-down song and had a great time jamming with the kid wrangler. I was shuffled away from the set—interfering former-model mom—but I could watch it all on a computer screen. Oh, the joys of the modern age of digital photography. All we saw back in the day were a couple of Polaroids.

Speaking of, when will T see her work? Possibly February on toy packaging, but maybe never as the shots could be for the European market. (That’s more info than a model usually gets, btw.) Barely three, T does not seem too preoccupied with issues of instant gratification. She was thrilled to learn her other shots will be in Toys-R-Us newspaper inserts before Halloween. (I think maybe just the word “Halloween” is what made her beam, but whatever works.)

I took the Tappan Zee Bridge on the way back. WAY better. T napped so she felt like she was home in the blink of an eye, which I hope diffuses any suspicions she has that Mom is nuts to do this.

A precious tidbit of info I learned at the studio made the travel worth it: A kid came the day before, for one shot (so we’re talking $100), from Killington, Vermont! OMG, there are people much crazier than I am. So for those of you who are wondering, Can my kid model if we live three states away from New York? The answer is YES!

How to Be a Model Tip: Some bookings have “brings”—things the client has requested that you bring along. The agency told me to bring a mix of pink, mint green, and lavender leggings and shirts. I found an assortment, none without a stain. The client didn’t use anything I brought, which may have been due to the state of T’s hand-me-down wardrobe, but in my experience is typical. Since I also was kindly informed not to buy anything, I knew the “brings” were just for back-up.

I’m going to add “How to Be a Model” Tips to upcoming blogs (where appropriate).

While not totally appropriate in a kid model blog post, have you seen the shirtless Abercrombie & Fitch male models’ cover of Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe”? If this blog bored you, I promise this hot display of six-packs in the video below will not. Oh, the fond memories conjured by images of the Duomo and hunky guys…

Abercrombie & Fitch Models in Milan

What would it be like to date one of these guys? Read my latest Male Model blog post!

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