Modeling Tip: Knowing When to Book Out

Posted by jill on Dec 18, 2012 in Modeling | 0 comments

Considering I had to move today (just 2 blocks over, but it’s still a huge dusty chore and reality check on grave failure in the minimalism department) and attend my 6-year-old’s “Family Celebration” at school, his twin sister’s hip hop class (parent observation day), and my 9-year-old’s holiday concert, I should have “booked out” this Tuesday. For those who don’t know, in model terms, that means you have told your agent that you are not available to work on a certain day. Bloggers don’t necessarily have to book out, but as a courtesy to my readers, I could have warned you that the Tuesday Tip would not appear until 11:30 PM, if at all.

I always had trouble with booking out. You may pound pavement for years as a model and only make enough money to live on pasta and ketchup  (that’s what Sophie Patitz and I ate most of the time in Paris). During the slow ascent out of blue-collar model status, I never considered booking out. I would have shot a catalog on Christmas day if my agency asked me to. Then the jobs started flowing and I could afford to book out, but I rarely did. Maybe it was a strong work ethic, or maybe it was the recognition that one day I would age out of modeling, so I ought to work every day until I couldn’t anymore.

My advice: If you are a new face with an agency, don’t book out if you can help it. You have to show them you have the drive and determination to do anything it takes to make it. However, once you have a strong book and some steady clients, take a break when you need it.

I’m looking at about 50 unpacked boxes, but I’m on the sofa with my feet up. Maybe I’ve finally learned to relax. Or maybe it’s the fact that no one will pay me $200/hour to unpack them.

Supermodels on the Effort of Modeling:

Kate Moss in 1990, by Corinne Day

“I’d go on the train to castings, changing from my school uniform on the train. I carried on like that for a few years, getting jobs in bits and pieces.” —Kate Moss

“[On days I'm not working], I have to hit the gym. I have beauty appointments. I have to work toward my next job. . . just like an athlete.” —Linda Evangelista

“A girl who is interested in becoming a model must first accept the fact that she is the product. She must be ready to deal with a lot of rejection.” —Karolina Kurkova

The countdown to January Model of the Month is on: Enter the Modeling Mentor Model Search!