So this is a recent Voxer conversation I had:
RandomNameHere: "Hey looking to cast you in modeling/video projects that pay up to $800-$1200 depending on your limits. I could pay you to come by my studio and audition.
Me: "You can book me through __________ (my agency) Contact: _______(my agent) __________(my agents email). ________(my agents office phone number). Thank you.
RandomNameHere: "Do you do xxx"
Me: "No."
Now didn't that conversation seem like a waste of time for both of us? Of course. However for an inexperienced or naive model that might have seemed like a great idea and she might have landed herself in a bad or even dangerous position.
Let's break this down:
1) Voxer. That's already wrong. There are certain ways a professional will contact you FOR THE FIRST TIME. They are: phone call or email. (If you are connecting with someone through Facebook, ModelMayhem, or another networking source this won't be the case for obvious reasons.) People who are after something more will use more casual methods to make their first contact. Unfortunately Voxer automatically connects people based on a variety of information so it's less private than other methods of communication. It's too easy for them to get shut down quickly over the phone and emails from a stranger are usually deleted unless they provide CLEAR job details.
2) I had no idea who this person was. If I had submitted my personal information for a casting call of his he would have stated that casting call so I would know who he was. If someone just finds you out of the blue offering you work it's usually a good time to either let it go or look into it much much further.
3) He threw "large" amounts of money into his initial contact, meant o impress an inexperienced model. Once you start working as a model you get an idea of the general pay rate your working with. Conveniently...for comparison sake... I have a photo shoot next week paying $750 and there was no casting. My agency booked me directly. (that's not always the case but it happens more often than not when your dealing with a good agency/agent) So why would a working model be impressed by that pay rate? She wouldn't. He was targeting an inexperienced model.
4) He said he could pay me to come audition. WHAT? Auditions are not paid...that's why they're called auditions. Again, an attempt to target an a non-pro. I'm assuming in this case his "audition" would have went something like this: RandomNameHere: "So if you sleep with me you can have the jobs and lots of money....and by the way, it's not modeling..it's web cam modeling." Web cam modeling is code for Porn, and XXX directors/producers/casting agents who are looking to lure real models into porn use this term to attempt to confuse girls who don't know the difference.
5) He didn't mention anything about XXX until after I had given him my agency contact info. Of course, I already knew what he wanted, but it's always good to let people know that you can't be booked directly by just anyone, that you are an agency model (if you are) and you have standards....also I like to see some of the ridiculous responses. Had I not thrown that info in his face right off the bat (assuming I didn't know any better) then that conversation would have continued long after it did.
............................................HOW TO STOP THEM IN THEIR TRACKS................................................ .. (Them= time wasters, non-professionals, porn directors, perverts, predators, and guys/photographers who are just out to try to meet and hook up with models)
Whenever someone contacts you without all the proper information (Pay rate, hours, date, time, clear job description) up front...just refer them to your agency immediately. If you don't have an agency, then your independent agent. If you don't use any independent agents, then you have two options:
1) Refer them to your website, or another place them have to go to see your rates and booking information. You can say "All my booking information can be found on my website ." By giving them another step, our differing a lot of bs. If they are a person who is serious about booking you, they'll do what you say and follow the steps they're given. If you don't have a website, just get one. You need one anyway if your a freelance model. There are lots of completely free websites you can create, like WIX.com for example. There are also very low cost ones set up specifically for modes portfolios like 4ormat.com
2) You can simply create an alternate email address and tell them that is your agents contact information. While "posing" as your agent you can ask them the job details as an agent would do anyway....if they don't give clear details, or if they don't contact tha email address just let it go. You've probably just saved yourself from becoming a rape victim.
....................................THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD SEND UP RED FLAGS........................................
- What kind of modeling work do you do/are you looking to get?
- Who do you model for?
This experience has brought a lot of other hilarious (to me) but potentially dangerous (to some) situations/attempts back to my mind. The point is, it happens all the time, there are people who use the modeling industry and even the word "modeling" to manipulate inexperienced and aspiring models into harms way. Don't be one of those girls! THIS IS WHY I ALWAYS SAY "DO YOUR RESEARCH' and "LOOK INTO IT." You should never be afraid that you'll lose work because you haven't handled something correctly. If you handle yourself professionally and watch out for situations like this, you'll never lose a legitimate day of work, and you'll keep yourself safe at the same time.
If any other models/actresses have any situations of stories similar to this and would like to share them for a future blog post please submit them to: AddikennTalent@gmail.com
Remember: STAY SMART AND STAY SAFE!
RandomNameHere: "Hey looking to cast you in modeling/video projects that pay up to $800-$1200 depending on your limits. I could pay you to come by my studio and audition.
Me: "You can book me through __________ (my agency) Contact: _______(my agent) __________(my agents email). ________(my agents office phone number). Thank you.
RandomNameHere: "Do you do xxx"
Me: "No."
Now didn't that conversation seem like a waste of time for both of us? Of course. However for an inexperienced or naive model that might have seemed like a great idea and she might have landed herself in a bad or even dangerous position.
Let's break this down:
1) Voxer. That's already wrong. There are certain ways a professional will contact you FOR THE FIRST TIME. They are: phone call or email. (If you are connecting with someone through Facebook, ModelMayhem, or another networking source this won't be the case for obvious reasons.) People who are after something more will use more casual methods to make their first contact. Unfortunately Voxer automatically connects people based on a variety of information so it's less private than other methods of communication. It's too easy for them to get shut down quickly over the phone and emails from a stranger are usually deleted unless they provide CLEAR job details.
2) I had no idea who this person was. If I had submitted my personal information for a casting call of his he would have stated that casting call so I would know who he was. If someone just finds you out of the blue offering you work it's usually a good time to either let it go or look into it much much further.
3) He threw "large" amounts of money into his initial contact, meant o impress an inexperienced model. Once you start working as a model you get an idea of the general pay rate your working with. Conveniently...for comparison sake... I have a photo shoot next week paying $750 and there was no casting. My agency booked me directly. (that's not always the case but it happens more often than not when your dealing with a good agency/agent) So why would a working model be impressed by that pay rate? She wouldn't. He was targeting an inexperienced model.
4) He said he could pay me to come audition. WHAT? Auditions are not paid...that's why they're called auditions. Again, an attempt to target an a non-pro. I'm assuming in this case his "audition" would have went something like this: RandomNameHere: "So if you sleep with me you can have the jobs and lots of money....and by the way, it's not modeling..it's web cam modeling." Web cam modeling is code for Porn, and XXX directors/producers/casting agents who are looking to lure real models into porn use this term to attempt to confuse girls who don't know the difference.
5) He didn't mention anything about XXX until after I had given him my agency contact info. Of course, I already knew what he wanted, but it's always good to let people know that you can't be booked directly by just anyone, that you are an agency model (if you are) and you have standards....also I like to see some of the ridiculous responses. Had I not thrown that info in his face right off the bat (assuming I didn't know any better) then that conversation would have continued long after it did.
Whenever someone contacts you without all the proper information (Pay rate, hours, date, time, clear job description) up front...just refer them to your agency immediately. If you don't have an agency, then your independent agent. If you don't use any independent agents, then you have two options:
1) Refer them to your website, or another place them have to go to see your rates and booking information. You can say "All my booking information can be found on my website ." By giving them another step, our differing a lot of bs. If they are a person who is serious about booking you, they'll do what you say and follow the steps they're given. If you don't have a website, just get one. You need one anyway if your a freelance model. There are lots of completely free websites you can create, like WIX.com for example. There are also very low cost ones set up specifically for modes portfolios like 4ormat.com
2) You can simply create an alternate email address and tell them that is your agents contact information. While "posing" as your agent you can ask them the job details as an agent would do anyway....if they don't give clear details, or if they don't contact tha email address just let it go. You've probably just saved yourself from becoming a rape victim.
....................................THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD SEND UP RED FLAGS........................................
- What kind of modeling work do you do/are you looking to get?
- Who do you model for?
This experience has brought a lot of other hilarious (to me) but potentially dangerous (to some) situations/attempts back to my mind. The point is, it happens all the time, there are people who use the modeling industry and even the word "modeling" to manipulate inexperienced and aspiring models into harms way. Don't be one of those girls! THIS IS WHY I ALWAYS SAY "DO YOUR RESEARCH' and "LOOK INTO IT." You should never be afraid that you'll lose work because you haven't handled something correctly. If you handle yourself professionally and watch out for situations like this, you'll never lose a legitimate day of work, and you'll keep yourself safe at the same time.
If any other models/actresses have any situations of stories similar to this and would like to share them for a future blog post please submit them to: AddikennTalent@gmail.com
Remember: STAY SMART AND STAY SAFE!
