How to Start a Modeling Agency With No Experience
Modeling is one of the most competitive businesses there is, and anyone who wants to start a modeling agency must be equal parts entrepreneur, mentor, business manager and coach. Reputation is paramount in the modeling industry and word travels fast, so always conduct yourself according to the highest ethical and professional standards.
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Instructions
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Set yourself up as a formal corporation. Have an attorney vet your contracts, both with models and clients, even if they are drawn from boilerplate agreements. Make sure your tax documents and other legal filings are done properly.
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Do research. Read fashion magazines. Go to runway shows. Peruse fashion photographer's websites. Watch model- and fashion-oriented TV shows. An aspiring agency owner must be current on what the marketplace trends are, and there is arguably no more trend-oriented business than the fashion industry.
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Put together a client roster. A successful model must be photogenic, look good in a variety of clothing styles, possess an age-appropriate level of emotional maturity, and most importantly, project something unique and engaging to the viewer.
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Create promotion materials. Effective "branding" is as important as the quality of your clients, so make sure your logo, brochures, modeling cards, etc., are eye-catchy and easily identifiable.
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Set up a website with photos of every one of your clients. Make sure it is well-designed and user-friendly.
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Promote your agency. List your agency on modeling agency portals. Make direct contact with fashion houses, photographers, casting directors, advertising agencies, etc.
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Tips & Warnings
• Intern or volunteer at an established agency. It's a great way to gain practical experience and learn the ropes of the business.
• Run your agency out of a reputable location. If your office is in a questionable part of town, or your home, you will quickly gain an unsavory reputation.
• The Small Business Administration and the American Small Businesses Association are both useful resources to help start your business.
• To help your clients book TV commercials, suggest they take an appropriate on-camera course.
• Most top agencies do test shoots, put together "comp cards" (a postcard with various shots), and provide other tools of the trade for their new clients. If there is a model you believe in without financial resources, be willing to shell out the cash. It's perfectly acceptable to be reimbursed for these expenses once the model starts booking jobs.
The modeling industry is full of scam artists. One of the most common is claiming to have work available, but in reality the "agency" is trying to sell classes and expensive photo shoots to naive young people and their parents. A legitimate agency makes money in one way: commission off of clients' bookings.
References
- Photo Credit fashion model image by Edward White from Fotolia.com
