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JUBILEE
on-line magazine
Truth.Culture.Style
How to Find a
Legitimate
Modeling/Talent
Agency
by Kim Ford
Legitimate
Modeling/Talent
Agency
by Kim Ford
Could YOU be America’s next top model? The world is loaded with potential Tyra Banks and
Heidi Klum protégés. However, more than a cute face and thin waist, you need to be well-
informed about the industry. There are so many crooked agencies trying to take advantage of
uninformed actors and models. For those struggling to get a break, the chance to be seen by
casting agents, to work with directors, to be noticed by managers and agents is everything.
One reputable agency is Click Models. Over the past 25 plus years, Click has added offices
throughout the United States and presently represents over 1000 models with divisions focusing
on Women, Men, Plus Size, Runway, Showroom, FIT, and Television Commercials, according to
their website. Many of the world’s most famous faces such as Isabella Rossellini, Uma Thurman,
Whitney Houston, Elle MacPherson and Grace Jones have been represented by Click.
Jennifer Wallin, agency director of Click Models Atlanta was available to share her wisdom
regarding the basics of the modeling industry. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are a few
modeling industry basics you MUST know to keep you from becoming a victim. Ms. Wallin says,
“The first thing you should know is what the requirements are. For Click, we accept women ages
14 and up. They must be 5’8 to 5’11 and wear dress size 2 to size 6. We also accept men ages
14 and up. Men should be 5’11 to 6’2.”
Once you meet the requirements, you are now available to get booked for a job. Wallin says, “We
book our models based on their photo shoots. We view photos from their comp card, web site
and portfolios. We also book from in person castings.”
Once you have good photos, make sure you get with a legitimate agency for your promotion and
protection. It’s not a good idea to find work on your own. “Legitimate clients like Guess or Ralph
Lauren will only book models through reputable agencies. Agencies can also guarantee proper
payment and timely payment from clients, advises Wallin.”
Another reputable agency is Elite Model Management. Founded in 1971 by John Casablanca,
Elitelaunched the career of many well know names as Cindy Crawford, Demi Moore, Cameron
Diaz, Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and a never-ending list of many others. Based on their
website, they have offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto.
Kitty Bundy, Director of Lifestyle Division in the Atlanta office gave two of the main warning signs to
watch out for. “Legitimate agencies DO NOT have photographers on staff. While it’s true that the
models will need to get professional photos, we have a list of professional photographers he or
she can choose from. We do not demand you use a specific photographer, states Bundy.” “Also, if
the agency charges fees for a screening, they are not a legitimate agency. They may be a training
center or school.” If you feel uncertain about an agency, be sure to ask a lot of questions, and be
sure they gives good answers. Always check references!
Don’t let the warning signs discourage you because The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) can protect
you. According to their website, SAG is the nation's largest labor union representing working
actors and models. Headquartered in Los Angeles with 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents
nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music
videos and other new media. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions,
compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights.
“The Guild is the exclusive bargaining representative for its performers in that it helps set, through
negotiation with signatory employers, the minimum terms and conditions under which they may
engage SAG members—including base compensation rates, minimum pension and health
contributions, establishing basic conditions of employment, etc.”, states Pamela Greenwalt, SAG
Communications Executive Director.
“Talent agents are legally part of SAG’s bargaining unit and act as such when they attempt to
secure additional benefits beyond those found in SAG’s collective bargaining agreements (e.g.
rates of pay that are above SAG minimums, etc). Agents are also engaged by performers to seek
out any and all applicable employment opportunities for which they can submit their client base.
Given the often vigorous competition for acting jobs, one can only imagine how essential this
service is to all Guild members. In exchange for their efforts on behalf of our members, agents
collect a 10% fee for their services. On its end, SAG maintains a franchise structure to ensure the
integrity of that agent-member relationship is maintained so that if something goes wrong in the
context of that relationship, the Guild can step in to assist in the resolution of any dispute”,
concludes Ms. Greenwalt.
In the case of models, SAG can represent them but only to the extent that they are also working in
areas where SAG has exercised jurisdiction—e.g. TV/Theatrical, Commercials, Industrials,
Internet, etc. However, if the performer is exclusively a model, (s)he would not be represented by
the Guild.
There are certainly many legit companies that offer a chance to meet and read for casting agents
and directors in a classroom setting. According to The Tyra Banks Show website, Models.com is
a respected place to search for legitimate modeling agencies and photographers. You can sign
up for free and gain access to information for valid businesses in the industry around the world.
Whether you live in Atlanta, GA or in Acapulco, Mexico, models.com will make your portfolio
accessible to a vast list of agencies, within one location, which include each modeling type
(fashion/editorial modeling, fitness, plus size, real people, etc.).
Now that you know the nuts and bolts of how the modeling industry works, do your homework to
find out if the agency you’re interested in is legitimate. Be safe and INVESTIGATE, INVESTIGATE,
INVESTIGATE! If you have any questions regarding the legitimacy of workshops or auditions,
contact your local SAG branch at 1-800-SAG-0767.
Heidi Klum protégés. However, more than a cute face and thin waist, you need to be well-
informed about the industry. There are so many crooked agencies trying to take advantage of
uninformed actors and models. For those struggling to get a break, the chance to be seen by
casting agents, to work with directors, to be noticed by managers and agents is everything.
One reputable agency is Click Models. Over the past 25 plus years, Click has added offices
throughout the United States and presently represents over 1000 models with divisions focusing
on Women, Men, Plus Size, Runway, Showroom, FIT, and Television Commercials, according to
their website. Many of the world’s most famous faces such as Isabella Rossellini, Uma Thurman,
Whitney Houston, Elle MacPherson and Grace Jones have been represented by Click.
Jennifer Wallin, agency director of Click Models Atlanta was available to share her wisdom
regarding the basics of the modeling industry. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are a few
modeling industry basics you MUST know to keep you from becoming a victim. Ms. Wallin says,
“The first thing you should know is what the requirements are. For Click, we accept women ages
14 and up. They must be 5’8 to 5’11 and wear dress size 2 to size 6. We also accept men ages
14 and up. Men should be 5’11 to 6’2.”
Once you meet the requirements, you are now available to get booked for a job. Wallin says, “We
book our models based on their photo shoots. We view photos from their comp card, web site
and portfolios. We also book from in person castings.”
Once you have good photos, make sure you get with a legitimate agency for your promotion and
protection. It’s not a good idea to find work on your own. “Legitimate clients like Guess or Ralph
Lauren will only book models through reputable agencies. Agencies can also guarantee proper
payment and timely payment from clients, advises Wallin.”
Another reputable agency is Elite Model Management. Founded in 1971 by John Casablanca,
Elitelaunched the career of many well know names as Cindy Crawford, Demi Moore, Cameron
Diaz, Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and a never-ending list of many others. Based on their
website, they have offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto.
Kitty Bundy, Director of Lifestyle Division in the Atlanta office gave two of the main warning signs to
watch out for. “Legitimate agencies DO NOT have photographers on staff. While it’s true that the
models will need to get professional photos, we have a list of professional photographers he or
she can choose from. We do not demand you use a specific photographer, states Bundy.” “Also, if
the agency charges fees for a screening, they are not a legitimate agency. They may be a training
center or school.” If you feel uncertain about an agency, be sure to ask a lot of questions, and be
sure they gives good answers. Always check references!
Don’t let the warning signs discourage you because The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) can protect
you. According to their website, SAG is the nation's largest labor union representing working
actors and models. Headquartered in Los Angeles with 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents
nearly 120,000 working actors in film, television, industrials, commercials, video games, music
videos and other new media. The Guild exists to enhance actors' working conditions,
compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists' rights.
“The Guild is the exclusive bargaining representative for its performers in that it helps set, through
negotiation with signatory employers, the minimum terms and conditions under which they may
engage SAG members—including base compensation rates, minimum pension and health
contributions, establishing basic conditions of employment, etc.”, states Pamela Greenwalt, SAG
Communications Executive Director.
“Talent agents are legally part of SAG’s bargaining unit and act as such when they attempt to
secure additional benefits beyond those found in SAG’s collective bargaining agreements (e.g.
rates of pay that are above SAG minimums, etc). Agents are also engaged by performers to seek
out any and all applicable employment opportunities for which they can submit their client base.
Given the often vigorous competition for acting jobs, one can only imagine how essential this
service is to all Guild members. In exchange for their efforts on behalf of our members, agents
collect a 10% fee for their services. On its end, SAG maintains a franchise structure to ensure the
integrity of that agent-member relationship is maintained so that if something goes wrong in the
context of that relationship, the Guild can step in to assist in the resolution of any dispute”,
concludes Ms. Greenwalt.
In the case of models, SAG can represent them but only to the extent that they are also working in
areas where SAG has exercised jurisdiction—e.g. TV/Theatrical, Commercials, Industrials,
Internet, etc. However, if the performer is exclusively a model, (s)he would not be represented by
the Guild.
There are certainly many legit companies that offer a chance to meet and read for casting agents
and directors in a classroom setting. According to The Tyra Banks Show website, Models.com is
a respected place to search for legitimate modeling agencies and photographers. You can sign
up for free and gain access to information for valid businesses in the industry around the world.
Whether you live in Atlanta, GA or in Acapulco, Mexico, models.com will make your portfolio
accessible to a vast list of agencies, within one location, which include each modeling type
(fashion/editorial modeling, fitness, plus size, real people, etc.).
Now that you know the nuts and bolts of how the modeling industry works, do your homework to
find out if the agency you’re interested in is legitimate. Be safe and INVESTIGATE, INVESTIGATE,
INVESTIGATE! If you have any questions regarding the legitimacy of workshops or auditions,
contact your local SAG branch at 1-800-SAG-0767.
