I can’t tell you how many times a new model will come to me and say “Everyone always tells me I should be a model.” Unfortunately, if every girl who was told she should be a model would eventually become a successful model, we’d have more models than we could ever book jobs for.
This does not mean you need to be discouraged. Modeling takes an enormous amount of dedication, commitment and hard work. If you are willing to put forth the effort, and can meet all of the demands, then maybe you have a shot. But if you don’t get the “big break” there are several venues of modeling that practically anyone can focus on and become successful in. Does this mean you can earn your entire living with these types of modeling jobs? Probably not. For some it means just having fun and earning a few extra dollars at photoshoots. Others will go on to build a career from it.
One of the attributes that I consider to be the MOST important, is that a model has got to have “thick skin”. This industry is all about rejection and acceptance. For instance, if there is a gig available and only one model will be selected, if 10 models go for a look-see, 9 of them will be rejected. That’s a 90% rejection rate. If you have watched American Idol and think Simon Cowell is rough on contestants, and appears to have no regard for their feelings, then get ready to be model. This industry can be extremely harsh, and you need to be able to handle it, and understand a few facts.
First, if your agency sends you to the wrong interview (one you are not totally qualified for) you may get rejected. If you do not meet the clients pre-conceived idea of the look they want, they can dismiss you as if you are wasting their time. These rejections hurt, but this is how this industry works. Everyone is on a time schedule and they don’t have time to “waste” on people who don’t meet their requirements or their pre-conceived notion of how they want their “product” to look.
As a potential model you need to separate emotion from a business decision. You may be the most beautiful girl for the job, but from a business perspective, you may still not get the job because the client is looking for something different. Whether it is an edge in personality that transposes onto film, or a personality that simply connects with theirs, there are hundreds of reasons you still might not get the job. Rejection – accept it without letting it break your spirit, learn from the experience (ASK your agent why you lost the job), take that knowledge to your next opportunity, and you will be one step closer to having your foot in the door. There is a job out there somewhere that you would be perfect for.
Next up — What venue of modeling are you interested in? Editorial modeling, high fashion modeling, catalog modeling, commercial print work, runway modeling, lingerie modeling, bikini modeling, nude modeling… there are many styles of modeling to consider.
