What to Expect From a Models Agency: The First Months

What to expect from a models agency, in plain terms?

Expect an agency to put you in front of the people who hire, deal with those people for you, and tell you honestly what is happening. In return it takes an agreed share of the jobs it books. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government body that handles consumer fraud, says a real agency is paid after its clients pay it, and that your contract should say what share it takes.

What you should not expect is a promise. The FTC says modeling work is uneven even for successful models, and nobody can guarantee it. Any work that depends on other people saying yes is a bit like that, so the first months are mostly about setting up, waiting and staying in touch.

This guide is for models and creators, new or established, dealing with a models agency, a management company or anyone who offers to represent you, online or off. For the basics, see our guide to what a models agency does for you.

What happens before I sign, in the first weeks and in the first months?

There is no standard schedule. Read the table as an order of events, not a clock.

Before you sign is when you have the most say. Get every promise in writing, spoken ones included, and keep copies of your contract somewhere safe, as the FTC advises. It also points out that a good offer will still be good tomorrow, so nobody honest needs your answer today. Our models agency interview guide lists questions worth asking.

What should an honest agency tell me about results?

That it cannot promise any. An honest agency tells you what it will do, not what will happen. A guarantee of work, a sure start date or a promise that you will be “noticed” is a reason to slow down.

Before you sign, you should be told:

• What the agency will do for you in the first weeks, in plain words.
• Who your contact is, and how to reach them.
• How you will hear about offers, replies and refusals.
• How often you will talk, and who starts the conversation.
• What happens if nothing comes of it, and how either side can end the deal.

Ask for the answers in writing, even if it is only an email after the call. If an agency says one thing on the phone and will not put it in the contract, believe the contract.

Why is it quiet sometimes, and what does a “no” mean?

Quiet stretches and refusals are normal. An agency often waits on other people, and other people are slow, busy or never answer. It does not mean you did something wrong or that the agency forgot you.

A “no” usually says something about timing or fit, not about your worth. A client may want a different look, a different market or a different moment. Sometimes it is about your photos or samples, and a good agency will say so and tell you what could change.

What counts is what the agency does with the quiet. A good one tells you when it is waiting, passes on the refusals and says what comes next. A poor one lets you guess. Quiet becomes a problem when:

• you ask a direct question and get no answer
• you hear about refusals only from other people
• you are asked to pay or agree to something new to “get things moving”

What does an agency expect from me?

Mostly what any working relationship needs: be reachable, be honest and keep your word. In plain terms:

• Answer messages in a reasonable time, and say so if you will be away.
• Send what is asked, and make sure it is true. Photos, details and answers should be yours and up to date.
• Say what you will and will not do, early and clearly, and ask for it in writing.
• Do what the contract says. If it says you cannot work with anyone else, that matters. Our guide to exclusive contracts explains it.
• Keep your own records. Save the contract and the messages somewhere safe.

What is not expected: free work you did not agree to, new payments, going along with something you said no to, or your passwords and login codes. If an agency asks for any of those, stop and ask why, in writing.

How can I tell it is working, and how do I ask for a check-in?

It is working when you know where you stand. That does not mean an offer every week. It means you can say who is doing what for you, what has happened so far and what comes next.

To ask for a check-in, write it down, and keep it short, calm and free of blame. For example:

“Hello, could we set a time to talk about how things are going? I’d like to hear what has been done for me so far, what you plan next and what you need from me.”

If they put it off, write once more and name the date by which you would like a reply. Keep every answer.

When should I start asking harder questions?

When a polite check-in gets brushed off, or when what you were told stops matching what you signed. One slow stretch is not a reason. A pattern is. Other signs to take seriously:

• A cost, rule or demand appears that you never agreed to.
• You are pressured to share personal or banking details, or to decide in a hurry. The Better Business Bureau, a US group that tracks scams, lists that as a warning sign of a job scam.
• You cannot find out what the agency has actually done for you.

Then do this, in order:

1. Write down what happened, with dates, and keep the messages.
2. Re-read the contract, especially the parts on ending it and on working with anyone else.
3. Ask one clear question in writing and say when you would like an answer.
4. Show the contract to someone you trust, or to a legal adviser if you can. Rules differ by country, and this guide is not legal advice.
5. Decide whether to stay. If it is not getting better, our guide on how to leave a models agency covers notice, the contract and next steps.

If you have already paid or sent passwords or documents, send nothing more. Contact the company you used to send the money right away, report the fraud and ask whether it can be reversed, as the FTC advises. In the US, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Elsewhere, use your country’s consumer protection or fraud reporting service.

Keep reading

• How to Leave a Models Agency: Notice, Contract, Next Steps
• What Does a Models Agency Do for You?
• Models Agency Interview: What to Expect and What to Ask
• Exclusive Contract With a Models Agency: What It Means
• Models Agency Red Flags: 12 Warning Signs Before You Sign