If you are a teen who has always dreamed of becoming a model, you would probably jump at the chance to sign with one of the big agencies. It is not unusual for agents to see potential on the street and offer a young boy or girl an invitation up to their offices. A lot of these encounters are ways to entice youngsters into bogus contracts. If you want to know whether a
modeling agency in Nashville teens have signed to is legitimate, there are simple ways to do it.
There are certain things an agent may require that should make you suspicious. If he tells you that there is a signing or contract fee, you need to reconsider. You will probably be tempted to spend the money because you want the opportunity so badly. This is what unscrupulous agencies are counting on. Legitimate agencies are paid a percentage of your fee whenever you do a shoot for them.
Once you are under contract, it should not be your responsibility to pay for test shots. Agents have the professional photographer and makeup artist contacts, and they should be the ones to hire them to get you ready for a shoot. You have some responsibility. You must be punctual, polite, and cooperative.
If an agent tries to talk you into posing nude or in suggestive lingerie, you need to refuse. Legitimate agencies will not allow young, inexperienced models to do this kind of work. It takes a seasoned professional to pull it off. If you are selected for a clothing catalog shoot, and asked to model bikinis or lingerie, you will have to decide how comfortable you are with the request.
Sometimes small or local agencies put a clause in their contracts requiring their models to repay a portion, or all, of the financial investment the company made in them. This repayment should not start until the model is established and getting jobs. When you are going to have to pay back money, it must be in the contract that you signed.
Agencies often tell their young models to change their look. You don't really have to worry if they want you to have a makeover. This is relatively common. There can be a lot of reasons for it. The agency may be known for signing models with certain looks and want you to conform. They might want you to change your look temporarily for a specific assignment.
You may be excited about the opportunity to travel that modeling jobs will give you. Others are terrified of leaving the place they are used to. If you are going to be a successful model, traveling is going to be one of the job requirements. Agencies have a right to expect you to go where they send you, within reason.
A few models have careers that bring them fame and fortune. The majority of working models are relatively unknown. All of them work for reputable agencies. Boys and girls who sign with unscrupulous agents are headed for big let downs, financially, and emotionally, instead of great careers.