Modeling Cheat Sheet: Agencies

Now that you know what specific kind of model you are, thanks to our Model Types Cheat Sheet, it’s time to find an agency and impress them with you industry knowledge!

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We’ve filled this sheet with terms and phrases that will help you interact with your agency like an experienced model, (with some friendly advice added in!)

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Agency Terms

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Agency: Modeling Agencies, like WMA Rochester, find work for the models they represent and negotiate the best possible rates for them. In exchange, the agency takes a commission from the model’s fee.

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Booker: An agency member who looks for work for the models the agency represents.

(Friendly Advice: Always be nice to your booker, or it could negatively impact your career.)

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Breakdown Service: One of the many advantages of being represented by an agency, a breakdown service provides modeling job descriptions exclusively to agencies. The agencies then send the models they represent who fit the description to those jobs.

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Client: The organization who pays the agency for finding the models.

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Commission: Percentage of money taken from a model’s total fee by the agency in exchange for finding that model work. For the Modeling industry, the agency commission is typically 20%.

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Comp Card/Composite Card: Sometimes referred to as simply a “Card.” A comp card is a quick visual summary of a model that agencies show prospective clients. These cards have the model’s headshot, stats, and a few of the model’s best portfolio pictures.

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Exclusive Contract: A written agreement between the model and the agency that the model will not be represented by any other agency, or find any work other than what the agency sends them to, for the duration of a specific period of time.

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Fee: This is the amount the client pays the agency in exchange for the model’s time. The agency deducts its commission from the fee before the model receives payment.

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Head Sheet: Term for a document showing the collective headshots of the agency’s models. The modern-day equivalent of a model being on an agency’s head sheet is being on the agency’s website.

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New Face: Industry term for models with incomplete portfolios.

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Non-Exclusive Contract: An agreement that allows the model to find work on their own or to sign with other agencies on a non-exclusive basis.

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Rates: The costs of a model’s time. Rates depend on the popularity of the model and specific elements of the job in question.

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Rounds: Term for calls made by a booker to prospective clients in order to find work for their Talent.

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Scalping: The act of an agency actively trying to convince a model to leave their current agency in order to work for them.

(Friendly Advice: While it may be flattering to be approached by someone trying to do this, models should never agree to changing modeling agencies without speaking with their current agency, or it will hurt their reputation and career.)

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Scout: A member of a modeling agency who actively searches for people with modeling potential.

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Stats: A model’s physical characteristics, sizes, and measurements. Agencies need stats for every model they represent in order to best match a model for what the client is looking for.

For women, stats are typically:

Eye/hair color
Shoe/dress/pant/bra sizes
Bust/waist/hip/height measurements

For men, stats are typically:

Eye/hair color
Sleeve length Collar/shirt/suit/shoe sizes
Chest/waist/inseam measurements

Talent: Term for the models, actors, or other performers an agency represents.

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What’s Next?

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You know your type, and you know how to impress your agency. Now, it’s time to attend a few Go-Sees, avoid working for GWCs, and get Booked in our next Modeling Cheat Sheet: Getting Work.

© Aislinn O’Leary and wmarochester.com, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this post’s author or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Aislinn O’Leary and wmarochester.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content

Modeling Cheat Sheet: Agencies

Now that you know what specific kind of model you are, thanks to our Model Types Cheat Sheet, it’s time to find an agency and impress them with you industry knowledge!

x

We’ve filled this sheet with terms and phrases that will help you interact with your agency like an experienced model, (with some friendly advice added in!)

X

Agency Terms

X

Agency: Modeling Agencies, like WMA Rochester, find work for the models they represent and negotiate the best possible rates for them. In exchange, the agency takes a commission from the model’s fee.

x

Booker: An agency member who looks for work for the models the agency represents.

(Friendly Advice: Always be nice to your booker, or it could negatively impact your career.)

x

Breakdown Service: One of the many advantages of being represented by an agency, a breakdown service provides modeling job descriptions exclusively to agencies. The agencies then send the models they represent who fit the description to those jobs.

x

Client: The organization who pays the agency for finding the models.

x

Commission: Percentage of money taken from a model’s total fee by the agency in exchange for finding that model work. For the Modeling industry, the agency commission is typically 20%.

x

Comp Card/Composite Card: Sometimes referred to as simply a “Card.” A comp card is a quick visual summary of a model that agencies show prospective clients. These cards have the model’s headshot, stats, and a few of the model’s best portfolio pictures.

x

Exclusive Contract: A written agreement between the model and the agency that the model will not be represented by any other agency, or find any work other than what the agency sends them to, for the duration of a specific period of time.

x

Fee: This is the amount the client pays the agency in exchange for the model’s time. The agency deducts its commission from the fee before the model receives payment.

x

Head Sheet: Term for a document showing the collective headshots of the agency’s models. The modern-day equivalent of a model being on an agency’s head sheet is being on the agency’s website.

x

New Face: Industry term for models with incomplete portfolios.

x

Non-Exclusive Contract: An agreement that allows the model to find work on their own or to sign with other agencies on a non-exclusive basis.

x

Rates: The costs of a model’s time. Rates depend on the popularity of the model and specific elements of the job in question.

x

Rounds: Term for calls made by a booker to prospective clients in order to find work for their Talent.

x

Scalping: The act of an agency actively trying to convince a model to leave their current agency in order to work for them.

(Friendly Advice: While it may be flattering to be approached by someone trying to do this, models should never agree to changing modeling agencies without speaking with their current agency, or it will hurt their reputation and career.)

x

Scout: A member of a modeling agency who actively searches for people with modeling potential.

x

Stats: A model’s physical characteristics, sizes, and measurements. Agencies need stats for every model they represent in order to best match a model for what the client is looking for.

For women, stats are typically:

Eye/hair color

Shoe/dress/pant/bra sizes

Bust/waist/hip/height measurements

For men, stats are typically:

Eye/hair color

Sleeve length Collar/shirt/suit/shoe sizes

Chest/waist/inseam measurements

Talent: Term for the models, actors, or other performers an agency represents.

X

What’s Next?

X

You know your type, and you know how to impress your agency. Now, it’s time to attend a few Go-Sees, avoid working for GWCs, and get Booked in our next Modeling Cheat Sheet: Getting Work.