By Special Request - The Fashion World
Author - Rosemary Chileshe

"The glamour of modelling can all be an illusion ... Swanky parties? Free clothes? Luxury gifts? Mingling with high profile celebs? Living a jet set life style with enormous pay cheques and a beautiful house"... Stop right there and think again! There are so many stereotypes regarding modelling and these are just a few. Only a minority of models reach these dizzying heights. Being a Fashion model, you will be expected to attend `castings´ on days when you do not have a job booked. Depending on the time of year and how the fashion calendar is planned out you could find yourself attending anything from 3 to 40 castings a day. PICTURE THE SCENE: a model standing in the street with a road map trying to locate his/her next casting. That will probably be you.

All models are SELF-EMPLOYED, even if you belong to an agency, and being free-lance entails the responsibility of behaving professionally and presenting yourself in the correct manner to clients. This means no drinking or partying the night before your shoot - smoking, downing shots and missing valuable sleep will play havoc with your skin.

The pressure does not end there. Once you have arrived at a casting you are competing with every other model invited to attend. COMPETITION IS FIERCE – it is not about making friends in this industry.

PUNCTUALITY is one of the keys to success if you want to be a model; the fashion industry does not tolerate lateness. It is a business that does not stop for anybody. You can be drop dead gorgeous, but if you are unprofessional and turn up late for your casting, the bad impression left will result in not being booked for the casting.
The market for modelling in the UK is undoubtedly huge, but take note that the industry itself is not so big. Make sure that you are polite and courteous at all times and approach clients in the right manner.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING. This industry is structured like a grape vine If you are rude and arrogant word will get round, making it so much more difficult for you to find a job.

HOW TO FIND THE CORRECT AGENCY?
To gain the media exposure that you need to be seen. It is not it easy looking for the right agency because not all of them will like you and take you on.

You can expect rejection aplenty – do not let it get you down, it is all part of the game. Sometimes it is simply because you do not have what the agency is looking for, or they may have already someone in the agency whose appearance is similar to yours. An agency will never take a model on to their books who looks like a model they already have! To find the correct agency for you, you need to establish which agencies deal with the particular avenue of modelling that suits YOU. For example, if you have the right traits to be a catwalk model then you need to approach an agency that take on runway models.

It is IMPORTANT to be comfortable with the agency that will be representing you. It could be a life long partnership so you need to be able to communicate freely with everyone that you deal with in the agency. There area lot of agencies in the UK, but I strongly advise that you must check out their reputations. DO YOUR RESEARCH! And the golden rule is never pay any money to agency upfront.

FURTHER LESSONS.........WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CASTINGS & `GO SEES´?

A `GO SEE´ is when you visit the photographers who produce your test shots. They are, in a way, like sales calls. You try to sell yourself to the photographer before you have the test shots done.

A 'CASTING' is simply a job interview. They are like open auditions. Once again, you will need to sell yourself. Castings can be nerve-wracking at first, but be prepared to wait and remain courteous and friendly. Clients are after more than just looks, so show them what you are made of.

The keys to making CLIENTS want to work with you::

TIP TOP CONDITION:
This means being styled to perfection. Self-discipline is an important skill to hone, because even if you are feeling at your worst, you need to look great and absolutely dependable. You must always dress smartly - and accordingly. You must always have your portfolio and extra comp cards with you.

Introduce yourself by name. Do not assume the client will know who you are and do not shake hands unless the interviewer extends his or her hand to you. Wait patiently and refrain from `socialising´ with those around you.

Answer all questions honestly but do not volunteer information, especially if it is irrelevant. Remain polite - no matter how rude the interviewer is. Never take someone´s NEGATIVE ATTITUDE too PERSONALLY. Wait to be asked for your comp cards and portfolio, do not just hand it over.

If offered a job, make sure that you have a pen and paper available to take all the necessary details. Upon termination of the interview, no matter you think it has gone, smile and thank the interviewer for his/her time - then leave.

KEY FACTORS of being a MODEL are that are you have to be THICK-SKINNED and have good lines of communication with your booker. You will always be scrutinised for what you do so LEARN to take CRITICISM, it is from criticism that you LEARN and be STRONGER.

Rosemary Chileshe
International Property Surveyor
Owner – www.rosemarychileshe.com
Founder – www.therocfoundation.com
Model Booker & Creative Director – www.motherafricafashion.com
Ambassador – www.allstarkids.org.uk