Terminology

 

Agency Fee Included: Model rates are quoted and billed with a standard 20% agency fee that has nothing to do with the models; it is not the model commission that is deducted.  However, unfortunately there are clients that want to be quoted a FLAT RATE,  $1500.00 agency fee included means the model rate is $1250.00 and then the 20% model commission comes out of that.  So the total that the model receives is $1000.00.  We try to always quote the model her model rate, but there are times you will hear agency fee included.

 

Testing/Developing:  A potential model and their portfolio is developed by a new faces director/developer/manager, such as myself. This director will use a team of photographers, stylists, and hair & make-up artists to produce the new face portfolio. It takes a lot of work to get the model to the point where their agent can demand a rate for a professional working model. This sometimes happens overnight, or can take up to a year.  This process also includes preparing the model mentally and emotionally which can vary greatly from model to model. This process is done at no charge to the model & no profit to the agency. This is why it is usually customary that new faces are signed to long contracts.  

 

Checking In: In some agencies, models are required to call the agency at 10 am and 4 pm, so the agent does not have to track you down.  This way you can find out the status of any jobs pending.

 

Booking out:  You must inform your agency when you are not available. i.e. Pregnancy,   weddings, family functions, vacations, medical.

 

Option:  A client will check your availability through your agency.  If the date is open they place an option.  A 1^st option means the client has that time or day.  If that day already has a client with a 1^st option, then the new client can put a 2^nd option on that same day also.  If the 1^st client doesn’t confirm, then your agent will call the 2^nd client and give them the 1^st option.  Some models have 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd options on part or whole days.  It’s the agents’ discretion to give a better client a 1^st option even if another client has it.  For example Revlon is going to over-ride Macy’s.

 

First Refusal:  This is a 1^st option used for television.  An agent usually cannot remove a 1^st refusal from one client and give it to another for television options. Television has stricter guidelines and their schedules are not as flexible as print clients.

 

Go-See:  A go-see is a general appointment for potential jobs and testings for print or runway.

 

Casting:  Is a more specific appointment for potential jobs in the near or distant future.  This term was used mostly for Television, but now can be for all modeling jobs.

 

Call Back:  This means the client would like to see you again, possibly to read or to try on or “fit” the clothes.

 

Call Time: The time you are to arrive to the job location.

 

Fitting:  Your agent may send you to a client or stylist for a job pending or for general purposes. Sometimes there is a fitting rate for the model.  Your booker will inform you. 

 

Cancellations:  Clients have 48 hours on most jobs to cancel without a cancellation fee. Anything within a 24-hour period is subject to a full cancellation fee. (Note:  This applies to both client and model).

 

Conflicts:  A model must inform the agency of work that is not acceptable to them:  i.e. Cigarettes, liquor, fur.  Also, work that they are uncomfortable doing. i.e. Runway, lingerie, nudity. Other use of the term conflicts involves models that have contracts with companies or long-term usages of certain products where upon they cannot work for similar companies.  (See exclusives below).

 

Exclusives:  An agent must inform the client of potentially conflicting competitors by letting them know the model works exclusively for similar product or designer. Being Exclusive also refers to the models status with an agency in a market. 

 

Travel Day Fee:  Upon booking a job, the model may travel to a location, and the travel consists more than a two-hour trip, the client is usually charged a fee

 

Perdiem:  Is what a model is allotted per day on location shots.

 

Hair& Make-up:  Your agent will inform you if you are doing your own make-up, or to come “base-ready”, “come with hair blown straight”, etc.  Or if there is a Hair & Make-up team doing everything.

 

Wardrobe:  Your agent will inform you of what you need to bring. i.e  a strapless nude bra, black belt and shoes, sandals, hair accessories, etc.

 

Mother Agency:  The model manager or agency that discovered you or that you have signed a contract with to guide you in your career.

 

Direct Booking: The model is not available for go-sees, and castings.  They are booked directly from their composite, Polaroid, video/disc and or portfolio. For Example, the model lives in Orlando and the job shoots in NY, then the model is booked directly.

 

Scout:  A person that works with or for agencies.  They find models and refer them to agencies; they are not agents, or managers.  Though, there are managers and agents that scout.  A “scout” usually does this part time or is a full time employee of an agency that scouts worldwide, etc. 

 

Placement: At the appropriate time a model needs to go to other markets.  They are placed in agencies World Wide by their manager (mother agent). As a result the model comes back with a body of work that results in a higher modeling rate.

 

Voucher:  The voucher is your receipt that is signed by the client and you at the end of the shoot.  The client gets a copy, the model keeps a copy and the agency gets a copy.  The agency copy must be brought in or mailed into the agency ASAP.  The agency cannot bill the client with out it.  There will be some jobs that do not require a voucher, so don’t worry about it.  The booking agent will inform you.

 

Composite:  Your composite is a picture business card; the agents use this card to market you.  It is the models responsibility to make sure all your agents in each market have composites on you.  There is a cost to print composites; it is the models financial responsibility to provide the agency with these essential cards.

 

Portfolios:  Your book that contains your pictures and tear sheets from work that you have done.  When you go on castings, you must bring your composites and portfolio.  Some Agencies charge for the cost of the portfolio.

 

Stock Photo:  Stock shoots are bookings that models do.  However, they are generally for more commercial and new faces that are not editorial or campaign types.  There is a release signed for ALL usage, for a flat rate.  Your booker will let you know if this is a job they want you to do.

  

Tear Sheet:  A tear sheet is actual pages from a magazine that you appear in.  You can reprint these for your portfolio and composites.  Clients like to see these, because it seems as if you have more experience.

 

Usages: When a model is on the cover of a magazine, this is editorial, they are the fashion pages in the magazine.  They are booked and paid for by the magazine, it is low rate, but you work with good photographers, on location, and build your book with tear sheets.  This does not pertain to celebrities. They are not product advertising, they are not paid by the ad agencies or corporations.  There are other uses including: Product advertising (Magazine). point of purchase, point of sale, hang tag, packaging, posters, transit, billboards, catalog, brochure(trade) appearance, internet usages. All subject to bonuses according to the terms of the booking.

 

Upgrade:  If and when you are upgraded on the set, whether for print or TV., you are to inform the agency ASAP.  We cannot help you get a higher rate after the fact.  Especially after the voucher is signed.