To see potential in unlikely packages

I am reading Seabiscuit right now, and if you know me, you know I love the story of Seabiscuit and loved the movie too. In the book on page 29 Laura Hillenbrand wrote "But Howard was blessed with an uncanny ability to see potential in unlikely packages." It is based on Howard seeing potential in trainer Tom Smith, then Seabiscuit, and later Red Pollard. I think it is important, in modeling,- and no matter what you pursue-, to see your own potential, to understand it, and to believe in the power of your self.

After reading Seabiscuit today I am I wrote in my own journal "if you don't have your self, you have nothing." And that can translate into many meanings but one meaning is that: if you have the belief in your self, understand yourself, and your true ability, and can rely on yourself, you have already a lot of what it takes to grow as a person and within your pursuits.

This past week I spoke at an event for Digital Book World called 7x20x21, during the event 20 slides of images that relate to your story are displayed on a screen behind you as you talk about your publishing journey, I spoke about my self-promotion and the importance of it, (hence writing my first book at the Apple store and my publishing pursuits which have been built on my own passion), here it is:
http://www.blip.tv/file/3494918
Enjoy! :) Only had 20 slides for 20 seconds each! What a rush!!

Mainly---Giving yourself a chance is the biggest thing you can do for your self.

Isobella

putting that modeling compcard to use and getting ahead

Here are some tips no matter if your live in a big city or smaller town on how to get active with some modeling and put your compcard to use!

If you live in a small city, mail print modeling agencies or talent agencies your compcard or headshot by postal mail, already being prepared with marketing material can get you ahead.

If you are very new to the word model then get ready to get active and become a good researcher, research local colleges research their photo department or a fashion schools who might need a model, try to reach local ad agencies creative department who might need a model for small jobs locally, mail your photo and resume and modeling interests and assets to marketing companies. And most important if your live in a smaller city don't think there are NOT opportunities there. Modeling is everywhere these days so you've got to get on it and be ready to take advantage of what might be in your town. Also many large brands are base in smaller cities where rent is cheaper so research to find out what brands, companies are based right in your city. Approach aspiring brands with your compcard, their might be a craft fair, tradeshow, a street full of boutiques, stop in, stop by, pitch yourself, and drop off your compcard. Be sure to write your phone number or email on the card but stray from exposing any amatuer modeling website profile links, (i would skip those all together) and only show professionalism no matter the size of your town.

In a bigger city such as LA, NYC, Miami, or Chicago, I would mail by postal mail 50 compcards, by doing so you are bound to hear back from at least one agency. The more your market you the better, of course you need quality compcard and photos and a portfolio for castings but the more you try the more you get. These days there are many smaller size agencies that have been around for many, many, many years, and who are professional to work with but just smaller in size. In a competitive city you must work really hard and be prepared for it. The magazines, top brands, and many agencies are found in bigger cities but a lot more girls these days want to be models and are working as models. Let it be inspiration but be prepared to work hard. You could and shoul submit to agencies of all sizes, the top commercial print modeling agencies, but also the ones that are smaller in size. Getting some experience by working with a smaller boutique size agency is not a bad idea, it is a GREAT idea, get some real professional modeling experience modeling for products or in a magazine and use that experience to beef up your compcard and pitch other agencies you might want to work with. IT really is a marketing game for a shorter print model. You should be active as well pitching your self to aspiring brands and designers: Currently in Union Square and also Bryant Park there is a Holiday tradeshow craft fair and MANY designers are there, if you do not have any experience working with a product, go on, pitch yourself and compcard to some of these designers maybe? Get some experience it leads to more opportunities. And actually getting the experience often means getting off your ass and getting out there, and not relying on the internet to make you a model. That route is typically the road to amatuer land and doesn't lead to real modeling jobs.Showing an agency you can model does involve hands on work of yourself. So get out there! Aim to work with professionals!

Here is an episode on my radio show Model Talk on why you need a compcard and how working non-exclusive with an agency is how it usually is for print modeling, despite reality tv and what you might hear about getting an exclusive contract, it is not the end-all, and many,many,many print models work non-exclusively with print modeling agencies. In fact for print it is very normal.

Models and self promotion

I have never relied on one person to make my modeling goals or pursuits happen. I have always relied on my self most. Self promotion is such a huge part of being or becoming anything you want to be and it is the same for modeling. Working as a model involves a whole'lotta self promotion!

Here are somethings that have involved self promotion along my journey of being a model:

1. Creating the right photos. Photography has been a major part of my pursuits, this is modeling where "image is everything" so striving to get better photography, improve my photos, and strive to work with better and better photographers through out my journey as been very important. What you show in a photo represents who you are as a model. What you can do, and where you are going, so striving hands-on to plan shoots, art direct them, be apart of the photography process has been major.

2. Mailings and submissions. The first mailing I did, to all the top modeling agencies got no no-where. Once I got a headshot and mail it out it only brought back one phone call. It was to a casting director for background work on the TV show ED. Then I made a compcard and tried to improve my photos to make them more "commercial print friendly." Today I work with great agencies, but getting a modeling agency, getting consistant and quality work as a model has been a process, and it did not happen over nite. It takes a lot of mailing, and submissions, research, and stamps to be a model.

3. Battling the voices around me. Many people I encountered said I was too short to model, I would be better off even going into porn or something, but I didn't want that, I wanted more. I wanted ads, ad campaigns, to be in magazines, I wanted to "model something" other than me! So it has been important to listen to your own voice along the way, the voice that can direct you towards your goals. Sometimes what people may think, suggest, is not always the best, so listen to everything but always have your own understanding of yourself and goals.