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So I am currently with NIYA Model Management she is very good with young talent as she tends to get them seen by top agencies in LA, New York and so on. I have been told many times that since I plan on staying local TMG or Mc. Carty may be a better fit for me. However I have already payed the website and promotion fees to be represented by NIYA Model Management and although I found them to be much steeper than Stars Talent Studio online marketing fees. I have made a decision and hopefully one that benefits me. Agency fees such as this go toward upkeep of a website and since my husband happens to be a developer, I know first hand how expensive this can be. A company has to hire someone to create a website as well as continue to pay them for maintenance of the site and every time a new person comes in or leaves they are in charge of taking taking care of it so this is an ongoing process one in which the agency must pay for and if the agency is small like many in Utah then expect to pay this fee. I have seen them as small as $50 and and expensive as $300.
Who should you choose to represent you or your family member? I get asked this a lot by people I know who are interested in having their kids in the media. My best advice to them is to enroll in an acting class. If you're not willing to pay for acting classes than I'm sorry but you're not going to make it as an actor. Many of the agencies in Utah offer acting classes. I personally would never take them from an agency I think the prices are far too steep with little pay off. Instead I would and have taken tons of theatre and improv classes. Most of them have been through multiple universities. I also am planning on taking a film acting course and I have already learned a lot just by being in film as main characters as well as background characters.
This brings me to another good point do some background video work. Many of these jobs pay about $100 a day which isn't a lot but you are learning how to be in film and you are getting paid to do this so take advantage. Besides being a background actor will allow you to get a feel for the environment and then you can decide first hand if this is truly something you or your child should pursue. Another good thing about background work is that it pads your resume and shows those agencies that you are trying to get in with that you're not afraid to look for your own work. Just recently I found a job on my own and had them refer to my agency so that I would get a better pay rate. I actively look for work everyday even with an agent. If you are not looking for work chances are you're not going to be working a whole lot.
More about helping you child succeed. If your child is tall, beautiful, photogenic and comfortable in front of a camera but has no experience you're probably going to have to get a test shoot done. These are photoshoots an agent can use to determine if a young person has potential. These photos also are used in promoting your child. These shoots are not and never will be free. I payed roughly $400 to start my comp card and the images were pretty basic. I had a great headshot and then on the back of my comp card I had 4 different photos in different outfits. They are great images they got me some of my first jobs. Since then I have made sure to ask photographers who I am working with if I can have a copy of my best image from the shoot so I can add it to my portfolio or comp card. Now every image on my comp card is a working image. I have even been hired by photographers for stock photo shoots and generally they give me an entire CD of generic images. Stock photos are not my favorite jobs but if I ever need to show someone I can look like a Dr. I have that image.
Some agencies will refer you to photographers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS I hope that was clear. Really if an agency is bullying you into using their guy than its probably a scam.
Here are some people I love and trust to shoot with if you need someone.
Tiffany Fuller- Specializes in newborns as well as children awesome lady very reasonable prices.
https://www.facebook.com/tiffanyfullerphotos?ref=br_tf
Charles Uibel- I met Charles at a job for a sunglasses shoot he is very talented.
http://www.uibel.com/
Mark Reynolds- Amazing with my son who happens to be a model and also a very fun person to be around his talents show in all of his work.
https://www.facebook.com/MachineGunMarc?fref=ts
So who should you go with for representation? That depends on who will take you as well as your goals if you plan on staying local TMG, Mc. Carty , Stars. If you plan on being shown to Ford Models, NIYA. If none of them will take you there are some other agencies in Utah just don't sign until you are positive and don't be bullied into taking classes from their establishment.
