NEW YORK
New York City is probably the dream city for many models. There is a reason why the majority of the successful models live in New York. It’s simply the best money market in the industry. In NY you will meet the most powerful bookers, the powerhouse clients and the most influential casting directors. New York city is the ultimate modeling market…
Market criteria
Age
NYC is a market that is good for any age (once you got the visa) and any level.
If you arrive in NYC it means that you have a visa so that you have been modeling for quite a while. You can still be considered as a new face in NY even if you did 2/3 seasons in Europe.
Many client like to use older (>25yo) models. E-commerce is a strong market in NY and many client want to have a pro on set. It’s not unusual to shoot more than 30 looks a day.
Season
NY is the city that never sleeps … so there’s no “dead season”. Even August is a good month.
Thanksgiving and Christmas would be a bit slower.
Arrival info
Your agency will provide you a driver at the airport and you will be taken to the model apartment.
NYC is very easy to walk. You can’t get lost. Most of the time the agency will ask you to come to the office on the next day of your arrival.
Transportation
You can walk EVERYWHERE in NYC. It became a very safe city. Even at night. We recommend you to walk as much as possible.
Metro is 32$ per week and it works really well.
Uber and taxi are more expensive options.
What to wear
We would call it rock’n roll chic. Black is a must.
It’s a very interesting mix of “ I don’t care about what I am wearing but look how good I look”
Let’s say you will wear a destroy or too large t-shirt with the perfect tight jeans and the ultimate “last seen in vogue” boots.
If you re in NY by now you see how girls look after the shows. This is how you have to look everyday.
(for more tips check out http://www.omgmodelblog.com/model-style.html )
How to act on the castings
When you come to the agency for a first time, bring something special from your country as a gift. The simple gesture of sharing something from your home will be greatly appreciated – think souvenir key rings, chocolate bars, and other treats only available in your country. Avoid expensive or flamboyant offerings. Always simile and be polite!
You have to be extremely confident!!!! Remember, Karlie Kloss just walk before you…
The competition is fierce so you have to bring something else to get the job.
American will always tell you that you look amazing etc… it will not automatically mean that you have the job. It can be very disturbing…Just take each compliment with a big smile and thank you.
Also American always talk about positive stuff. Never ever complain on castings that its raining, that your shoes hurt etc…. The clients want to have a happy feeling on the set and so they want to hire happy positive people.
So in front of the casting director your life is fantastic, your booker is the best and the sun is always shinning in NYC.
On the job
You got the job, congratulations. Now your job is to get the next one.
NYC is the best market for models because clients like to book the same girls over and over. And for years. That is what you aim for.
As for the casting, be always positive. A bit of fun is always welcome on set so feel free to bring happiness to the team. Again, you need to be a bit special!
Food on a job goes from one extreme to the other. You can have a team ordering pizza to special design catering. Bring your food if you can and say that you’re on a special diet ( everyone in NY is on a special diet ).
Be careful, often the client can bring wine at the end of a long week of shooting. Do not drink if you re under 21 yo!
General information
Agency commission: 20% + 20%
Guarantees: No
Agencies in New York don’t offer models guaranteed contracts. The competition in Europe is incredibly high and agencies cannot guarantee that a model will work. Guarantees are only ever given to models who travel to some markets in Asia (e.g. Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul).
Standard Contract: from 2 weeks up to 3-4 months
Visa: You need to have a valid working visa. To get the working visa you need to have at least 50 pages of tearsheet in your book. The easiest way to collect that many tearsheet if you don’t have any is to go to Asia. Probably we will send you to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo or to Bangkok. Once we have everything your US agency will apply for your visa. Usually visa cost is between 3000-3500 USD. They agency will advance it for you!