What to do at Castings and Jobs

Editor’s Note: Paul Fisher has spent two decades representing the most famous models in the world: Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Janice Dickinson, Monica Bellucci, Carole Alt, Carre' Otis and hundreds of other famous faces. He has trained many of today’s top modeling agents and has seen the fashion modeling industry first hand and up-close. He is now the CEO of The Network, an international consortium of fashion modeling agencies.

Although the article is written specifically for female fashion models, much of it applies equally to other models as well.

What to do at Castings and Jobs

- By Paul Fisher

At Castings:

Do's:

1) Be Happy. Smile

2) Be professional & courteous at all times.

3) Always be on time

4) Carry a pair of Thongs / Sandals with you at all times (to save traumatizing your feet)

5) If you have a full day of castings, plan properly (subways, cabs)

6) If the casting people have a special request (within reason), don’t feel stupid, just do it

7) Remember to ALWAYS bring your book stocked with cards or portfolio sheets

8) If you don’t have a lot of time, prioritize your castings

9) If you have a commercial booking and get your lines ahead of time, learn them!

10) Make yourself memorable . . . maybe a two line joke . . . something to set you apart from 200 people

11) Always have a bikini, tank top, nude bra and panties and heels with you all day in your bag.

Don’ts:

1). Don’t be "pushy" when going on castings

2) Don’t take not getting a booking personally...

3) Don’t go on a casting that your booker has no knowledge of.

4) Don’t bring your personal problems into a casting room

5) Don’t show up drunk, hung over or offensively unkempt to a casting

6) Don’t be too disruptive in the casting room – a few laughs are fun, but being too loud is just rude and disruptive

7) Remember this isn't rocket surgery or brain science....The client is looking for a look . . . not a soul

8) Remember why you are there. Make a point to be engaging

On Jobs:

Do's:

1) Be on time, always

2) Bring water and a snack (just in case they don’t have food)

3) Always have makeup and makeup-remover with you.

4) Bring warm clothes because you never know when the weather’s going to change

5) Be nice to everyone! Even the assistants. Even the assistants to the assistants

6) Figure out who’s in charge and make an effort to get on their good side

7) Genuinely try to connect with the photographer and client so you can understand their direction and they can see that you actually earn your money

8) Take direction from the photographer

9) Write thank you letters to photographers and clients you work with for important jobs

10) Be yourself (within reason)

11) Have fun... or at least pretend you are

12) Set boundaries if you’re asked to do something completely unprofessional.... if you’re unsure of what’s professional, call your booker and ask

13) Always have a bikini, tank top, nude bra and panties. and heels, with you all day in your bag.

Don’ts:

1) Discuss your rates with other Models

2) Discuss your rate with the client. (That is your booker’s job)

3) Discuss 'details' of future bookings. (That is your bookers job)

4) Have 'friends' come to your bookings.

5) DON’T Sign any agreement/model release without your booker first approving

6) DON’T negotiate your own rates with anybody! EVER!

7) DON’T be rude to anybody

8) DON’T drink alcohol within 48 hours of a photo-shoot

9) Don’t complain

10) Don’t drink on the job . . . if lunch calls for it, drink the minimum