7 Key Qualities to Look for When Choosing Melbourne Modelling Agencies
Working as a model can open up many new possibilities, allowing you to earn financial incentives, make new networking connections, and hone your craft along the way.
Yet, not all Melbourne modelling agencies are created alike.
Before you sign on the dotted line and partner with one, it’s important to make sure you’re teaming with an agency that meets your goals and expectations and aligns with your vision.
Today, we’re sharing seven qualities to look for as you do your due diligence and make your decision.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
The Two-Way Agency Interview
As you interview with a particular modelling agency to determine if it’s a good fit for your talents, don’t forget that you can ask questions, too! This applies whether you’re a teen or adult model representing yourself or a parent or guardian representing a child model.
This is your time to dive deep into the operations of the agency, making sure you know what to expect as well as what’s expected of you. Before this conversation, it’s smart to perform as research as possible on the agency. Check out its web presence, read online reviews and feedback, and ask around to see if your friends, colleagues or family members have any experience working with them.
Then, when you meet or speak over the phone, you’ll be ready with a list of questions to ask. While you should let the agency take the lead on the interview, understand that you’re within your rights to speak up and request clarification on a point or ask a follow-up question.
That said, what are the main characteristics to look for in a modelling agency? Let’s review seven qualities that any reputable one will possess.
1. Opportunities to Train and Grow
Does the modelling agency in question have a designated modelling school that your child must attend? While this isn’t always the case, this can be a red flag that the agency is more focused on making money than helping him or her grow.
The reality is that your child doesn’t have to attend a special school to become a model. The only things necessary to get started are a friendly personality and a drive to succeed. In addition, it’s important to possess the physique of a model and be in great health. This way, they’ll be able to withstand the physical requirements of the job!
Still, it’s likely that their form won’t be 100% perfect at the very beginning. As such, the agency should have resources on hand that it can recommend for you. These can range from in-house workshops and training sessions that your child can attend to former models who can act as their mentors while they learn the ropes.
If an agency expects your child to jump in without preparing first, continue your search. You need one that’s dedicated to their growth and well-being, and this includes setting them up for success from Day One.
2. An Impressive Collection of Work
Can the agency provide you with a list of well-known brands and companies that its models have worked with in the past? If such a list doesn’t exist, this speaks volumes about their credibility.
Ultimately, your child isn’t interested in becoming a model just to take vanity shoots that don’t lead anywhere. Rather, you want to connect them to the organizations that can grow their industry presence and help them eventually turn this into a successful career.
That said, look for modelling agencies that proudly showcase their work for all to see. You shouldn’t have to dig for an hour on their website to find a list of current and former clients. When this list is easy to access, it can help you understand the agency’s position in the local market, as well as what kinds of projects it normally covers.
For instance, if you’re interested in applying as an adult model but the agency’s only past clients are children’s clothing companies, that can be the eye-opener you need to look elsewhere.
3. A Variety of Opportunities
Look for a modelling agency that covers a wide variety of mediums, including print journalism, television, and film. This widens your child’s access to new opportunities and can help make sure that there’s always a wide umbrella of work available.
Although we’re nationally recognized, Bubblegum Casting Agency is still considered a boutique modelling agency. We represent 25 kids per age group, per gender, per state, all with diverse backgrounds, nationalities, religions, and abilities. By keeping our team on the smaller side, we’re able to work more closely with those models we do hire. We also represent some parents who are registered to work with us on “family” castings. This widens the net we can cast when looking for new opportunities.
Over the past few decades, we have worked with almost every major brand and company across Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. This includes top television shows, movies, theatre performances, and commercials. While some agencies might pigeonhole your child into certain roles, look for one that keeps an open mind and considers their talent for a range of projects.
In addition to verbally advising our clients on the models we feel would be a great fit for their needs, we also advertise online. We’ll keep an active and updated profile of your child on our website, complete with photos, measurements, and other important information.
This way, talent seekers are only one click away from finding their talent! And, don’t worry: The site is safe, secure, and very user-friendly, protected by a code and password. This keeps your child’s data in front of the eyes who need to see it and away from those who don’t.
4. A Long-Standing Reputation
Yes, everyone has to start somewhere. However, do you really want to invest your time and energy in a modelling agency that is just now getting off the ground? All of the top-tier clients are already spoken for, and new work is likely to be scarce and slow.
That’s why it pays to partner with us. We’ve been in the business for nearly 40 years and during that time, we’ve cemented our reputation as one of Australia’s premier modelling agencies, attracting the brightest stars in the business since 1981.
You’ll never have to worry about name recognition or opportunities for new work. While there might be periods of downtime when your child’s specific talents aren’t sought out, we have a vast network of partners we can call upon. This helps ensure that any time an opportunity comes their way that’s a good fit, you know about it first. While we can’t make any guarantees, we make a great effort to promote our models every chance we get.
We’re well-known throughout the country for our professionalism and expertise, and we’re proud that our reputation precedes us everywhere we go. Not convinced? We encourage you to double-check our qualifications with The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Industrial Relations Victoria and Consumer Affairs.
5. An Honest Pricing Structure
Did you speak with a Melbourne modelling agency that promised you that your tyke would earn thousands of dollars on his first photoshoot? This claim is likely totally false and could be a sign that you’re working with a scammer.
Ask about rates before choosing an agency to partner with, and press for more information if any of the claims or promises sound outlandish or too good to be true. We charge a minimum of $85 per hour and only accept less upon approval.
Even if the agency is able to provide you with data to back up its numbers, you should still press further. Speak to past clients, research online feedback and check out their previous work to make sure they’re representing themselves (and their potential) as accurately as possible.
Then, when you do receive an accurate breakdown, look through it with a fine-toothed comb.
As they’re working to secure work on your behalf, an agency will take a commission out of the wage that they negotiate for you or your child. This usually ranges from 10% to 20% depending on the project type. If the commission fees look exorbitant, ask for more details.
6. Excellent and Timely Communication
You put a ton of work into helping your child apply to join a Melbourne modelling agency. In addition to the application itself, you’ll also need to prepare other materials, including:
- Photos or headshots you want to share
- Details of previous work they’ve performed
- Past clients they’ve worked with
In most cases, you’ll wind up assembling all of these materials into a comprehensive portfolio that offers a snapshot into your child’s past work. That said, if you take the time to compile everything together and submit it, you should know immediately when you’ll hear back.
Most agencies have an automated response set up that lets you know the approximate time you can expect to hear back. This could range from a few days to a few weeks. Then, when that time has passed, you should hear an answer. If all you hear are crickets, it’s time to follow-up.
Both during and after the waiting phase, you should feel comfortable reaching out to the modelling agency for updates. While no agency wants to be pestered by dozens of phone calls every day, reasonable requests for communication should always be honoured. If you feel like an agency doesn’t have time to speak to you or field your inquiries, how do you expect them to treat your portfolio items?
7. Realistic Expectations and Approaches
When you speak with a prospective agency, do you get the impression that your child will be required to miss a ton of school to participate in photoshoots?
In this case, the agency’s expectations need to be checked.
First, child and teen models should always be encouraged to maintain a healthy work/life balance. Their schoolwork still comes first, and they should have plenty of time to visit friends and family members.
This is why we’re proud to have experts on our team who are specifically skilled in child modelling. As a family business, we understand priorities and respect yours.
Not only does our staff know the appropriate way to talk to children, but they are also realistic about what to expect. They know that kids can be more sensitive than adults and should be approached as such. In other words, they won’t load your tot down with expectations and burdens that are beyond his or her capacity.
In addition, it’s also important to make sure that the agency is honest and realistic with its adult models, too.
Were you promised full-time access to a ton of work that will never wane? Does the agency expect you to drop all of your existing interests and activities and commit to posing full-time? You deserve a work/life balance, too and we’re dedicated to making sure you get one.
Partner With One of the Top Melbourne Modelling Agencies
In your quest to help your child get his or her modelling career off the ground, don’t settle for anything less than the best.
At Bubblegum Casting Agency, we’re well-versed in helping models of all ages connect with clients, build their portfolio and perfect their talent. If you’re tired of spinning your wheels on sub-par agencies, waiting months for a callback and wondering if you’re on the right track, let us put your mind to ease.
We’re happy to answer any questions you might have and explain further why we’re the top among all Melbourne modelling agencies. Contact us today to learn more and see for yourself the difference a professional agency makes.
