As a booker for Sapphires Model Management I get model applications on a daily basis. In fact we get more model applicants than we do junk mail! The truth is however, for all these applicants we probably sign one in every two hundred applicants; that’s 0.5%… and that’s on a good day!

A big problem we have with applicants is that they simply don’t know how to apply to an agency effectively. If you’re serious about modelling you should be serious about submitting your application. The fact of the matter is that a badly submitted application takes longer to read and will more than likely be ignored.

As a scout for Sapphires I can tell you from first hand experience what makes a good application. If you follow these top ten tips for applying you’ll save agencies a lot of time and hassle and improve your chances of being considered:

1. Know Your Industry

Before you even think about attempting to become a model you should have at least some idea of what modelling is, and what will be expected of you should you be successful. Modelling is a tough job that requires a lot of hard work, commitment and a thick skin, so think about why you want to become a model, and if you have what it takes to succeed.

2. Keep It Simple

The only information an agency needs to know about you is your age, your height and stats, how to contact you, any relevant experience you may have and of course what you look like. We don’t need to know your GCSE results, hobbies, or what part you played in your primary school nativity. Agencies receive so many applications every day that the information has to be right there for us to see when we scan through, not hidden within irrelevant information.

3. Include contact information

This may sound obvious, but make sure you provide the agency with contact details they will be able to contact you on, or leave a message that you will actually receive. There’s no point giving out a mobile number to a phone that stays switched off for most of the day, or an e-mail address you check once a fortnight. If an agency can’t get through to you, they’ll just stop trying.

4. Send an SAE if you want your photos back.

The general rule is, don’t send any photos to an agency if you aren’t prepared to risk losing them. If you do send photos you want returned then make sure you also include a self addressed envelope with sufficient postage for the agency to post back your photos.

5. Send Clear Photos

When sending photos into an agency, they need to be clear enough so that they can actually see what you look like. They don’t need to be professional photos, but agencies do need to be able to see your facial features and figure. Camera shaken photos taken with a camera phone are useless, as are soft focus high street portrait shots. Men, please don’t just send in a photo of just your torso alone taken in the mirror, no matter how hunky you think you are, and girls, don’t send photos poking your tongue out or holding a bottle of Lambrini! Worst of all, PLEASE don’t send in a photo of you and ten of your mates on holiday with a note saying “I’m third from the left” stapled to it.

6. Be Original

When applying to an agency, the best thing you can do is be yourself. If you try and make yourself look like David Beckham, Brad Pitt or whichever star seems to be on TV most this week, you won’t get anywhere. Modelling agencies want original models with their own unique look, not a clone of a celebrity. If you are determined to make yourself look like a famous person then try a look-a-like agency, not a modelling agency.

7. Research Your Agency

Before you approach the agency find a little bit more about them. Visit their website or phone them and find out how they prefer models to apply. Some agencies see applicants off the street; some require you to send in photos first. Find the correct person in the agency to apply to. If you can get your application to the right person in the right way you stand a much better chance of being successful. Think about whether your measurements meet the minimum requirements of those set out by the agency.

8. Be prepared to travel

Before approaching an agency, make sure that you are prepared to travel. This applies to both modelling work, and visiting agencies for interviews. Modelling jobs don’t take place in your living room, so travelling is an integral part of being a model.

9. First Impressions Count

Your application is the first thing that an agency will ever see about you. If you put no effort into your application, the first impression the agency will get is that you are lazy and not worth taking on. Similarly, if you get called for an interview then take it seriously. Arrive on time, be polite and show the agency that you’re serious. If you make a great first impression, it will stick in the agency’s mind.

10. Don’t harass the agency Modelling Agencies receive hundreds of applications a week, and only very few of the applicants are suitable. If your application is successful rest assured that they will contact you. If you don’t hear anything from the agency within a few weeks then assume that you have not been successful on that occasion, don’t contact them every 3 days asking if they had a chance to look at your application. All that does is leave a lasting bad impression, and jeapordise your chances of reapplying in the future.

So there you have it, straight from the horses mouth; the correct way to go about taking your first steps into the world of modelling! I hope you found this advice useful and to all those who decide to apply… good luck!

Ian Warren is a co-founder of Sapphires Model Management, a UK based model Agency. For more information on Sapphires Model Management visit their website at:

www.sapphiresmodel.com

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When considering a tattoo, it is important to do some research on the tattoo parlor before deciding to hire them. There are several questions that every customer should ask before even considering hiring a tattoo artist. How long has the tattoo parlor been in business? Have there been any complaints lodged against them with the local Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com)? If you have friends who also have tattoos, who do they recommend and what was their experience with the artist? It is very important to follow up with references, along with an extensive background check of the company. The background check may be to simply make sure the company hasn’t switched names a number of times or moved around frequently within the same area, which may indicate poor service. All of these factors must be considered before selecting a tattoo parlor and/or artist.

In your research, try to find out which businesses have the best history with making sure their equipment is clean. This is the most important thing to consider about tattoos because, if the business is not licensed or the artist is not a professional, there is no guarantee that their instruments are clean or properly maintained. Your health is your biggest concern so, if you are considering tattoos, be sure to select the best parlor for the job. If equipment is unsanitary, there is the possibility of diseases being transmitted or even infections. These can be very dangerous and should not be discounted.

A quality tattoo parlor is one that will be welcoming to the customer. The artist should be friendly and personable and not intimidate the customer. In addition, the artist should not push one design over another. For example, a customer should not be talked into getting a more expensive tattoo when the one they really wanted would cost much less. The same business practices, regarding sales and customer service, are the same with tattoo parlors and any other business. No customer likes a pushy sales pitch or an unfriendly salesperson. The tattoo parlor that a customer ultimately selects should be one that looks clean, features friendly and courteous service and has a good record with the Better Business Bureau and customer references.

The best way to locate tattoo parlors is a quick search through the telephone book’s yellow pages or via one of the many internet directories. By searching under the ‘tattoo’ category or keyword, an individual should be able to quickly locate any tattoo parlors in his/her local area.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or recommendations for tattoo placement. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

Find more about tattoos, including sevaral tattoos articles and tattoo designs or submit your one tattoo for review at TodayTattoos.com

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While wristbands have become a fashionable way to show our geopolitics we often forget that we can make an even bigger impact on poverty and the environment through the clothes we choose. Wearing eco fashion is one way we all can make a real difference. Organic cotton is one of the best examples of how each one of us can influence third world economies by encouraging fairer trade while helping preserve the environment.

A few weeks ago G8 leaders failed to set a date to end their agricultural export subsidies. While Western consumers enjoy low price clothing, they often forget that it hardly reflects the true cost of fashion. Conventional cotton is highly subsidised in countries such as the US and China. According to Oxfam, the US pays three times more in subsidies to its 25,000 cotton farmers than its budget for aid to Africa’s 500 million people. These subsidies make it impossible for third world countries to compete on international markets resulting in lower export earnings and even costing some countries more than they receive in debt relief.

Beyond economics, conventional cotton production has also many negative environmental impacts. While it is often described as the “Natural Fibre”, cotton requires more pesticides and insecticides than any other crops. According to PAN UK (Pesticide Action Network) cotton accounts for 10% of all pesticides and 22.5% of insecticides applied in agriculture. It takes 1/3 of a pound of pesticides to produce a single tee shirt. The same pesticides and insecticides that are linked to cancer are being sprayed onto field affecting farmers, health as well as the wildlife and the environment.

The “Make Poverty History” campaign has had tremendous success in raising the awareness of many issues facing the developing world. Yet fashion produced in environmentally friendly and under fair-trade conditions still represents only a tiny fraction of the global textile market. However, with exciting new labels and designers, eco-fashion has developed a stylish and contemporary look in keeping with our modern lifestyles.

Just launched this Summer, By Nature (www.bynature.co.uk) offers a great selection of organic cotton clothes with contemporary eco fashion for women, men, children and babies. Products include:

Womenswear
Menswear
Babywear
Childrenswear
Toys
Towels and Bathrobes
Home Textiles
Sportswear

By Nature is more than just a shop - it’s about aspiring to a certain way of life: a lifestyle that combines a desire for style and quality with care for the environment and respect for people; a lifestyle that doesn’t see this as a compromise; an “ethical lifestyle.” Providing a wealth of information on everyday issues such as shopping, travel, investment and reducing chemicals at home, By Nature is dedicated to help consumers make to right choices for a more sustainable world.

Annabelle Randles

annabelle@bynature.co.uk

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