Ford Models holding open call for Kids Division in New York City

Ford Models New York Kids Division is holding an open call for boys and girls to join their exclusive agency roster. One of the most recognized and respected agencies in the history of modeling, Ford Models impeccably represents a wide spectrum of models from supermodels like Jerry Hall and Carmen to hot faces like Chanel Iman and Lakshmi Menon.

Here is what they are seeking:

● Must be between 36" - 58" tall.

● Can be any ethnicity.

● Must live within 1 hour from New York City.

You need to be able to travel to shoots and meetings on very little notice - sometimes a few hours. Only people who are local to the New York area can do that.

Open Call Details

Where:

Ford Models
111 5th Avenue
9th Floor
New York, NY 10003-1005
Click Here for directions.

When:

Saturday, March 27, 2010
10:00am - 1:00pm

Please come with one parent per child as our space is limited. Bring 2-3 color snapshots and child's measurements. Write your child's name (and yours), his/her age, clothing size, hair and eye color, and address on the back of each photo. They don't have to be professional shots, you can take them yourself. If you do not live near New York but do live within 1 hour from any of the following cities, you can apply with Ford Models online:

Ford Models, Inc. Locations

● Los Angeles, California
● Miami, Florida
● Chicago, Illinois
● Milwaukee, Wisconsin
● Scottsdale, Arizona
● San Francisco, California
● Paris, France
● São Paulo, Brazil
● Toronto, Canada

Click Here to apply online for any of the above cities.

Ford Models was started in 1946 by Eileen and Gerard W. "Jerry" Ford. Ford was the first company to advance their models money owed by jobs that had been completed but not yet paid. The Ford family had the tradition of allowing teenage models who originate far from New York City to stay in their home. The company was the pre-eminent New York agency until John Casablancas of Elite Model Management opened up in the city, leading to the "model wars" of the 1980s. Ford, like many of the original agencies of the 70's, now has to compete with a broad field of contenders, such as Women, IMG and DNA. The agency has represented a diverse list of models and celebrities. In 1980, the company established the Ford Supermodel of the World Contest that attracts more than 60,000 hopefuls annually from around the world.

Eileen and Jerry began the business in their home. Katie Ford took over in 1995 after working in the agency for 16 years. In 2007, John Caplan became Ford Models’ Chief Executive Officer. After leaving the company, Katie Ford became Global Ambassador for the anti-slavery/anti-human trafficking organization Free the Slaves. In recent years the company, with offices worldwide, has diversified through Ford Artists into other professions related to the fashion industry. It has also promoted itself through its social media platform, which includes the Ford Models Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

How much models get paid

There is no one average pay rate for models. How much a model is paid for any particular job depends on many different factors such as the market the model is working in. A runway show in Miami might pay less than a runway show in Milan, Italy. The level of the model is also a major factor. A model who is "hot right now" or a "supermodel" would command a much higher rate than a more novice, lesser known model. And of course, the type of modeling job makes a big difference in pay scale.

Unlike actors, there is no union such as SAG governing the modeling industry, therefore no wage limits are imposed on employers of models. The pay can be as little as minimum wage to thousands of dollars per shoot and upward.

What They Say vs. What They Mean

Unscrupulous model and talent scouts have their acts down pat. Listen carefully to read between their lines:

"We're scouting for people with your 'look' to model and act."
I need to sign up as many people as possible. My commission depends on it.

* "Your deposit is totally refundable."
Your deposit is refundable only if you meet very strict refund conditions.

* "You must be specially selected for our program. Our talent experts will carefully evaluate your chances at success in the field and will only accept a few people into our program."
We take almost everyone.

* "There's a guaranteed refund if you're not accepted into the program."
Everyone's accepted into the program. Forget the refund.

* "You can't afford our fees? No problem. You can work them off with the high-paying jobs we'll get you."
We demand payment, whether or not you get work.

* "Commissions from our clients are our major source of income."
Our income comes from the fees we charge you.

United States Modeling Legal Requirements for Foreigners

You will need an American Model Agency certified by the United States Department of Labor to sponsor you for an H1, B3 Visa. If your Visa is approved you can work legally in the United States for up to 3 years. Visas can be renewed.

You must be a model of "international acclaim". This means you must have modeled in other countries. Generally the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service will require tear sheets from several magazines you were in. If you have never been in any magazines, it is considerably more difficult but still possible.

Wardrobe for modeling agency interviews

Always dress properly for interviews with agents. Dress sexy, fashionable, and look tall. Clothing that highlights your best assets help greatly.

You need to wear something that allows them to clearly see your bust, hip and waist measurements. The typical model wardrobe is skinny jeans or leggings and a fitted top, with high heels. You could also wear a fitted dress as long as it hugs your figure.

Do not dress like a stripper. Sexy is very different than cheap or vulgar. Hair, skin, nails must be done perfectly. Makeup must be light and natural.

Important Safety Information

NEVER meet someone outside of a professional environment such as a photography studio or modeling agents office. Do NOT meet someone at a restaurant, private residence, etc. You should ALWAYS let someone else know EXACTLY where you are going, WHO you are meeting, and WHEN you are going there.

Let the photographer know that you have informed someone of your whereabouts, and bring a cell phone.

Make sure that you know exactly what the shoot consist of, and never feel pressured to do anything that you do not feel comfortable doing. If nothing else go by your gut feeling.

Remember your body is yours, and if anyone comes within your safety zone, be sure to let them know. I have found that more reputable photographer's will NOT touch you. If you feel uncomfortable as stated before, tell them so. That is your right.

On a professional fashion shoot there is usually a stylist there who will keep your wardrobe neat during the shoot, but make sure anything they do is not inappropriate.

And a parent or guardian must ALWAYS accompany minors. A parent or guardian should NEVER be out of eyesight of the minor, whether it be at go-sees or on a photo shoot.

Modeling Information