TONN Model Blog

One of my models came to me today with a sex tape situation. He had done a porn flick a couple of years ago when he was naïve and needed money. Fast forward two years later, he’s hot and all of New York wants him. The only problem is that some clients recognize him from the sex tape and aren’t too pleased with it.

He emailed me wanting to come back to work in Boston, probably thinking that because it’s a smaller market, less people would recognize him. My response when he told me – “So?”.

Everybody who’s anybody has a sex tape these days. The first infamous sex tape that got leaked out was Rob Lowe’s in the 90s. Then who can forget about Pamela and Tommy Lee’s? Then came the more familiar Paris and now Kim Kardashian’s. And, let’s not forget Madonna’s. OK, so hers was produced with a multi-million dollar budget for the purpose of being sold for profit. The point is that sex tapes are on practically every celebrity’s resume.

I’m not advocating that everyone should go out and make a sex tape in order to become famous. I learned early on in life from having dated a politician that EVERYTHING you do may come back to bite you in the butt. But, if you’ve made a sex tape for whatever reason, and someone gets a hold of it after you become famous, there’s no need to apologize for it or hide from it.

So how should one handle a sex tape situation? Well, just embrace it. Upload it on YouTube. Send out a press release. Hold a premier. Whatever you do, just don’t apologize for it, and you certainly shouldn’t hide from it.

It’s sort of like being in the closet when you’re gay. People make fun of you and judge you, but when you come out, they have absolutely nothing else to say about it.

Remember, if we let people define us, we will never know who we are. We are all humans and humans make mistakes. We shouldn’t have to apologize for our mistakes or hide from them if they haven’t harmed anyone. We should just learn from them and move on.

Keywords: Boston modeling agencies, Tonn Model Management, Boston model management, talent agencies in boston, bostn model, Boston fashion models, Boston runway models, Boston male models, Boston female models, modeling and racism in Boston

Posted by TONN at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

When I was working as a top model in Bangkok in my early twenties, I was at a casting that Elite had sent me to. The client was looking for the next face of a popular local vodka brand in Southeast Asia. I didn’t have any information on the casting at the time. Back then, we didn’t question our agents. We went where we were told.

When I got there, the client took one look at me and said, “You’re too Asian” I thought I had heard it all, but that was something new. I said to him, “I am Asian. And, what’s more, this is Bangkok!” He said to me, “We’re looking for someone who can pass as Asian and White.”

OK, so that’s not me. But, that statement – “You’re too Asian” – has always haunted me. Not that I’m bothered by the fact that I look Asian, but I’m bothered by the fact that a Bangkok company would want someone who doesn’t look Asian. This is perhaps one of the reasons I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology. Close to finishing my Ph.D., I’m no closer to understanding racism in the modeling industry.

When Tyra Banks started out, she was competing with Naomi for jobs in Europe. Can you imagine? Competing with Naomi?? Why couldn’t the two Black female models partake on the same runways??? It’s simple. Most clients just don’t want more than one Black model on their runways. But can it be so simple as to blame the client? I think not. The clients give us, the consumers, what we want. And, apparently, most of the consumers want to see white models, despite where they are on the globe.

It’s a sad situation, but true. Owning a top modeling agency in Boston, the situation, I’m sad to report, is no different. Most clients, when booking models, prefer Caucasians, and in fact, request Caucasians. When they do want ethnic models, they’d prefer those who are partly white. They like to use the term ‘ethnically ambiguous’.

So to all the ethnic models out there, I leave you with this solemn note: The likelihood of your making it in this industry is slim to none. Have a back-up plan. Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell are anomalies.

Posted by TONN at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you’ve read my previous blog entry entitled ‘The Ultimate What NOT to Do’, you’ll be interested in this entry. I didn’t think things good get much worst with these two brothers since I terminated their representation 2 weeks ago, but I was wrong.

This afternoon, I was sitting in my office answering some emails. It was a pretty quiet, uneventful day… until my phone rang. It was a booking director from Armani Exchange in New York. He told me he was calling about these two brothers whom he thought I represent. Right away, I thought to myself, ‘Uh oh… What now…??!’

Apparently, these two have been emailing this booking director for the past three years. They even had the audacity to email the President of the company, asking him to book them for a photo shoot.

Armani Exchange, being a professional company, had replied to them in the past in a very nice way stating that they are not right for the brand. If you’ve read ‘Decoding the Agent’s Word’, you would know what that phrase means. Well, these two guys obviously don’t know what it means, and continued to bombard the booking director to the point where he had to contact me, thinking that I still represent them, to ask them to stop.

Now, while I admire persistence and ambition, I also know that there is a clear line between persistence and stalking. Not only are their looks not right for the brand, but if a booking agent has your information and hasn’t booked you in three years time, they’re not interested. There’s no need to further pursue the matter.

It’s these types of models that make it difficult for everyone else. Not only did they embarrassed me by association, but they’d also made an ass of themselves and models in general. In addition, their behaviors are the reasons why most agents and clients are so blunt with models. Being nice sometimes, doesn’t work. If a model can’t take a hint, then they need to take the truth. So, when I say to these guys, ‘You’re too old and too short for high fashion’, I’m not being mean. I’m just trying to get it through to them, so that I don’t get embarrassing calls, such as the one from this afternoon, from clients.

Keywords: Boston modeling agencies, Tonn Model Management, Boston model management, talent agencies in boston, bostn model, Boston fashion models, Boston runway models, Boston male models, Boston female models, modeling and stalking

Posted by TONN at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Boston, like most medium size modeling market, is very conservative when it comes to communications. Unlike New York City, people here tend to be a bit gentler with their words. They don’t want to upset anyone and they try to mind their manners. Boston is a small town for modeling after all.

Even I (who’s known for my sharp tongue and dubbed the Janice of Boston) catch myself being a bit less abrasive sometimes when talking to models.

Here are a few helpful translations to decode what modeling agents in Boston really mean when they speak.

You’re not right for us. = The only agencies that would sign you are those that will scam you.

You’re a bit commercial. = You’re old and/or short and/or have a receeding hairline.

You need an agent more devoted to your ambitions. = You’re really annoying with all these questions.

How tall did you say you are again? = Don’t lie to me about your height.

Could you get me some more conservative photos to use? = You look like a half naked tramp in Maxim.

Are your measurements still the same? = You’ve gained weight.

Were these photos taken on vacation? = Get professional hair and makeup, and professional photography next time.

Your look is a bit urban. = Less Lil’ Kim and more Britney (pre-K. Fed.).

Have you been tanning? = Your skin is getting leathery.

I wish you all the best. = Don’t ever contact me again.

Keywords: Boston modeling agencies, Tonn Model Management, Boston model management, talent agencies in boston, bostn model, Boston fashion models, Boston runway models, Boston male models, Boston female models, Boston modeling agent

Posted by TONN at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As a modeling agent based in Boston, I often work with other agencies in larger markets in order to open opportunities to models I represent. These colleagues will take on models, whom they feel will do well in their markets. They will set them up in a models apartment and help them develop a new book that’s appropriate for the locale.

Last week, I had a colleague from the men’s division of a hot agency in Milan come to my studio. He was particularly interested in picking out some male models to work during Milan’s Fashion Week in two months. For those of you who are new to the fashion industry – if a model has to work during fashion week, that model has to do runways. This in turns means that the model must have runway measurements and age range (6’ – 6’2, 16-28 for men). This is pretty straight forward. Nothing out of the ordinary.

And then, I received an email from one of my models, who was nearly 30 and 5’10, asking me if he could meet with this agent, if I could ‘make it happen’. I, of course, immediately said no (several times, in fact).

However, this guy is very tenacious. No, wait. Not tenacious. He was plain annoying. He took it upon himself to contact the Milan agency to find out who was coming to my studio. He then emailed that agent introducing himself, asking if he could go to the casting at my studio.

He had the audacity to call me after all that to tell me that the agent was willing to see him. I was livid at his lack of professionalism. This coming a week after had had given his private contact information out to a client that I had sent them to see. So, I terminated representation with him.

Now, one might ask – Why would you terminate the relationship if the Milan affiliate wanted to meet them, and had expressed interests in working with them? It is because I knew he wasn’t being truthful with the agent. I’ve been in this business a long time. The day a legitimate agency in Milan would take someone who’s nearly 30 and 5’10 to walk the runway, is the day Madonna wins an Oscar.

Lo-and-behold!! When I spoke with my colleague, the model had told him that he was 5’11. When I told my colleague that he was barely 5’10, the colleague, as I had suspected, said that he would never work in Milan, at least not on runways.

After the dusts settled, I had to ask myself – Was his behavior really worth my terminating my representation with him? After all, he’s still a very marketable commercial model. I pondered that question for about 2 minutes.

While I admire his tenacity, as an agent of a reputable modeling agency in Boston, I cannot take the risk of working with someone who has shown that level of disrespect towards me, and that type of reckless actions. He completely ignored my judgment as his agent, and then contacted, and LIED to my colleague.

The words ‘loose canon’ comes to mind. Businesses describe unpredictable, reckless employees, who are high liabilities, as ‘loose canons’. Well, this is a business. My agency is my business, and I consider this guy to be a loose canon – someone who, at any moment, could cause damage to my business.

So, now the question becomes – Was it worth it for him to have done what he did?

Keywords: Boston modeling agencies, Tonn Model Management, Boston model management, talent agencies in boston, bostn model, Boston fashion models, Boston runway models, Boston male models, Boston female models

Posted by TONN at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although modeling agencies are not direct employers; they introduce you to their clients, who might employ you. The agency’s reputation is built upon the professionalism of its models. So, how a model approaches an agency for representation is a tell-tale sign of how a model would approach an agency client, and agents take this to mind when deciding whether or not they want to represent you.
 
Take a look at this email submission sent via a modeling site:
 
Prospective Model: Hi Tonn Model Management,
it has been my pasion to be a model for some time is there a way you could help me? in the modeling world

TONN: Hello- Please visit www.TonnModel.com/models-bediscovered for submission materials. -Tonn

Prospective Model: age:20 will be 21 in may. 5'11 128lbs
dress:2-6

TONN: Hello - Can you come in to see me on Tuesday at 11:30? -Tonn

Prospective Model: Where?
 
TONN: Please take the time to visit our web site before further contacting us.
 

So, let’s deconstruct this e-conversation. First, the model emails a question without signing her name. Is she Giselle? Is she Tyra?? Is she so big and important that she need not a name??? Even Cher and Madonna use their first names!!!
 

The other problem is that the email is filled with spelling and punctuation errors, and she didn’t have proper submission materials as required by our agency.
 

I directed her to our submission page, so she could send in appropriate photos and measurements.
 

She shoots me an email back with her measurements without a salutation and again, no name.

I was having a good day, so I was not bothered by her and I liked her measurements. I asked her in.

Again, she shoots me an email without salutation or a name.

By now, I had lost my patience. I was no longer interested in meeting with her, nor was I interested in taking the time to tell her why.

For your knowledge, however, I do not want to represent someone with such tactlessness. When I choose to represent someone, that person will also represent me. This email exchange, not only tells me that she has no social graces, but she also isn’t very bright. Neither trait is a good one for a model I would wish to represent.

Amanda has a wonderful, high fashion look about her. Her eyes are completely captivating, and her measurements are exactly what a high fashion client would look for. But, can you tell from these photos that she didn’t have to pay for? NO!!

The photography is nice and I can tell they’re taken with a professional camera. They are OK commercial modeling photos. Somehow, though, they just don’t suit Amanda’s look. Let’s deconstruct these photos and figure out what’s wrong with them.

1. Amanda’s look is more high fashion. Although she should have some commercial photos in her portfolio, she should be smiling in the photos. She’s giving a very high fashion look in commercial photos. OK, if you need me to spell it out for you – THE PHOTO SHOULD CORRESPOND WITH THE LOOK! High Fashion Photo = High Fashion Look. Commercial Photo = Commercial Look.

2. Amanda doesn’t have professional hair and makeup. Pieces of hair are hanging out and I can see the dark circles under her eyes. *sighs* I’ll say it again – If you’re going to spend time and/or money on a photo shoot, please don’t skimp on the hair and makeup. Otherwise, what’s the point?? You end up getting photos you can’t use and you’ve wasted your time, and possibly your money.

3. Wardrobe. I don’t even know where to start with this one. Amanda’s attire is better suited for hanging out around the house on a Sunday morning somewhere in Vermont; not for a modeling portfolio.

4. At first glance, industry professionals can tell that this was not only a test shoot, but a really bad test shoot with absolutely no planning. A professional test shoot takes time and planning with many different people working together to achieve certain looks (see Photo War). Everything from hair to makeup, and from clothes to background, have been pre-selected to suit the particular model. The goal is always to increase work for the model.

It’s a common myth that agencies will pay for a model’s photos and other expenses. Depending on the model’s marketability and commitment to modeling, sometimes agencies will pay for some of the costs and deduct them from future earnings.

Amanda, like most young models, has limited funds. However, like most young models, Amanda fails to realize that the sooner she has appropriate, professional photos, the more work she can get and the more money she would make. Amanda has been with me for less than a month and has already earned enough to pay for photography through our studio. Imagine how much work she could have gotten in this one month had she had fantastic photos!! That’s food for thought…

Keywords: Boston modeling agencies, Tonn Model Management, Boston model management, talent agencies in boston, bostn model, Boston fashion models, Boston runway models, Boston male models, Boston female models, Boston TFCD fashion photography

Posted by TONN at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)