Answering a Reader Question #758
Dania,
I have a 17 year old daughter who has been doing a fair amount of modeling all over the US for various designers, but I would not say she is a seasoned pro yet. She recently met with Wilhlemina in Los Angeles, (I checked and it is the real Wilhelmina.) and they want to sign her to a mother agency contract. We live in the Dallas, Texas area and they are wanting her to move to Los Angeles so she can start working for them.
After reading your blog about mother agencies, it appears that you are saying they are needed to get you in the door at larger agencies in larger markets. I don't really understand why Wilhelmina would be using a mother agency contract in Loa Angeles. They are already one of the largest agencies and they are in one of the largest markets. We haven't signed yet but they have already approached her about a job they have submitted her pictures for in New York city for a national ad campaign. What are the advantages and disadvantages to a mother contract with a top agency in a large market?
She has also met with Elite in Miami and they are talking about wanting her out there for swimsuit season in October. If she signs with Wilhelmina in LA, will that affect her ability to work for other companies?
Sorry for so many questions, I appreciate the time and energy you obviously put into this website, you are a great resource to people thrying to understand this very cunfusing business.
Hi, ssroadking!
Wow, it sounds like your daughter is well on her way to having a solid and thriving modeling career...that's amazing! And thank you for the kind words about my blog...I'm glad you're able to find it as a useful resource.
To clarify the concept of a mother agency, this type of agent is responsible for getting its models work not only in their immediate market/location but in other large markets across the country and internationally. Agencies like Wilhelmina are big and Los Angeles is also in a big market but it is because of their mother agency powers that they are able to submit your daughter for that national ad campaign in a large market like New York. If they were a regular type of agency, that opportunity would likely not be on the table.
Texas is not a major modeling market in the same regard as Los Angeles, New York and Miami. So by signing with Wilhelmina in Los Angeles, your daughter would have the ability to work the big gigs in all 3 of those major locations and even open the possibility to travel abroad.
As far as the offer with Elite, you should discuss with Wilhelmina what agencies they work with in the Miami area and if they have mother agency ties with Elite. If your daughter signed with Wilhelmina and they have an existing working relationship with sending their models to work with Elite in Miami, the opportunity to have her work the swimsuit season should be able to go through with little to no issues. But that's definitely something you'll want to talk to Wilhelmina about asap since October will be here in a matter of weeks.
To answer your questions about the advantages and disadvantages...
Advantages:
- Having 1 agent, 1 contract and 1 set of commission to deal with as opposed to juggling several agencies across the country, various contracts and paying out commission to each one for the respective gigs booked.
- A much bigger pool of exposure for your daughter to work not just in a large market like LA but other large markets like New York and Miami in the US
- They'll provide housing for her in whatever market she is currently working in (when she's in LA, she'll have model housing there, when she's in New York, she'll have a place to stay there, etc, etc.). They'll also take care of the tedious stuff like paperwork, passports/visas and other related travel documents for both national and international travel
- The opportunity to travel overseas and work in other countries
Disadvantages:
- Not being able to sign to any other agency
- Having to put your trust that the mother agent will make the right decisions on your daughter's behalf for her career, which you may or may not agree with
- Possibility of not being able to work with certain agencies in other markets if the mother agency doesn't have existing working relationships/arrangements with them
From what you've told me, it seems like Wilhelmina is already making good on their offer by locking in a national ad campaign in New York and showing that they have work they are hoping to line her up for. If you're concerned about the Elite offer in Miami, contact Wilhelmina right away to ask what your daughter's prospects are for working in the Miami market based on what connections the agency has in place there. Is Elite also offering a mother agency arrangement or regular representation? That would be another factor you'll want to consider when making your decision.
If you have additional questions/concerns, don't hesitate to contact me directly: daniadenise@gmail.com. Regardless of what direction you choose to go in, it seems like your daughter won't have any problems getting representation and making modeling a big part of her life.
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