Answering a Reader Question #796

Sam Wrote:

 I was wondering if you believed Explore Talent.com was a legitamite site or if it is a scam? 
Thank you!

Hey there, Sam!

Okay, so here are my thoughts about sites like Explore Talent...I wouldn't call them scams because they are pretty upfront about what they are and do. However, I don't believe they are as effective or worth a person's time compared to trying to sign to a model/talent agency directly.

Explore Talent is a casting website, which is a huge database filled with a gazillion profiles of models and actors and ET's goal is to "match" talent up with casting directors, agencies, clients, etc, etc. BUT what makes me not encourage people to utilize these kinds of resources is the fact that they are extremely broad in the opportunities they offer. How so?

Think about it: it's all about location. Modeling and talent agencies will only actively consider people who are within a 2 hour's drive from where the agency office is located (some exceptions exist but 2 hour's drive is the industry rule of thumb). That being said, why set up a profile on a database where the majority of the castings offered are out of state? What are the odds that the client will choose someone out of state, not to mention the fact that you're competing with thousands of other submissions from other people around the country. The odds just are not in your favor to consistently book paying work. Can you only submit to gigs that are in your state? Yes, but others who have profiles on ET that are out of state will also submit, even if it doesn't make sense for them to. So either way, your submission will be one out of a ton.

Do people get legitimate, paying gigs off sites like Explore Talent? Yes. But if you want to maximize your opportunities as a model, it's better to go straight to the source: submit to local modeling agencies, get signed and start getting submitted to gigs you actually have a better chance of getting. It's much easier to compete against other locals than people submitting to gigs that are in other states.

There are other casting sites like Explore Talent but that are specifically geared towards certain cities. Great examples are SF Casting, NY Casting and LA Casting. These are casting companies that are all the same company but, as the name implies, they each focus only on maintaining a database of profiles and casting projects that are only within San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Unlike the national scope Explore Talent offers, casting sites that are location specific are worth signing up with because only people within those markets will be submitting to available projects.

I know that was a long-winded explanation, lol, but I really wanted to make it clear that while Explore Talent has its success stories, tapping into local agencies and local casting agencies is a more direct way to generate results. Hope that helps!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Answering a Reader Question #1,037

Image
Charlie Wrote: I just had a conversation with my mother that modelling pays really well. And she straight up went like "it's a dirty business , you don't know what works models have to do to get on the top " . It was my way to tell her that I want to pursue modelling but before I could even tell that to her directly , I lost all my gathered up courage and I can see all my dreams dying right infront of my eyes. Hey, Charlie! I'm sending you the BIGGEST virtual hug right now...you are not the only one who has had the wind taken right out of their sails by a parent who simply doesn't want to risk their child being disappointed, possibly taken advantage of, or wind up as an example of why people shouldn't get into modeling. I don't know your age or what the situation is but if you are under 18, it's gonna be a bit of an uphill battle to try and convince your mom since it sounds like she's already made it clear how she feels. However, that doesn'
Read more

Answering a Reader Question #1,036

Image
Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, so kind of you to do this and support us young in the biz. I did a print spot for a well known company as a NU model last Oct. for $2500 1 year buyout. They are considering renewing for 2nd year $2500 and 3rd year $3750. I’m unrepresented atm. I am union now. I’m on hold for my first scene in a feature and I just worked a Chanel commercial (featured BG, let’s not roll out the red carpet here). But, one: I think, even with the strike, I’m moving on up, and two: isn’t 2nd year buyout rates supposed to be more? Could you help me on what an appropriate response would be or a fair counter-offer would be? Again, you rock. Thanks for helping the wide-eyed! Hey, Anonymous! You're SO welcome, thank you for being a reader and reaching out...congrats on the recent bookings you've gotten so far, that's awesome...and yeah, you are definitely moving on up. :-) As far as the buyout rate for the print job, I've been in the same scenario where the renewal rate
Read more

Answering a Reader Question #1,035

Image
Anonymous Wrote: I had a model agent say " but you are not the right type for us at this moment ". What does that really mean. Hi, Anonymous! Typically, that phrase is "agency speak" for politely saying you aren't what they're looking for. If you don't meet the physical requirements stated -- for example, if it was a fashion agency you were talking to and you weren't within their stated height or size range, that would be a common response. Or it could mean that your look isn't one that they feel is currently in demand at the moment and they don't want to take the chance of signing you, only to have you sitting on roster the entire time without any traction.  While it's not a great response to receive, it is their polite way of saying no, thank you. Now that you have a definite answer from that particular agent, you can move on to submitting to others and hopefully find the one that you are the right type for. Best of luck to you!
Read more