Answering a Reader Question #942

Steve Wrote (in response to the Modeling 101 blog post, "Models, Technology & Communication"):

Hello Dania:

I agree with all of Sarah's comments! You have written some great advice! Well lets face it, most models are very young, don't have college degrees, many have not graduated from high school, and still learning about the world. So yeah, there are quite a few that haven't learned how to "speak properly to another human being”, but we are understanding, as this is normal for their age. So we teach them proper "etiquette", problem solved! Those who can't hold a "solid phone convo" aren't going to be very successful models, lol! The same advice follows for your proceeding blog (article), “Models, Shoots, Shows + Common Sense Tips”.
And yes, you are professional to a fault, mature and responsible for your age, and that is a necessary component of successful modeling. After reading your 5 part series on Modeling and Branding, I was really happy to see this article as a follow up. So if I understand correctly, “email still reigns supreme” over less precise forms of communications found on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, and even including texting. 

Perhaps many aspiring models don’t have enough to write about or enough credits to post regularly on social media platforms? When should a model start posting regularly? I find that as a newbie, Model Mayhem is a very good site to start with.

Back in 2000, when I was first learning how to use computers regularly as a student at the University of Colorado, my professor taught me how important it was to keep practicing every day, and that certainly includes emails! After writing more than 4,000 emails and earning a stack of college degrees, I learned professional writing techniques. So you learn how to use email effectively, like adding clients to your contact list so the messages don’t get lost or delayed in your junk mail. Spelling errors really turn people off, so you must use a spell check program to be considered seriously! Save the “What’s up and Hey” for communicating with established friends. If I don’t proofread my writing, it nearly always contains grammatical errors. Yes, so you sound out the words in your head, then translate the words into writing. I use my thesaurus frequently to find the perfect word (and spelling). Writing is more precise than speech.

I’ve only used Skype a couple of times so far. I think agents want to see what you look like and how you speak in addition to seeing your headshots. Is Skype more popular for use business use vs. personal use?

Email is great for me because I write a lot of emails after business hours. I’m still cautious about sending some emails too late at night, because your recipients will be notified what time you sent them. I’ve received many replies from business people evenings and weekends from well-written emails. Just wondering if a follow up to this article might reference additional educational techniques for improving email writing skills if this is not too far off the modeling topic? 

When I think about a running list of modeling topics you could write about in the future, what comes to mind first is the importance of maintaining good health, particularly as models age, and some basic tips. Even young models who gain a little weight might get passed over for a fit model. Your related label, “skincare and grooming”, does have quite a few related articles on maintaining skin, hair and fingernails. And you do mention multivitamins in your July 24, 2008 blog. Perhaps an article about teeth might be useful, since after eyes, it may be one of a models’ most important features? Do you have any basic dietary or other tips on maintaining healthy, white teeth? Are perfect teeth a little less important for commercial models, male models and older models?
Steve Norwood

Hi, Steve!

You're definitely ahead of the game when it comes to communication and etiquette so I have no doubt that you'll have an easy time networking and fostering the business relationships necessary to be successful in your goals for an entertainment career with modeling/acting!

I think for newer models just starting out, many use social media for their personal lives already so there aren't any real rules or guidelines established for when they should start posting regularly when it comes to posting about modeling related matters but once they start actively getting into the business, then they should start sharing their experiences on social media if they want to start connecting with other professionals to create future opportunities. It'll be up to them to decide if they want to use their existing social media profiles to do modeling related posts or create an entirely new one solely for that purpose (which is what I could recommend).

Skype is becoming more commonplace for business purposes, however, many agencies make it clear that they prefer to still interview models in person if that is an option. A lot of scams and fake agencies will "scout" models online and try to set up a Skype meeting to offer them representation. This is mainly true for situations where a model will be contacted out of the blue with an offer that appears too good to be true.

If a model submits to an agency or otherwise reaches out first and develops an open line of communication, then setting up a Skype meeting is more legitimate, especially if the agency is proven to be real and respectable.

A lot of new models get scouted on Instagram so that has started to change the face of how models get connected to agencies but I still say to exercise caution and take such happenings on a case-to-case basis.

As far as doing a follow up article about educational techniques for improving writing skills, that's too off topic in relation to modeling so I won't be doing any posts related to that but there are a ton of amazing resources out there for people to take advantage of if they want to strengthen their writing skills.

I have a running topic list written down for future blog posts that do include some of the proposed topics you mentioned about grooming and maintaining one's appearance so it's just a matter of time before I get those posted on my Modeling 101 blog so stay tuned for those. But in general, having a healthy and bright smile is important for models in general. Models don't have to have "perfect" teeth but their smile should be healthy and that can be achieved with at-home whitening kits or getting them professionally whited by a dentist.