You Got Signed. Now What? Your First 90 Days as a Model
The Model Way Podcast
Host Lenny Wheeler provides a strategic roadmap for newly signed models navigating their first 90 days in the industry. The episode emphasiz
Key takeaways
- The first 30 days should focus on foundational accuracy, including updated measurements and current photos that reflect your present look.
- Month two is dedicated to 'getting comfortable being uncomfortable' by practicing skills like posing, walking, and self-tapes.
Main topics
- Model development phases
- Agency-model partnership
Notable quotes
Signing with an agency is the beginning of a working relationship. It is not the finish line.
Conclusion
The episode serves as a practical guide for new talent to build a sust
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:00) Welcome to The Model Way. I'm your host, Lenny Wheeler. Today, I want to talk to the model who just signed with an agency, the model who's hoping to sign soon, and the parent who's trying to understand what happens after that exciting moment. Really, because getting signed feels incredible. You might have worked towards it for years. You finally get that call. You sign your agreement. You tell your friends, your family, I have an agency. And immediately, you start imagining the campaigns, the castings, the travel, and the work you hope is coming. I really want you to enjoy that moment. You earned the right to be excited. But I also want to tell you the truth. Signing with an agency is the beginning of a working relationship. It is not the finish line. What you do in the first 90 days matters. Those three months are an opportunity to get organized, develop your skills, learn how your agency works, and show your team that you're serious. Today, I'm going to walk you through those first 90 days. We'll talk about what to focus on in your first month, how to improve in your second month, and how to become someone people can depend on by your third. Speaker 1 (1:19) I'll also share three mistakes I see people make when they're starting out. And whether you're signed with 42 Model Management, represented somewhere else, or still working towards representation, you can use this episode to take an honest look at where you are right now. So let's get into it. Our show starts right now. Speaker 1 (2:11) I want to start with a question. If an opportunity came in tomorrow, would you be ready? Not. Would you be excited? Of course you would be excited. I mean, could you quickly provide current photos? You know your accurate measurements. Do you understand the instructions in a casting notice? Could you record a clean introduction on self-tapes? And could you confirm your availability and then actually show up? Those DLT as well sound simple, but when an opportunity moves quickly, simple things make a difference. An agency can recognize your potential. An agency can help guide you, develop you, and submit you for appropriate opportunities, but your team cannot practice on your behalf. We cannot update your information for you if you haven't told us it changed. We cannot make you available if you haven't already committed to something else, and we cannot make you take directions on set. It just doesn't happen that way. Representation is a partnership. At 42 Model Management, I want talent to understand that from the beginning, if we believe in someone, we want to help them grow. But I also want that person to take ownership of their development. You have to. That doesn't mean you need to be perfect on day one. Nobody is. It means you need to be willing to learn, communicate, and do the work. And parents, if you're listening with your young model, this applies to you too. You're offering the managing person, transportation, schedules, communications, and the paperwork. Your support is a huge part of helping that young person be ready. So let's talk about what the work actually looks like. Speaker 1 (4:05) I'm going to build your foundation on that first 30 days. In your first 30 days, I want you to get clear on who you are, what you're working towards, and what your agency needs from you. First, make sure your basic information is accurate. Your height, your measurements, your clothing, shoe size, your location, your contact information, your availability, emails. If any of that changes, update your team today. Please don't guess about your measurements. And don't use information from a year ago because you think it sounds better because it's not going to help. The point of these details is to help determine the opportunities that are going to basically fit you. Your photo should also reflect how you look right now. Speaker 1 (4:49) If you change your hair significantly and your appearance has changed, or if your current photos don't give people a clear view of you, talk with that about with your team and what you need. That does not mean you have to run out and buy the most expensive photo package you can find. Start by understanding the purpose of the images. Do you need clean? Do you need simple digitals, updated headshots, images that show range? Those are different needs. Ask questions. Make a plan. Spin with intentions. And then there's the part that gets overlooked. I need you to understand your goals and where you are going. When somebody says, I want to be a model, my next question is, what kind of work interests you? Is it commercial? Is it fashion? Is it beauty? Is it lifestyle? Is it print? On-camera work? Parts? Maybe, well, it's acting, you know? You don't need to have your entire career mapped out, but it helps to have a conversation about your interests, your strengths, and what you're willing to learn. That gives your development. A little bit of direction, okay? And so at the Modelway Academy, we work on those fundamentals. We're going to work on those because confidence alone isn't enough. Confidence grows when you practice something and begin to understand what you're doing. And I want you to think about this for posing, okay? And how this can take you. Taking a great selfie doesn't mean you're going to know how to take a great picture in a professional shoot. You're not going to know how to get in front of the camera and do expressions. When a photographer asks you to do something and you learn how to do it, that's a skill. Walking is a skill. Taking direction is a skill. Introducing yourself on camera is a big skill. You can get better at all of those things, okay? So during this first month, I want you to ask yourself these three questions. What materials do I need to get current? What skills do I need to practice the most? And what does my agency expect from me when an opportunity comes in? Have that conversation early. Listen carefully to the answers. Write them down if you need to. You don't want the first serious conversation about expectations to happen when a casting deadline is two hours away. Now. Speaker 1 (7:14) Let me say something to the person who's nervous because you feel inexperienced. It's okay. You're allowed to be new. It's okay. I want you to say that to yourself. You're allowed to be nervous. Every experienced professional was new at some point. And what matters is whether you're honest about where you are and committed to improving in your journey. Do not need to pretend you've done 10 campaigns when you haven't. Don't need to act like you know everything