Be a smart consumer! Do your research; find out which clients the agency has worked with, read about the agency’s success stories, and read customer reviews from models/talent on the agency’s roster. There are no guarantees in this business, so be cautious of people who guarantee overnight stardom and fame. An honest agent or scout will do their job, which is to assist you in getting started, provide guidance, and ultimately, once you are ready, promote you to their industry contacts.

Becoming a successful model or actor takes passion, perseverance, and commitment. You need to know your craft and be professional. If you are an actor, you need to know how to act. If you are a model, you need to be comfortable in front of the camera and on the runway.

The answer to this question depends on the market you are interested in pursuing. If you want to be a high fashion model, there are height and measurement requirements. However, in the commercial market, every shape, look, style, and age is in demand; this is because TV commercials and print advertising for products often target real people or everyday consumers.

Being professional, kind, and optimistic are important in the entertainment industry. Every aspect of this business is collaborative, with many people working towards a common goal. Clients, casting directors, photographers, and stylists have to enjoy working with you.

Similarly, it is important to note that personality and professionalism are equally important for the parents of children in the industry. “Stage parents” are not embraced in this business. Indeed, the personality and behavior of parents can be a determining factor in deciding whether to work with young models and actors.

You don’t need experience to start out. However, as with any career, sport, or artistic endeavor, experience is a vital part of the modelling/talent industry. You should always be training and improving your abilities in order to book an audition or job. The more experience you have on your resume, the more likely you are to impress casting directors. Therefore, new models and talent are often required to do non-paying work and training exercises to develop their skills and build their resumes.

No, but it certainly helps. If you are a model with national/international experience and an up-to-date fashion portfolio, you do not have to take a course at Mode Elle. Similarly, if you are an actor with a competitive talent resume and an up-to-date talent headshot, you do not need to take a course.

That being said, professional training for modeling and acting can be a big advantage in any highly competitive field. The skills and knowledge acquired during training can be applied to any other pursuit or endeavor. For example, our courses – especially the acting components – have helped students to:

1. build confidence and self-esteem;
2. present themselves more effectively to teachers and employers;
3. dress effectively and appropriately;
4. perform better in oral presentations and job interviews; and
5. become better listeners and collaborators through improv training.

Models and actors are self-employed and work as independent contractors. By choosing to become a model or actor, you are essentially starting your own business, so you will need to make investments first. Like all goals worth pursuing, the success you achieve in this business depends on the quality and quantity of the time, effort, and resources you put into it.

This is a common misconception. An agency is not a bank and should not be expected to advance or loan money to a new model or actor starting out in the industry. In other words, agencies do not pay start-up costs for aspiring models and actors.

Training, portfolios, headshots, and online promotional tools are the responsibility of the model/talent. Your agency will spend time guiding, developing, and promoting you throughout the various stages of your career. In turn, you must show your agency that you are serious about a career in modelling or acting by acquiring the promotional tools necessary to market your look and talent to potential clients. Indeed, clients will expect you to have these tools as a professional model or actor.

Yes. Mode Elle has an annual promotional fee that covers the cost of the online promotional tools used to market models and talent to potential clients. Some agencies require their models and talent to purchase and manage these tools on their own. In contrast, Mode Elle includes all of these tools in an annual fee which saves our members time and money.

A question we often get from aspiring models and actors is: What kind of earnings can I expect from my modeling/acting career? The short answer is zero to millions of dollars. It depends on the area you live in, the type of modelling you do, your talent, looks, and personality.

For example, the standard rate for children’s catalog work is $75/hour, and advertising work pays closer to $100.00/hour! The client may want exclusive use of your image, so there is an opportunity to receive usage and/or buyouts, thereby increasing earnings significantly.

For teens and adults, a model in Canada can earn as much as $300/hour. Again, additional amounts can be earned depending on the nature of the booking contract. If the booking is commercial, it will most likely be a session rate with usage and buyout options. For union work in film and television, rates are based on a scale with the added bonus of residuals. For Canada, the scale can be viewed on ACTRA’s website.

Internationally, a model can earn anywhere from $2,500 USD/day to $25,000 USD/day. Campaigns can be very lucrative and can have large buyout fees.

There is no formula to determine how much a model or actor will earn. Your agent will negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you are being compensated according to industry standards for the use of your image and talent.

A portfolio is very important. Not having a portfolio for a go-see or open call would be like showing up for a job interview without a resume. A portfolio helps you secure work by demonstrating your capabilities and potential as a model.

A portfolio is a collection of images that is built up over time, not in a single day. In order for an agency to market you, you will need, at minimum, a few good pictures. For fashion models in particular, building a portfolio can be a lengthy and expensive process; nevertheless, it is necessary in order to remain competitive and secure bookings.

For other models, such as those seeking work in television, fashion shows, and promotions, an extensive portfolio may not always be required. Similarly, actors do not require portfolios. Instead, actors should acquire talent headshots, slate shots, and demo reels to help convey their skills to potential clients.

Mode Elle does not represent babies or toddlers.

If you have any questions that have not been addressed in this FAQ page, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or +1 613-967-0470.