Model Flaked Today - Same Old Story
 

Add another to the frustration file, LOL.

I think I had made mention before that I was working with my younger brother to help him get a site started. He was pretty impressed by what I have been doing with my work, and he is motivated to get into the business, shooting all amateur porn and starting a site.

I am in Northern California now and he wanted me to come by and help with a shoot he had set up for today--it would have been his second (the first was with a girl who ended up not being attractive at all in person, and a bit crack-ish).

He spoke to the model, confirmed it all. She emailed him a million times to set it in stone and ask any questions.

I show up here shortly before she is supposed to, at 2pm.

First thing I tell him is that he can't wait around and watch the door--it will only make him crazy if she flakes. We start talking, and wait, and wait, and wait. I keep telling him it happens all the time and to not care about it...

Of course, it is now almost 4pm and no sign of the girl or a phone call. He did see her sign offline at 2:10, after he im'd her to make sure she had directions okay, etc.

Now everyone understands why this happens--if I was in the position to do a shoot as a model and never had, I would back out at the last minute probably.

The girl is 18 and goes to a college about 10 minutes away from him. It makes sense that she had second thoughts and couldn't do it. Hardly a shocker...

Unfortunately, when anyone cancels something they decide they don't want to do, they don't care about it. So why be professional and call or explain? You never need to see the person, or depend on them for anything, so they can totally back off...

I told him he will face a lot of this in the future. I know I have, and still do on occasion... he is only shooting amateur girls, and for his site the idea is to get girls who are not on any others. It's a tough road...

The main two ways I have found to cut down on this:

1. Be as personable and relaxed as possible to build a rapport before the shoot. He is in a small area, so he can go have coffee or meet with them before the shoot happens. I have also stressed the importance of being professional and clear in regards to the work (which will only be solo posing).

2. Bump the pay up a bit. The difference between $150-$200 and $300-$400 will sway girls who may have been on the fence. My justification of it is that if the girl is really worth shooting it is better to pay that for a 3-4 hour shoot instead of 2 shorter shoots with less attractive girls. Some photographers will shoot anyone, but if the right type wants to do it, put your resources behind someone that will make you the most return.


What other tips, strategies, and tactics am I not thinking of to recommend? There must be some others to help ensure that the girls you want to shoot and book time with actually show up...

Shit I even went so far as to hire a beard.

You know a front...I hired an attractive latina in her mid 20's who had some exeprience in this biz to do answer the calls, set up the appointments and even handle the initial interview before the shoot and we still had trouble.

Just the nature of this beast we call porn.

Edited to add...and I even started offering $50 for the initial interview that included some brief nudity for a test shot.

I would think bumping the price would lead to more problems later on if she expresses more interest in modeling. She'll always want the same figure, and tend to ask for even more money.

What if you booked her for an extra long shoot, which would make the price more justifiable?

I agree. $300-$400 that better be atleast for a couple of hours work because I can get a girl out of LA for $700-$800 for a full day of hardcore video work.

Used to happen to me all the time when I was shooting regularly in NYC. It's part of the game. The best way to deal with it for me was working with a couple of good girls to really push the referral thing. Still though you will have no shows no matter what you do.

Anyone with agency experience could probably tell you if that will cut down on the no shows, I don't know myself.

Totally.. $300-$400 for a 3-4 hour shoot or longer.

Instead of $150-$200 for a 2 hour deal.

He can't go agency because he wants all amateur.

Definitely the worst situation to be in...

Girls who model pro need money and to make a living. And girls who aren't pro and need money, well, aren't attractive enough to have guys in their lives to take care of them... so not the type you want to take pictures of.

I told him to expect it... he has a girl right now recruiting for him who is bringing 2 friends over on Monday. I told him if he can get a few girls working with him to find others, it will be an easier path.

oh, yeah - forgot to mention that Northern California girls are a pain in the ass!

in So. Cal, same flake issues but there are so many girls that I am always keeping busy and have myriad options for any given day...

up here, well, the girls want more cash, there is less competition, and it just doesn't feel as professional on either end.

in my opinion, the girls are better looking though.

try double-booking the girls... one will probably not show anyhow

and if they both do, get them do stuff with each other before you jump in the action! :thumbsup

Oh, another idea I had - this could get any potential flakes to not book a shoot (which is good, right?):

When setting the shoot up and confirming it, etc. Tell them that to pay them at the shoot you need to submit their info to accounting and take down their full name, address, etc.

For some reason, I figure a girl who is serious will give you that info and they will show up ultimately.

And if you're in a closeby area, they would probably feel a bit iffier about flaking if you knew all that about them... not just like emails or voicemails they can delete?

Not that anyone would show up if a model flaked... but still, psychologically it could help further commit them to keeping the appt.

Girls in NoCal should be much cheaper than SoCal models. They have less frame of reference up there as to what is the going rate for nude/adult modelling and their options are limited as to how many people they can work for.

Ask Donovan Phillips, he's sitting pretty up there in NoCal.

Flakes are part of shooting porn. First few weeks of January almost every shoot we had for WantonGirls was a washout.
Think Wanton has been shooting now for 14 days straight without a break or some ridiculous amount.

Lotta people want these cute teen amateur looking girls.

I've thought that for ages - shit, I may start keeping extra cash on hand should both show actually show up.

Hehe.. I wonder what the flake rate is for HFGB... granted, if a girl saw the site and commited to the idea, she must know what she is getting into... LOL.

Guys, flakes are a part of life anymore. It's not just porn.

I constantly run ads for a job opening I have (non-porn related). I got so tired of messing with flakes and no-shows that I am now extremely prejudice over the phone. If they can't carry a decent conversation with me, no interview. If they can't speak good English, no interview. If they sound uninterested and dull, no interview. On top of all that, I make THEM call me back to set up an interview. If they don't return the call, oh well. If they do, great! One no-show to an interview, they're done with.

I don't have time to sit around and wait for people. The above has really cut out some of the bull shit. I had an ad going last week. Received about 50-60 calls, set up one interview out of all the calls, and I'm hiring the guy.

Might not work for models, but it works for my situation.

I have seen Donovan's site and run a few banners for it on mine... I think he is pretty much the man, but he is also in Chico which is a fairly isolated area, and his word of mouth from girls must multiply constantly, hence why he has so many (not discrediting his work or personality).

I have a female friend who lives in Humboldt County. They have an anti-chain ordinance there so there are no franchises or big businesses. Jobs are pretty scarce and there are a lot of hippy girls and such who would get naked. As my friend put it "$200 is a month's rent" up there.

In the Bay Area, less frame of reference works against you.

In So. Cal, I have had no problem getting cute girls for $120-$150 on the low end... in the Bay Area, most believe they should be making much more than the going rate. Plus, cost of living anywhere in the Bay Area is much more than most of So. Cal.

It is also like the SF area models know that there are not as many models up here... that, and there are less professional companies shooting in the area. Meaning they do a lot of shoots at hotels and in iffy circumstances...

Comparitively, I find So. Cal to be a cakewalk... I am glad I live there.

welp... you jinxed me... my 6:00pm appointment is 45 minutes late now... and counting.

Ha...

I seriously want to start a message board for content producers where we can post pics and warnings about flakey models.

In So. Cal, it would be beneficial to know who is not worth your time.

Most of the other model boards offer no real insight in this area... and they are not adult industry friendly.

If I could figure out a legal way to do it, I would start a rotating "Flakey Model of the Day" pic on some of my sites... rotate through the pics girls sent me from the pool who never showed... LOL.

Im right near Donovan, and Chico really is not isolated. I do shoots in Chico, Redding, Arcada (humbolt), etc.

Models are often flakey. I resorted to often double booking (like a doctors office does) if by chance they both show one waits or if I am lucky I can toss in a few extra bucks and get a girl girl shoot.

I also have picked up the models, not allowing them the luxury of arriving themselves. I set the time, etc, then show up and pick em up at there house and bring them to the shoot.

officially flaked. We're gonna start calling the morning of and night before like the extra's casting agencies do.

We had our first NO SHOW in a long time Monday. Strange thing was it's a girl that has done a lot of work for us and we've heard nothing from her. She's not answering her mobile.

Brings back a lot of bad memories of when I was in London. Here they tend to not show for castings, and maybe the first time. But once they start they are very reliable. If they cannot make it they phone us.

We always make the girls confirm that they are coming on the day.