Model Agencies :::
 

Well, you know that things are slow in this business when the model agencies are calling you up to try to get you to book their girls. I've NEVER seen an agent or agency take a proactive approach to booking their girls. They've always sat back and waited for the phone to ring. I've heard from two agencies over the last few weeks....calling to find out if they could do anything for me. Strange :Oh crap

I see a model agency bailout package on the horizon.

They are always proactive, they send emails daily. I have not seen them call though.

This recession truely is affecting all parts of society.

My mainstream advertising agency down here in Brazil also lost 30% of it's revennues.

:(

Marco just sent me an email from a big agency - big colored font email 'REDUCED PRICES! $800 B/G SCENES!!!'

they're finally realizing this recession includes them.

Or perhaps you have been booking less girls through them recently?

Not really - we are booking girls.....and doing very well (knock on wood). I have producer friends in the biz who can't pay their bills right now but for some reason...we've been able to keep working. It helps to have great clients and a product that not every shooter can produce (or wants to produce). I think one of the key reasons we've been able to keep working is our dedication to quality.

I was telling a producer the other day that while most producers want to stick as much (money) as they can in their pockets, I keep just enough to get my bills paid and put the rest into production. I have 3 photo-assistants that work with me on everything I do as well as a brilliant hair/makeup artist. We've been doing our thing for close to 4 years now as a team and I couldn't be prouder of the work that we produce together. It's hella' expensive to run a crew like this but in the long run, the quality content that we are able to produce together sets us apart from so many others who are trying to play the game.

I recently got a number of e-mails from one agency giving discount rates of $700 a scene for some of there girls. I applaud them for there efforts. Beats sitting back waiting for the phone to ring ? Its a buyers market at the moment and models that used to charge $1200.00 for a B/G are not working as much....:Oh crap

good quality you put out dean

scary times for sure.Im very grateful every month a enough has been made to cover the bills and put some away. Its funny lately you figure times are hard models are hungry Im having a bitch trying to book girls for a shooting trip. Didnt change what I pay always had no problem lately finding nonflakes is becoming work.

Wow. Giving your crew props on a board. That's new to me.

nutn... :)

I wouldn't be shit without my crew. Not that I'm shit now....but I would be less shit without them. I'd be like shit level 0000000001. Stanky shit, know what I mean? I'd be worse than horse shit. Kinda like dog shit but worser. Maybe like nasty green baby shit....you get the picture? :winkwink:

Think like a stock broker in a down market ... maybe it's time for some producers who have the cash reserves to go bargain hunting for models and build up some content for when things turn back around.

the agencies def has become more flexible to work with on the rates, but i wouldnt exactly say they are standing in line to give us discounts.

I've seen the same thing Dean. Been getting phone calls as well as more personalized emails.

Dean has always been a class act.

That said, yes, there has been a downturn in the business and many of the "larger" agencies are panicking - though they won't admit it publicly - or to each other.

One example of this is the creation of the AEATA (the "Trade Association" for licensed talent agents). One of the reasons that Joel Lawrence gave for founding this "Trade Association" was that approximately 50% of all bookings were being done by unlicensed agents and managers and, he further stated, that this cannot be allowed to go on! He was also complaining about producers/directors booking his and other agents' girls around them. At the initial meeting to form the "Trade Association" Joel stated that some "heads would have to be lopped off."

Another example is Shy Love e-mailing everyone that she's reducing the rates for her girls.

Now all of this is well and good. I am an economist by trade and believe in competition. However, what I see happening in the future is a triumph of quality over quantity. With less shooting going on I believe the "cream will rise to the top". All these "mega-agencies" are currently having difficulty finding work for so many girls (at least non-escorting work).

At Spieglergirls we have always kept our roster small. We, as a rule, never represent more then 25 models at any one time and I do 100% of the bookings myself (so that there are NO mistakes). Furthermore, the models we do represent are basically all top shelf. Our models are all drug tested, AIM tested (every 21 days), punctual and professional. No Spieglergirl has ever flaked on a shoot - ever!

Our girls have continued to work pretty frequently (though, to be honest, not as frequently as 2 years ago) and I believe that this is due to Spieglergirls holding our models to a higher standard then the other agencies.

I always get calls to set up "go sees", Thats nothing new for me. I want to see a girl, especially if she is new and has not worked for anybody i know.


There are girls that are not quality and they will end up doing it cheap or quitting the biz. The sad thing is that some girls are willing to take the cheaper rate, but their agent wont let them. thats kinda sad.