I've already covered the topic of, " do you need a manager ". Now I'd like to quickly go over the top 5 things you can be, need to be, and undoubtedly should be doing it you are a model and have a manager or agent. I want to say that these are things that are very much standard, expected and often, required. I'm a pinup manager and pinup stylist. I offer many services and perform several duryes for my clients. I feel there is often some confusion between my role as a personal stylist, and my role as a manager. They are 2 completely different positions, and both come with different responsibilities. The resources, connections and services I offer as a manager are beyond and different, than my services as a pinup stylist. With that said, a mangers main focus is to manage your career, as well as help you develop skills and create a plan to succeed at all your goals. They aren't simply submitting your images. They aren't simply promoting your modeling page. There are so many things they do, not simply one thing. Managers are responsible for helping the talent become marketable. This means helping you create a solid pinup look. This means advising you and working with your stylists and photographers. This means being involved in every single aspect of your pinup career. Now, I keep using the word pinup, because I am a pinup stylist and pinup manager. I feel all these things definitely apply to any type of modeling, as well as the entertainment industry. Managing your career, key and just that, managing. Any plan or plans, any choices or decisions, goals, shoots, events,.... any and everything that applies directly to your career, your manager or agent needs to be involved! If you aren't active in pinup, you don't need a manager. If you don't have the funds, and or the time specifically for your goals, you don't need a manager. If you are against, above or clueless about the importance of reseach, AND TRAINING, you don't need a manager. If you don't take constructive criticism well, you don't need a manager. If you can't see, or willing to accept the areas you need improvements on, you don't need a manager. If you don't have a long term plan, to be involved in pinup, and succeed at your goals, you don't need a manager. And then there's the obvious. If you are constantly late or rushing, that will undoubtedly effect your biz relationship with a manager or agent, and anyone, in business. Horrible communication. Unorganized all or most of the time, unprepared. Make commitments and break them. Cancel last minute, often. Etc.,etc. There are literally singers, models, actresses, performers, etc., that allow their managers or agent's to control each and every aspect of their career. Their managers or agents work hand and hand with the stylists, designers and photographers. They give total control to their managers on their styling and looks, they allow them to decide what events to attend, what photographers to shoot with, and which publications they shoot for, and way more! How many times have we heard a huge, big name celebrity say, they did this or that, because of their manager or publicity agent?! Why did they wear that outfit to an event or shoot? Because their manager and stylist made that decision. Why didn't theyattend that event or take that gig? Their manager. Why did they color their hair black? Their agent or manager. I don't care what level you're at, if you felt the need to hire and seek representation, you must give power to those, YOU chose to represent you! You must be at the level of even needing an actual manager. You must be ready to fully take advantage of all their services, resources, and connections. You must trust in their professional judgment and knowledge. I've learned over the years, that plenty of amateur pin-ups, do not know the actual definition of a talent manager. Managers help create opportunities, they already have resources, connections and experience. They also find out about biz opportunities, that you are qualified to do. They promote all you do. They connect you with the exact individuals, you need in your career yo succeed. They must be directly and completely involved in, EVERY aspect of your career, career plans, and goals. Here are the top 5 things, you should be actively and constantly doing, if you have a manager or agent, or both. 1. Schedule meeting, every month. ( this obviously increases depending on the talent, and all they are involved in ). This may be a hour meeting once a month. Unless you're out of town, these are in - person meetings. The ones I offer, for free, are called Artist Development classes. In between these face to face meetings, will be lots of communication, when needed. Follow ups, updates, planning photo shoots etc. But a professional buz meeting is essential and often required. In these meetings you go over everything. Your goals, a plan to achieve them, your upcoming shoots, your looks for your upcoming shoots, what your plans and schedule are for the next month, 3 months, etc. You're actually sitting down together, both focused solely and directly on YOUR career. Not whole you're at work, on your cell. Not while you're out with friends and family. Not while you're in the middle of something, non biz related. Pen to paper, taking notes, asking questions, and giving information. 2. Really everything I can list further are all above. You decide to change your look, or shoot a new look, you should be informing your manager, BEFORE you do that. 3. You decide you want a new photographer, or any photographer to photograph you, you should be informing your manager, BEFORE the shoot, before you even book a date. 4. You decide to attend an event that's related to pinup, or enter a contest, etc., your manager or agent should be informed, BEFORE you attend, and should be apart of the planning. 5. Any magazines you want to be in, any calendars, anything that has to do with publicity or publication, should never be decided upon by you, without consulting who represents you. Lastly. If you have a manager or agent, the last way they should be finding out any of your plans are as follows: 1. By reading social media posts 2. From someone you've've ALREADY made plans to work with If your manager or agent decides not to ask you about your plans for the upcoming month, or an upcoming event, photo shoot, etc., then what? What if they require an actual biz meeting in person, and if you don't book any, they won't ask you via Facebook? It's your responsibility to MAKE the time to inform them, and more importantly, not making those decisions, until you've consulted them FIRST! Do you think the top pinup models, or any professional models, actually make all these decisions, minus talking with their manager or agent?!! Sorry, no. What events, what shoots, what photographer's, what looks, what companies,....... NOTHING is ever planned BEFORE a meeting with whoever represents you. A personal stylist is directly involved in the planning of every detail, of every look, for every shoot or event. They work directly with your manager or agent. They may work directly with producers or designers. An agent takes an already developed talent, or talent with huge potential, helps them gain the tools needed, and books them on paid gigs. They are directly involved in every aspect of your career. They work with your manager, stylist and photographers, including any companies you represent. Manager's are responsible for managing! To be the talent, you must have talent. To be a professional stylist you must be skilled, knowledgeable and experienced. Everyone at a professional level are a part of a team. A team designed to create our success and positive results, period! Developing a solid pinup look and becoming a well rounded, marketable pinup, with knowledge, experience, skill, accomplishments,.... all that takes time and invoices the help from real professionals. If you are skilled at one thing, that doesn't automatically mean you're skilled at other essential things. Just because your been published, doesn't automatically mean or ensure it'll keep happening, or in higher quality magazines. If one element is lacking in high quality, within your images, then EVERYTHING will decrease in quality. Great styling and wardrobe, no skilled facial expressions or poses. Hair, wardrobe, makeup on point, photography great, low quality makeup skills. All styling and poses on point, low quality photography. Styling on point, great photography, variety of facial expressions and poses, fabulous wardrobe, but it doesn't fit you well. Looking uncomfortable, looking like you have no energy, looking rushed, rushed edits,......... They are people who are professionals because they specialize and have expertise in that field. You're either paying for their services or wanting to do trade for their services. Stylists are paid to style, nothing more. No advice, no anything besides styling. Many photographers just take photos. You pay them to photograph you, nothing more. Neither are responsible for helping you create a plan. They aren't consulting you on developing your skills, developing your social media presence, connecting you with important people. So, before you think you know what a manager or agent does, 1st research and ask questions directly to managers and agents. Consider your professionalism in the past, consider if you'll be able to take constructive criticism and follow it! Consider if pinup is only a hobby for you. Consider if your goals are actually realistic with your commitment level. Consider how long you plan to be in pinup actively. If you aren't already used to, comfortable doing, or scheduling, wardrobe tests, styling consultations, classes, meetings, and things that I now require, Artist Development classes, have no plan for your goals, aren't willing to train,.... I say again and lastly,.... YOU DON'T NEED A MANAGER! Keep in mind every decision you make, with or without consulting your representation, it directly reflects them. Every shoot you do, whether they book it or you booked it, every event, anyone you decide to also work with, DIRECTLY reflects on your manager or agent. Seriously think about that. This is why if when you plan shoots, your manager should be involved in the planning. You plan to attend an event involving in industry you're in, your manager should be involved in the planning. Pinup Talk host Dianna Prince Sophia Loren
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January 2019
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