1. What is the role of a model?
A model's purpose is to help companies advertise their products and services. Glamour and style are created by the stylists, videographers and photographers in order to catch the eye of viewers and entice them to buy the products or use the services.2. What is the role of an agency?
The agent helps models to find jobs. An assessment of each model's character and looks are carried out in order to advise the model on the kind of image to project. Any advice given is based on the agent's opinion of market conditions. Each agency projects a different image to clients hence consider and choose the agency that best fits the direction that you wish to market yourself as a model. The agent can choose the type of models to represent so that the model fits the marketing direction of the agency. The agency also acts on the models' behalf to negotitate with clients for proper renumeration and to expedite payment.3. What goes into a portfolio?
A portfolio consists of photos you had taken with photographers and tearsheets (tear-outs of adverts or editorials or anything that you had done commercially).4. Why do I need a good portfolio?
A good portfolio acts like a resume. It helps to show what kind of looks that you, the model, is capable of achieving. If the client thinks your looks fit the marketing direction that their companies wish to take, you get the job. A model is also a spokesman for the companies' products/services. The behaviour of the model will affect the overal image of the products.5. Why do I need a compcard?
A compcard is a summary of your portfolio and given to the client in place of the portfolio. Your compcard acts like a namecard.6. Since the client has the compcard, why do I need to attend castings?
Castings are necessary as the client wishes to find out more about you and to see you in person. Castings are essentially interviews of the models. Castings are also important as your looks and figure can change over time. Photos in the compcards are usually a few months old hence clients wish to see your most current look. Clients also need to conduct castings to check the model's acting ability, speech, behaviour for video and television commercial projects. Runway castings are done to check the model's ability to do a catwalk.7. What do I bring to castings?
Your compcard, portfolio and good grooming. Do not appear in castings dressed casually and in slippers. Dress smart. Be punctual.8. What do I wear
during shoots?
During shoots, it is recommended that models wear
skin
tone underwear so that the underwear would not be visible through the
clothes. If possible, try to wear either strapless brassieres or those
with removable straps. Please refrain from wearing lacy underwear as
well. 9. What other agencies are there in Singapore and how do I determine whether they are credit worthy?
There are many agencies in Singapore and it is advisable for models to do checks about the agencies prior to applying. Talk to friends, and if possible, models, to find out more about the industry so that you may make an informed decision.10. Am I allowed to
freelance
and
do jobs from other agencies?
This will depend on the particular agency that you
are
applying to. We encourage all local full time models to freelance,
within acceptable boundaries, but
imported foreign models are not allowed to.11. Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, all models who are officially represented by us have to sign a contract to agree to our terms and conditions and be subject to our agency's rules and regulations.12. What are the benefits of signing the contract and becoming an officially represented model?
13. Do I have to pay any fees to be a model?
There are no registration fees associated to being a model. We depend on commission extracted from the jobs that you do. Our commission fee range from 20-30%, depending on the job.Our official models are treated in the same way that employees in other industries are treated. The costs associated with developing your portfolio will be covered by us. Subsidised groomng and catwalk training will only be given to selected models.
14. How much can I expect to earn per job?
The earnings vary depending on the job requirements. You will receive 70 to 80% of the earnings after commission is paid to the agent.Print Ads and Commercial shoot rates comprise of the day rate and the media loading rate.
Day rate can be calculated hourly or in a flat rate for half or full day.
Non advertising rate (such as for events) = Day rate only
There is a very wide variation in the amount of media loading due to the different types of media available for advertising. This explains why there is a large difference between rates for commercial shoots and for events. The day rate will vary slightly for different type of job scopes and activity.
You can usually expect print ads and commercial jobs to pay more than events.
Our commission range from 20 to 30%, depending on some conditions.
Our official models will be subject to at most 25% commission.
Below is a graphic on how the rate differs for events and commercials:
15. What is media loading?
Modelling rates can be split into payment purely for the day's work (day rate) and payment for usage of the model's image/video in commercial works (this is commonly known as media loading). Many models do not understand what is loading. In essence, you are being paid because your image/video is being used as visual material in an advertising medium. Since the image/video is you, clients have to seek your permission to use your image/video. In fair exchange for such permission, models charge clients a certain sum of money. i.e fees that advertisers pay so that they have the rights to use your images and videos in the advertisements and commercials. The more media the image/video are used in, the more clients will have to pay. An extension of usage in the same media will also mean clients will have to pay more. These are commercial transactions that are governed by contracts and model releases.16. Do I need a work permit to work as a model if I am not a Singaporean?
Foreign students studying in Singapore should check whether they are exempt from work permit. Click here to find out more.Foreign models are exempt from work pass only if they are involved in on location filming or fashion shows. Refer to this https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-pass-exempt-activities
Foreign models must inform the Ministry of Manpower prior to commencing their work pass exempt activity. Refer to this https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-pass-exempt-activities/notify-mom-for-an-exemption
An e-notification can be sent to the MOM thru this link https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/e-notification-to-perform-work-pass-exempt-activities
17. What type of models are we looking for?
We are looking for models who are versatile enough to be able to take on different job scopes and roles. We need models who are able to do events, pose well, act in commercials and have good public relations and communication skills.The graphic below illustrates the market segments that our models have to work in
