Expert: Kitty Kavey - 2/26/2009

Question
Hello! My name is Kiley, and I'm 16, I'll be 17 in July. I graduated from Barbizon, and went to auditions for the IMTA (International Model and Talent Associations). I was ecstatic when I was accepted as only 98 out of 400 girls were. I only have one huge problem... the whole trip plus expenses is $5,000!!! Like many people, I can't afford that, and neither can my family. I have a minimum wage job, and my family is suffering (like many) in this economic state we're in. I began to look into sponsors, but I can't find any who want to sponsor an individual. What do I do? I've tried fundraising, but it's no use! I'm so desperate to go on this trip! This is what will launch my modeling career, and my life's dream, but I have no way to reach it. Please, if you could tell me of anyone who could be a possible sponsor, I would appreciate it so much! Thank you!

Answer
If you add up the total costs involved, it's actually comes out to quite a bit more than $5,000.  IMTA is a training organization, similar to Barbizon.  The majority of agents and managers who attend the IMTA are from New York and Los Angeles - so assuming you attend the event and an agent is interested in you, you would need to go where your agent is.  

So if you do not already live within easy access to the agents who attend the IMTA, you'll need to think about how you'll be able to move to where they are.

Since you mention modeling as your goal, you have the opportunity to submit your information to any of the modeling agents who attend the IMTA at no cost other than what you pay for postage and copies of snapshots.  Nearly all top fashion modeling agencies accept mailed in info from new faces.  None require any previous training, nor do fashion models use resumes.

If you are close to a place like NY or LA, many fashion agencies also have open calls which you can attend in person.  You are seen and evaluated by the agency for free.

It may be that you feel you are not ready yet to begin working as a model, in which case training centers and events can help one feel more confident.  But it would be my advice that if your dream is to work as a model, that you begin doing so now - the fist step being to research and decide on what agencies would be right for you and your goals as a model.  Then either visit them in person, or mail in your information to them.  Once you are accepted by an agency, you are either booked directly on work, or you attend go-sees so the client can look at you and see if you're right for their job.

When you get paid, your agency takes a percentage off of the money you earn through them (usually 10-20%).  If you need to move in order to be close to your agency, a few of the (usually larger) agencies can help you find shared housing (like a 'model apartment') but you are still expected to pay for it.  Many new models have other jobs as well that pay for their housing, travel costs, food and personal expenses.

Again, if you're lucky enough to already live close to or in a major modeling market then that won't be a problem - you can remain living where you are and save a lot of the money you earn.

If you check the IMTA website, you can see a list of some of the attending agents.  Use your favorite search engine to look up the ones you are interested in.  For example Elite NY has a website, and like many modeling/talent sites they not only detail what the agency criteria is, but also what they want to see from new faces for consideration.  In Elite's case, it would be that they see girls up to age 22, 5'9-6 tall, and also have a way for you to submit your information to them online.

IMG Models also has an online submission on their website, sees girls up to age 21, 5'9 or taller, and has offices in NY Paris London, Milan and Brazil, all of which you can also contact directly.

You can have a couple snapshots taken by a friend or family member, and contact the agencies you are interested in in one of the ways described above, which most likely will be far less costly than paying to meet them in a forum such as IMTA.  Again, don't forget to contact the agents closest to you first - as you may be able to avoid moving your home base.  

And if you aren't ready to work as a model yet, then perhaps if you approach companies in your area (or perhaps even the one you work for now) with a sponsorship proposal, they may be willing to donate towards your trip.  If you could figure out a way that they would get something in return, it wouldn't be a handout.  Think creatively.  If for every $500 a company donates, you agree to do a certain number of hours of charity work, for example, you may be able to get them to donate towards your IMTA dream.  There are charity fundraising ideas that may also allow you to earn the money towards your goal of $5000, not just a garage sale or auction, but certainly if you check in your local library, bookstore or online you'll see a lot of books and info on how to raise funds for a charitable purpose (and in this case your IMTA trip.)

Good luck to you,
~Kitty  

Good luck to you