Expert: Kitty Kavey - 10/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Kitty,

Just read a post that you answered about child models in Atlanta, and appreciate your knowledge and devotion in directing those people in the right direction.

I'm 61 years young, "teachable" (I love to learn!), and have been told, by total strangers, that both my looks and voice are quite appealing. I'm attempting to reinvent myself, and am wondering what reputable modeling agencies exist in Atlanta, or should I be to writing AARP? lol  I am considering tv ads, voice overs and, since I'm a total novice, just about anything, within reason.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration in this matter, and I hope to hear from you at your early convenience.

Best,
Bill

ANSWER: You should look for a commercial print agency who also represents voice-over artists.  I checked the Screen Actor's Guild list of franchised agencies in the Atlanta area, and it looks like there may be a few agencies there that may work well for you.

Atlanta Models & Talent, Inc.
3091 MAPLE DR NE STE 201 ATLANTA, GA 30305
404-261-9627
http://www.amtagency.com
Models, actors, voiceover (All Ages)
Houghton Talent, Inc.
919 COLLIER RD. NW ATLANTA, GA 30318
404-603-9454
http://www.houghtontalent.com
Actors, voiceover (All Ages)
The Jana VanDyke Agency
3655 JAMES RD STE 114 ACWORTH, GA 30102
770-529-0655
http://www.jvagency.com
Models, actors, voiceover (All Ages)
Richard S. Hutchison Management, Inc.
3071 ARDEN RD. N.W. ATLANTA, GA 30305
404-261-7824
http://www.rshmanagement.com
Voiceover (All Ages)

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You can be represented by one agency for voiceover, and another for modeling - or have one agency represent you for both.  The agencies on the SAG list are licensed by the state as well as conform to union rules, so they should all be reputable.

Hopefully you have someone locally who can help you put together your materials to submit to agents.  You may be asked for a voice demo and/or a modeling composite card.  Most agency websites have instructions for new faces/new talent submission, or you can call to inquire what they want to see from you for consideration.

I hope you find the right agency for you, and I wish you much future success.  
~Kitty

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Follow Up:
Thank you so much for your response.  You said, "Hopefully you have someone locally who can help you put together your materials to submit to agents." I don't, no clue. I have a Ph.D., but have been working as a grocer for the last few years, so money is very tight Went from making 6 figures to grossing $12K!
Perhaps this is just "Pie in the sky"?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated or, if you think I'm chasing windmills, please just let me know. I've honed rejection into an art form given how many job rejections I've received. Thanks again! Email: .

Answer
You can still keep your day job while you pursue modeling and voiceover, so don't worry about that.  Much of the work, outside of being a top fashion model, involves very little time and work can be infrequent.  Even with acting, before "stardom" talent often have other jobs (waiter or bartender seems to be almost a cliche) while they also attend acting classes and work on independent films, do commercials, and so on.  So if your schedule at your current job can be flexible, or you can take an afternoon off or switch shifts with someone when there's a casting or go-see, or perhaps you need a few hours to do a modeling job or voice job, then you shouldn't have a problem.

First things first, though - you will be responsible for the costs of getting together your professional materials for agency consideration.  How much that will be depends on several factors; your location, whether or not you can trade/barter with someone, how many agents you'll be submitting to, and how many different types of materials you need to do so.

With commercial print modeling I suggest you check out your local library for two things; books written about commercial print modeling (many of which also have a modeling agency directory) and local or regional magazines, or national general-interest magazines.

You can get ideas from the magazines usually quite easily about what commercial print models do, what shots you can emulate, and if it's a local magazine the credits often give you the name of an area photographer with whom you may want to work.

Fashion models model fashion and beauty products.  They are the ones who have strict size/age and look requirements.  Commercial print models do products and services, and do not generally have height, size or age requirements.  They are also called "real people" or sometimes "character models."  The Gorton's Fisherman (the guy on the commercials and advertisements) is a character model.  The Dell computer users in their print ads (usually family-looking types) are commercial print models.  Commercial print models can also do a lot of stock photography shots - where you're selling an intangible thing, such as an emotion - and those types of shots are often used by magazines and online articles to go with titles like "How to Have a Better Marriage," perhaps with a photo of an older couple walking hand in hand down a beach.

You can do the same type of research with voiceover.  Check the library for how-to books on the specific type of voice work you think would most appeal to you.  Visit voiceover sites like voices.com where you can listen to demo tapes or samples from voices like yours.

You can pay someone to take photos of you, or make a professional voice demo tape with you.  Check first what the agencies you are interested in are asking for.  If they just want an 30 second MP3 sample, you can probably do that on your own on your computer.  There are free programs to record your voice, sample ad copy available online or at the library.

Same thing with the modeling - find out first if the agencies you are interested in will accept a couple snapshots, or need a modeling composite card.  Samples of commercial print modeling composite cards are online, and I have been able to drop by agents before to ask if I could have a couple samples of composite cards they liked.

You can trade with a friend or family member who is good with a camera, or sometimes with semi-pros or pro photographers who are testing out a new camera or idea will do "time for prints."  You trade them your time for free in exchange for a few (or sometimes many) prints/photos that you can use.

Printing them out into a composite card is also something you can do with a photo printer and a bit of trial and error, or there are companies who specialize in printing out modeling composite cards and your local Kinkos-type places.

Do not have fear that you might try something and fail.  Only be afraid of having a dream and failing to try to attain it.  You're already going about this the right way; educate yourself first, learn what you can, then go for it.  Don't run off to Los Angeles on a bus, keep the job you have while you pursue something that may bring you more enjoyment.

You can do it, and when you get that "pie-in-the sky" it's a terrific feeling.  Mine was a chocolate pie, by the way.

:)
~Kitty