Expert: Kitty Kavey - 7/7/2007

Question
Hi Kitty:  I'm in my early 5o's (look early 40's) 5/8", sz. 6, eager to learn. I'm taking audition workshop & have an acting coach. I have no experience except for being an extra.  My goals are to have a part-time career as a print model and possibly do commercials.
Is 40's, 50's too late to start print modeling & acting, & how does someone gain experience as a print model?  A reputable modeling agency in the area said people with no experience get hired all the time for print work. But I'm concerned that is few and far between. Thank you!

Answer
It depends on the market, but certainly in places like Los Angeles and Miami there are both actors and commercial print models who didn't even start their career in show business until after they retired from the "regular" career.  So certainly mid-life would not be a problem.  And, since print models do not use a resume to get work, there really isn't a way for them to tell how experienced you are or how many times you've worked.  They look firstly to see if you are photogenic, if you fit the look they need, and sometimes they also meet with you (a go-see) to determine what you look like in person, or what type of personality you have.  Similar in that respect to acting auditions, it's to determine can the model follow directions, will they be able to work with the photographer, and if there's something specific about the job (perhaps it's a shoot in water, with animals, with a group of other models, etc.) is that going to be something that you'll do better than the other people they are considering for the job.  Obviously there are so many different shoots and parameters, so that's somewhat of a generalization - but models are hired primarily for their look, and not experience.
You can also probably register with more than one agency to increase your chances of getting work.  Perhaps the modeling agency that you mention would represent you for print, and you can use another agency for acting.  NYC isn't all that far from you, so perhaps you could look into what's available (given the commute) for you up there.  I know that when I was living in St Petersburg, I was repped by an agency in the Miami area.  They knew I needed more notice than some of their other talent (as it's about 4 hours each way driving), and they also tended to direct book more more often than asking me to audition, unless I was already down there for something else.  They were quite accommodating, and I'm sure there are other agents who may be the same way.

Good luck to you,
~Kitty