FAQ's from Parents

Q. How do you assure a parent that their child will be OK in the hands of the agency?

A. I discuss at length with them my priorities and the reason I got into this business. My top priority is the well-being and improvement of my models. I get tremendous satisfaction knowing that I have helped prepare young people for the challenges of life and that I have provided them an opportunity to improve their lives. Money is secondary with me. Of course, one needs to be prudent in business but that comes as a natural effect of developing strong and ethical relationships with my models and their parents and the agencies I work with which I work in the larger international fashion markets.

As an agency in a smaller market, I often take on the role of a ‘mother’ agency and as such, I take this role very seriously. In a sense, the models become my ‘children’. In my business affairs, as in my life, I apply the Golden Rule. I wouldn’t involve my models in anything that I wouldn’t involve my own children. I am very honest with my models and their parents about their potential. If I don’t think they are ready, I will tell them. If I think they are ready, I will encourage and support them. I also stress the importance of education and let them know that, above anything else, this is a learning environment for them and they must abide by certain rules of conduct if they wish to continue their experience with me. There is nothing more attractive, desirable and magnetic as a beautiful intelligent person. I am a member of the International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) which adheres to the highest standards. The IMTA attracts professionals of the highest caliber and its business is conducted on a very professional basis. Inappropriate behavior on the part of models, agencies or anyone else involved with the Association is simply not tolerated and the offending party is asked to leave.

Q. What is your advice to parents experiencing the fashion world for the first time?

A. My advice is to relax, have fun and have faith in their children and not worry about them being ‘led astray’ by the glamour and lights. Indeed, these are a part of the industry but a very small part really. There are those who are attracted to the bright lights and fame only. But these are fleeting and unpredictable without hard work and effort. Those who don’t understand that it takes a lot of hard work and focus just won’t make it. This is a business, a very demanding business, that requires years of hard work and concentration – almost a singleness of purpose.

I tell the parents that they have raised exceptional children who are exceptionally beautiful and intelligent. One of my models, for example, Courtney Miller, who is fast approaching Supermodel status I’m pleased to say, was discovered when she was thirteen and knows the importance of an education. Courtney does her schoolwork wherever she goes throughout the world. Another of my models, Lauren Gerro, who just returned from Tokyo, was the valedictorian of her class. I evaluate my models very carefully. If I see that they do not take this endeavor seriously, I will simply not accept them in my agency – even if they meet the other criteria.

I also tell parents that Supermodels like Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell didn’t make it on beauty and luck alone. Of course, these are factors but these models are all very intelligent. They take the advice of their agencies and managers seriously. They live healthy lifestyles and they are also involved in other businesses. Cindy is an accomplished actress. Naomi has written a novel. Claudia is involved in the Fashion Café, among other things. It took Kate Moss several years to be ‘recognized’ in the fashion industry because of her shorter height and unusual look. She stuck it out, however, and never gave up. She saved her money and invested in herself. When she was asked to travel to New York, she financed her trip herself. The next week she was invited to a party attended by Calvin Klein. Calvin took one look and the rest is history. But Kate had to work to get herself there. These are very smart young women who knew what it took to succeed and did what the rest just didn’t make the effort to do.

Q. How should the relationship between an agent and parents coexist?

A. I believe strongly that the best relationship is one of co-operation and trust. We have a singular purpose. I like to work closely with parents from the beginning and involve them in all of the steps of the decision-making process. I believe that you can achieve superior results from an educative and collaborative process. I like to keep the parents fully informed as to their son’s or daughter’s potential and progress. Once all parties are fully informed with a common vision of the goal we wish to achieve – the well-being of the model – then the horizon for opportunity and success is much broader. In this sense, we collaborate on major decisions that will profoundly affect their child’s future.

Of course, I handle the day to day administrative details of finding the best photographer and work for my models, negotiating the best contract, arranging for their visas and transportation, etc. But in the broader life decisions, the parents must be involved. I always strive for the best possible situation for all concerned – the model’s family and the agencies. My role is one of a facilitator. If, for example, a model is in Milan, away from home for the first time, and she becomes incredibly homesick, it is futile to ask them to remain there. The model obviously isn’t happy and their performance will ultimately suffer. It is clear that, when someone is happy, they perform with confidence and ease. In this case, I try to find an acceptable solution for all concerned, a more agreeable location closer to home, perhaps even a hiatus from modeling for a time, until they feel they are ready to be further away from home. This, I think, is a much more constructive winning approach. In the longer term it is a win-win situation and in the modeling business you must look toward the future.

Q. As an agent, what is your biggest fear or hindrance with parents being involved in their child’s career? The biggest comfort or help?

A. I like to think the best of people. Having a positive attitude is very important to me and I don’t focus on my fears. If there is a hindrance, it is when a parent with little knowledge of the intricacies and relationships in this business tries to intervene or even take over the business decisions. They try contacting the agencies on their own without communicating with me what they have done. Of course, they have good intentions for their son or daughter but this sort of undisciplined behavior can sometimes have disastrous effects. The trust in the relationship has been broken.

It is important to understand the nuances of human relationships in addition to having a thorough understanding of the business. I think you also must be creative in this business. It is an art form. There is a certain subtleness which underlies things. In these cases, I am then left to handle the damage control when the parent realizes they have made a mistake or the agency contacts me asking me what is going on. This can be very time consuming. Luckily, it hasn’t happened often. When it does, one must assess the damage quickly, work to repair the damage, negotiate a solution and try to reach an amicable agreement on the parameters of the relationship again. If this is not possible, and sometimes it isn’t, the best thing to do is to realize that the relationship is unworkable, to conclude it and move on.