I rarely ever rant or even get aggravated, but lately I have read lots of posts about what folks will or won't do for their chosen profession (modeling specifically).  I made a list of things that models (and photographers/actors/ etc)  face everyday. You have to learn to suck it up and go on for crying out loud, if you ever hope to "make it" in this business. Forgive me if I sound bee-yotch-y.  I am in doing EVERYTHING in my power to make it and get tired of hearing people whine while expecting others to do it for them.
Feel free to add to the list or debate a point.

1.  You do NOT need a manager!
2.  You do NOT need a portfolio to begin.
3.  Agencies LOVE snapshots of you against a PLAIN background.
4.  You WILL eventually have to cut, color, braid, whatever your hair. Get used to it.
5.  You WILL be asked to lose/gain/tone your body weight. Get used to  that.
6.  You WILL be stressed to the max.
7.  You WILL get hit on…lots…by men and women! You will be groped, felt up, made to feel uncomfortable…I KNOW THIS.  Be Prepared.
8.  You WILL eat lots of ramen noodles. Develop a taste for it.
9.  Chances are you WILL NOT be an overnight sensation.  Get used to sleeping on thefloor of  your buddies/bff’s/moms best friends uncles girlfriends floor.  Suck it up.
10. You WILL wait tables, mop floors, say “would you like fries with that” for a while...maybe a long while.
11. If you are 5’3” and 145 lbs, you WILL NOT do runway/fashion for a major market. Doen matter whether you are a guy or a girl.  That is just the way it is.
12. Most likely you WILL NOT get discovered at the Starbucks.  Get off your duff and get out to open calls.
13. You WILL PAY for a shoot at some point.  Agencies will most likely require you to shoot with one of their preferred photographers. And you WILL.
14. Please DO NOT expect to get paid for your 1st, 2nd, or 15th shoot unless you are
       A) exceptional B) willing to show boobies (ladies) or C) LUCKY.
15. Know that the LITTLE THINGS will follow you.  Be polite. Answer emails. Be professional. Don’t gossip.
16. You are NOT a professional just because you have done 3 TFP’s. Don’t put it on your port that you are. Other professionals will expect things from you that you may not know how to do yet. There is no shame in being NEW.
17. Saying NO politely is always an option. Flaming is NOT.
18. Being an editorial/fashion model is NOT the be all/end all. There is lots of money to be made and lots of fame to be gleaned from doing commercial/print/alt/fetish/etc modeling. Pick what suits your body type and desires.
19. You WILL be asked to “sex up” your portfolio, do nudes, implied nudes, or other things that may offend your sensibilities. Get used to it and refer to # 17.
20. You DO NOT tell an agency what you will or will not do. They WILL tell you what they want & you can make a decision that is right for you.  The agency MAY or MAY NOT decide to represent you at that point.
21. You WILL hear “NO” many, many times. Toughen up for it.
22. This is NOT a glamorous life. It is hard. Long hours, walking miles, subways, little sleep, loneliness, rude comments, and lots of “No thank you’s”, will be the norm.
23. People WILL think it is their constitutional right to judge you, tell you that you are fat/skinny/ugly/don’t look like a model. Expect it and try to develop a tough skin.
24. Things WILL bother you. You WILL want to cry/quit/jump off a bridge. Just cry, it is ok and doesn’t make you weak, just human. DO NOT, however, jump off a bridge. It won't help.
25. You WILL have to work with people that you loathe, are not attracted to, or who you think smells awful. Suck it up. You are a professional, this IS your job!
26. You WILL have to work out/eat right/take care of your body. Just do it already.
27. Water IS your friend.
28. Drugs are NOT.  However, they are easy to come by. Refer to # 17.
29. Remember, if you DO “make it”, you were once new. Act accordingly.
30. There is more than enough hate in the world. . LOVE yourself, your family, your friends. They WILL be there for you when the world stops cheering!
31. If you ask for critiques from anyone, expect the truth and LISTEN. Take what others tell you, apply what is needed & discard the rest. This will help you grow in your profession and in life.
32. Have FUN for this too shall pass.
33. Just because you “want this more than anything in the world” DOES NOT mean that it will happen for you. Give it your best but have a back-up just in case.
34. Just because you get signed by the biggest/best/prettiest agencies in the world, you CAN NOT expect to sit back and get rich and/or famous! You MUST still work/network/bust your butt to get ahead. Agencies sign lots of people. Not all of them “make it”. TRUTH.
35. You WILL be lied to/led on.  It is the nature of the business. SMILE.


Sorry if I offend anyone. This is just the way that I see it in the world I am living in right now...and I miss my mommy (sorry, just my whine for the day, we all get one, right?)
PEACE, LOVE, and PUPPIES:D
PEABO

*Waves at peabo*
Feel better?

Definately agree with Peabo
Nicely put, a real productive way to spend time, seriously!

Hope people can benefit from this proper advice

36.  always view long lists of this and that as subjective at best.  no two paths are the same and no two walk a path the same, grasshopper.

--face reality

And while we're at it, can we address plus modeling? I recently received this message:

You don't think I'm plus sized? Everyone I spoke to has been telling me that I am?

I don't care what everyone says. Being heavy does not make one a plus model.

Alot of this is really good advice

awesome peabo.  best rant ever.

Nicely put, and entertainingly written.

The Peabo.....Been in this Buisness for 20 odd years and you hit right on the money.....Read and absorb and learn.....


Only one thing to add.....
You will meet some really nice people who will help you.....just watch out for the once who pretend to be friends .....those you will see if your eyes are open...and rememebr your gut is never wrong so listen to it

Sorry if Hijacked......

Damn Peabo.. you hit it 100% on the button.. Good job buddy!

We should all campaign to take the OP and get it locked down on both Newbies and Model Matters. Well maybe take out the miss my mommy thing

it has my vote!

hmmm ,  a Calgary Lad done good ,,,

Can we put this on the home page here?

Your "rant" was actually very good advice!  Good job 

Thanks all...I appreciate it and I really do feel better now...

That was very informative, long but informative.

Tx. for that !!!

I can relate to most of those things you listed Peabo.

Just not 4,5, and 11. My height, wieght, eating habits, and hair/facial hair have no bearing on how the models I photograph end up looking.

In fact I could work a shoot in a chicken outfit and still deliver as usual. And I want to book a shoot on one Halloween or another so I have an excuse to wear a costume to work

a 17 year old model with the wisdom of many times his years...awesome rant!

Dude, we don't like the truth here.

Good stuff here! Should be a must read along with newmodels.com for all who think they "have what it takes"!!

great post Peabo!

Can we get this stickied?

And while we are at it, can we get the "post that will end badly" thread stickied as well?

Both really are that good... just for different reasons (even though a few of them overlap).

This should be permanently stuck at the top of the newbie forum!!!!!

Nicely written luvie! Great advice for all to follow. Wish you the best with your career
T~