NicoleNudes wrote:
I'd ask Artemis https://www.modelmayhem.com/1621682

I *think* she went over there to model, but don't quote me on that.
I do know that she's done work over there from reading her posts in the forums.

Yep, she's been there for a while now  .  .  .  pretty sure her husband got stationed there  .  .  .  I tried helping her make some contacts after she got there (I used to live in Kyoto), not really sure how it ended up though  .  .  .  I do have another model I've worked with who's over there now, as a working fashion model, let me see if I can get a hold of her and pass along some contact info to you  .  .  .  at least you'll be able to see over everybody on the trains  .  .  . 

SOS

Kelleth wrote:
I have an agency in Tokyo really interested in representing me.

I am looking for any advice that others can provide me on what the market is like (for caucasian models specifically). What kind of guarantees are people getting nowadays, what are typical rates, what sort of clients book there, what kind of models book best, etc.

Thanks!

Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Jim McSmith wrote:
Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Jim McSmith wrote:
Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humored the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Yeah... you are correct..., because every single agency and booker in Tokyo, the most important fashion center for the entire Asian market, is involved in human trafficking for the sex trade.

                                                                                 

udor wrote:

Yeah... you are correct..., because every single agency and booker in Tokyo, the most important fashion center for the entire Asian market, is involved in human trafficking for the sex trade.

                                                                                 

They make good cameras though. But the OP should research the Fukushima situation thoroughly before going there, unless the cancer risk is a negligible concern to the OP.  The OP should also read the Daily Mail article;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic … t-bar.html

Jim McSmith wrote:

Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Uh huh.... Was this your only experience with an "agency rep"?

udor wrote:

Yeah... you are correct..., because every single agency and booker in Tokyo, the most important fashion center for the entire Asian market, is involved in human trafficking for the sex trade.

                                                                                 

+1  Tokyo is a beautiful city..though for me too busy...tips don't walk in opposite direction to everyone else in rush hr...it's same as with cars for pedestrians n it p@sses people off..Japanese do not like saying no when people come for job interviews..because they believe Westerners don't like the word no..so if they not keen on you ..they will go ..yes of course I can help n will send you to another company..think I got sent round 5 times once ..they mean well n sometimes it does lead to something..I met my favourite photographer who I admire a lot.. On modelling front , Jim did you watch a C4 documentary ? ...they so loaded against Japan..you get bad things in all countries..
If you are successful..n this genuine person..when you meet them , that person will give you a business card " Meishi" ..don't just put it in your pocket..make a point of looking at it..n nod your head,smile n go ooh..( seriously)..also if your successful n get work...to get on, take a gift when ever you return from a trip..either foreign gift ..or rice cake selection..they love that..you don't have to spend a lot.. it just a custom n it will go down very well.   I wish you success n hope this is genuine ..n you hit the heights.

Snowmonkey Design wrote:

+1  Tokyo is a beautiful city..though for me too busy...tips don't walk in opposite direction to everyone else in rush hr...it's same as with cars for pedestrians n it p@sses people off..Japanese do not like saying no when people come for job interviews..because they believe Westerners don't like the word no..so if they not keen on you ..they will go ..yes of course I can help n will send you to another company..think I got sent round 5 times once ..they mean well n sometimes it does lead to something..I met my favourite photographer who I admire a lot.. On modelling front , Jim did you watch a C4 documentary ? ...they so loaded against Japan..you get bad things in all countries..
If you are successful..n this genuine person..when you meet them , that person will give you a business card " Meishi" ..don't just put it in your pocket..make a point of looking at it..n nod your head,smile n go ooh..( seriously)..also if your successful n get work...to get on, take a gift when ever you return from a trip..either foreign gift ..or rice cake selection..they love that..you don't have to spend a lot.. it just a custom n it will go down very well.   I wish you success n hope this is genuine ..n you hit the heights.

And give and take them with two hands

AJScalzitti wrote:
And give and take them with two hands

hmm correct   Oh I miss Japan, if only could smoke on planes n it were not 14 hr away..I'd be back yesterday.

Jim McSmith wrote:
I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

I might have been doing you some injustice in some way.

I looked at your portfolio and it appears that you are not in the fashion industry, and your models are not fashion but art models.

So... if that woman approached you for "your" models, you might actually have been correct that she would be scouting for those sex-trade jobs.

However, the OP is a fashion model, as you know... a complete different cup of tea within the modeling community.

So... well... yeah... but you can't project her behavior onto a legit, huge industry, not related to sex trafficking...

Jim McSmith wrote:

They make good cameras though. But the OP should research the Fukushima situation thoroughly before going there, unless the cancer risk is a negligible concern to the OP.  The OP should also read the Daily Mail article;

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic … t-bar.html

Did you stop to consider the incidence of homicide in Japan? According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in 2011 there were 442 homicides which for a country of 126 million people is a remarkably small number. Personally, one homicide is too many, but let us have some perspective please!

I am curious though. If I follow your logic why stop with Fukushima? Why not add Hiroshima and Nagasaki to your list because who knows what kind of cancers one might develop some 60 years after the fact...

The fear mongering is really unbecoming and unnecessary!

Jim McSmith wrote:

Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Do you honestly have to troll every.single.thread you post in?

Jim McSmith wrote:

Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

when you use the term " my models " are you indicating that you are a model manager ?

GPS Studio Services wrote:
The important thing when signing with an agency in a foreign country is to read the contracts carefully and then do the math.  I am obviously not a model, but; in my prior life, as an LA talent manager, I had to deal with these things more than once.

In a typical situation, the agency will agree to sign you.  They will often, but not always, provide transportation and housing.  They will also guarantee a minimum earnings for a specific time period.  As an example, I typically saw offers that guaranteed a minimum of $5,000 in gross earnings for a 90-day period.  That is the good news.

The problem is, from that guaranteed minimum, they would deduct the plane ticket, housing, board, agency fees and other expenses.  The bottom line is, they could guarantee you $5,000 but your total expenses could be quite a bit more.  The point is, even with the guarantee, you can end up losing money.  Typically what they guarantee a number they genuinely expect to make, at a minimum, that will cover most of their out of pocket expenses.

So I want to commend you for asking what others are being guaranteed.  It is an important number.  Rule one, don't go if you can't afford to lose some money, because I have seen girls go to both Europe and Asia, to come back in debt.

The good news is that I have seen a couple of situations that didn't work out where the agencies were reasonable.  As an example, I know one model that went to Europe and was not making money at all.  Rather than dragging it out, the agency offered her a ticket home early and to excuse her debt.  So in her case, she didn't make anything but she didn't lose anything, other than the mad money she spent in Paris.

Another thing to remember is, if you are getting signed in Tokyo through a mother agency in the states, you could end up with double commissions. 

My bottom line advice, as I said when I opened, is to read the contract carefully and do the math.  Once you do, you have to balance the risk against the rewards.  If they like you enough, they may offer a high enough guarantee.  In most of the cases I have worked with, there have been risks.

Good luck to you.

Thank you! Absolutely. With typical Japanese agencies, they offer you a guarantee but give you the first two weeks to see if you'll actually book any jobs. If not, the model will often be sent home early (at no expense to the model). If the model has been booking jobs or at least gained client attention, she will stay for the full time and for the full amount of her guarantee usually. If she doesn't end up earning the amount promised, the debt is accrued by the agency and doesn't need to be paid back by the model. This is typically how these types of contracts work but yes I've heard of models traveling to certain markets and leaving in terrible debt to their agencies. It's awful.

Garry k wrote:

when you use the term " my models " are you indicating that you are a model manager ?

I'm sure that was just a Freudian slip. I'm shaking my head more at the term "Japo" than the delusional use of the possessive. Though it should come as no surprise considering the source.

GPS Studio Services wrote:
The important thing when signing with an agency in a foreign country is to read the contracts carefully and then do the math.  I am obviously not a model, but; in my prior life, as an LA talent manager, I had to deal with these things more than once.

In a typical situation, the agency will agree to sign you.  They will often, but not always, provide transportation and housing.  They will also guarantee a minimum earnings for a specific time period.  As an example, I typically saw offers that guaranteed a minimum of $5,000 in gross earnings for a 90-day period.  That is the good news.

The problem is, from that guaranteed minimum, they would deduct the plane ticket, housing, board, agency fees and other expenses.  The bottom line is, they could guarantee you $5,000 but your total expenses could be quite a bit more.  The point is, even with the guarantee, you can end up losing money.  Typically what they guarantee a number they genuinely expect to make, at a minimum, that will cover most of their out of pocket expenses.

So I want to commend you for asking what others are being guaranteed.  It is an important number.  Rule one, don't go if you can't afford to lose some money, because I have seen girls go to both Europe and Asia, to come back in debt.

The good news is that I have seen a couple of situations that didn't work out where the agencies were reasonable.  As an example, I know one model that went to Europe and was not making money at all.  Rather than dragging it out, the agency offered her a ticket home early and to excuse her debt.  So in her case, she didn't make anything but she didn't lose anything, other than the mad money she spent in Paris.

Another thing to remember is, if you are getting signed in Tokyo through a mother agency in the states, you could end up with double commissions. 

My bottom line advice, as I said when I opened, is to read the contract carefully and do the math.  Once you do, you have to balance the risk against the rewards.  If they like you enough, they may offer a high enough guarantee.  In most of the cases I have worked with, there have been risks.

Good luck to you.

Kelleth wrote:
Thank you! Absolutely. With typical Japanese agencies, they offer you a guarantee but give you the first two weeks to see if you'll actually book any jobs. If not, the model will often be sent home early (at no expense to the model). If the model has been booking jobs or at least gained client attention, she will stay for the full time and for the full amount of her guarantee usually. If she doesn't end up earning the amount promised, the debt is accrued by the agency and doesn't need to be paid back by the model. This is typically how these types of contracts work but yes I've heard of models traveling to certain markets and leaving in terrible debt to their agencies. It's awful.

Sorry, I just saw this.  I think yours and my experience and understanding are exactly the same.  I think you are right on target, if the agency decides to cut the model loose early, they will generally just send her home and eat the loss.  Likewise, if the model stays but doesn't make her guarantee, they just put it against her debt and then write off the difference.

You are spot on though for the remainder.  If the model stays and makes her minimum, that still doesn't mean it will always be worth her while.  Let's say they guarantee her $5,000 and she brings in $6,000, if her bill is $5,200, she could end up with $800 for several months of work.  Sometimes a model can end up upside down.  You and I see it the same way.

You added some great comments.

Jim McSmith wrote:

Yeah, these Japo agencies tend to be fronts for escort and table dancing rackets. I know because I was approached by an English woman representing them wanting to make contact with my models. I humoured the woman but could see what it was and ignored further contact.

Fronts for escorts and more...I have a friend who found herself in the most unfortunate situation. Four months in a brothel until she escaped. She suffered total degradation, humiliation, abuse and insanity...daily.