FallenEcho wrote:

+1

If you are turning down models because they answered your casting call I suggest you not mention your rates to them like others have suggested that can be considered bait and switch. If you are rejecting them because they contacted you out of the blue quoting rates would be fine.

I don't mind that, don't consider it bait and switch at all unless there is some suggestion they are going to book me under some other condition then they switch it around. Though I wouldn't necessarily suggest quoting rates, just mention that you offer those services, with maybe a link to a site or whatever to any packages or services you offer. Don't bother if you don't offer those services though.

cvltblood wrote:
I need some advice on polite ways to turn down working with a model. I'm really unsure of what to say when I think someone doesn't have potential or a good portfolio or is too old or just won't fit the style I shoot in. I want to polite and respectful with my response but I'm really unsure of what to say. Anyone offer some help?

you can opt to say nothing

no answer (an acceptable response on mm) is an answer

r T p wrote:


you can opt to say nothing

no answer (an acceptable response on mm) is an answer

Saying nothing is almost never the best option.  Saying something is so easy and is more likely to spread good will.

Monad Studios wrote:

Saying nothing is almost never the best option.  Saying something is so easy and is more likely to spread good will.

I'd like to propose a challenge.

Can anyone, ever, confirm something like this?

"Yo... so and so told me no, but you should totally shoot with him"



I've had too many people who I won't ever have a project that fits... a few dozen messages... every month... saying "not this time, maybe another project" --- I'd rather just leave it in the wind.

Fotticelli wrote:
If you don't have anything to say then don't reply. No reply means no.

The problem with not replying is that the other party MAY be holding a spot open for you in anticipation.  The polite and professional thing to do would be to politely decline.

If you were working through an agent and you didn't reply to the agent's request, do you think THEY would ever work with you again?  Do you think THEY would recommend you to someone else?

If someone doesn't reply to me, I personally will NEVER contact them for any project again, nor will I refer them to anyone else.  Yes, in the past I've referred people that have declined working with me to others, and they got some pretty damned good gigs out of it!

(ironically, lately people are wondering why they're not getting work via MM,, maybe it's because they're impolite, self absorbed @$$40!3$ that are too busy to reply to requests))

r T p wrote:


you can opt to say nothing

no answer (an acceptable response on mm) is an answer

I can't understand why this seems too difficult to grasp by so many people here. I am trying to figure out what world they live in where they expect everyone to just answer them because they asked a question.

EbbysTouch wrote:
I usually just thank them for the inquiry and say I do not have any projects that they are a match for at this time.
As time goes they may improve and could actually be someone you work with down the line, you never know.

Perfect answer

SayCheeZ!  wrote:

The problem with not replying is that the other party MAY be holding a spot open for you in anticipation.  The polite and professional thing to do would be to politely decline.

If there is a person that applied for anything and interpreted not hearing back as good news the they are a taco short of a combination platter.

How do you politely decline without lying?. If I had to respond to every inquiry and be honest about it I would have to say things like "thanks for your inquiry but I don't use models with augmented breasts". Or "I don't use models with tattoos". Or "if I have a project and look for models that look average or unattractive I will contact you."

Sandra Vixen wrote:
The most common reply I have seen is simply nothing.

Second nicest is to just say that you don't fit the project but I will keep your info on file.

The second nicest thing would be ok if lying would be a nice thing to do.

Fotticelli wrote:
How do you politely decline without lying?.

As mentioned in the beginning of this thread:

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
...if they don't fit your needs all that's really need to be said is "thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time" with an optional "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

Frankly, I find it disturbing that in this day and age it takes two pages of forum messages to learn a simple common courtesy.

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

Question was answered quick yet people went all retarded with stupidity?
Why'd anyone write something different after this???
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO!!!!

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

READ IT AGAIN

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

GET IT?

P.S.
THIS!

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

Locutus wrote:

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

Question was answered quick yet people went all retarded with stupidity?
Why'd anyone write something different after this???
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO!!!!

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

READ IT AGAIN

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
"thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time"
   "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

GET IT?

P.S.
THIS!

Welcome to MM.

Alabaster Crowley wrote:

Welcome to MM.

LOL

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
The problem with not replying is that the other party MAY be holding a spot open for you in anticipation.  The polite and professional thing to do would be to politely decline.

If you were working through an agent and you didn't reply to the agent's request, do you think THEY would ever work with you again?  Do you think THEY would recommend you to someone else?

If someone doesn't reply to me, I personally will NEVER contact them for any project again, nor will I refer them to anyone else.  Yes, in the past I've referred people that have declined working with me to others, and they got some pretty damned good gigs out of it!

(ironically, lately people are wondering why they're not getting work via MM,, maybe it's because they're impolite, self absorbed @$$40!3$ that are too busy to reply to requests))

I love how all of a sudden you drop in "agency" in there.

I've had a number of jobs where I lost the bid and didn't call the agency back (client wanted me to produce the whole shoot including models) after getting a quote. The shoot didn't happen, we didn't set a firm date, life goes on. Pretty sure, if I had money in my hand, I could call the agency up again and get another quote, not a big deal at all.

I don't reply all the time, it's normal in the real world. Not sure why it hurts peoples feelings here unless they think that somehow they are more important than everyone else and thus require a reply.




Andrew Thomas Evans
www.andrewthomasevans.com

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
The problem with not replying is that the other party MAY be holding a spot open for you in anticipation.  The polite and professional thing to do would be to politely decline.

If you were working through an agent and you didn't reply to the agent's request, do you think THEY would ever work with you again?  Do you think THEY would recommend you to someone else?

If someone doesn't reply to me, I personally will NEVER contact them for any project again, nor will I refer them to anyone else.  Yes, in the past I've referred people that have declined working with me to others, and they got some pretty damned good gigs out of it!

(ironically, lately people are wondering why they're not getting work via MM,, maybe it's because they're impolite, self absorbed @$$40!3$ that are too busy to reply to requests))

I love how all of a sudden you drop in "agency" in there.

I've had a number of jobs where I lost the bid and didn't call the agency back (client wanted me to produce the whole shoot including models) after getting a quote. The shoot didn't happen, we didn't set a firm date, life goes on. Pretty sure, if I had money in my hand, I could call the agency up again and get another quote, not a big deal at all.

I don't reply all the time, it's normal in the real world. Not sure why it hurts peoples feelings here unless they think that somehow they are more important than everyone else and thus require a reply.




Andrew Thomas Evans
www.andrewthomasevans.com

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
The problem with not replying is that the other party MAY be holding a spot open for you in anticipation.  The polite and professional thing to do would be to politely decline.

If you were working through an agent and you didn't reply to the agent's request, do you think THEY would ever work with you again?  Do you think THEY would recommend you to someone else?

If someone doesn't reply to me, I personally will NEVER contact them for any project again, nor will I refer them to anyone else.  Yes, in the past I've referred people that have declined working with me to others, and they got some pretty damned good gigs out of it!

(ironically, lately people are wondering why they're not getting work via MM,, maybe it's because they're impolite, self absorbed @$$40!3$ that are too busy to reply to requests))

I love how all of a sudden you drop in "agency" in there.

I've had a number of jobs where I lost the bid and didn't call the agency back (client wanted me to produce the whole shoot including models) after getting a quote. The shoot didn't happen, we didn't set a firm date, life goes on. Pretty sure, if I had money in my hand, I could call the agency up again and get another quote, not a big deal at all.

I don't reply all the time, it's normal in the real world. Not sure why it hurts peoples feelings here unless they think that somehow they are more important than everyone else and thus require a reply.




Andrew Thomas Evans
www.andrewthomasevans.com

cvltblood wrote:
I need some advice on polite ways to turn down working with a model. I'm really unsure of what to say when I think someone doesn't have potential or a good portfolio or is too old or just won't fit the style I shoot in. I want to polite and respectful with my response but I'm really unsure of what to say. Anyone offer some help?

"Thank you for your interest and application, but you are not what I'm looking for for this project."

Or

"Thank you for your interest in shooting with me, but I don't think you fit the style that I want to shoot.

The Grand Artist wrote:
Remember we are suppose to respond to every single message we receive. It is the professional thing to do after all. [was told this in a similar thread]

haha were you now?

Edit: anyway, either just say you aren't interested or don't respond. They'll see the read message and get the hint (or not-i'm dealing with a few of those..)

this is life. there are certain social graces you need to learn as you grow up. Yes you SHOULD give responses, NO you don't HAVE to, especially to people you don't give a damn about and for the love of God- No response is a response!

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
There's absolutely NO reason that YOU should judge if they have potential or are too old.  You only have reason to judge if they fit your needs for a shoot that you're involved with.

With that said, if they don't fit your needs all that's really need to be said is "thank you for applying, unfortunately I can't use you at this time" with an optional "I'll be happy to keep your info on file and will contact you when I have a project that you'd be great for".

*This*

It is always better to be polite. And besides, you never know what could happen. Maybe sometime in the future they could improve their portfolio, change their look etc and be what you are looking for. Or, maybe you might have a client that one day needs someone with their look... eg 'too old' - maybe you have a client that needs a mature woman or even a 'sweet elderly grandmother' to be cast!

Orestes  wrote:
before clicking on message click on their name and see models pics. If she/he does not fit your needs just delete the message so it reads unread and done. Do this after your done.

That GIF is great LOL

fluffycakes wrote:
and for the love of God- No response is a response!

I think I'll start using the line "no compensation is compensation" as a method to pay models.  Because, you know, by definition no response is not a response...

Schlake wrote:

I think I'll start using the line "no compensation is compensation" as a method to pay models.  Because, you know, by definition no response is not a response...

if you have common sense then yes: no response is a response.. it means i don't want to talk to you for whatever reason. that should NEVER have to be spelled out for any human being... ever.

no compensation, really can't just BE compensation...

and yes, I do understand what you were trying to do there

Schlake wrote:
I think I'll start using the line "no compensation is compensation" as a method to pay models.  Because, you know, by definition no response is not a response...

You may want to review your two sentences because they're NOT analogous.

Just a suggestion.

cvltblood wrote:
I need some advice on polite ways to turn down working with a model. I'm really unsure of what to say when I think someone doesn't have potential or a good portfolio or is too old or just won't fit the style I shoot in. I want to polite and respectful with my response but I'm really unsure of what to say. Anyone offer some help?

just say you decided to move forward with another client... short & simple .... cause trying to beat around the bush when politely declining will give the model a sense of false hope.... unless you actually do want to work with the model for a future project... but the model most likely would prefer to be polite but a straight forward declining statement than a big  explanation ... same thing with jobs sometimes... a straight forward answer is all we need if we did or did not land the job...

SayCheeZ!  wrote:

Fotticelli wrote:
How do you politely decline without lying?.

As mentioned in the beginning of this thread:

Frankly, I find it disturbing that in this day and age it takes two pages of forum messages to learn a simple common courtesy.

+1 !!! straight forward and short is the waaaay to go :]

EbbysTouch wrote:
I usually just thank them for the inquiry and say I do not have any projects that they are a match for at this time.
As time goes they may improve and could actually be someone you work with down the line, you never know.

Works for me...

John Horwitz wrote:
no dear, it was my question - did you not understand it?

Patronize, much?  SayCheez was correct in pointing out the judgmental nature of "you're too old," or, "you don't have potential."  Your question was ridiculously obtuse.

OP, you're well within your right to state to a model that they don't fit what you need, and thank them for the inquiry.  Simple as that.  No need to give a reason beyond that.  If you go beyond it, then you've crossed the line.

cvltblood wrote:
I want to polite and respectful with my response but I'm really unsure of what to say. Anyone offer some help?

charge them. a lot.

or you can do what models often do....ignore them.

Amadea T wrote:
"thank you for your interest. I will keep you in mind for future projects you might be right for".


"thank you for your interest. My schedule currently does not allow for heifers or old bags at the moment, I will get back to you should that ever change, but don't hold your breath."

"thank you for your interest. Unfortunately I do not have anything lined up you may be the right candidate for as I am going for a particular look. "

I always use the first response, sans the "you might be right for".
It leaves everyone happy and intact but it doesn't come with drama.