Any Bad Model Experiences, Crazy Drama?
 

...Well, as up to now, most of my models have been my friends and referrals from those friends. I am venturing out now, however to start working with talent that I never met and talked with briefly over the phone. With my gear, which is pretty pricey, as well as the money I have on me, etc for the booking fee's, etc. Any of you have words of wisdom or bad experiences with talent that I may learn from, warning signs of impending drama, etc?

I think I have everything covered, but you an never be too careful working with strangers, IMHO... Always better to be safe than sorry. At least I know how models feel now, lol.

Thanks Everyone!

Cash on you = stupid.
Warning signs of impending drama = them accepting cash to get naked or have sex.
Words of wisdom = lock everything up and insure it all.

...should have been more specific, cash = check from my business account. Thanks.

Make sure that business account has no extra money in it besides what is set to pay them then.

Good Point, thanks After shock!

PS money orders are cheap and easy to keep track of.

Exactly!

I have a business account for that LLC. I only transfer in money after a shoot. So there is just enough to cover the checks I am writing to them off THAT business account. I do it for the obvious reason, but also since sometimes a model will not show. No need to have extra money in there.

For example, I am shooting 10-12 girls in L.A. in April, I do the checks so that I can do the multiple model thing without m.o. good idea though for those models I work with locally, as I am sure money orders would not be a big deal to cash for them.

Jeez, Barefootsies, your always on here, huh.

Dollas toe be made friend.
:2 cents:

Look up a GFYers named xenigo or Noah, he can definitely bring you up to speed re model drama. Best of luck to you, bro!

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Too much model drama to even mention. tons and tons

I would pay only in cash and carry a cash receipt book that they sign and get a copy.

Otherwise if the model never cashes your check the contract never becomes binding.

This might be bullshit but I think either Steve or Tanker mentioned this once in a thread here.

I have always practised this, plus everyone would rather be paid in cash. Cash is good :-)

Boyfriends on set are a disaster. Nothing like someone staring over your shoulder telling you what to do, or get jealous and stir shit.

This is very true.

They can bring a girlfriend(s) with them if they want. But no males, or bf's, or hubby's. All of them get in the way, wanna talk to us about pimping out their gf, or think they are Hef negotiating the contract. Plus it creeps out the other girls.

We no longer allow them for that very reason.

We have cashed some girls out before who do not have a checking account. But we prefer to do it by company check. Then we have all docs for accountant in a format we prefer on 1099's' and so on. Much easier, for US, to keep track of it.

90% of the girls run down to the bank and have the check cashed within an hour, or that day, of work. Even those with remorse that we had. They still cashed the check. Then called us later. All the same, model release signed, and their I.D. is all we need.

we do the same thing.

like many said they should bring no men with them even if its a gay guy friend no men, this is based on many stories i heard

once you're in the business long enough, you'll eventually have crazy models lol

Go through a licensed and bonded agent like Gold Star, Type 9, A-List, It Models, etc...

Otherwise chances are the girls will flake and you will have tons of issues.

I've had quite a few chicks bring their boyfriends. Not a big deal to me as long as they are not right there hovering.

I just let them know that beforehand.

In fact some of the best shoots I did their boyfriends were either surfing in the background or taking a walk down the beach checking out the scenery.

The most important thing is to keep it professional and they will also.

I mean it's hard to resist when the models ask if you could help them rub oil on their ass, but I just kindly tell them that if i get oil on my hands then it gets all over the camera, and they usually understand.

Thank God I have never had that happen. Does that still happen alot?

I am hoping my good karma holds Mandy, thanks though. I know it will. Unfortunately it is the nature of this business IMHO, mainstream modeling, I'm sure is it's own set of problems, but all I know is fetish and adult. Some of the girls in L.A. kinda freak me out sometimes to be honest, porn models just do crazy shit, lol. Never had a bad experience with one of my friends yet though. I will try and network though the actresses that are my friends, or I know for as long as possible.

..at least you haven't personally felt threatened or anything i hope man. I heard some pro am producer in Van Nuys got his shit ripped off after a shoot last month... 4k in gear, gone. Little stories like that made me post to see what you other people thought... Since a good majority make your own content and deal with the same shit I may start dealing with. I would hope and from common sense, you would think that doing something like that may have an impact on future work. If said talent is attached to drama, or crazy shit happening everytime a producer books her. Or is that not even a factor anymore?!?

Be carefull and good luck with it!

I get model submissions and it never fails, the ones with the huge list of demands usually are fugly as hell

One thing we have learned is shoot them in the morning not in the evening.
Less chance of them showing up drunk or stoned.
No offence to all the pro-models that take their biz seriously but you tend to get all kinds.

So much emphasis is put on the model's safety working with " creepy " photographers but it's important to know
that it's a two way street. The photographer has to protect himself from the strangers he works with as well.

Have eyes in the back of your head and never let your guard down.

:2 cents:

Hehe yes I know that story too. Crazy stuff.