How much should you spend on pictures?
Many people in trying to make it in this business seem to
think that they can give an agent or manager some lousy snapshot
of themselves that their boyfriend or Dad shot on their three
hundred dollar digital camera, and that that will be acceptable.
The fact is, not just any one is a good photographer, and most
people are not. There is a difference between having a decent
amateur camera and shooting a nice sunset, and composing a
properly lit headshot, with the right depth of field, aspect
ratio, golden mean, color composition, lighting tonality,
directionality, soul portrayed of the subject, and so much more.
Photography is an art form, and as a photographer and filmmaker
myself, I know how hard it is what we do. The best photographers
trained hard to do what they do, paid lots of money to learn it,
and developed their craft. They should be paid, as any other
professional, and paid well, for great work done well. The fact
that many say, if an agent or manager says you have to get
pictures somewhere and/or that you have to pay for your photos-
it’s a scam, simply don’t know what they are talking
about. Of course, if you can get anything free, get it free. But
if you have to pay, be prepared to without complaining, and use
good judgment.
Let's say you are going on a vacation driving somewhere unknown,
and your phone, internet and GPS are not working due to being in
the mountains. You get a flat, and finally roll in to a gas
station you discover. They tell you they do not have spare tires
or do changes, but can suggest a place to you that is close and
good that will do the job you need. Are you going to decide to
look around, because you don’t trust anyone, and damage
your rim and get more lost, or are you going to go with someone
who knows and has experienced what you are unsure of? If you want to
sign with an agent or manager, and they are nice enough to give
you a referral, take it and pay whatever it costs, under a
thousand for headshots and zeds both (comparable to five or six
rolls), under six hundred to eight hundred for zeds, and under
four to five hundred for headshots.
Hair and make up may range from twenty five to one hundred, which
is usually needed. Wardrobe stylists can run the same as hair and
MUA (make up artist), which may or may not be necessary. If your
look is in high demand, which you will only know by going to a
number of agents or managers or castings, then you may get away
with paying less. I have heard many models tell me that they were
told that if an agent or manager really wants them bad enough,
that they will not have to pay for photos. That may be true. But
what they don’t tell you is the other part, that most
agents and managers don’t want most people that badly,
because there are few out there who are really one in a million.
Most looks are a dime a dozen, and talent is even more
rare.
Now, I can already predict E-mails from anonymous people stating
how this advice is not correct, but those people either got
pictures free, or have an agenda, such as to sell you photos. The
above information is correct for most, and I have no agenda
other than to help you succeed in this industry for
free.
How do you get free photo shoots?
The best way to get free photo shoots is if you know the
photographer, and can get it as a favor for free. Another way is
to do of course, what is called a TFP, (Trade for Print).
TFP’s are usually done by either amateurs, less established
photographers needing to build up their book, or a more
established photographer that wants your look in their book, or
that really just likes you. In any case, if you do not know the
photographer, you must be very careful. If you don’t know
the photographer, or for auditions, only go to a known location
agreed upon in advance, near other businesses, and have your cell
phone on you at all times. Have a friend wait in the car outside
in case of any emergency, do not consume food or drinks by any
unknown party, and do not take your clothes off or do anything
you are uncomfortable with. Make them send you an E-mail stating
in writing what they agree to give you, for your record, and
anything else you want. Generally, it is best to just avoid
TFP’s, unless you get a great agent or manager to book it
for you, where they know they are safe and sane. There are other
ways to get free shoots, but that is all I have space for. Call
my office if you want more advice in this or any other
area.
How do you book your own tour?
Get the Contacts
Booking a tour for a band or
singer is relatively easy if you get someone that is good on the
phone. I booked my first one nationwide for two bands when I was
22, and the source I used then was what any musician should still
use now, and that is a specific publication with all of the
information you need to book your tour, that is for sale to
musician’s. It’s called Musicians Guide to Touring
and Promoting. If you do a little more homework, you can find
much of the contacts for venues free on your own via internet
searches, however, this guide I refer to is great because it
gives you the information on the capacity of the clubs, what they
are looking for, who their contact person is, and more.
Work the Phone
Having the venue and other data
alone is not enough, you now need to know how to work it, and
that means working the phone like mad. Many club bookers work
late at night, up to midnight or later, may talk on the phone
when they are drunk, may swear, and may be rude. Dealing with
club promoters and bookers is nothing like dealing with A&R
people at the labels, who are usually more professional. Another
thing you must know is that you should not call yourself to book
your own band. You need to have someone else call for you, or
create a stage name for yourself and speak of the band in the
third person, not indicating that it is you performing. Just
don’t lie. I will cover more on booking a tour in the next
issue, including mapping out the tour, the lingo, tour support,
life on the road, contracts, riders, etc.
Continued
on next page.
www.bruceedwin.com
www.elenatalan.com