By Steve Altes

1. Schmoozing agents: keep it to a minimum. Be personable obviously, but time you spend gabbing with them is time they're not spending booking you jobs.

2. If you give your agent a gift, don't do it at Christmas like everyone else. Do it out of the blue in May or after a really big booking. It will be more memorable.
3. Be organized. On the back of my completed voucher, I tape a business card from the client or ad agency rep to contact about getting a copy of the finished product. Then, after an appropriate time interval, I use the back of the voucher to record my efforts in tracking it down„who I called, when, what they said. When I receive payment, I staple the check stub to the voucher so I can see at a glance which vouchers have been paid. Then when I get the tearsheet, I put a big "X" on the voucher.
4. Arrive on set early. If there's a traffic snarl, you'll be glad you had slack. NEVER be late. No excuses. Total the collective rates of all the freelancers on the job and realize if you delay it by 15 minutes, you could jack up the cost by $500 or more.

5. Use www.mapquest.com to get directions to a location rather than wasting your agent's valuable time.

6. It's far better to own one $1,000 suit, than four $250 suits. Stick with classic, single-breasted suits - buy something Cary Grant would have worn.

7. Many shoots require khakis and knit shirts. Have khakis in a variety of colors: tan, olive, and navy. Buy knit ("polo") shirts in every color of the spectrum.

8. When choosing shirts, avoid bold primary colors (unless you're doing a Tommy Hilfiger ad) in favor of more interesting hues. Instead of blue, go with periwinkle. Salmon, not red. Teal, instead of green.

9. Men: Shave the back of your neck!

10. Don't get tattoos. You never know when you'll have to do a full body shot. It's no fun for a make-up artist to cover lots of real estate on your body.

11. Consider minor cosmetic procedures: Bleach your teeth and close gaps between teeth with composite bonding (see page 88). Try colored contact lenses. Remove prominent birthmarks from your face and neck. Have a professional shape your eyebrows. Go easy on the tanning salons. Guys, if your lid is thinning, consider hair transplants. Advanced micrograft techniques make them undetectable.

12. There are lots of tough jobs in the world and modeling ain't one of them. Try hauling furniture up and down stairs if you want to appreciate how fortunate you are to get paid to smile for a living. Cultivate an attitude of graciousness and never complain about your job. You are ridiculously lucky. Never forget it and don't let it go to your head. There are thousands of people better looking than you just waiting to take your place if you fumble the opportunity you've been given.

13. At a typical shoot you will meet six people: the photographer, his assistant, the stylist, the makeup artist, the ad agency account exec, and the client. Learn names fast. It's much nicer than saying, "Hey you, I need some powder."

14. Bring a fake wedding ring (for couple shots) and a pair of glasses to your jobs.

15. Be tenacious in tracking down your tearsheets. If you don't get the tear, it's like you never did the job. Generally, you should contact either the client or the ad agency rep. Don't bother the photographer or your agent. They are out of the loop after the shoot. Always get a business card from the client or ad agency rep.

16. Order 1st Option, Tear Sheet's directory of legit modeling agencies, from www.tearsheet.com or 212-206-7941. 17. Help the stylist. Be on the lookout for wrinkles and stray threads.

18. Ask to see the Polaroid before the photographer goes to film. Look for ways to improve your expression or movement. Know your own personal problem areas.

19. A genuine smile shows in the eyes, not the mouth. Make your eyes smile for the camera.

20. Men: find a liquid foundation and translucent powder that matches your complexion and learn how to apply them.

21. Iron any clothing "brings" for jobs.

22. Know what your agent requires after a job. Some simply want the voucher mailed; others want you to call or fax first.

23. Track expenses. As a model, you are running a small business. Track costs like mileage, postage, comp cards, and haircuts required for particular jobs. These deductions will lower your taxable income.

24. Love, honor, and obey your agent.

25. Subscribe to TearSheet! Steve Altes is a veteran of over 300 print ads. His motto is: "What I lack in looks, I compensate for with professionalism."

Courtesy of Tearsheet Magazine.

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