Tuesday, January 23, 2007


Hey Everyone!!!

Had a fantastic weekend!!! Friday at BoMA we chose one female and one male for the 1st Annual Columbus Model Quest. So congradulations to the winners Dominique and Brad, well deserved!!!
Met some wonderful people and partied both Friday and Saturday like there was no tomorrow.
Currenting working on putting somethings together, so I really can't write much now. So I will give you an article to read thats below provided by Fashion Gates.com, which you may or may have not read.


Ciao and I'll chat with you soon!!!


Kisses,

Sabrina


Alternative fashion design career options for Reality TV-inspired models


There's great interest in fashion modeling as proven by the popularity of several top reality television shows, but the weight and age requirements to become a model are restrictive. FashionSchoolReview.com, a fashion school resource, offers a variety of tools that may help aspiring models find a fashion design career if they can't meet the strict standards of the fiercely competitive modeling job market.
Because the standards for fashion models make a modeling career prohibitive for many, would-be models may consider other fashion design career options available through Web sites like FashionSchoolReview.com (http://www.fashionschoolreview.com/). Hit reality television shows like "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" and "America's Next Top Model" evidence strict standards for fashion models and growing interest in the industry. However, these modeling reality television shows and industry experts illustrate that most people simply don't meet the strict standards and industry preferences required of models. Those viewers interested in fashion may consider pursuing their fashion education and embark on a career in fashion design, fashion merchandising, or fashion marketing.
The Oxygen Network recently announced that the hit television reality show "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" has been picked up for a second season. Additionally, the CW Network's "America's Next Top Model" is ranked number one among reality shows on TV.com. With 172 pages of message threads posted in The CW Lounge, "America's Next Top Model" has plenty of fans who discuss the models and requirements, such as weight and age.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics "Occupational Outlook Quarterly" (OOQ), most modeling agencies set minimum height requirements for female models at five feet nine inches and weight between 108 and 125 pounds. Furthermore, NYTimes.com reports that the top models now are former-Soviet Union imports. The Times Web site quotes James Scully, a casting agent for Gucci, "You just can't sell an American model right now because editors completely don't appreciate them."
Age requirements for modeling also make for tough competition. The "Occupational Outlook Quarterly" suggests that female models usually start out between the ages of 14 and 21, but can be as young as 12. In some situations this means that education takes a back seat and older models don't have a chance. The OOQ reports:
"Sometimes, the glitz is so incredible that young people don't look at the long haul," says Lee Whitfield, owner of David Lee Models in Chicago, "and the importance of schooling and education gets pushed to the side--sometimes, even by parents."
The OOQ also quotes modeling agent Dan Hollinger of the Kim Dawson Agency in Dallas, who says, "It's extremely important for models to finish school because you always have to think about the 'What if...?' What if something happens and you no longer have the ability to model? You have to have an education."
FashionSchoolReview.com is an interactive and informative fashion school Web site that helps those interested in fashion school find the right fit. Users can search for fashion schools around the world, get the latest fashion trends, and access articles about the industry. FashionSchoolReview.com is the ideal source for anyone interested in fashion school.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Modeling Schools Are Not Necessary


Yesterday, as we interviewed the "Columbus Model Quest" contestants for the final elimination. I cringed when some of them brought up the fact that they went to John Casablanca Modeling school.


When I started out wanting to model, I made the costly mistake of attending the John Casablanca Modeling school. It was just a waist of money. When I moved to NYC to study fashion designing and marketing, finding myself entering into the modeling industry soon after signing with Next when they were first starting out (oops! I may have given away my real age. . lol). I discovered that alot of major modeling agencies find modeling schools to be big scams preying on the dreams of wanna be models.


Below is an excert from the site Modeling Scams


(The Modeling Handbook, Eve Matheson, p. 17)
A school is not an agency
Aspiring models have been confused in the past, assuming a school was an agency. Even though the school may not call itself an agency, those who are unfamiliar with the modeling industry have made the mistake of assuming some modeling schools were modeling agencies.
This has happened, for example, with John Casablancas modeling schools. John Casablancas used to be the leader of an agency (Elite), and thus aspiring models associated his past with the present situation. John Casablancas Career Centers, however, are not modeling agencies, and Mr. Casablancas is no longer at Elite. He reportedly left the Elite agency in 2000.
Just as some potential models have made a mistake without coercion, others have been led to believe a school was an agency, because the school acted as if it was an agency, behaving similarly to agencies by using "model scouts," open calls, and telling the young people they had been "selected."
Company names can add to the confusion for potential models trying to differentiate between a school and an agency.
A franchise of Barbizon in Wilmington, Delaware, was listed by the BBB as "Barbizon Modeling School & Agency," making it look like a school and an agency, but the BBB business classification was "Schools-Modeling."
BBB classifications are not entirely consistent and not always accurate, but in states like Texas and Florida, it is easy enough to find out if a company is an agency or simply a school by checking to see if they have a talent agency license.
BBB Classifications
The BBB file for Barbizon of Orlando described the "type of entity" as "model school"; the TOB classification: "Schools-Modeling"; but the "nature of business": "This company offers a model & talent agency"; and yet the state talent agency database had no listing of any Barbizon in Florida with a talent agency license, and the only license it has listed was with "Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services."
School to Agency and Agency to School
To further confuse the situation, the nature of a company's business can change, so it clearly becomes more important to find out the current situation with the company, and not rely on the past.
For example, an agency can become a school, as was the case with John Robert Powers; and a school can become an agency, as was the case with Avante Models.
Avante described themselves as "a full-service modeling and talent agency," but they used to be a modeling school.
In 1999, their site said, the company was bought and got a new owner. "In 2001, "Avante Modeling School/Agency" became "AVANTE' Models and Talent" ... The modeling school was discontinued and has become a "training center."
And, as earlier noted, John Casablancas, who used to work with an agency (Elite), no longer does, and instead works with schools (John Casablancas Career Centers).
Agency regulations
Modeling schools in general have a bad reputation, and modeling agencies tend to distance themselves or make sure they are not seen to be associated with them in order to establish themselves as reputable.
But the modeling school issue may be understood much more clearly through noting talent agency regulations in at least two states where there is a lot of modeling.
In Florida, a talent agency cannot require attendance at a school as a condition of registration or work:
No talent agency shall, as a condition to registering or obtaining employment for any applicant or artist, require the applicant or artist to subscribe to, purchase, or attend any publication, postcard service, advertisement, resume service, photography service, school, acting school, workshop, acting workshop, or video or audiotapes (2000->Ch0468->Section%20410">Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 468.412).
In Texas, it is similar, making the requirement to use certain services prohibited:
A talent agency may not require an applicant or artist to subscribe to or use a specific publication, video or audio tape, postcard service, advertisement service, resume service, photographer, or acting or modeling school or workshop (Texas Talent Agencies Occupation Code, Title 13, Sec. 2105.202).
Why would there be laws prohibiting the requirement of attending modeling schools as a condition of representation? Don't new models need to be "agency ready"?
Clearly the legislators recognized the abuses of the past and the potential for fraud in the future. By allowing agencies to charge upfront fees for schooling, the agencies would be able to make a significant amount of money and even most of their income through the schools and not from commissions.
This arrangement would allow the agencies to pretend they were going to help models get work, but then not bother, because they had already been paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for classes.
Then the models would never recoup their education expenses. The agencies would make a lot of money but the models nothing.
Therefore the law puts a logical check on the obvious conflict of interest.
Open calls
Why do aspiring models go to modeling schools if they are not necessary? Why do they pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in the hopes of getting signed by and work though a modeling agency after attending a modeling school?
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs asserts it is simply because the prospective models do not know they can directly access the agencies on their own without payment.
Few people enrolled at modeling schools, or signed up by scam agencies, know about “open calls” at modeling agencies. At least once a week, model managers and agents have an open call — a period of time when they look over people off the street who want to know if they have a chance. Open calls are great places to start, because you will get free evaluations by experienced agents. Prospective models are required to bring a few snapshots with them to open calls.


Hope you found that informative!!!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Here's All I've Got. . . .


Here's one of our newest addition, "Chrissy" with all her splender.
A beautiful Golden Retriever who currently looks like a lab pup.
Like me, she's an angel with little tiny horns. . . .lol
I've dusted off my sketch pad in hopes of finding inspiration to sketch out some new fashion designs. So far, I've come up with a couple, but the ideas are not flowing the way I thought they would. Hmmmm, I have to find a way to remedy that.
I'm predicting that the fashion scene in Columbus will start exploding and I want to be very mucha a part of it and not just as a career model.
A little tibit for the locals in the fashion and art biz, every Friday BoMA (Bar of Modern Art) is the place to be for the industry professionals to network. So make sure to bring your business cards or comp cards to exchange. Remember, this coming friday the 19th is the "Fashion Catwalk Chanllenge" the final challenge of the "1st Annual Columbus Model Quest competition."
Now back to listening to my guilty pleasure, "Justin Timberlake's new CD" and reading "Again" (finding it hard to put this book down) by Sharon Cullars.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Fashion Catwalk Challenge at BoMA




Well, we've choosen the 25 contestant for the first round of the Columbus Model Quest Competition presented by Style-ology LLC.

On Wednesay the 17th we will then whittle it down to 10 contestants.

Then on Friday the 19th BoMA (Bar of Modern Art) will host the Fashion Catwalk Challenge finale for the contest. One male and one female winner will be announced.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Information For Local Talent


Calling all local talent in Columbus and in the surrounding areas!!!

Here's an event you may want to attend!!!

The 1st Annual Columbus Fashion Week!!!! (March 13th - March 17th)

Studios & Management L.L.C and the Jordan Marie Model Group L.L.C presents Columbus Fashion Week, March 13th through 17th 2007

Celebrating Columbus Hottest Fashions and local talent.

Columbus , OH (OPEN-PRESS) December 11, 2006,- Local industry partners have collaborated to bring Fashion Week to Columbus.

Local venues in Columbus Ohio, rolls out the red carpet to kick-off the event.
A catered invitation- only fashion industry reception, hosted by Imajin Studios & Management L.L.C, the presenting creator for Columbus Fashion Week, will be held Monday March 12th at 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel at Easton Town Center.

Columbus Fashion Week assigned Venues will include a state of the art, facility fully equipped backstage areas with racks, mirrors, make-up lights, radios and headsets. Parisian style lighting designed to evenly illuminate the runway and capable of providing several unique looks.
A sound system balanced to provide fully equalized coverage for music playback. A expert design team for lighting, video, sound, stage and production.

Marketing and promotional benefits for designers, models, makeup artists, including signage throughout the venues, inclusion on the official website for Columbus Fashion Week, program brochures, advertising and copies of the registered press list.

Designers, makeup artists, hair salons, boutique owners, and all others interested in attending events during Columbus Fashion Week contact 614-561-9240 or email at columbusfashionweek@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Just Another Day. . .




Well today, I took down the christmas decorations, did some dusting, excercised with my six year old lil guy since he is aspiring to be a pro football player. Did a little updating on my websites "The Model's Den" and "Hip Multicultural Moms".

Worked on my schedule for this month, setting up meetings and photo shoots. Sent out confirmations for meetings and social events.

Which reminds me here are a few up n coming scheduled local events that appear on my site postings that models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists along with others involved in the fashion and art world maybe interested in.



After answering a few important emails I think I will relax, poor me a glass of merlot and catchup on some reading. Just finished reading "Rendezvous With Fate" by Jeanne Sumerix, now I'm reading "Beyond The Rapture" by Beverly Clark. Both appear to be good reading.


Hopefully sometime soon when I'm able to sit down and really concentrate, I will be able to give detailed advice on how to get into the modeling industry without being scammed or spending a great deal of money.

Monday, January 1, 2007

A New Year, A New Begining


First off "Happy New Year" to everyone!!!
For me, this new year means new beginings. A year for growth, change and rebuilding.
Out with the old, in with the new and I'm going to start living for me.
For awhile, I felt the life being sucked out of me because of an unhappy situation I found myself in, but that's going to change.
I'm going to start living again!!!! Living for me and not the way others think I should live, resulting in me staying in a bad situation that's caused me nothing buy grief and frustration, but no more!!!! I have toooo much going for me to just let it all waste away, plus I don't want to be a person who lives with regret.
So here's looking to the new year!!!