Models: art-nude models: The supply of art-nude models: retention, and recruitment of new ones
mightywhite said, 1709552127
JamesMt142 said
Russ produced some numbers suggesting things were not as quiet as some of us were making out. All I can say is I personally have a distrust of numbers which I feel can be twisted to prove anything, and can only offer my own experience which is an exceptionally low response to castings.
Ditto.
I placed a casting yesterday evening for an art nude model. Casting stated I wanted someone 'natural' (ie no tattoos etc) and under 30, but very general in terms of date and area (though limited to southeast), and invited applicants to give me their rate for 3 hour shoot (in the past I have quoted what I was prepared to pay but others have suggested this may limit the number of potential applicants). Only two responses so far (and I'm not really expecting any more now), and both of those were unsuitable. BC (before covid) I would have expected to at least get into double figures and receive a couple from people who met the criteria.
As far as I am concerned placing a casting now is a waste of time and anyone saying that they have no trouble finding models and arranging shoots is either being a little economical with the true state of play, does repeat shoots with the same model(s), is not fussy about who they are working with, or has very deep pockets and is prepared to pay whatever rate the model requests.
Chris Green said, 1709553034
As I said on another thread, I did a fashion casting call recently and had 31 applicants within 24 hours. Maybe that just reflects supply and demand of different levels.
I do agree that it helps not to quote a fee in a casting call though. The way most industries work is that service providers quote a fee rather than the person offering the contract.
Orson Carter said, 1709553129
mightywhite said
JamesMt142 said
Russ produced some numbers suggesting things were not as quiet as some of us were making out. All I can say is I personally have a distrust of numbers which I feel can be twisted to prove anything, and can only offer my own experience which is an exceptionally low response to castings.
Ditto.I placed a casting yesterday evening for an art nude model. Casting stated I wanted someone 'natural' (ie no tattoos etc) and under 30, but very general in terms of date and area (though limited to southeast), and invited applicants to give me their rate for 3 hour shoot (in the past I have quoted what I was prepared to pay but others have suggested this may limit the number of potential applicants). Only two responses so far (and I'm not really expecting any more now), and both of those were unsuitable. BC (before covid) I would have expected to at least get into double figures and receive a couple from people who met the criteria.
As far as I am concerned placing a casting now is a waste of time and anyone saying that they have no trouble finding models and arranging shoots is either being a little economical with the true state of play, does repeat shoots with the same model(s), is not fussy about who they are working with, or has very deep pockets and is prepared to pay whatever rate the model requests.
At the risk of veering off topic... I usually have a fairly full shoot diary, but I almost always make arrangements directly with models. I very rarely post CCs. On the very few occasions that I've done so the response has varied between disappointing and nil. When I see people boast about having umpteen replies to CCs, I wonder (a) what I'm doing wrong or (b) what those other people are offering.
[Must emphasise... I'm fussy about who I work with, I do not have deep pockets - definitely not! - and if I feel that a model is taking the p*** with rates and T&Cs, I go elsewhere. That obviously limits the pool of models who I'm able to work with, but the pool is adequate to keep my diary acceptably full.]
Lenswonder said, 1709553537
Chris Green you have a very strict view of how people should operate on here , it's a networking site and things work both ways. Otherwise none of my past castings would have been a success.
Huw said, 1709553747
Chris Green said
As I said on another thread, I did a fashion casting call recently and had 31 applicants within 24 hours. Maybe that just reflects supply and demand of different levels.
I do agree that it helps not to quote a fee in a casting call though. The way most industries work is that service providers quote a fee rather than the person offering the contract.
That reflects living in London, not shooting nudes, mentioning on the forums that you don't think models are getting paid enough.
In fact, I'm thinking of applying to model for you at your next casting. ;)
Living in London may be the biggest factor.
Allesandro B said, 1709553944
mightywhite said
JamesMt142 said
Russ produced some numbers suggesting things were not as quiet as some of us were making out. All I can say is I personally have a distrust of numbers which I feel can be twisted to prove anything, and can only offer my own experience which is an exceptionally low response to castings.
Ditto.I placed a casting yesterday evening for an art nude model. Casting stated I wanted someone 'natural' (ie no tattoos etc) and under 30, but very general in terms of date and area (though limited to southeast), and invited applicants to give me their rate for 3 hour shoot (in the past I have quoted what I was prepared to pay but others have suggested this may limit the number of potential applicants). Only two responses so far (and I'm not really expecting any more now), and both of those were unsuitable. BC (before covid) I would have expected to at least get into double figures and receive a couple from people who met the criteria.
As far as I am concerned placing a casting now is a waste of time and anyone saying that they have no trouble finding models and arranging shoots is either being a little economical with the true state of play, does repeat shoots with the same model(s), is not fussy about who they are working with, or has very deep pockets and is prepared to pay whatever rate the model requests.
I'm in the same area as you. I find castings are variable and undoubtedly there are fewer responses than pre covid but there are still plenty of models looking for work. What I would say is to put some definitive dates on your casting because models can then compare with their diary. I'd also raise your age limit just slightly, there are some great art nude models that are over 30.
Having said all of that I think you'd have more luck approaching models directly, I'm always amazed when I approach a model at the same time as when I have a casting up and they so, oh yes I was going to apply to your casting!
Orson Carter said, 1709554212
Allesandro B said
I'm in the same area as you. I find castings are variable and undoubtedly there are fewer responses than pre covid but there are still plenty of models looking for work. What I would say is to put some definitive dates on your casting because models can then compare with their diary. I'd also raise your age limit just slightly, there are some great art nude models that are over 30.Having said all of that I think you'd have more luck approaching models directly, I'm always amazed when I approach a model at the same time as when I have a casting up and they so, oh yes I was going to apply to your casting!
^ Most definitely!
Huw said, 1709554669
Orson Carter said
Allesandro B said
I'm in the same area as you. I find castings are variable and undoubtedly there are fewer responses than pre covid but there are still plenty of models looking for work. What I would say is to put some definitive dates on your casting because models can then compare with their diary. I'd also raise your age limit just slightly, there are some great art nude models that are over 30.Having said all of that I think you'd have more luck approaching models directly, I'm always amazed when I approach a model at the same time as when I have a casting up and they so, oh yes I was going to apply to your casting!
^ Most definitely!
This is the problem.
Almost all the great art nude models in the UK are over 30.
Even some that appear not to be.
Chris Green said, 1709554688
Huw I look forward to reading your application!
I’m not sure about living in London being a critical factor. Perhaps it is, but I’ve yet to find a model who isn’t willing to travel to a shoot. And the 31 models who applied to my casting call (which isn’t a boast, by the way, just a statement of fact) were spread far and wide.
Huw said, 1709554815
Chris Green I think appalling train services have become a factor for those of us in the wilderness. Much worse than a few years ago.
Chris Green said, 1709554933
Lenswonder I agree that people can operate how they like. I’m just saying that a casting with narrow criteria is likely to receive fewer applicants than one with wider criteria - whether that’s narrowing the levels, the remuneration, the dates or whatever.
mightywhite said, 1709555513
Huw said
Living in London may be the biggest factor.
I'm not quite in London but close enough for most (45mins by train from Waterloo!)
Depressing thing is we're currently looking to move to Wales. My original thinking was that it would mean I would have some great locations to work with but now thinking that it will probably be the end of shooting models!
Baldbraveandbeautiful said, 1709555611
mightywhite as others have said, your age limit is having an impact here - by casting for under 30, you've immediately reduced your potential pool, probably by about 40% looking at the ages of active art nude models on here.
Huw said, 1709556924
mightywhite said
Huw said
Living in London may be the biggest factor.
I'm not quite in London but close enough for most (45mins by train from Waterloo!)Depressing thing is we're currently looking to move to Wales. My original thinking was that it would mean I would have some great locations to work with but now thinking that it will probably be the end of shooting models!
Fabulous locations.
Travel times mean that it's not really cost-effective for a model for less than a day (sometimes half a day if she charges high rates).
Five hours minimum to me by train, often more.
We usually have a model stay overnight.
On the plus side, we can probably collaborate and book the same model if you are fairly close.
Then you get a really great model who jumps in the car and drives 200 miles to you, stopping on the way for a couple of parachute jumps...