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Interview
by Edo Q ©
2009 CoverMen
Mag!
July, 2009
-Hello
David, I'm really flattered to interview you, to start
this interview off please give me some brief background
information. 
Hi Edo, It's my pleasure to
answer your questions. Thank you for the great
interviews with our models and for following our blog.
Long
story short, I always wanted to be in the entertainment
business. As a child and teenager, I was signed
with the Fontaine Agency here in Los Angeles. They represented
me as a print model and I worked on various print jobs.
Also, I was training as a dancer and taking classes
weekly at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood.
The castings for dancers were tough and there were a
lot of dancers that were a lot better than me. Basically
my parents told me either I go to college, go on a dance
scholarship or find a career to focus on. When
I was around 17 years old, I realized that my heart
wasn't into being a dancer anymore. I didn't want
to be in front of the camera, I wanted to be behind
the scenes. I had always been interested in fashion,
photography and being creative. I decided that
I wanted to start interning at a modeling agency. I
then met someone who worked as an agent at It Models
in Hollywood. They were a very prestigious agency
in the 80's and 90's who represented Naomi Campbell,
Stephanie Seymour, Kate Moss, Rachel Williams and Carol
Alt. I worked there as an intern for about a year.
I didn't get paid anything!!!! But, I worked
hard and really observed everything that I needed to
become an agent. They then offered me a position
as an agent and it was then that I knew I had found
my calling! A few years later I was offered
a job at the Wilhelmina Agency where I presided as the
men's director in their Los Angeles office for 8 1/2
years.
-How did you become a model booker
and Men's Director at Nous Models? What is the best
path to follow in order to become a model agent? 
I
have known Kenya Knight ( owner and President of Nous
) since I was around 19. At the time that we met,
she was running the new faces department at Elite Models
in LA. I always liked her and hoped that we could
work together someday. At that time, we both were
working at larger network agencies and we were very
loyal employees. In February 1998, Kenya had left
Elite to open Nous. The agency opened with much
buzz representing some of the best female models in
Los Angeles. My contract at Wilhelmina was
coming to an end after almost 9 years of working there.
It was time for me to move on and do something fresh
and exciting. That is when Kenya and I teamed
up and in January 2004 and I launched the men's division
here at Nous. With a lot of hard work and dedication,
five years later we have one of the strongest men's
division's on the west coast.
I think the business
has changed tremendously since I started as an agent
in 1994. I would advise any young person who wants
to be an agent to intern at a major agency. You
really need to pay attention and listen and observe
everything around you. Also, you need to read
magazines and learn who all the photographers and models
are. You should know what models are doing the big campaigns
and ask questions. The more you know, the better.
-I
think that most people don't know how the fashion world
works so can you explain me what exactly a model booker
do?
I like to be called a model manager.
I think a booker only takes phone calls and doesn't
really manage a models career. For me, I like to be
involved in everything. My favorite thing is development.
Finding a model, putting together a models portfolio,
setting up the test shoots, taking the polaroids for
clients, calling the photographers and clients to make
the introductions. I am also in charge of booking
the models on jobs, routing them in other markets and
getting them to star status!
-How do you
recruit models into your agency?
Many times
I find the guys myself. I have found guys at restaurants,
the beach, on the street, emails etc. Also, I
have a few scouts who send guys to me all the time.
-How
much travel is involved in being a model agent?
I
have been very lucky in my career and have traveled
quite a bit. I have been all over the world including
Milan, Paris, and London.
I think you need to
travel as much as possible to really become connected
with what's going on in the modeling industry. You also
need to develop good working relationships with international
modeling agencies.
-Are most of your friends
fashion designers or models?
My friends are
all very different. I definitely have a lot of
friends in this industry that include some top photographers
and models. However, I also have a lot of friends
who are not in the business at all. I like to
mix it up. It's more fun! One bit of advice
I have to give is that you have to be very careful mixing
business and pleasure, the fashion industry is very
small and social so you so you have to always have business
in mind even if someone is your close friend.
-What
makes a great model stand out from the crowd?
A
model really needs to have that extra sparkle in their
eyes and charm. You can't just be a pretty
face! The personality is key!
-Some
tips for aspiring models: how helpful are the model
training schools?
I wouldn't spend money
at a modeling school. Going to school to learn
how to be a model would really only be for your self
confidence. I don't think you would learn anything
there that an agency couldn't teach you. If you
are interested in being a model you should go to www.models.com.
You can look for contact information to
all the modeling agencies. Send them a few digitals
of yourself and include your height, stats, phone number
and email. Also, many of the agencies have an
open call and you can see them in person.
-Thanks
David for taking the time to reply to my questions,
it was a gift for me and my readers!
Thank
you!!!! Be sure to check out our men's blog at
http://nousmodelsmen.blogspot.com/.
Also,
if you want to write to me directly and ask any questions,
send an email to modelinfo@nousmodels.com and
put in the reference for David Todd.
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