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NOTE FROM THE NEW EDITOR OF FLORIDA MODELS

About our modeling job board, new models, modeling, modeling agencies, modeling scams, content theft, and career risks.

Effective immediately, as of September 27, 2012, I am now the owner and the editor of Florida Models, and new editorial and posting policies are IN FORCE. The point of this modeling job board is to provide a source of legitimate modeling job leads in the Florida region for professional models.
There will be no honeymoon or “getting to know you” transitional period. Everything changes now.
These policies are identical to the ones which I developed for Tampa Bay Modeling, Independent Modeling, and my other modeling and talent resource sites (I’m sure that you are all aware of these sites, as they are the best, and most advanced, talent resource sites in the world. I am certainly not new to this). They have been developed, from experience, with over 10 years of hard work, and are very effective. Since becoming the new owner of Florida Models and Florida Actors, those innovations will also be used to enhance these sites, as well.
If you are a legitimate professional, these policies should have little to no impact on you. If you are not doing anything wrong, you should not have anything to worry about. If you ARE doing something wrong, however, this site, and our readers, will become very unaccommodating for you. It’s as it should be.
If you are an aspiring model who has not invested in their career, you do not have a modeling portfolio and composite cards, and you operate from some freebie portfolio networking or social media account with instagram pictures from a smart phone, you really have no business trying to book any modeling jobs, and we will make sure that every single modeling job which posts on this board is aware on how to minimize risks of booking models without going through an agency, using Independent Modeling’s Risk Analysis System (RAS), as this is the only way to maintain integrity for independent models. This RAS system is not friendly to models who do not invest in their careers, and it will undermine your ability to book work if you do not have a real professional modeling portfolio, composite cards, and a legitimate web site marketing your modeling career. Models, if you do not invest in your career, you are not serious about it, and you will not be taken seriously. So-called models who take short cuts will not be able to compete with professional independent models, and we will help give those professional models every advantage as they find and book modeling jobs without going through modeling and talent agencies.
If you are a new or an aspiring model, please do not try to book any modeling jobs from our board. Find a legitimate professional photographer (one who is not connected to any modeling agency, as this is the only way that you can guarantee that an agency is not running a scam and receiving illegal kickbacks from unethical referrals. Modeling and talent agencies have no business referring models to any photographer, as this is how photo mill scams work, and agencies are only supposed to make money finding and referring models into modeling jobs. Always invest in your portfolio and comp cards before going to any agency!) who is in business to do modeling portfolios and composite cards (and who is honest about what they are really in business to do; never buy anything from anyone pitching you modeling jobs, or promising you work, with the requirement that you have to buy something from them before they can refer you to the job/s), invest in your professional career tools, and then come back to book modeling jobs once you have the experience needed. Also, avoid high-risk modeling, such as glamour, pin-up, boudoir, nudes, modeling in skimpy bikinis, modeling in provocative poses, sexy modeling, or modeling in photographs which could be easily taken out of context and used to misrepresent you (there have been several incidents in the Tampa Bay area where sleazy photographers took swimsuit pictures of models and then sold those pictures, which the models thought were safe, to adult businesses and 900 line ads; usage which the models would have never agreed to had they known. The models had signed releases, however, and could not do anything about it. This scam hurt their careers, too, as it crippled their marketability!). Protect your career, and don’t allow some unethical photographer to end your career before it begins. Modeling is a visual form of marketing, and you need to make sure that you are as marketable as possible to book modeling jobs. If what you put out there conflicts with the image that a business or a modeling job is trying to maintain, they are NOT going to book you, and we don’t blame them.
Obviously, since this is now an Independent Modeling site, independent, freelance models will be given priority (it is the point of having a modeling job board, too). We will continue to support agency models, but we will not support Florida modeling and talent agencies, nor will we promote them. There is a reason that talent agencies (which includes modeling agencies) are regulated in Florida, and you only have to be familiar with the state statutes regulating Florida talent agencies, which are enforced by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), to understand why. Simply put, talent agencies, in my opinion, have to be regulated because of the high risk of unethical conduct and running modeling scams, such as selling models portfolios instead of doing what they are supposed, and what they claim, to do, which is finding models jobs. It is also my opinion that the outdated industry propaganda that the “agency way is the only way” is the root of all modeling and talent scams. Most modeling scams use the agencies as a “destination” to send their victims to after they are finished with them, or they mindlessly parrot (repeat) the same agency-centric industry propaganda that everyone else says.
It’s time to start thinking for ourselves, and to work for our own self interests.
Modeling and talent agencies ARE still a legitimate part of the modeling industry today, even with independent freelance models finding and booking work on their own without going through an agency, but they must be kept in their proper place. A modeling agency should only be used as one of many sources of modeling jobs. Modeling agencies work FOR the models whom they represent, as a model, even the agency models, are independent contractors, and work as a self-contained business (you wouldn’t believe how many ignorant models out there think that they work for the agency, or are employees of an agency. The agencies often do nothing to discourage them from thinking this, as it gives them leverage over the models. You also would not believe how many so-called freelance models send modeling job leads that they find to their agency booker to screen the job because they are not confident, and do not know enough, to discern for themselves whether a modeling job is legitimate or not; the models actually do the work for their bookers, which is NOT how it is supposed to work. Also, because of high turnover in agencies, it is common to find bookers who know far less than the models about the business, and who are little more than minimum-wage cold-callers who try to tell the models what to do). Modeling and talent agencies, in my opinion, also have no business managing the careers of any models or telling them what to do (remember, they are supposed to work FOR the models). Why? Because it is my opinion that any agency managing any model is a working conflict of interest, and the reason is that the agency also works for the competition of the model, who are other models whom they also work for. Can you see how such an agency could manipulate and abuse models this way? It’s great to have someone out there working for you and getting you job leads, but when they are also working for your competition, do you really trust them when they try to control your career? I didn’t think so. Think about it. Besides, is your agent going to book the job for you, hold your hand, or go to the go-see with you? Once you are referred to a modeling job by an agency, you still have to book the job on your own, anyway, and realizing this, it’s no longer a stretch to cut out the agency middleman whenever you can. It’s not difficult to figure this stuff out if you take a moment to think about things before you go out and do it. You have to have a plan for your career. Smart independent freelance models use modeling agencies as one of MANY sources of job leads, and that is it.
Think that an agency is going to get even with models who go around them and book work independently? Think again! Who has leverage here? Is it a sellers market, or a buyers? On the contrary, IF a model is out there booking work on their own, a legitimate modeling and talent agency is going to be strongly motivated to find and book work for the independent model before that model can find and book the work on their own because they do not want to be cut out of the deal, and lose money. It is common sense. The independent freelance model demonstrates, by finding and booking work on their own, that they are marketable, and the agency is going to work harder to find them work. What do you suppose that this will do to the agency-only models who are entirely dependent upon the agencies for work? Think that they will be able to compete with independent models? Think again!
Models, YOU have the leverage, and YOU have power in your careers. USE IT!
In closing, I would like to address the businesses who are looking for models for their modeling jobs, and then you can return to the job board to do what you need to do. Obviously, if you are posting on this modeling job board, you are smart enough to realize that a modeling and talent agency is a middleman, and that you save money by booking models independently. Now, the agencies will tell you that booking models through them is safer, as “their” models are more professional and more dependable, but what do you expect them to say? The agencies want to make money off of you. The agencies WANT you to be completely DEPENDENT upon them, because it gives them leverage over you. Also, if an agency has the nerve to suggest that an agency model is more professional and dependable than an independent model, have them guarantee it IN WRITING, and hold them to it. You might as well get something, and some sort of assurance, for spending money that you don’t really have to, right? For some reason, however, I have the feeling that an agency might say something, but they won’t back it up in writing. I wonder why. Don’t be surprised if they refuse to put their claims in writing.
This said, this is a free modeling job board on a modeling resource site. I will not accept liability. I will not guarantee anything. We are not an agency, we are not licensed to be a talent agency, and we do not make a dime from referring models into any job. This is what it is, and for those who put some effort in, it works as well as what you put into it. For booking independent models, and this is how I do it (and this is also how the Risk Analysis System used by Independent Modeling works), I look at the investment that a prospective models puts into their career. If a model has a modeling portfolio, obviously has invested in professional pictures, has composite cards, and has real web site, with a .Com domain name, to market their career, they are serious about what they do, and are much less likely to be unprofessional or unreliable. I have never had any problems with any model in the past ten years which I can recall, and I’ve worked with hundreds of them; all without going through an agency. The agency way is not the only way.
Now that this is out of the way, I want to state, again, that our modeling job board is intended for LEGITIMATE modeling jobs. Although most modeling scams are JOB SCAMS, a modeling job does not have to necessarily be a scam for it to be something that is a poor value for the career of a model (And I do not like posting job offers which have poor value, either!). I am a modeling scam expert, as well as an expert on the Florida modeling job markets. I constantly do research and monitor what is going on in the industry; I know who most of the players are, and I know what they do. So, I will now state the types of modeling jobs that we will not allow on this job board. Also, please note that this screening policy is, in no way, any obligation for me, or for this site, to accept responsibility for any job post on here. I just want to ensure that most of the jobs on here are legitimate, and are worth it for models. Precautions or not, though, I cannot guarantee it. Use at your own risk.
Effective immediately, Florida Models will not accept modeling job posts for teen modeling web sites, web cam modeling jobs, or videos where models are fighting, wrestling, or doing something other than actual modeling (the model should sell a legitimate product or service, and not themselves as a “job”. Don’t get exploited!). We will not accept modeling job posts from modeling agencies, modeling management companies (which cannot work as represented, as you have to be a licensed agency in Florida in order to legally make money by referring models into jobs, and if you cannot make money that way, what is your motivation to find models jobs if you can’t make money doing what you profess to do? What are you really in business to do, and how do you make your money?), placement companies who claim to refer models to agencies and jobs, and any service company which is obviously trying to pull a bait and switch by advertising a modeling job and then requiring those who respond to buy something from them. We will also refuse to allow job posts where there are a lot of questions which are not answered, and posts which are obvious bait and switch scams or some sort of misrepresentation. Lying to anyone, or misrepresenting yourself to get business, is a scam, and it is fraud! If you are in business to sell someone a product or a service, there are legitimate ways to run that business. How? Be straight-up about what you are in business to do. Be honest. If someone finds value in your business, you will sell them without having to resort to scamming them. You will get work legitimately!
Additionally, regarding the modeling job exchange/ TFP/ service trade section of our job board, models will be educated on how to evaluate if one of these “trade” arrangements are worth it. Models do not have careers to work for free! You have to make a living in an actual career! If a model brings more to the table, with their experience and capabilities, than the offer, then the model should not do it for free; only if the arrangement is mutually beneficial, and does not undermine legitimate paying job prospects or their marketability, should it be considered, and even then, it should be an exception rather than a rule. There are way too many modeling events and fashion shows which have so-called modeling “jobs” where the models who are booked work for free, and this needs to stop! It’s for charity? We hear that a lot, too. The bottom line, models, is that, even if it is supposedly for charity, if they are charging money for an event cover or for tickets, and are making money, the models need to GET PAID! Needless to say, you shouldn’t have to guess that we will not be posting pseudo jobs where businesses exploit models by making money and not paying the help! There is no point in posting “jobs” like that, and we will not pad our job board with such unbalanced offers.
Florida Models will also not tolerate a problem which has plagued this site, and other modeling and talent resource sites with job boards, for years. We will not tolerate other web sites and modeling scams stealing job information from our board, and using it to bait models into buying what they are selling by withholding contact information and making them buy whatever it is that they are really selling before allowing the models to respond to a job offer which was advertised free of charge in the first place. Not only do we reserve the right to take legal action against anyone stealing content from this site, but we will also educate the sources of the jobs on how to avoid being an unwilling part of a modeling job bait and switch scam by their information being misappropriated and used in a manner in which is was not intended. No one who is ethical would knowingly enable a modeling scam, either willfully or through negligence. Although I cannot go into all of the countermeasures that we have in place to discourage the theft and mis use of our job board information, I will state that EVERYONE posting jobs here will be instructed to VERIFY the source of the job referral, and if it isn’t from this site (or another site which they legitimately posted to), that it will be strongly recommended that they IGNORE the model who came to them that way. After all, they would not want to be part of a modeling scam, now, would they? Avoid potential liability by verifying the source!
If you are offering a legitimate modeling job, you are welcome to post your job post here, free of charge. Please note, too, that, while we do advertise services on this site, that no one is obligated to buy anything to use it, and we do not withhold information such as contact information. Welcome to Florida Models!
Sincerely,
C. A. Passinault
Editor
Florida Models

Return to the Florida Models Job Board

To respond to this statement, ask a question, or make a suggestion, please e-mail FloridaModelsContact@Yahoo.Com

09/27/12 - 09/30/12 - 12/31/13/1047 - 06/04/14/0956

 

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Original Florida Models modeling resource web site founded by Kitania Kavey and Ken Horkavey in 1996, making it one of the first modeling resource sites in the world for independent models. On September 27, 2012, Florida Models became an Independent Modeling site, and is directly affiliated with Tampa Bay Modeling, Independent Modeling, Advanced Model,and all of the Passinault.Com companies, which includes Aurora PhotoArts, all of which operate out of the Tampa Bay area, but offer services throughout Florida. This is a free modeling resource site, and you are not obligated to buy any services or products advertised on this site to use it. As of September 27, 2012, the site editor and webmaster of Florida Models and sister site Florida Actors is C. A. Passinault. The current owners are not responsible for the content published by the original owners. This web site is based out of, and published in, the Tampa Bay area of Florida, which is ground-zero of the next modeling industry.

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