Post: #1

I was wondering - how does someone break into the male modeling world? What are the different "types" of male models out there (similar to ultra tall and skinny "runway" girls vs the boobtastic swimsuit girls)? How much money is there to be made? It sounds like a fun job - have people take pictures of you for a living, plus travel perks

I figure, that by following a strict diet and exercise program, as well as good skincare habits, a guy can bring himself to "model caliber" fairly quickly and stay there for a long time (I hear that male models have careers well into their 30s and sometimes 40s).

Anyway, if anyone out there has any information, or can tell me anything useful about this, I would greatly appreciate it.

The reason I ask is that 2 different, somewhat ok-to-decent looking girls I know have made it to playboy. While they're not the "prime" playmates (one was in the "college girls" issue, the other was a cyber girl, although she just won cyber girl of the year), they did it through a combination of grinding and luck. If thos girls can do it, I can do better


Plus I think it will also help that I'm 6'2 and live in NYC.

Post: #2

This may not be relevant to you but I've been keeping tabs on a lot of European models in China (Shanghai mostly, but Beijing too) who have said that they are able to rapidly build a portfolio and keep living expenses low - their competitive advantages, obviously, being that they are not ethnically Asian.

I know more girls than guys doing this, but there are def male models too. The girls tend to overwhelmingly be from Eastern Europe. The guys are a mix of everything, with no one country being too dominant in the representation.

I was thinking the other day of sniffing around in the burgeoning Shanghai foreigner modeling scene to see how people have been breaking into it and building careers there - in line with my whole career hacking concept. I see potential in a product like that, even if people just did it part time.

Post: #3

Sorry for the tangent - I know you were not thinking about going to China - just popped into my mind

Post: #4

Did you just watch Zoolander too?

Post: #5

(06-01-2011 01:00 PM)kickboxer Wrote:  Did you just watch Zoolander too?

it's one of my favorite movies

Post: #6

@YMG,

would you say the models that qualify in China are as good-looking as those you'd find in the western world, or are the standards lower?

Post: #7

Standards definitely lower. Some of them were visibly balding.

Still very good on the height and body side though.

Post: #8

I know two different girls who are really average and both went to Japan to model. Their faces were 6 at best but they both were tall and really skinny. I guess makeup can do wonders.

I don't know any male models but I'm sure if you're somewhat tan and cut and don't have any facial deformities you're good to go.

Post: #9

A lot of models are actually not attractive in my opinion. I think that the majority of them are lanky and awkward and, while not unattractive, aren't necessarily what I'd consider my definition of beauty.

I guess that's what happens when gay guys decide who is beautiful.

Post: #10

Never thought I might be able to land a modeling gig in China lol. Gonna put that on the backburner for now though...

I guess Foreigner adds 2 points

Post: #11

After I release a bunch of career and entrepreneur specific products for various Asian countries, mostly China, I'm thinking of doing the same for foreigners who are trying to break into the Asian modeling scene.

A lot of the principles are the same in that they can build a career, network, and portfolio much more rapidly than they would in their home countries, due to either short supply of their specific race/look in Asia or because of low demand or too much competition in their homelands.

As most future growth in fashion and luxury goods will be coming from this region of the world (China specifically), there is potential for people in all areas of the industry to "make it" over here. This applies to everything from textile producers/consumers, models, agents, photographers, designers, and everyone else. Almost every industry is like the wild west and up for grabs, but it takes a certain kind of personality to "make it".


Unrelated to modeling, but some of the other "China Stories" that I am actively helping to craft:

-Helping a buddy who is crazy about basketball brand himself as THE foreigner to hit up regarding the rise of basketball in second and third tier Chinese cities.....immense growth potential there and in Asian sports in general

-Helping a member of this forum create himself a niche in the fashion+tourism industry by developing a niche line of tourism specific to fashion in Europe for high end Asian consumers...in development stage at the moment

-Exploring potential for an Asian-American buddy to break into the Asian PGA (golf)

Some China stories that I am profiling but not necessarily crafting:

-Documenting the rise of my Korean friend who has singlehandedly somehow become a power broker in the market for helicopters for Chinese CEOs, created by LG in Korea

-Documenting a group of French entrepreneurs who are launching a chain of boutique high end beer shops in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Ningbo

-Young Russian female exporter who is sourcing cashmere from China, having them made by Italian designers, then sold as high end products to the Russian market

I apologize for the tangent. Incredible, incredible stories happening in China right now.

Modeling is one niche where I am seeing people experience rapid success.

Post: #12

Brazilian models in Philippines, in addition to EE chicks in China, seems to be a very common theme.

Post: #13

Everyone of your posts makes my head rumble YMG. I don't even know where to begin with business.

I need a book.

Post: #14

Lol yeah, in addition to my membership site product that I am making this summer I will probably release a free 50-ish page ebook as pillar "Freemium" content. I'll let you know about it when it happens.

"Crush It!" by Gary Vaynerchuk is a good book if you like head rumbling advice. I don't agree with everything he says, necessarily, but it is a good way to start thinking of ways to get yourself out there.

I would be thrilled if I ended up helping even five guys on this site go and launch extraordinary careers in emerging markets. Right now I am actively consulting 3 guys and have provided some short blurbs of advice to 9-10 others.

You don't have to go directly into business if you don't want to. In fact, I don't recommend it, at least in the context of going to a place like China and trying to establish yourself.

In the context of China, if you want to make it, and you have some cash to lean on for a while, you can go live there on a student visa for a while and build yourself a network over there.

For something like modeling, unless you are really serious about a career I would not suggest you go into it. I don't really think modeling in itself is a really good field to be in as the model is literally a depreciating asset and modeling in itself is not a high paid job, not really glamorous in my opinion, and entirely unscalable. It is hard work.

I apologize to OP for turning the male modeling thread into a China career hacking thread.

Post: #15

I'll check out that book. Can you recommend any material on emerging markets?

It'd be nice if you could PM as to not flood this thread with unrelated information. We've hijacked it enough.

Post: #16

Bump!

The thing is i've been seriously considering this line of work for some time now. Physically, I believe I have the necessary stats.

Has anyone had a portfolio done or has any general advice on breaking into the modeling world?

Post: #17

Ditto to the above. ^

As far as location is concerned, I'm looking at Europe or North America instead.

Post: #18

I can touch on this subject a bit, I did a small bit of modeling in my younger days, biggest thing was a Paypal print ad but had very few decent jobs, most was TFP stuff or just for credit trying to break in so non paid gigs but did get in some vacation brocheres for various destinations and had some stock photos used for other things. Never really made any significan't money.

I also worked I guess you could say as a model scout / casting. Nothing too crazy no big hollywood type stuff or big agnecy modeling, it was more commercials, movie extras, some print work, etc. I started out kind of as an office bitch running errrands and stuff but turned out on of the higher up guys was best friends with my childhood friends sister so got in with him and got to sit in on castings, sometimes would just be sent out to walk around downtown chicago inviting girls and guys didnt like that part lol in for castings for various commercials and stuff. WE didn't really do any real big stuff mostly smalltime print ads, movie extras, tv comercials. We did the casting for extras in the breakup with Vince Vaughn and got to go to a lot of those shootings. I didn't make much money but was like 21 and living with my parents so didn't really matter. THe perks of the job were nice, got to walk around day gaming much of the time basically, also got to go to all types of events yaht parties with models on lake michigan, events at clubs, etc. Oftentimes I'd get sent to shoots basically just to sit in and make sure photographer wasn't a creep.

As far as the modeling part, I knew I'd nevr really get anywhere but figured I'd do what I could. I'm a pretty good looking guy but I'm not tall and don't have broad shoulders which pretty much takes me out of any print or runway work. I got some stock photo and print gigs but again, I'm a decent looking guy but got kinda a big nose lol so knew I wouldn't get too far. Basically it's not really about being a great looking person so much as having a very symetrical face or certain look. ALso if you really wanna have all your options open better be 6' tall and have broad shoulders. It was fun though, did some stock photos at the beach, got to play around on the beach with some hot girls joking around with squirt guns and floaties and stuff, a few shots made it into some vacation or hotel catalogues. DIdn't make any money though as stock photos so just got paid a flat rate for a shoot not anything residual.

If you wanna break into modeling you really need to be a student or have a lot of free time and flexibility as jobs often pop up at the last minute, most shots and castings are during the day so probably not free if you have a day job. Most people who are really trying to get into modeling are either students, waitresses or just do promo jobs handing out redbulls and stuff. THey pay anywhere from $15 to $150 an hour and are pretty flexible in that you can take jobs you want and not take others, normally just a couple days a few hours a day and gig is over.

If you wanna get started first thing you need to do is go get a TFP shoot done, means time for prints, basically you get a free photoshoot and pics to use to get jobs in return you sign a model release and photographer gets rights to your photos for their portfolio. Very easy for girls to get but even a dude can get these done pretty easy, just look on cl and make sure your getting a legit photographer and not some dude trying to fuck you.

If you have any specifics to ask fire away. Honestly don't get into it trying to make money or become famous, just do it to have fun, party and meet chicks, if you make a little side money cool but don't expect too much.

Post: #19

(09-12-2014 04:00 AM)JWLZG Wrote:  Ditto to the above. ^

As far as location is concerned, I'm looking at Europe or North America instead.

Post: #20

<--- 6ft'2 Half White, Half Asian w/a baby-face.

I got offered some male modeling gigs. One chick even offered to fly me out to NY. I politely turned her down.

I get asked if I am a model all the time (or famous). I get a good laugh from that.

Its a combo of swagger and clothes. I am not even imo that good-looking.

From a career perspective, pay is shit. Id pass on it.

Post: #21

I know a Eurasian guy whose 6'2ish and gets modeling gigs. He's decent looking but nothing special really, plenty of guys around who are better looking than him. Perhaps there is a high demand for the Eurasian look. The population of 6'1+ male and 5'9+ female Eurasians would be quite small.