New Girl Seeks Advice

[Larni Lurve]

My name is Larni Lurve and I?m a new model to the adult industry.
I?m 24 yrs of Greek origin 5 ft 4, size 10, with DD breasts. I have never worked in the adult industry and I?m looking for general advice about what pitfalls lay before me. I have been checking out this forum now for a few weeks and contacting the companies that are spoke about and in the main they have all been helpful. I have also been in touch with a company called X-dream Productions. They were very nice and helpful and told me how they only work with the very best British models but they also said I could only work for them and if I chose to work for them I could not work for others. I feel that this would restrict my earnings and so I asked how the other companies would know and was told that xdream were a professional company and had contracts in place with the other companies stopping models from moving from company to company. I am getting a little confused because I have spoke with other companies who claim to know nothing about contracts and tell me models are only booked for a shoot and can then do what they want. My fear is that I make a wrong choice and restrict my future career by working with the wrong companies but then again I?m looking at the different web sites and noticing that the girls do seem to be on all of them.

Hope you can help

Larni

[Joe A]

Hi Larni and welcome to the BGAFD...

There are many adult companies who use the BGAFD as this is where the UK Adult producers meet the customers. I'm sure many will agree with my comments below.

What X-dream Productions are offering you is totally unfair and unless they are putting you on a high paying retainer, they cannot ask you to sign a contract like that. This was how the major film companies worked in Hollywood back in the 30's. They would sign up an actor/actress who they believed in and pay them a weekly wage to keep them. This is 2001 and X-dream are certainly not MGM, Paramount or any other simarlarly large company. Let them pay you a minimum of ?750-1000 a week even if you're not making a film for them and that would be fair, as you can earn that with ease without being with them or working for them, if you are a good model.

Do you have any pics of yourself on the net ? If so post a link to some. If not I suggest you get a portfolio together to start with

We in the industry are here to help when you need us

[rrankin]

Check out this post:-

http://www.bgafd.co.uk/forum/read.php?f=5&i=3524&t=3524

I'm just a punter, but do have experience in an industry with many similarities.

I would be very wary of any exclusivity clause in a contract, and especially so with a company that is new with no trading history.


On a seperate note, if you do start modelling I suggest you do some research into the money side of things e.g. self employed or own company, do you VAT register, allowable expenses etc... , as the right choices now can save you a lot of money if you get a plenty of work.

The gorgeous and brainy Rebekah Dee has recently voluntered her services, so may be willing to help. http://www.bgafd.co.uk/forum/read.php?f=5&i=3343&t=3343

[MisterC]

I've got to agree with Joe's advice, avoid any sort of exclusive deals unless they are prepared to pay above average earnings - say ?1,000+ per week, and even then insist on an unconditional short notice exit clause.

Most work is found through contacts and networking, although the occasional post on here will certainly help. I would recommend getting some sample pictures on sites such as these:





to give you some initial exposure and work and also act as a point of reference for your posts and other enquiries.

One final piece of advice is to delete and ignore any responses that refer to 'amateur gonzo', 'photographer participation' or any other dubious means of getting cheap escort sex.


Good Luck

[Peter]

The only exclusive contract they can offer you is a contract of employment, that is, they make you an employee, pay you a salary, holiday pay, pension entitlement, etc.

And the biggest pitfall to avoid is working for the TFP wankers. Theres a million camera owners out there who will all offer to shoot you for free, (for your benefit, of course!) Avoid like the plague.

[Joe A]

I am tired... I wrote 2001 instead of 2005... DUh

To add to the list of very good model sites to be listed on I suggest:


As Peter said watch out for the photographers who offer (TFP) Time For Prints or TFCD, Time for CD. Both can take for ever to receive pics from but, most of the sites we've mentioned also have photographers portfolios, so you can always check these out first, as you will need to get a portfolio together yourself with samples of different photographers.

Of course one point you didn't make was, to what level of work you are aiming for. The models listed here work from solo/toys upwards to 20 man or even more gang bangs

[Gary]

Hi

Just watch out when you get a portfolio done at studios.
There charge the earth for pics for your portfolio.

Gary

[Larni Lurve]

Thanks for your help guys and I wasnt offered a contract just told I would only be able to work for the company in question for a standard shoot rate.
Since posting this request I have recieved mails from other girls telling me a similar story and suggesting I give this company a miss.

Thankyou Joe, rrankin, MisterC, Peter, Gary.

I will post my pic here asap

[Mark Keane]

Last time I checked X-dream hadn't actually released a dvd and weren't even listed on Whois as they were an "individual". You should always be careful about signing any contract with anyone for anything.

Try these agencies

http://www.walpole-group.com/

http://www.michaelrossmodels.com/

[marcusallen]

Is this one of THE posts? Know what I mean?
Remember a while ago the Sally type posts?