About Modeling Contracts
Modeling contracts are considered a commitment, to which a model has made to a client or modeling agency. The modeling contract is a huge promise, which must be cautiously considered, if possible with legal counsel, to keep away from risking important financial losses. There are mainly two kinds of modeling contracts, non-exclusive and exclusive. An exclusive contract will deny you the right to work through any other agencies. A non-exclusive contract will let you seek and be represented through a few, or as many different agencies as you desire. It is really important to stress that the agency, and not the model create exclusive contracts. It will usually be the agency’s idea, and not the model’s. An exclusive modeling contract will give the agency control over a model’s destiny.
Modeling contracts will need to be cautiously considered because there is not a strong models union.This means once the ink is dry, a model will only have a few if any options. Usually modeling contracts last anywhere from one to three years. A number of agencies will want their models to commit to three-year exclusive contract from the get go. Several years’ exclusive modeling contracts should be avoided if possible. The contract must put some clause that will put pressure on the agency to do its just correctly.
If they make you commit to a three-year contract you’ll have to make them commit to helping you those next three years to get work. Make sure you negotiate the contract to your benefit. In other words, the contract can specify if they fail to get you a specified amount of work within one year, you are allowed to seek additional representation or find another agency altogether.
Logically speaking, there is a good motive for an exclusive model contract. If a model is expected to be in extremely high demand, but the model is currently represented by a handful of agencies, each of the agency is probably going to book the model at the same time or she could get double booked.