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U.S. Models and Actors: Average Income Information

actorguru — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:21:14 +0000

One of the questions I frequently get from young models is: What kind of earnings can I expect from my modeling career? The short answer is zero to 30 million. It depends on the area you live in, the type of modeling you do, your talent, looks, and personality.

One day you might make $100 modeling for a small retailer ad. Another day you could make $1,500 (as talent) doing a commercial plus get residuals from it. The next month you might make nothing.

Each type of modeling has different pros and cons with regards to income. For example successful fashion models are the best paid making between $4,000 to $15,000 a day when shooting for a Macy’s or Bloomingdales catalog. To say nothing of doing a high profile ad campaign for Prada or Louis Vitton which could run into six figures. But fashion is also the hardest segment to break into.

On the other hand, shooting a big spread in Vogue, Elle or Marie Claire –to be seen and admired by a million readers would get you $100 to $200 and a lunch. Surprised? That’s supply and demand for you! The editors of Vogue know every model would kill to be in their magazine because it’s the best exposure a model can get and will cause his/her career to blossom.

Also, runway models in New York are sadly underpaid before they achieve notoriety. So while fashion modeling is the biggest prize, models work extremely hard to achieve a level where they are well compensated. Of course one might argue that any field is like that!

While major markets like New York an Los Angeles offer abundant opportunities, there is also something to be said for working in a smaller city. Springfield or Des Moines might not have the fashion giants, but any city over half million offers plenty of commercial print work. It’s easier to get in and you make money from the get go. Open your local newspaper or city magazine and you will see dozens of models in a variety of ads –each of them making $40 to $50 an hour. Smaller markets are also more versatile and models frequently double as actors for locally produced commercials.

Smaller cities will also sometimes have locally based catalog companies or department stores who have a constant demand for models. Depending on the size of the company the pay scale could vary from $400 to $3,000 a day. Of course your name recognition has a bearing on the rate. If you are a local celebrity, for example, that makes you a more valuable commodity in a print or TV ad.

Finally, there are three other types of modeling work which you should be aware of. Hair shows which are generally sponsored by local hair salons or a product manufacturer pay between $100-$300 a day. Glamour modeling (swimwear. lingerie, etc) pays $75-100 an hour. Last of all, if you have an athletic build there’s sports and fitness modeling… $40-50 an hour. Much more if you are a sports celebrity!

Christian Lange is a fashion and advertising photographer in Knoxville, TN. You can see his work at: http://www.christianlange.com

Emmy Award: What is It?

actorguru — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:48:49 +0000

The Emmy Award, also known as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Oscars. They are presented in various sectors of the television industry, including entertainment programming, news and documentary shows, and sports programming. As such, the awards are presented in various area-specific ceremonies held annually throughout the year. The best known of these ceremonies are the Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring excellence in American primetime television programming (excluding sports), and the Daytime Emmy Awards, honoring excellence in American daytime television programming. Three related but separate organizations present the Emmy Awards:

the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) honors national prime time entertainment excluding sports;
the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) recognizes daytime, sports, news and documentary programming, and;
the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors all programming produced and originally aired outside the United States.

What is AFTRA?

actorguru — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:29:28 +0000

Founded in 1937, AFTRA, also known as The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is the second largest performers’ union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists (both royalty artists and background singers), promo and voice-over announcers and other performers in commercials, stunt persons and specialty acts.

As of 2005, the union currently has approximately 80,000 members in affiliated locals in major cities throughout the United States (44,000 of whom hold SAG memberships as well).

This is a must union to join if you are to be considered a “professional” actor. You can find out more info by visiting AFTRA.com.