I flew into home yesterday for a few reasons. A) I missed home. B) Hurricane Irene. C) I left Fusion(my modeling agency in NYC)
Before I go into the details of Fusion and I parting ways I'd first like to tell how I surprised Amanda(my gf) last night. First off, I had to make up some excuse as to why I wouldn't be able to reply to her texts the hour and a half I was flying on the plane so I simply told her I was at casting calls. Also, usually, I text her when I first wake up and start my day but yesterday I didn't, my excuse being that Thursday night was a friend of mine's birthday and we stayed out late(which isn't a lie) so when I finally did text her for the first time(after I landed in NC) I told her that I had slept late because we stayed up late for my buddies bday and then went straight to castings. After being picked up from the airport by my parents and having a late lunch with them, we went home so I could get my truck and make my way to Raleigh. On the trip there Amanda tried calling me a few times as I hadn't spoken with her all day, which is highly unusual, but I didn't answer her calls in hopes of keeping myself fresh on her mind as well as making her worried and wondering, where is he, is he ok etc. Upon arriving at Amanda's front door I had a little fun with her. Of course I brought Willow, my black lab, along with me so I made Willow sit and stay in front of Amanda's door, rang the doorbell and slid off into the night shadows so that I couldn't be seen. A few seconds later Amanda opens the door, she looks bewildered as she peers down at this black lab on her stoop, then I see the realization hit her, that's Willow! I hear a gasp, an excited "Willow!" rings through the night air as they exchange a big hug, Willow's tail wagging at 100mph. I then decide to step out and reveal myself and watched Amanda's beautiful eyes grow even wider, apparently she missed me for some reason! ;)
Fusion. Ah, my dear Fusion. The modeling industry is an ever changing species, as can be seen if you Google pictures of models from 1995 as opposed to now. Some of the models I had the opportunity to meet at casting calls are some of the craziest and wackiest looking gentlemen I have ever seen(which isn't a bad thing, if only unexpected). Don't get me wrong, not all of the models fit this bill(my roommates being an example) and most of the guys, no matter their look, are extremely nice, caring young men so I do not mean that in a derogatory manner, but I would be neglecting the truth if I didn't say that some of the guys I have seen are not your stereotypical "model". Some of them are tall, frail, petite, even borderline anorexic, as the beast that is the high fashion industry has evolved its nature. I invite you to go onto Fusion's webiste, http://www.fusionmodelsnyc.com/ and you'll see what I mean. As Bob Dylan once said, "the times they are a changing" and I feel that I didn't fit the mold of Fusion's vibe and the rest of their modeling board. While I have no ill feelings toward Fusion and can honestly say it was a mutual break as they weren't pushing my career as hard as I wanted it to be from day one. Being signed with them was basically a waste of my time from a business stand point as I feel I didn't get my face out there. I will admit that being signed with them gave me the opportunity of an inside look into how the bigger markets operate. In the end what it all boils down to is that I didn't fit the bill of what they wanted in a model. But do not worry! I have had numerous contracts extended my way from bigger, better and more well established agencies than Fusion so my career is far from over. As they say, if one door closes then another one opens, in this case a bunch of doors opened and I will be returning to NYC in October, after my friends wedding in late September! I hate that I'll be missing NYC's fashion week but all it really is, is a bunch of underpaid models, or not paid at all, walking for designers who are clearly taking advantage of the models services for the designer, without the happy, fairy-tale ending. That's right ladies and gentlemen, NYC Fashion Week is a bunch of bells and whistle's without a grand finale, for the models at least. But the models will grace the cat walk, sporting the multi-millon dollar companies latest fashion article without being paid a dime, if the model is lucky he/she will get to take home a pair of jeans or shoes, maybe even a t-shirt. It can't be denied that it is a great feeling being in front of so many people, camera's flashing, as you "rock the runway", but is that payment enough? It's a sad world indeed that's not so glamorous after all.
Other news: I, as always through the restaurant I work for, met some Very interesting and powerful people in the world this past week. From the Vice President at Goldman Sachs to a Tony Award winning actress, Vice President of Morgan Stanley, President of Details Magazine(an Incredible mens fashion magazine) as well as the Creator and Executive Producer of the t.v. shows The O.C. and Gossip Girls.
Before leaving NYC I also did a test shoot with a photographer who is also a model. He's modeled for Ralph Lauren Polo and has mentored as a photographer under Mark Seliger, a famous celebrity photographer. Mark was Johnny Cash's go to photographer as well as Kurt Colbain and many others. It was a great shoot and I will share the images as soon as I get them.
Another funny story, I feel, is that Daniel, my roommate and veteran Fusion model, is from Sweden and often I will jump on his Mac to surf the internet and, boy, is that an adventure! All his prompt commands are in Swedish, the buttons on his keyboard are laid out different and all his browser options are in Swedish. Due to using his computer I can now read a little Swedish! Another friend of mine, who is also a Fusion model named Tony, celebrated his birthday on this past Thursday, Aug. 25th. Daniel and Tony are brothers to me and I miss them already, as Zack Galaf...however you spell his name, says in the movie The Hangover, "we are a wolfpack". Speaking of my modeling friends, I'd appreciate it if everyone said a small prayer for everyone in NYC. If the weather forecasts are correct, a tough time is baring down on them.
I hope you all remember the story about the casting call I went to where the director asked me what part of Europe I'm from. Well, it happened again. I was meeting with a modeling agency in NYC and, first off, the agent I was being interviewed by asked, "what mix are you?" When I replied, "no mix, I'm simply caucasion," he gave me a funny look and said, "well, you look racially ambiguous and that's a good thing." Then he asked, "where are you from?" When I answered, "North Carolina" he laughed and said "you are fooling me right now, I thought your voice has some strange hint of European in it". Folks, maybe ethnicity isn't something I should joke about but being the small town gentlemen that I am, I always get a "kick" out of these people getting who I really am all twisted and confused.
Lastly, I'd like to share a quirky picture with ya. I am use to seeing yachts, ferries and extremely expensive racing boats cruise and/or zoom by at extreme speeds on the East River which divides Manhattan from Brooklyn. But this ship was picture worthy as, I felt, it was one of a kind on the River that day!
And of course I will share my latest poem. This poem exudes a lot of emotions but mostly frustration and anger. As a model you have to walk a fine line, not just on the cat walk but also with your agency, at times. Of course you follow standard protocol of being business like and cordial because you want them to like you, after all, they control your career. At the same time, when you know you aren't being pushed like you should be, it's a struggle to constantly speak up on your own behalf without letting some sense of frustration slip through that could cause controversy between you and your agency. This poem is about walking that line and struggling to find the right path. Please pay attention to how thoroughly laced with alliteration this poem is. If you're not a literary buff, alliteration is when you have two words in a sentence that are in consecutive order that start with the same letter, such as, the man went to get his Shoe's Shined, notice both words start with the letter S. It takes time to come up with this stuff so that's why I point it out.
Untitled:
Take a breath and hold
Or just bend, break and fold
Don't think, daftly do what you're told.
Maybe try being a little more soft spoken
Even believe best to hold your humble hope in
Does the prophets raven really carry such a terrible token
Hold your hands tied tight behind your back and hope for some slack
Easier ends come from a nice noose with a touch of bloody black
Justice jumps from her broken building and smashes with a subtle smack
This is what it is to give up on life's light due to the periless perspective found in fervent fright
Rooks are black and white but its not so clear what drives your soft somber sight
Beaten, bashed and broken are those that topple due to lack of daring drive
Certainly circumstance can play a rocky role but its the pilot who kamikazis in his deadly dive
Whats your role in life? I don't knows, I don't cares, life isn't fair, I hit a snare, well get up and show some flattering flare.
Readily remember the brush may mold your lovely look but it's still your handsome hair.
Don't look down if you feel bound bare boned to the ground only be tremendously true and see yourself through.
