Model Management and Oppression

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Everyone knows how discouraging it is to see a beautiful young lady caught up in the world of prostitution. I actually study the “Local Stroll” in Houston because I am very interested in shooting an artistic set representing “that life”. There are so many players. The Girl, the Pimp, the John, the Street Lookouts, the Un-Police, the Motel Operator, the Bottom Girl driving the Escalade, on and on.

A couple of days ago, while studying the street, I actually witnessed two Girls being cuffed for soliciting on commercial property. My first thought was that it was totally unfair to target Girls for criminalization with so many others involved. I really had disdain for the Motel Operators that rent rooms for $20/hr. Girls don’t even need to walk the streets because it is easier to hang out in front of the motel lobby. A Cop will drive by the lobby with 15 Girls “hanging out” without even motioning to approach them to limit their activity.

Girls will charge $60-80 for a trick and the motels get $20 for every single trick along that notorious stroll, 24/7! Just wondering who else gets paid from that $20/trick? I was utterly disgusted when I overheard a Pimp giving a pep talk to 4 Girls, screaming down the street, “Handle yo business and no playing around, I got some big things I been planning, so”, ….. Right! Pimps probably feed off of the $60/trick.

The bottom line came to me as I considered what I was studying. SLAVERY, Plain and Simple!

I have always cautioned people about blaming the white man only, for wicked slavery. Most of us would be very surprised to know about the so called Black Africans that sold our ancestors into slavery. Blacks capturing Blacks and selling them or trading them for guns to gain a greater advantage over rivals and more captives. Those royal families and aristocrats are still in power in Western Africa. Back to Model Managers.

Model Managers should function to advise Models on development aspects of their career. Model Managers should be paid a straight fee or in some cases a small percentage. Model Manager advise should be focused on beauty, industry news and events, and training opportunities. Model Managers do not get Jobs for Models! Model Agencies perform that function. In most jurisdictions it is illegal for Model Managers to get work for Models. Model Agencies are very closely regulated in most states because their work is indistinguishable from prostitution from a practical standpoint. It is true that in most small gig type of “Photographer pays for Model” work, that the Photographer also fully expects other favors from the Model. Model Agencies are very closely regulated in most states because of this close parallel to Prostitution.

Actually, in most cases, Model Managers operate as middle-men between the Model and the industry. They restrict the Model’s communications, fraudulently mis-represent themselves as the Model ( taking away her identity), distribute the Model’s earnings ( Paying her crumbs ), insert themselves into modeling contracts, forbid independent relationships with industry professionals, intercept e-mails, texts, and phone calls, and many other forms of human oppression. (Y’all remember “Mr.” from “The Color Purple”.) It is not hard to imagine that “Mr.” climbs up on the Model to do his business more often than not! Money will be paid in the Industry for insane beauty and artistry. The Model Manager does not contribute to either! ( See shoutty, I gotta pay fo dis gas, and all dat der chewing gum y’all be poppin, and dis here “cherry-yacht” don’t roll wit out dat insurance being paid, and remember last time, you and Qui-Qui was late, and I had to go find y’all and, …. )

Models should be aware of the position that they are being put in by their Managers. I sent pictures to a Model for her review. The e-mail may or may not have gone directly to the Manager, even though it was addressed to the Model. If directly, then the e-mail address was fraudulently submitted to me. If the Model gave the pics to the Manager, then she violated my copyright. I had a Model request that I give pictures to a Manager and my immediate question was, “For what?” If I am reviewing pictures with a Model, I am not interested in the Manager’s input. If they know about the art, then they should shoot the pictures and leave me alone. The art is between me and the Model only! I made a call to a number that a Model gave to me to discuss a matter and an older woman answered and pretended to be the Model. It is totally fraudulent to pretend to be someone that you are not while discussing business matters.

Most Models believe that the Manager is supposed to talk for them and handle their business. I guess that is OK if industry professionals intend to communicate through Model Management. That is not the same thing as forbidding the Model to speak, write, sign documents, text, or call other industry professionals. This actually excludes the Model from being professional.

In my case, I make it perfectly clear that I desire NO COMMUNICATION OR ACTIVITY with Model Management. It is totally fraudulent and un-ethical in that case for a Model Manager to pretend to be the Model in text, phone, e-mail, social media, Model pages, …, etc. In these cases, when I sense the presence of a Manager, I have no option but to shut down. It is not like I have the right to tell Models how to conduct their business or who they should have on their team, and it is not like they have the right to tell me either!

I will not be a part of enslavement of any person. If any Model finds herself in an Oppressive Model Management relationship, then review my post on “Fictitious Names”. An Oppressive Model Management Agreement will prohibit the Model from independent, free contact ( Freelancing ) with the industry. Models should steer away from contracts that give Model Managers exclusive rights. Models desiring freedom can simply get a Fictitious Name for $20 and model under that name until that Model Pimp, pimps out. Most professionals will welcome the departure of your Manager. SLAVERY IS DEAD!

Happy Shooting!

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