Anyone can post a few photos and wait for brands to message them. So why do working models sign with an agency and give up a cut of every job? Because most of the work that gets you paid happens before you ever step on set.
Agencies bring you the clients
Brands, production companies and event teams come to agencies when they need talent fast and need it done right. At House of Wild that means a client list across Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto that you'd have a hard time reaching on your own.
Our models apply for the jobs on that list, and the client picks who they book. You get in front of people who are already ready to hire.
What the 20% agency fee covers
House of Wild's agency fee is 20%. It pays for the work you don't see:
Finding and pitching clients
Running castings and putting you forward
Negotiating your rate, usage and buyouts
Contracts, invoicing and chasing payment
Comp cards and keeping your portfolio current
You don't invoice the client, and you don't invoice us. We bill the client and pay you directly.
We stay in the loop so you're protected
When a client books one of our models, we ask to be cc'd on every message with you. We don't go on set or run the program. The cc is there so we catch it when a client tries to add a meeting, a longer day or something that was never in the booking.
If that happens, we deal with it. You don't have to have that awkward conversation yourself.
The rate is usually higher than you'd ask for
New models tend to undercharge, especially on usage. An agency knows what a buyout for a provincial TV spot should cost compared to a single Instagram post, and builds that into the quote.
Is an agency right for you?
If you want steady, paid work and someone in your corner when a booking gets messy, yes. House of Wild represents around 250 models, and we're always looking at new faces.
Keep reading: Why You Never Go Around Your Agency · What Actually Happens at a Modeling Casting · Apply to House of Wild
