COMMITTEES | Fashion Show

 
MODELS

 

This committee area works with the models: recruiting, training, scheduling, etc.                                    

Ideas and Inspiration

How Many?
Recruit 15-20 models: the more you have, the fewer changes they’ll have to make.

Who?
Mainly women, with "a few good men" (the audience goes crazy for them) perhaps from your sponsors or Shoe Guys.

Pros or No?
Up to you. Professional models are gorgeous, and you can depend on a top-notch show. Community models are fun because the audience shouts out their support, and there's opportunity for more revenue and outreach.

 

Revenue and Outreach with Community Models:  

If using community models, work with the Sponsorship Committee for more revenue and outreach. Think of each model as an event ambassador who will encourage ticket sales.  Find people who generate lots of buzz. 

When choosing community models, invite influential locals. They will feel invested in the show and mission and invite friends and supporters to come to the event to cheer them on.  

Do your community movers and shakers have daughters? Invite them as well! While the ladies themselves  may feel shy about inviting friends to cheers them on, for sure they will invite friends to support their daughters.

For our Model Invitation, click here.

For a great community model casting call example, click here. 


Revenue and Outreach with Local Businesses: 

Reach out to local businesses and sponsors to provide models and buy tables.
Do they have compatible in-house missions?    
They may buy model spaces to honor valued female employees, launch in-house contests for employees to win spaces, and/or buy tables for valued females employees or clients.       

Your Models in the Print Program: For a Sample Program featuring acknowledgement of the models, click here

Training:

Your models (especially community models) need a practice session with music before the show. To view a video of Elaine training some models, click here (and turn up the volume).

Where to place models?
In addition to the Fashion Show, models may also be on risers for guests to see as they enter the party. This sets a mood that the party is one focused on fashion. Coordinate with the
Venue Committee on this.  

What? 

Wine: Keeping wine in the hair/make-up area will allow the models to enjoy the party like everyone else and loosen up for the show.  

Stolen Clothing: Protect your borrowed clothes! Sad, but yes people do steal from charities. Large stores, like Saks will provide security. Otherwise, it's up to you, and you'll be liable to the store for anything that disappears.

Damaged Clothing:  This happens most with community models, and is one upside to pro models. We've seen $2000 dresses completely ruined by sweat, hairspray, or wine. To prevent this with community models, a few ideas:

DO NOT wear perfume.

Make sure models

DO wear fragrance-free antiperspirant/deodorant; something that prevents smells and stains in clothes. Keep this  backstage. If they object, explain that it is a must in modeling to protect the clothing and they may wash it off immediately after taking off the clothing.

DO NOT allow stylists to use belts, etc., as not intended, such as as head wraps. They may get hairspray or make-up on them and ruin them.

DO put on and remove clothing ASAP before and after stage entrance and exit. DO NOT allow models to sit around for any length of time in the clothes.

Dressing room – make sure this is private so you don’t get any peeping toms!!

Fans - If it’s too hot in the dressing room, the models will perspire on the clothes. If you’re expecting a heat wave, put fans in the dressing area.

Emergency Kit for Backstage:

Hairspray
Stain remover
Pins
Duct Tape
Deodorant
Scissors
Razor blade
Sharpies
Pens
 

For the Staging Area:

Plenty of room for make-up and hair artists as well as the models
Carpeted area in case the models want to try on their shoes
Food and water
Rolling racks for clothes plus a way to put the model’s name on their hangers of clothes
LOTS of mirrors
Seating to get hair and make-up done and to try on shoes
Tables for hair and make-up artists to spread out their things
Power/extension cords to plug in curling irons

Model Tips:

Encourage volunteer models to ham it up on stage—blow kisses, shimmy, flirt with the crowd.

Local celebrities/politicians and TV personalities are always great model additions to the show.

Have a good time and ensure the models do too. This translates to the audience.

We all know how putting on a special outfit changes a mood. If you pair outfits appropriately with music
and model demeanor, you create a mood. Project that and multiply it for the runway. If the outfit’s sexy,  
then the model acts sexy. If the outfit’s sweet, she projects coy. The model becomes a character.

Use the Shoe Guys or men in the fashion show sparingly. The focus is on the women.

It’s inspiring to see models have fun on the runway, and community models don’t need to be serious.  

Regardless of appearance, the best models ham it up, and to help this along, have wine in the dressing room.

When doing a fashion show, have several dedicated volunteers who dress the models at the last minute.  

Beware of heat, perspiration, and wear and tear on the clothes. Once the event is over, all clothes have to go back on the rack and be ready for sale. We also suggest having security guards.

Have a private dressing area for the models with a door that closes or a person who can stand guard so
no one can peek. 

Ensure all surfaces between the dressing area and the runway are carpeted (runway needs to be carpeted as well) and ask the models to put their shoes on just as they approach the runway. It protects the shoes, and the models.

Your models look beautiful and want to show it off.  If they are community models, once they have their hair and makeup done, how about letting them be part of the party? They go backstage and change for the Fashion Show as soon as the audience sits down.