MODELS

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

Ideas & Inspirations

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 cray-cray 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 & outreach.

•   Revenue & Outreach with Community Models:  
     If using community models, work with Sponsorship for more revenue & outreach. Think of each model as an event ambassador,
     who will encourage ticket sales.  Find people who generate lots of bzzzzzzz. . .. Here's how: 

° Outreach & Revenue with community models:  

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

 
  Voila, your mission message spreads!

  See our Model Invitation

° Outreach & Revenue with local businesses: 

  →   Reach out to local businesses and sponsors to provide models & 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.

Voila. Mission message spreads among employees, clients, and their friends and family.

•  Your Models in the Print Program
   Note this event program, and the business associations with models & shoe guys:

Training Models

•  Your models (especially community models)  need a practice session with music before the show.  Here is a practice from the Sonoma
   2013 event, in which Elaine trains community models (the sound on this is very low, so turn your volume up):

Where?

     •  Apart from the 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/makeup 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 & stains in clothes.  Keep this 
         backstage.  If they object, explain they can wash it is a must in modeling to protect the clothing & they may wash it off 
         immediately after taking off the clothing.
       - DO NOT allow stylists to use belts, etc., as not intended, e.g. as headwraps.  They may get hairspray or make-up on them & 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 - Put together a backstage emergency kit:

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

     •  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

                                        
Entertainment

 
     •  Encourage volunteer models to ham it up on stage—blow kisses, shimmy, flirt with the crowd.
 
     •  Neiman Marcus added two professional male models to their Florida runway show who hammed it up
        and were the cherry on the Sunday—also a fun way to use two Shoe Guys.
 
     •  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.

 

Lessons Learned

Is this their version of Guys and Dolls or is it a fashion show?
     •  Use the Shoe Guys or men in the fashion show sparingly.  It wants to be about the women.
 
I want to see my Sole Sister strut her stuff!
     •  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.
 
Is that blouse really ruined?
     •  When doing a fashion show, have several dedicated volunteers who dress the models at thelast minute. 
        Beware of heat, perspiration, and wear & 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.
 
Who’s the peeping tom?
     •  Have a private dressing area for the models with a door that closes or a person who can stand guard so
        no men can peek!  Yes, it was creepy.
 
Slip Sliding Away
     •  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.