Model Tip for Travel

Have an assignment far from home? Need to keep your outfits straight and clean? Are the new airline baggage check regulations are cramping your style? Here's what I do:

• Separate full outfits, fold them and place them inside clear zipper bags. Ditto for cosmetics and other personal effects. It's not very sexy, but it keeps things tidy and easy to find.
  
• Make sure you choose a zipper bag big enough for each outfit to avoid wrinkling your clothes. For smaller, slinkier outfits use a freezer storage bag. For larger outfits try a clear sweater storage bag.
• Organize your luggage's contents even more by placing labels on the zipper bags, describing the outfits or other contents inside of them.
  
• When you are done wearing an outfit, place it back in the zipper back and mark it as dirty to avoid mixing it up with your clean clothes.
• When you are ready to go back, put all your bagged dirty clothes in a box and mail them back home. That way, you will be able to bring more cool stuff back home from your trip in a carry-on. As an extra bonus, you will not need to pay extra fees for the dubious "privilege" of risking lost checked baggage.
  

Cards are for giving!

Want a delicious gig? Here's one super easy tip:

Hand out those business cards or compsite cards to everyone!

Don't be stingy with your cards! If your agency gives you some, give them away. If not, buy them yourself and share them. Get full-color cards, preferably with your photo. Make those cards as gorgeous as possible, but also readable and simple. Even if you have to hire a graphic designer make them, an attractive business card will pay for itself by providing you with great leads. If you're too poor to buy business cards or comps, at least make them yourself using your personal computer and printer. A thrifty black and white card is often better than nothing at all.

Pass out those cards, when you are off-duty. Handing out business cards while you are working, is a big no-no, unless you are explicitly asked to share one by an individual and your client contract allows you to do so. Don't feel stupid if you hand more than one card to the same person by mistake. Business cards are easy to lose, and people often appreciate the reminder. Everyone you meet is a potential lead and therefore part of your team; make each team member feel included.

Not everyone will help advance your career, but there are people who will support your endeavors as a model and a professional. You may never know who these folks are if you deprive them of the opportunity to contact you or your agency, should they find a wonderful gig that's virtually custom-made for you. Treat your calling card as a small gift, and you might be delighted at the surprises you will receive in return.