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By
Will Brink, author of:
Muscle
Building Nutrition
Muscle Gaining Diet, Training Routines by
Charles Poliquin & Bodybuilding Supplement
Review
Diet
Supplements Revealed
Real World Fat Loss Diet & Weight Loss
Supplement Review
People that follow my stuff
know I generally write about nutrition, supplements,
training, and other topics that are more science
based than subjective topics, such as what
is covered in this article. I decided to shuck
my science geek persona, and write on a topic
I know will be helpful to thousands of would
be and wanna be fitness models.
As well a known "hard
core" science based no BS writer, why
I am writing what some will perceive as a
"fluff" article? Over the years
I have gotten hundreds, perhaps thousands,
of gals that ask me via email, letters, or
in person "how do I become a fitness
model Will? You have been in the business
a long time, surly you of all people should
know." I get this from newbies and I
get this from women that have been at it a
while but have been unable to "break
in" effectively.
The fact is, I have been in
the fitness, health, and bodybuilding biz
a long time, and though I am known as a science
and nutrition based "guru" type,
I have trained many a fitness athlete, and
judged fitness and figure/bikini shows for
the NPC, Fitness America, Fitness USA, and
other federations as well as given marketing
and business advice to all sorts of athletes,
including fitness models. So, it's not as
far fetched as it might seem that I am going
to use this space to cover a non scientific
topic, which is, how one goes about being
a fitness model.
This article will be useful
to both experienced and novice types looking
to "break in" to the biz. If you
are already a professional and successful
fitness model, I am sure you may still glean
some useful information from this article.
First the bad news, there
is no one way to become a successful fitness
model. There is no single path or magic secret.
There are however some key things a person
can do to greatly improve their chances of
"making it" in the fitness biz as
a model, and perhaps using that success as
a launching pad to greater things, such as
movies, TV, etc.
Several of the top fitness
models (Trish Stratus and Vicki Pratt come
to mind but there are many others) have gone
onto careers in entertainment of all kinds.
Bottom line, though there is no magic secret
to being successful as a fitness model, this
article will be about as close to a blueprint
for success as you will find.
"Do I need to
compete?"
This is a question I get asked
all the time and it's not an easy one to answer.
In fact, the answer is (drum roll) yes and
no. The person has to deicide why they are
competing in the first place to answer that
question. For example, do you need to compete
if your goal is to be a successful fitness
model?
The answer is no. Many of
today's well-known fitness models have never
competed, or they competed in a few small
shows and it was clearly not part of their
success as fitness models. However, competing
does have its potential uses.
One of them is exposure. At
the upper level shows, there will often be
editors, publishers, photographers, supplement
company owners, and other business people.
So, competing can improve your exposure. Also,
competing can make sense if you are trying
to build a business that is related to your
competing or will benefit from you winning
a show.
For example, say you have
a private training gym you are trying to build.
Sure, having the title of say Ms Fitness America,
or winning the NPC Nationals and being an
IFBB pro, will help your reputation and the
notoriety of your business. There are many
scenarios were it would help to have won a
show for a business or other endeavors.
On the other hand, it must
be realized that winning a show does not in
any way guarantee success in the business
end (and it really is a business) of being
a fitness model. The phone wont ring off the
hook with big offers for contracts. Also,
it's very important to realize that it's common
that the 4th or 6th or 8th place finisher
in a fitness or figure show will get more
press than the winner. Why? Though the winner
might have what it took to win that show,
it's often other gals the editor, publishers,
supplement companies etc, feel is more marketable.
I have seen it many times
where the winner was shocked to find she didn't
get nearly the attention she expected and
other girls who placed lower have gotten attention
in the form of photos shoots, magazine coverage,
etc. Something to keep in mind when you ask
yourself the important question "do I
need to compete and if so, why am I competing?"
Answer that question, and you will know the
answer to the heading of this section. Winning
a title of some sort can be a stepping stone,
but it is not in itself any guarantee of success
in the fitness industry. It's like a college
degree; it's what you do with it.
Now. If you compete for the
fun of it, then by all means go for it, but
the above is focusing on competing as it relates
to the business aspect of being a fitness
model.
Right body, wrong
federation?
Ok, so after reading the above
you have decided you are going to compete,
or will compete again. If you don't plan to
compete, you can skip this section. The biggest
mistake I see here is so many gals have the
right body for the wrong federation. Each
federation has its own judging criteria and
a competitor will do poorly simply because
they didn't bother to research which show
would be best suited for them.
I will give you a perfect
real world example of this. Recently I judged
a show whose criteria for the figure round
was the women should be more on the curvy
softer side with some tone, vs. being more
muscular and athletic with less bodyfat that
other federations might allow. At this show
one of the most beautiful women I have ever
seen came out. She was very proportional,
great muscle tone, lean, and athletically
shaped with narrow hips and waist and wider
shoulders. How did she do at this show? She
didn't even place in the top ten!
Why? Because she was not what
we were instructed to look for and didn't
fit the criteria. After the show I informed
her that she looked great, but this may not
the federation for her. I told her she had
much more of an NPC type body, where a little
more muscle, athletic build, and less bodyfat
is rewarded.
The following week I was judging
an NPC fitness, figure, and bodybuilding show
and there she was. How did she do? She won
the entire show with all judges voting her
number one unanimously.
Conversely, if your body type
tends to be more rounded and toned, but with
a little more bodyfat, wider (but not fat!)
hips, you may be better off competing in say
the Fitness America Pageants. If you are going
to compete:
(1) find out exactly what
the judging criteria is for that federation
and
(2) go see those shows as
a spectator for several different federations
and see which one your physique, style, etc
will fit into best.
(3) You have to decide if
you truly have the athletic abilities to compete
in a fitness competition (which requires a
routine) or a figure/bikini competition.
I often see women who would
do well in a figure show but really don't
have the athletic abilities do the routines
required to be competitive with other athletes
in the show. Some shows will allow you to
do both competitions and some wont.
Networking 101: dos
and don'ts...
In so many respects, this
is the area that will make or break you in
any business, and yet, people in the fitness
industry do an amazingly poor job at it. If
you don't network and market yourself properly,
you can pretty much forget about having any
real success as a fitness model, or a success
in virtually any business. For the sake of
space, we will stick to fitness.
When I first started out,
I was a self marketing machine. I could be
found at every show I thought might be an
opportunity, walking the isles of trade shows,
bodybuilding, shows, fitness show, and others.
I gave out a zillion cards and I took a million
home with me, and followed up on each and
every one. I went to as many industry related
meetings, outings, parties, etc. as I could
get into. I now have the reputation and experience
in the industry that I don't have to go to
such a show unless I feel like it, or have
meetings, but they were quite helpful in the
beginning.
I am always amazed at the
number of fitness models who contact me who
have never even been to the Arnold Classic
Fitness Weekend, or the Mr. Olympia, or the
trade shows like the NNFA Expo West and others.
If you want to make it in the fitness business
you sure as hell had better treat it like
a business.
I have seen many a pretty
girl who wants to be a fitness model who thinks
if they stand there looking pretty long enough,
someone is going to offer to put their face
on the cover of a magazine. News flash, there
are millions of beautiful women out there
and to be noticed, you have to hussle to get
that business like everyone else by networking
your butt off, or having a good agent (if
you can afford such a thing) who is doing
it for you.
Pick a few major industry
shows to attend (some of which were mentioned
above) and go to them every year. Have a plan
of attack of exactly how you plan to market
yourself and network. Many fitness models,
bodybuilders, etc see a show as one big party.
If that's you, then have fun at the party,
but don't think you are really marketing yourself
as a serous business person or athlete.
Another thing that always
amazes me is the number of fitness models
who either have no business cards, or have
some cards they printed up on their bubble
jet printer at home! They ask me to help them
or what ever and I say "give me your
card" and they look at me like "I
am so pretty I should not need a card you
fool." This attitude turns off editors,
photographers, writers, and industry people
faster then if they found out you were really
a transvestite. Don't do it. For every pretty
girl out there who thinks the world owes them
a favor, there are 100 who are ready to act
like professionals.
Ever wonder why some fitness
model you know is doing better than you are
even though you know you are prettier than
her? That may be why…never ever go to
a show to network without good cards, bios,
and professionally done head and body shots
you can give to said editors, publishers,
photographers, industry types, etc. Don't
stand around looking pretty assuming they
will find you, find them first and introduce
yourself. And of course it should go without
saying you should be in good condition and
have something of a tan to look your best.
You want to go to the shows
and party? Fine, but do it in private after
the work is done and don't make a fool out
of yourself at some industry sponsored get
together. Hell, I was virtually poured into
a cab at last years Arnold Classic after going
to a sushi place with some well know industry
types and companies owners (you know who you
are!) but at least no one saw me! We had our
own little private get together after the
show to let loose.
Let me give you one final
real world example of how NOT to market yourself.
Last year I was on retainer as a consultant
to a mid sized supplement company. The owner
of the company asked me if I knew a couple
of fitness model types that could work his
booth for a trade show. In fact, he requested
"unknowns, some new faces people had
not seen yet but had real potential to grow
with the company." I went and found him
two such gals I thought fit the bill.
He offered to pay their flights,
room, and food plus a thousand dollars each
for the days work. The two girls were told
to be at the booth 9am sharp. The night before
at the hotel, I saw the two girls getting
in a cab at 11pm or so dressed to kill, clearly
on their way out to party. The next day they
showed up at the booth an hour and a half
late and hung over! What was the result of
this? (1) it embarrassed me to no end as I
had recommended them to the company owner
(2) they would never get work from that company
again (3) they would never get any work from
me again and (4) they would not get a reference
from either of us for other jobs.
I see this type of thing all
the time in the fitness biz, and it's not
limited to fitness models. Amazingly, a few
weeks after the show they emailed me and the
company owner wanting to know when their next
job would be! Amazing…
Who loves you baby?
If there is one universal
truth, it's that the camera either loves you
or it does not. Any professional photographers
will tell you this. For some unknown reason,
some people are very photogenic and some are
not. Truth be known, there are some well known
fitness models (who shall remain nameless
as they would probably smack me the next time
they saw me) who are not all that attractive
in person. It's just that the camera loves
them and they are very photogenic, but not
terribly pretty in person.
Conversely, I have seen the
reverse many times; a girl who is much better
looking in person than in photographs. Such
is the fate of the person who wants to be
a model of any kind, including a fitness model.
If you find you are not very photogenic, keep
working with different photographers until
you find one that really captures you well
and pay that photographer handsomely!
Now, to be bluntly honest,
there are also some wanna be fitness models
who are not "unphotogenic", they're
just "fugly"! There are some people
out there who have no business trying to be
fitness models. It does not make them bad
people, it just means they need to snap out
of their delusions and find a profession they
are better suited for, like radio personality….
"How do I get
in the magazines?"
This section sort of incorporates
everything I have covered above, and adds
in a few additional strategies. For example,
as I mentioned before, competing in fitness
shows and or figure/bikini shows can increase
your exposure, thus getting the attention
of some magazine publisher or photographer.
Networking correctly at the various trade
shows may also have the same effect, and of
course having a good portfolio done by a photographer
that really captures your look, a good web
site, etc., will all increase your potential
for getting into the magazines, or getting
ad work, and so on.
However, all of these strategies
are still somewhat passive versus active in
my opinion. It's still the fitness model waiting
to be "discovered." As far as I
am concerned, waiting is for bus stops and
pregnancy tests. Success waits for no man…or
woman as the case me be. So, after all the
above advice is taken into consideration as
having an added effect to getting you magazine
coverage, what else can be done?
For one thing, you should
read and be familiar with all the magazines
you want to be in so you know who is who and
what the style of the different magazines
are. I can tell you right now, if say the
Editor-in-Chief of a good sized fitness or
bodybuilding publications and says "hi,
I am the Bob Smith what's your name?"
and the fitness model has no idea who Bob
Smith is, Bob will not take kindly to that.
Why should he? You should know who the major
players are in the publications you want to
be seen in. He is doing you the favor, not
the other way around. You should know who
the major players are and actively seek them
out, don't wait for them to "discover"
you.
If you look at the masthead
inside any magazine, it will tell you who
the publisher is, who the Editor-in-Chief
is and so forth. The mailing address for that
magazine, and often the web site and email,
can also be found. What is to stop you from
looking up those names and mailing them your
pictures and resume directly? Nothing, that's
what. If you see a photo spread you think
is really well done, what is to stop you from
finding out who the photographer is and contacting
them directly and sending them your pics?
Nothing, that's what.
My point being, you want a
get a break in the business, make the break,
don't sit there thinking it's looking for
you, because it's not. Be proactive, not reactive!
Luck is the residue of design. Be successful
by design. As my older brother used to say
to me as a kid when I told him I was too scared
to ask out a pretty girl "what's the
worst that can happen Will? All she can say
is no." That's the worst that can happen
to you also.
Beware of web idiots,
schlubs, morons, perverts, scum bags, and
sleazoids!
This part is sort of self-explanatory
but worth mentioning. As with all industries
that deal in entertainment based media (e.g.,
television, theater, modeling, etc.), the
fitness industry attracts its far share of
web idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum
bags, and sleazoids, to name just a few.
There is also the class of
person known as the schmoe, but we will leave
that for another place and time. Point is
you want to meet the right people while not
getting involved with that group of worthless
types who will only drag you down, delay you,
or just flat out screw you up and over.
For example, a guy comes up
and says he wants to "shoot you"
for the magazines, but what do you really
know of this guy? He has a camera and some
business cards, so that makes him a photographer
right? Wrong! If someone want to shoot you
and they are not a well-known name (and you
should know who the well known photographers
are because you researched that already!),
find out who they are. Do they have references
you can call? Girls you can contact he has
shot before and were happy with the work?
What magazines has he published in? Does he
do it professionally or as a hobby? That type
of thing.
Another thing I see is the
big web scam. I'm amazed how many girls get
scammed by these web idiots. Lesson here is
you get what you pay for, so when some person
wants to build you a web site for free, you
are getting what you pay for. Yes, there is
good money to be made on the 'net, and the
net can be great for marketing yourself and
making contacts, but most of it's a scam.
You are better off paying
a good web designer and web master who has
experience with other fitness model types
and has references you can talk to. I can't
tell you the number of girls who have been
screwed over by some internet thing that went
to hell, like the "fan" who volunteers
to build a free web site and either runs off
with any money made from the site or puts
their picks on porn sites and any number of
other things that made them regret like hell
ever agreeing to the site in the first place.
Clearly, I can't go down the
list of all the possible pitfalls of the web
idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum bags,
and sleazoids out there to be found in the
entertainment business, but you get the idea.
Be careful!
Conclusion.
Well that pretty much concludes
my down and dirty guide to the basics of "making
it" as a fitness model. Of course there
are tons of business related issues I could
cover and tricks I could give, but the above
is the best advice you are going to find in
s small space and will do more for you-if
properly followed-than you may realize.
Now, if you want to know my
opinions on the best ways to lose fat by diet,
training, and exercise, so you can look your
best as a fitness model, you may want to read
my ebook Diet Supplements Revealed.
If you are looking to add
lean mass with a minimum of bodyfat via diet,
training, and supplements, then consider reading
my ebook Muscle
Building Nutrition.
Good luck and see you in the
magazines!
About the Author - William
D. Brink
Will Brink is a columnist, contributing consultant,
and writer for various health/fitness, medical,
and bodybuilding publications. His articles
relating to nutrition, supplements, weight
loss, exercise and medicine can be found in
such publications as Lets Live, Muscle Media
2000, MuscleMag International, The Life Extension
Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate,
Exercise For Men Only, Body International,
Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women’s World
and The Townsend Letter For Doctors.
He is the author of Priming
The Anabolic Environment and Weight Loss Nutrients
Revealed. He is the Consulting Sports Nutrition
Editor and a monthly columnist for Physical
magazine and an Editor at Large for Power
magazine. Will graduated from Harvard University
with a concentration in the natural sciences,
and is a consultant to major supplement, dairy,
and pharmaceutical companies.
He has been co author of several
studies relating to sports nutrition and health
found in peer reviewed academic journals,
as well as having commentary published in
JAMA. He runs the highly popular web site
BrinkZone.com which is strategically positioned
to fulfill the needs and interests of people
with diverse backgrounds and knowledge. The
BrinkZone site has a following with many sports
nutrition enthusiasts, athletes, fitness professionals,
scientists, medical doctors, nutritionists,
and interested lay people. William has been
invited to lecture on the benefits of weight
training and nutrition at conventions and
symposiums around the U.S. and Canada, and
has appeared on numerous radio and television
programs.
William has worked with athletes
ranging from professional bodybuilders, golfers,
fitness contestants, to police and military
personnel.
See Will's ebooks
online here:
Muscle
Building Nutrition
Muscle Gaining Diet, Training Routines by
Charles Poliquin & Bodybuilding Supplement
Review
Diet
Supplements Revealed
Real World Fat Loss Diet & Weight Loss
Supplement Review
He can be contacted
at: PO Box 812430
Wellesley MA. 02482.
BrinkZone.com
Email: will@brinkzone.com
