My rant about ModelMayhem.

[HeadlessBill]

So, I posted a casting call on ModelMayhem to look for models to pose for photos for my documentary.

I won't post what was actually written, but I did mention that I was looking for Goth and erotica models to do nude photos with a dark or Goth theme.

So why is it that most of the respondents I have gotten are the following:

1. Not a participant of Goth subculture or has any interest in it.
2. Has nothing in their portfolio or bio indicating they have any interest in doing anything of a dark themed nature.
3. Not willing to do nude or erotica modeling.

It's gonna be hard to edit my documentary (much less sell) if all I have are photos of the same three people.

[malcolm]

hope you get some modelsh dahlink.shit sux when yo cantfind the resourcesh yo needsh.

[Black Spiral Dancer]

Maybe because people can be stupid? Maybe they didn't read the casting call and thought it would be ok to respond? I do know one girl, but she lives in Canada. She might be interested, if you can travel...

[HeadlessBill]

Maybe because people can be stupid? Maybe they didn't read the casting call and thought it would be ok to respond? I do know one girl, but she lives in Canada. She might be interested, if you can travel...

I wish I could. I know some people in LA that have wanted to pose for the documentary, but I just can't afford to go down there and they can't afford to come up here.

*sigh*

[malcolm]

wel, if youre ever in apache junction and lookin for fat trannys.....lol

[VoldtaEngler]

If you dont mind i'll put a add up on ******* to link to you, i have a ton of model friends and in the LA area that may be interested. Cant wait to see it

[Amelia G]

MM is one of the least useful model/photography sites on the web. They are worse than having nothing, in my opinion. My one attempt at a casting call on there has gone much as you describe your experience. I got an account on there very early on and I have never once booked one single person off of there. Given my volume of shooting, that says something. The forums on that site are the worst -- totally filled with spammers and people putting forth the most damaging and imbecilic advice.

[Poppy]

UHHH!!! MM! I kinda hate it! But there can be some diamonds in the rough there. I have met more creeps *the bad kind* with cameras there.

I get really dumb photographers asking for fetish and don't know what it really is at all, they think it is nude in a dark room. I even had one person who was looking for fetish or darker looks and when he found out I had tattoos he all but hung up on me! I mean fuck! I am not covered in ink and it is all well taken care of and tasteful. He couldn't believe someone would ruin their bodies in that way.

[HeadlessBill]

If you dont mind i'll put a add up on ******* to link to you, i have a ton of model friends and in the LA area that may be interested. Cant wait to see it

Sounds good. Do you still have my email? Though I don't know how and when I can get down to LA.

[HeadlessBill]

MM is one of the least useful model/photography sites on the web. They are worse than having nothing, in my opinion. My one attempt at a casting call on there has gone much as you describe your experience. I got an account on there very early on and I have never once booked one single person off of there. Given my volume of shooting, that says something. The forums on that site are the worst -- totally filled with spammers and people putting forth the most damaging and imbecilic advice.

I agree with you. I did a goth fashion shoot for a designer that interviewed for my doc, and a cast through model mayhem. The one model I really liked and got in the spirit of the shoot (she was Goth, too) was the only one not picked through MM.

BTW, when are you going to interview for me??

[HeadlessBill]

UHHH!!! MM! I kinda hate it! But there can be some diamonds in the rough there. I have met more creeps *the bad kind* with cameras there.

I get really dumb photographers asking for fetish and don't know what it really is at all, they think it is nude in a dark room. I even had one person who was looking for fetish or darker looks and when he found out I had tattoos he all but hung up on me! I mean fuck! I am not covered in ink and it is all well taken care of and tasteful. He couldn't believe someone would ruin their bodies in that way.

Why are you all fetish models in Austin anyway?

[VoldtaEngler]

Sounds good. Do you still have my email? Though I don't know how and when I can get down to LA.

I might have it still. Ill look for it. Who know's though, maybe you'll get a hit through the link..hopefully not spammy though. Ill make sure it says bay area, or can travel to in there.

I get around about 1500 unique people daily on the site and around 200 requests on ******* a day so im sure there's got to be somebody out there for ya!

[Poppy]

Why are you all fetish models in Austin anyway?

Why all you kick ass fetish photogs not in Austin? Thats I what to know!

[Thistle Harlequin]

i actually like Model Mayhem

[americangeiko]

I've met and worked with some good photographers through MM, much more than OMP, Retrokitten, or Musecube. Though I do agree that the forums on there are barely helpful, and had I listened to some of the opinions of people on there, I wouldn't be where I am now.

As far as work postings go, it's a crap shoot. There's a lot of girls who will respond to anything, but there's a lot of photographers who won't list exactly what they want. I know when I'm replying to casting calls I have to screen what I'll reply to not just by what's in the 'requirements', but by what's in the 'subtext' too.

[Jax]

I dont like model mayhem. Its like throwing scraps to starving dogs. Most of the "models" on there I dont believe even read the requirements of what the photographer is looking for. Post for a short white blonde, and everyone but responds to it.

The advice is horrible on the forums. I agree.

For a few years Ive had photographers contact me that are nowhere near me wanting to shoot. It says clearly on my page that the photographer is to pay all travel expenses, and they expect me to go to them on my dime for a TFCD shoot. I finally gave up and dont really participate on that site anymore.

Sorry you arent finding what youre looking for.

[athenahollow]

My profile was deleted for no apparent reason.... not that I really used it. Just logged in, once a month, to check my messages from GWC's

[Lady Alias]

Hm, how is that documentary going, anyhow, Mr. Bill?

[homicidal_kiss]

i like model mayhem because "photographers" there are willing to pay me hundreds of dollars to get me naked for a few hours...and then they take some pictures ;p

but, there is more stupidity then genius on the site. not many active, talented people. did meet a few nice photographers and models on there, though.

[Wickedanima]

My profile was deleted for no apparent reason.... not that I really used it. Just logged in, once a month, to check my messages from GWC's

My membership was refused for no apparent reason as well.

They claimed that my profile wasn't complete enough, but I could never figure out WHY they claimed that, considering all the girls half my size were allowed dingy pics and half-arsed info.

Personally, I came to the conclusion that MM isn't fond of fat chicks. No one ever gave me a good reason I was refused membership.

[athenahollow]

My membership was refused for no apparent reason as well.

They claimed that my profile wasn't complete enough, but I could never figure out WHY they claimed that, considering all the girls half my size were allowed dingy pics and half-arsed info.

Personally, I came to the conclusion that MM isn't fond of fat chicks. No one ever gave me a good reason I was refused membership.

Mine was fully complete, even with the max amount of pictures, 90% were professional quality. I think it had to do with the fact that I linked to a few porn sites that I worked for that weren't "The walmart of the alt-porn world"

[incog]

Is that the site where all the rocker escort chicks go to charge losers for hanging out with them?

[Wickedanima]

Mine was fully complete, even with the max amount of pictures, 90% were professional quality. I think it had to do with the fact that I linked to a few porn sites that I worked for that weren't "The walmart of the alt-porn world"

I have a feeling their admin are... not... that... uhh... even in their judgments of various profiles. I got the feeling it was like a bitch free for all, complete with hair pulling and random insensible being turned away from the club.

Except the club is kind of crappy. ^_^

[HeadlessBill]

Hm, how is that documentary going, anyhow, Mr. Bill?

Slow. But my Assistant Director and I have determined it will be done next year regardless.

[Mr Karl]

Slow. But my Assistant Director and I have determined it will be done next year regardless.

wow, it's been determined

[Jax]

Slow. But my Assistant Director and I have determined it will be done next year regardless.

Well if youre that determined, Im a punk and Ill do your goth doc if you fly me out....




HAHAHAHA!

[One Eyed Cat]

I may sign up for it (using my cat of course haha) She got date offers on gothic match. No doubt she'd get a modeling gig on a site like that.

OEC

[bilbrown]

I can't complain about MM at all. My profile there has gotten a good deal of people to know and respect my work. I have bookings with some talent I have wanted to work with (Sara X, Porcelain, Aphixia, Apnea, Reagan Maddux, to name a few) because of the networking I can do on the site. Photographers I admire respond to me.

And I am in Kentucky.


I understand the beef. I hate the way the site's servers are always fucking up. I never get casting calls filled. I hate the forums. But for a way for a photographer with a little bit of talent to connect with some of the folks that I would want to work with - and instead of having them peruse thru the hell that is ******* or Facebook or my website and see current work I have done pretty much as it happens... yeah, it works.


Some of you even know me from there. Imagine that.

[homicidal_kiss]

Some of you even know me from there. Imagine that.

hey bil! :P

[bilbrown]

hey bil! :P

See

[SiouxSinner]

MM is one of the least useful model/photography sites on the web. They are worse than having nothing, in my opinion. My one attempt at a casting call on there has gone much as you describe your experience. I got an account on there very early on and I have never once booked one single person off of there. Given my volume of shooting, that says something. The forums on that site are the worst -- totally filled with spammers and people putting forth the most damaging and imbecilic advice.

By the way I love every post I read of yours, on those forums

[Amelia G]

By the way I love every post I read of yours, on those forums

Thanks. Sometimes I just feel compelled to school some people. I have found those forums much more entertaining since I accepted that they are kinda supposed to be a comedy train wreck. This thread on here was started so long ago that I can no longer say I have never booked off of there though. I booked one person, Clint Rexx, in the intervening time.

[Amelia G]

People want meat. Not fat. Thats no surprise. Especially in the butchers.

Can you please rephrase that in non-metaphor terms, so I can decide if I disagree with you? I expect I do on this point, but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

[Morning Glory]

yeah, I'm also kinda lost on what the point of that one was.

[SiouxSinner]

I am going out on a limb and saying he meant to say people want plus size models (and of course regular sized models) not just "over weight and not taken care of" type ladies, what most would call "fat girls"...

I am gonna say one thing I hate about MM is that not only does every girl in the world sign up there even if they are no where close to modeling material, but every fucking person with a camera does too, its annoying- but those GWC's pay a lot of money haha.

[homicidal_kiss]

I am going out on a limb and saying he meant to say people want plus size models (and of course regular sized models) not just "over weight and not taken care of" type ladies, what most would call "fat girls"...

I am gonna say one thing I hate about MM is that not only does every girl in the world sign up there even if they are no where close to modeling material, but every fucking person with a camera does too, its annoying- but those GWC's pay a lot of money haha.

haha. i know! what about the GWCs that think it's okay to use a point and click camera as a "professional photographer"? at least save up nickles and dimes for an old canon.

[SiouxSinner]

haha. i know! what about the GWCs that think it's okay to use a point and click camera as a "professional photographer"? at least save up nickles and dimes for an old canon.

It's funny they buy a 50 dollar camera but pay models to take their tops off for 150 an hour...they should at least buy a better camera they can get more chicks to take their tops off

[homicidal_kiss]

It's funny they buy a 50 dollar camera but pay models to take their tops off for 150 an hour...they should at least buy a better camera they can get more chicks to take their tops off

agreed. :P

[soma_stardust]

I am going out on a limb and saying he meant to say people want plus size models (and of course regular sized models) not just "over weight and not taken care of" type ladies, what most would call "fat girls"...

I am gonna say one thing I hate about MM is that not only does every girl in the world sign up there even if they are no where close to modeling material, but every fucking person with a camera does too, its annoying- but those GWC's pay a lot of money haha.

gotta love the gwc's though i can't even get work from them these days D:
i really hate all the lack of talent there, but there's also alot of amazing talent.
i wouldn't be where i am now without MM

[HeadlessBill]

gotta love the gwc's though i can't even get work from them these days D:
i really hate all the lack of talent there, but there's also alot of amazing talent.
i wouldn't be where i am now without MM

Speaking of GWC's, we should discuss our shoot.