MODELS.com Agency Spotlight: Clear

MODELS.com Agency Spotlight: Clear
Part 2.

MODELS.com's Wayne Sterling caught up with Ingrid one hectic Friday afternoon at Clear's lower Broadway offices and by conversation's end needless to say, this particular's agencies assets shone with crystal clarity. (continued from page 1)

MDC: What would you say is the biggest challenge in terms of getting a male model on the fashion map?
Ingrid: The biggest challenge is that there are hundreds of thousands of models fighting for the same position! Picture hundreds of thousands of kids fighting for that one catalog job, that one editorial, that one campaign...worldwide. The dimensions are pretty big. The challenge therefore is to get it done very quickly. I don't want to waste the kids time. I want a career within three to five months. And I usually obtain it. But that's my deadline and I'm harder on myself than anyone.

MDC: Three to five months. That's a lot of phone time, cajoling, promoting...
Ingrid: And whether he needs to be in the gym, whether he needs his hair straightened...colored. The cut. Does he need new clothes if he doesn't have the wardrobe. They have to go on castings. They have to be a complete package in front of that client!

MDC: How do you feel about this sentiment that pursuing high end editorials for male models is a waste of time.
Ingrid: Who thinks that? On the contrary, I think everyone in the fashion industry devours every magazine that's out. What location is that? Who styled this? What new model is this? Clients will fax you, will xerox tears. Designers will call me and say, page 78 of L'Uomo Vogue...who's that? Where can I find him? Fashion shows and editorials, to me are very necessary for worldwide exposure.

MDC: Any key market trends when it comes to male model looks that you want to make note of?
Ingrid: I think it's going to go less boyish and more manly in the future. Whether that is in terms of an age bracket, or just that strength and character.

MDC: What would you say is the key thing you look for in a new model?
Ingrid: It's really funny because I look at them and they're telling me that their whole life has revolved around wanting to be a model. What I would say is please have other goals and intentions. To me the most important factor is personality. It really is. That is the captivating element that every client is looking for. If you have people who are throwing hundreds of thousands, whether it be for a campaign, or for an editorial, part of your responsibility is to keep the energy up. If there is no inspiration or communication that they can pull out of that kid, then why are we here. It's the same as you and I. What inspires us? What energy are we choosing to celebrate.

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MDC: Without a presence, or a persona you might as well shoot the campaigns on plastic mannequins.
Ingrid: That's how I feel. Clients want that niceness. They don't want to deal with the egos, the holier-than-thou attitude or been-there-done-that now I'm a superstar. That's why someone like a Ryan Locke has such a long career. He is a joy to work with. He gives his energy to whatever situation he's in. It's very important and I try my best to instill this idea in our models from the start.

MDC: Where do you see Clear going in the near future as an agency? A bigger board, film and television? A PR company?
Ingrid: We've already branched into film and entertainment. We are a complete management company.

MDC: So there is already established talent on board!
Ingrid: Totally! For a lot of our models it's about providing them with an outlet. They're writing scripts. They want to get into acting, using the stepping stone of modeling to supplement their income.

MDC: Clear, it seems, is a lab as much as it is a modeling agency.
Ingrid: Call it the incubator. We incubate talent and we just watch it grow, blossom and go! I always call it my bubble.

MDC: Well you have the most amazingly chilled out environment. Every time I get here I just want to grab a cup of tea and curl up with a good magazine.
Ingrid: Everyone does. That's the environment that was important for me to create.

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MDC: What advice would you have for that cool new guy out there who's thinking about dipping his foot into the modeling pool?
Ingrid: If someone comes in here, I'm very honest. I take time out. I'm not rude. This is NY. NY is intimidating as it is already. It's the fashion capital. So if anyone earnestly tries to put together a book..I mean I won't hesitate to tell them that what a particular photographer did in West Virginia is not going to work here but don't they deserve to know that? I do take that time out. And I get thank-you-notes. Constantly. "Thank you for taking your time. No-one else did". I give these aspiring models a lot of credit. It takes courage to go after your dream.

MDC: Well thank you very much for taking time out to enlighten our members Ingrid.
Ingrid: My pleasure. Anytime!

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