OF A POSER:

endeavours. And in terms of the money, well, it varies. I
make a living at it but that doesn’t mean I think I’m ade-
quately paid for the work I do. Models are basically free-
lance, which is great cuz we don’t have neurotic bosses (hey,
that’s redundant) breathing down our necks, BUT neither do
we have benefits, a union, etc... The rates go from $15 to $25
an hour but keep in mind that we’re travelling all over hell’s
half acre to get from one gig to the next and many of us are
at the mercy of BC Transit. Models have not been given a
raise since 1990 where the rate went from $10 to $15 an
hour. I think we’re long overdue for an increase and it has
been my personal mandate to see that happen. I’m a pushy
broad so look out!

Ive had several people suggest to me that I should
start a model agency but frankly I’d rather paint. It is a bit
higgledy-piggledy in terms of how the model network oper-
ates in this city. It’s pretty much word of mouth how you get
gigs - if you do good work, the word spreads quickly. At least
this was my experience. Emily Carr is fortunate to have
someone like Lu Hogan who does all the model hiring and
bookings - she’s totally on top of it and really supports us
models. Often other art schools will call her to get names of
models. One problem that needs to be remedied in terms of
organizing models is how to weed out the shitty ones. Ok, I
won’t spare anyone’s feelings on this because I feel quite
strongly about it. It does take certain skills to be a good
model - the ability to create a variety of interesting poses, to
hold a pose (harder than you think), and most importantly of
all, to have a professional attitude, i.e. to show up! You
wouldn’t believe the number of times I have been called in at
the last minute to cover for some twit who cancelled two min-
utes before the gig, or even worse, didn’t even call. This kind
of behaviour is rife in the modeling scene and has irritated
the shit out of me to the point where I’ve decided to give a
“Modeling for the Arts” workshop in January. I think stu-
dents, teachers, and professional artists deserve to have a
plethora of excellent models to chose from, don’t you? Darn
tootin’ right.

Jesus Christ this is a bloody long article. Get off
yer duffer, have a pee, make a cup of something hot and then
come back for more.

Yes, it’s hard to believe that over 50 arts organiza-
tions want my body. Sigh...now if only I could get a
boyfriend. Everything from certified art schools such as
E.C.1.A.D and the Vancouver Film School to private drawing
groups run by cool and funky artists such as the Larger Than
Life group out in White Rock. This latter group is one of my
favourites because they are so vocal about their appreciation
of having a model, something they don’t take for granted.
And they always have good food and wine. I’ve modeled at
Saint George’s School, an all-boys school - no, not in the
nude, it would probably traumatize the poor things, after all
they’ve only been out of the womb for what, 13 years or so?!
You have to have a pretty solid ego to withstand sniggering
and giggling everytime you point your butt in their direction!
Oh well. I’ve mostly modeled solo but occasionally ’ve had
the pleasure of working with a fellow poser - like the other
week, modeling with Buz here at Emily Central, this totally
cool guy who has been in a wheelchair for one year. Or with
Joel for CDIS, a private animation school out in Burnaby -
we did these great tango-like poses and some fighting ones
too! Arghh! Unfortunately duo modeling is rare because of
the expense, I guess. And usually it’s with clothes on, which

seems somewhat counterproductive to me.
What’s better than seeing one naked body?
Seeing two! Sometimes I just don’t get peo-
ple...But generally speaking, most of my gigs
consist of warm-up poses ranging anywhere
from 10 seconds to 5 minutes and then they
build up in time from there. Animation classes
tend to stick to shorter poses so I really go for
the Zena, Warrior Princess stuff. Because of my
theatre training, it’s easy for me to envision
scenes for my poses, complete with other char-
acters. Does that sound strange? Too bad, it’s
fun and the best way to get into modeling.
Besides, I’m not that narcissistic. Hey, Ill
leave you with one last anecdote, which, by the
way, has never happened to me but I inserted
it, no pun intended, just so you would have
more sympathy for other models and me:

EES. Stay tuned this spring for
Una’s upcoming scintillating slide presentation
of her art, guaranteed to surprise, delight,
offend, discombobulate...not for the timid or
faint of heart.

MODEL’S
WORST
NIGHTMARE:
TAMPON POPS
OUT MID POSE,
BONER POPS UP
OUT OF

NOWHERE.

Influx * Magazine

February 1999 33

OF A POSER:

‘endeavours. And in terms ofthe money, wll it varies. I seems somewhat counterproduetive to me,
iebur that doesn't mean I think Pm ade- What's better than seeing one naked bods?
for the work Ido. Models are basically fee- Seeing two! Sometimes I ust don't get peo-

is great cuz we don't have neurotic bosses (hey, _ple..But generally speaking, most of my gigs
that’s redundant) breathing down our necks, BUT neither do consist of warm-up poses ranging anywhere
we have benefits a union, ete. The rates go from $15 to $25 fom 10 seconds to 5 minutes and then they

‘an hour but keep in mind that we're traveling all over hell's. buildup in time from there. Animation classes
half acre to get from one gig to the next and many of us are tend to stick to shorter poses 80 I realy go for
atthe mercy of BC Transit. Models have not been given a the Zena, Warrior Princess stuf. Because of my
‘aise since 1990 where the rate went from $10 t0 $15 an theatre training i's easy for me to envision

hour. T tink w

Tong overdue foram increase and it has scenes for my poses, complete with other char-

‘been my personal mandate ro see that happen. I'ma pushy acters. Docs that sound strange? Too bad i's
broad s0 look out! fun and the best way t get into modeling

TTwe had several people suggest to me that I should Besides, Pm not that narcissistic. Hey, Vl
start a model agency but fankly 'd rather paint. Itis abit leave you with one last anccdote, which, by the
higaledy-pggledy in terms of how the model network oper- way, has never happened to me but I inserted
ats in this city. Te’ prety much word of mouth how you get__it,no pun intended, just so you would have
Bigs if you do good work, dhe word spreads quickly. Atleast more sympathy for other models and me:
this was my experience, Emily Garris fortunate ro have PS. Stay tuned this spring for
someone lke Lu Hogan who does all the model hiring and _‘Una’s upcoming scintillating slide presentation
‘bookings - she's tually on top oft and really supports us of het art, guaranteed to surprise, delight,

models. Often other art schools will all her 9 get names of offend, discombobulate.n0t forthe timid oF
‘models. One problem that needs 1 be remedied in terms of faint of heart.
‘organizing models is how to weed out the sity ones. Ok, I
‘won't spare anyone's feelings on this because I feel quite
strongly about it. It does take certain sls to be a good
model - the ability to create variety of intresting pore, t0
hho pose Chardr than you think), and most importantly of
havea professional attitude ic to show up! You

n't believe the numberof times Ihave been called in at
the lst minute to cover for some twit who canceled wo min
tutes before the fg, or even work, didn't even call. ‘This kind
‘of behaviour i rife in the modeling scene and has ieritated
the shit out of me tothe point where I've decided t0 give a
“Modeling for the Arts” workshop in January. think stu-
dents, teachers, and professional artists deserve to have &
plethora of excellent models to chose from, don’t you? Darn

tna MODEL'S

Jesus Christ this isa bloody long article. Get off

eee WORST

pee ee NIGHTMARE:

cpp owinwhe Race Thelrerenseneeray TAMPON POPS

ee eee OUT MID POSE

touaykasmetint enn tvearees’ BONER POPS UP

sn of wen a lpn oe
peeves, NOWHERE.
Tol Arg Ulosaeny Sota he bese

Influx: Magazine February 1999 33