All are welcome to audition, but we are specifically looking for:

 

Men - athletic/muscular
Women - athletic/dancer types/good with gesture poses

All must have:

• motorized transportation and be willing to go to outlying areas

• weekday availability

• internet access - most work is offered and accepted via email

Please bring:

• Your application
• Head shot and full body photos (these will not be returned)
• A $20 audition fee (cash only)
• A robe (private individual auditions will be done in the nude)

Please plan to arrive on time. Punctuality counts!

 

We will begin with a short general introduction as to how the audition will proceed. If accepted into the Guild, you will be expected to arrive at a job on time, and your ability to be at the audition on time will count in your favor.
 

If, for some reason, you can't be there by 10:00 a.m., please contact bamg_audition_info@yahoo.com before audition date .

Note: We will accept no sign-ups after 2:00 p.m.

 

Building security at the Odd Fellows Hall requires you to take the elevator.

 

BART: Civic Center Station

MUNI: Any bus that goes down Market or Mission St.

Car:      On-street parking where you can find it. The Civic Center underground parking lot and others are nearby. Please allow yourself ample time for parking and walking.

 

We highly recommend reading the rest of this document to better understand what it means to be a Guild Model.

 

Looking forward to meeting you on audition date.

 

Thank you.

To sign up for automatic audition notifications, please go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BAMG-audition-notice/

 (Please read all 4 sections before auditioning.)

I.     To Become a Model with the Bay Area Models' Guild

II.    What the Bay Area Models Guild is and What We're About

III.   Requirements of Being a Guild Model

IV.   Benefits of Being a Guild Model

I.   To Become a Model with the Bay Area Models' Guild

We are looking for models, female and male, who have a great stage presence and excellent communication skills, and who are energetic, creative, responsible, personable, and very reliable.  We especially need models who have cars and are willing to travel to outlying areas, and who are available during the daytime (typical weekday business hours).  Experience working as an art model is a huge plus.  Minorities are encouraged to apply.

STEP 1:  Before the Audition

1.  Are you 18 years of age or older?  Guild models must be legal adults.

2.  You must have:

• a social security number and a state issued I.D. (such as a driver’s license).

• verifiable references.

• home address here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

• working phone with voice mail or an answering machine.

• e-mail address you check at least twice a week (not required but very, very helpful).

3.  Read all five pages of What You Need to Know, and then complete the Model Application.  

4.  To find out when the next audition will be join our audition notification Yahoo group;

go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BAMG-audition-notice/.  And check our website occasionally, just in case. 

STEP 2: Attending the Audition

1.  Be on time and sign in right away; we’ll audition you individually in that order.  Punctuality counts.  After the group introduction, we'll direct you to the changing rooms and the waiting area from which you will be called into the audition space.

2.  At the audition, you must bring:

• a non-refundable audition fee of $20 cash (no checks or debit or credit cards, receipt available upon request).

• your completed application form (with references).

• your resume or bio.

• at least two photos of yourself (on paper) of good quality.  A headshot and a full body shot that shows your physique, and photos of you in your costumes, are helpful too.  Photos will not be returned.

• a robe or garment you can easily slip on and off.

• a cloth to cover the surface of the stand.

• something to read (recommended).  Auditions can take several hours.  Please be patient.

• Please do NOT bring any props or costumes.  (But having your own costumes is an asset.  Be sure to indicate on the Application Form if you have them.)

3.  Applicants audition individually (and privately) in the nude before a panel usually consisting of about five working Guild models for a period of 5-15 minutes.  You must demonstrate modeling ability by showing examples of gesture, 5-, 10-, and 20-minute poses.

Applicants are evaluated on:

• modeling ability, creativity, and experience.

• appearance and body type.

• attitude and stage presence.

• professionalism (this includes punctuality).

• availability (times you can usually work each week).

• client requests and overall potential value to the Guild.

Most modeling jobs require nudity.  There is a little clothed or costumed modeling work, and in some exceptional cases we may accept a model who won’t or can’t pose nude.  Please contact our Audition Coordinator (at BAMG_audition_info@yahoo.com) well in advance of the audition if this is a concern for you.

Following your individual audition, you may leave.  You will be notified later by phone if accepted.

STEP 3:  Orientation

1.  If you pass the audition, you must attend a two-to-three hour Orientation.  This will occur soon after the audition (usually we want you to be available for bookings as soon as possible).  There's a lot to know about modeling protocols, Guild policies and procedures, and the financial aspects of this form of self-employment through the Guild.  Without this information, time and money could easily be lost--for you, the Guild, and our clients.

2.  There will be a few forms (paperwork) to read over, complete, and sign at your Orientation (required of all new members).

3.  At the Orientation, you must bring:

• at least $150, and preferably the full $300.  (Debit or credit cards are not accepted, but a check is okay.)  Of this $150, $75 is a non-refundable initiation fee; the rest goes toward your $225 refundable security deposit.  Both charges are required of all new members.

• your state issued I.D. (such as a driver’s license) and your Social Security Card (and associated federally issued documentation permitting you to work in the U.S., for non-U.S. citizens).  We need to see these items to verify what you put on your application and paperwork.

• any questions you may have about your pending membership in the Guild or modeling.

STEP 4:  Probation

1.  Upon successful completion of your Orientation, your first three months will be a probationary period (four months if it includes June, July and/or August).  You need to comport yourself professionally and avoid infractions like no-shows and tardiness.

2.  If you can manage all the above, then congratulations:  You are now a Guild model!

The Bay Area Models’ Guild (a.k.a. BAMG or the Guild) was established in 1946 to provide a central booking organization for professional art models in the Bay Area.  As far as we know it’s the largest, oldest and most successful organization of its kind in the world.  Our members are committed to developing and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, skill, and reliability in art modeling and model booking services.  The Bay Area has a rich and vibrant arts culture and we are proud to be an important part of it.

A guild is an association of independent contractors who work together to give help and advice to its members and to set policies and standards for the betterment of their trade or profession and their individual yet mutual circumstances within that trade or profession.  This guild is a democratically member-operated non-profit, non-equity based workers’ cooperative, mutual benefit corporation where the regular active models are members.  Models’ membership dues pay most of our operating costs.  The Guild’s administrative structure includes a Board of Directors, the Booking Coordinator, Treasurer, Secretary, a few other department coordinators, and the General Membership (that could include you).  To be a model (independent contractor) with the Guild you must also be a member of the Guild.  Be an active member and help make this your organization too.

In addition to screening our models (the audition and orientation process you are considering), we screen our clients (universities, colleges, animation companies, drawing groups, individual artists, etc.) as well.  Clients must be cleared through this process before they can request bookings.  There are required guidelines to observe for both clients and models.  The screenings and guidelines help ensure that both client and model know they will be working with legitimate professionals.  We also guarantee our bookings for both client and model.

We are looking for professionals who will uphold the highest standards in art modeling, who will commit to the membership requirements, and who will participate in the decision making process at general membership meetings (GMM’s) held three times a year.  Yes, these are steep requirements, but we also have the highest pay rates for art models in the Bay Area (and most other areas too), starting at $26.67 per hour and going up to $53.33 per hour (depending on location).  Photography assignments, whether released or unreleased, nude or clothed, are at $160 per hour, with a one-hour minimum.

The BAMG is not an employer and therefore does not provide workers' comp.  Guild models work as independent contractors and are responsible for their own insurance liabilities and taxes.  Also, we can't guarantee that any specific model will get a specific number of hours of work--the booking of jobs and what happens in the studio or classroom between the model and client are very organic and subjective processes.  If you fit the requests of our clients you may be offered bookings, but you are not required to take any specific booking.  However, once you accept a booking we will expect you to fulfill that commitment.

III.   Requirements of Being a Guild Model

1.       Acceptance and Initiation

Pass the audition, complete a one-time New Members' Orientation, and pass your probationary period.  (See section I at the top of this page for the details of that process.)

2.       Financial

Each new member must pay a $75 non-refundable initiation fee and a $225 refundable security deposit.  Of this $300, at the Orientation you must pay at least $150.  We would prefer you pay as much as you can--ideally the entire $300--at this meeting, but we understand this might be a hardship for some and we are willing to have you pay the remaining amount spread out over the next two months (or earlier as circumstances permit) if need be.  The deposit is used to cover any possible dues and fees you might incur and still owe when your membership with the Guild comes to an end.  Dues ($3.50 per regular hour worked and $15 per hour for photography) need to be paid to the Guild in a timely fashion.  Failure to do so will affect future bookings.  Not paying your initiation fee, security deposit, membership dues, and fees in a timely manner will get you expelled from the Guild.  This is especially true for new probationary members.

3.      CS Hours

You will be expected to perform 12 Community Service (CS) hours per calendar year.  Community Service hours (or “volunteer” time) are fulfilled primarily by modeling at Guild-sponsored drawing marathons held quarterly, or by performing other occasional administrative services.  Models will be charged at the hourly rate of a Zone 1 job, (currently $25/hr) for each unfilled CS hour at the end of the year.

4.       Participation

You must attend at least two of the three General Membership Meetings per calendar year.  Of those two you will be charged a $25 not-in-attendance fee per meeting you skip.

5.       Professionalism

When you accept a booking you must be at that booking on time, and behave in a productive and professional manner--you are a visitor in a client’s studio, classroom, place of business or home.  The financial penalty if you no-show on a client is equal to what you would have been paid for that booking.  No-shows, excessive tardiness, and other unprofessional behaviors can result in your expulsion from the Guild.  How you perform on the job reflects on the Guild as a whole and therefore on your fellow members as well.

6.      Physicality

While this is not a strict requirement as such, please be aware that modeling is often a physically demanding task.  Some modeling sessions (often three to six hours) can be nothing but very short active and dramatic poses while others can be one long still pose for up to six hours (which then can be repeated for several sessions, each on different days)--two very different types of physical stress on the body.

Unless you can meet these requirements, please do not come to the audition.  Make way for models ready to make these commitments.  We have a limited number of model vacancies to fill.

IV.   Benefits of Being a Guild Model

1.      Pay

We have the highest pay rates for art models in the Bay Area (and most other areas too), starting at $26.67 per hour and up to $53.33 per hour (depending on location).  Photography assignments, whether released or unreleased, nude or clothed, are at $160 per hour, with a one-hour minimum.

2.      Safety and Respect

We look out for your safety to the best of our ability.  You will be working for known, legitimate clients, not strangers with dubious intensions.  It’s just more fun (and productive) working in a worry free environment knowing you are respected.

3.      Guarantee

We guarantee our bookings to our models.  If a client doesn’t pay you for your work or doesn’t show up (both are very rare) you will still get paid (you kept your commitment).  Since you are working as an independent contractor, you must make every good faith effort to get the client to pay you (this could take several months), but if still unpaid the Guild will pay you for that booking.  Occasionally the Guild can lend a hand in helping you get paid.  (This guarantee does not cover cancellations made with proper advanced notice.)

4.      Access

Being a Guild model will open up doors to clients you may have not had access to or never knew existed.

5.       Enrichment

By choosing to be a Guild member and model you will be part of a cooperative community of a worker-run organization.  You will be your own boss and get to help us set and improve the policies (including the rates we charge) that make the Guild a great asset here in the Bay Area arts scene.  Many have found this, along with simply working as a nude art model, to be self-empowering.  Those who experience this tend to see themselves in a much more positive light and therefore tend to be much more professional (and happy) about their job or task at hand.

Any questions not answered here about these matters should be directed to our Audition Coordinator at: BAMG_audition_info@yahoo.com