How to Find NYFW Castings
Hey, models!
It’s me again - you’re fav, the legend, the baddie. I wanted to write a post about finding #NYFW castings- especially for freelance models! Here are my tips below:
Email and conduct outreach 4 months in advance. Fashion week is typically in September and February so make sure you are on the hunt. It’s best to do your research and scout LinkedIn, Instagram, Models.com, and the internet for contacts of designers and casting directors that you want to work with. This is a FULL TIME job - most agency represented models don’t need to do this so you can skip this part, but if you really want to work with someone, make sure you’re interacting with their content daily, sending follow ups every 2 weeks, and being present at all times. The more they see your name appear and pop up, the less likely they are going to forget about you. Trust me, there are thousands of other models seeking the same thing - stand out, be different, be yourself, and do your due diligence.
Stay posted on Instagram Stories. SO many designers and casting directors, as well as other models, post where they are at LIVE. Most CFDA castings are NOT going to be open to the public, which is why you need determination, confidence and grit to get where you want to be. I found the Patbo casting just through a reflection on a window that they posted on Instagram Stories. Woke up at 8am, went from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and packed my casting bag and everything. I was determined to be my own detective and ended up finding the casting! I truly believe there needs to be more equity in the industry rather than this exclusivity and hush hush nature of castings. Freelance models obviously do not have the same chances, resources, or visibility as represented models so we have to fight 5x as hard to find these opportunities.
Stay connected and find fashion events in your area. During NYFW, there are so many opportunities for networking and collaboration, ensure you are finding the right events for your brand. You can find them on Eventbrite, Facebook, and other platforms.
Be intentional. My intentions are always genuine as I seek to connect and collaborate with others - especially those in the Black and Afro-Latino community. I am all about Black-owned events, so I recently attended the Harlem Fashion Row Awards show - not only to network, but to find community with the same passions as me. Find events that resonate with you - whether they are showrooms, fashion award shows, etc, show up for the RIGHT reasons. We can all win. We can uplift each other. There’s a seat for everyone and I truly believe that in my heart.
