Speaker 1: 0:30

The name of our business is Metro Faces International. I am Jennifer Baker, the owner of the company. We started in 99. Our goal is to help individuals book jobs in the model and talent industry, but it's a little bit deeper than that. We also teach a lot of self-esteem classes, etiquette, modern manners. We just want women to be able to focus on who they really are, find the good in themselves.

Speaker 2: 0:57

I love that, and before we get started on to your business, I'd like to have a little bit of a brief history about yourself and how you got started in your industry and how you got to where you are today.

Speaker 1: 1:08

Yes, I attended my first open call when I was 12, a little country place up North in Gettysburg, pennsylvania. It was an open call for a bridal show. I was way too short, I knew that, going in, but I wanted to model so bad I was willing to take that chance. So I went there and I did the open call and I was invited back for the bridal show. And so at the age of 15, I began to realize that you know what? Nothing is off limits if you want it bad enough.

Speaker 2: 1:35

Yeah, that's incredible. And did you start off modeling as well? I?

Speaker 1: 1:39

did yes. So after I did that first bridal show, after that I went to a remodeling school known to mankind.

Speaker 2: 1:46

I took a lot of acting classes and it was just a lot of fun just learning all the ins and outs about the industry, yeah, and now, since you were getting all the ins and outs about the industry, yeah, and now, since you were getting all the ins and outs, talk to me about your journey, about what that was like in the industry, where maybe, perhaps how it was back then to how it is now, what were some challenges and struggles that you saw, and yeah, just tell me the nitty gritty.

Speaker 1: 2:08

Yeah, there were quite a few challenges for me, being an African-American girl growing up in a town like Gettysburg, pennsylvania. Back then models needed to be at least 5'9", a double zero, typically blonde hair and blue eyes, and now things have really changed. Now, as long as you have a goal, you have a dream and you find the right agency like ours we can make it happen. But certainly there were a lot of challenges back then. I was on the shorter side, so the work for me was really hard to come by.

Speaker 2: 2:39

Yeah, I can't. I can't imagine like, especially since we've progressed so much and we still have got more work to do, but I can't imagine what it could have been back then. So kudos to you for still being here and sharing all that knowledge and helping other girls, guys, maybe, go through. You know those challenges, but not alone. Right, they have you right, and I would like to ask you for the type of services that you provide for your clients and for the agency. What are some of the things that a lot of models are coming to you for that you find that they need help in?

Speaker 1: 3:10

Yeah, A lot of models come to me because they know they want to model. They know they want to get started, but they're just not sure where to start. You know there's a big old internet but a lot of models are a little bit more comfortable starting right there where they can turn a doorknob and actually walk into an agency. So I am there for them and they are there for me because I love teaching and I love showing these models the ins and outs of the industry. So if someone is interested in modeling, they come in and we talk about.

Speaker 1: 3:38

You know, first thing is it is a visual business. So we don't want to get away from that because that's just the hard facts. And then we're going to figure out what type of model do you want to be? Do you want to be a fashion model, hands model, foot model, or do you just want to be an actor? There's all different types of modeling in this industry. So our goal is to sit down, have a conversation, because we also want to be realistic. So if a model was saying that she is 5'4 and she wants to walk the catwalk in Paris, I'm not going to say it's not going to happen. I'll never say never, because if you dream and you work hard enough, I believe anything is possible. But we want to be realistic too, because when someone has a goal, it's my job, my responsibility, to work with them and help them reach those goals.

Speaker 1: 4:24

So she may be more of what we call a commercial print model. So you know, if we have a model who's 5'9 and she says I want to go to New York City, I want to go to Paris, well, depending on her dress size, those are goals that we can work on and those are realistic goals. Yes, with all that being said, now we have what we call a plus size industry and we have, that's, opened so many doors for so many people. Because, you know, in this business, plus size isn't anything over a size six.

Speaker 1: 4:48

So I know that sounds absolutely crazy, but I'm so happy that industry has kind of gotten away from women starving themselves, throwing up after every meal, um, just not eating, and you know, because those are things that will certainly land you in a bad place. So now there's there's this big, you know, spectrum of models, and I'm excited about that.

Speaker 2: 5:10

Oh, that's wonderful. Um, I'd like to ask you for your business. How are you getting the name out there about the type of services that you provide? Are you going to, maybe networking events? Are you an avid social media worker, worker or user? I?

Speaker 1: 5:26

do feel like a worker sometimes, right? Yes, yes, yes, we're definitely on social media. We have a pretty strong presence there. I'm a little bit older than 50, 60. So we actually have younger people on our team that kind of control our social media posts. But that is kind of like the beast nowadays. You know, when we first started we were doing radio, newspaper and those things are still important and I still enjoy those things. But we get the bulk of our service really from social media.

Speaker 2: 5:52

Yeah, okay. And how many people do you have on your team, like, who do you have? That makes the dream work.

Speaker 1: 5:58

Yeah, sure, my assistant. I call her my assistant because she pretty much does it all. She teaches our runway classes, she helps me book my appointments and she's always surfing our social media inboxes to see who's interested in modeling or acting. So there's a team of two of us, but we do the work of 10 of us.

Speaker 2: 6:19

Oh, my goodness, it takes a village, as they say.

Speaker 1: 6:21

right it really does, and we also network with a lot of other agencies as well, a lot of the ones in New York City, miami, so that's just to name a few. We're also on our way to Paris in May, wow. So, these are all great networking opportunities, not only for the talent but for the business as well.

Speaker 2: 6:40

Oh, absolutely. Have you heard or seen the show Emily in Paris?

Speaker 1: 6:43

Oh my gosh. Yes, it's so cute.

Speaker 2: 6:46

Yes, yes, I just picture you and your agency.

Speaker 1: 6:48

Yeah, for sure, for sure, that that show is so much fun, right, and you know, and visiting all these different places are a lot of fun too, because a lot of these young girls are young guys that I meet they have never even been to New York city. You know, they've been so many other places but not in New York city. So the opportunities that we're able to award them with is to go there, and you know, and they don't have to really knock on doors, because we've invited all these different agencies to like a networking event and they'll get to go there and just go from table to table and our goal is to get that contract signed. So it doesn't always happen, you know, some models go to Miami for the first time we get a contract. Some go to New York for the first time Paris we get a contract.

Speaker 1: 7:29

But you know, what we do is when we come back from this networking event, we'll sit down and we'll talk what could we have done different? Sometimes we'll get things like let's get a different hairstyle. Sometimes they're asked to gain a little weight, sometimes to lose a little weight, you know. So there's sometimes skincare, but the most important thing is being able to put your foot in the door and start working on something that's important to you.

Speaker 2: 7:52

Absolutely, and I know you offer modeling and acting classes. Talk to me about what those two entail.

Speaker 1: 7:58

Yes, we have a total of eight. It's an eight-step class and the models will spend typically an hour working on modeling and then an hour working on acting, because the two sort of go hand in hand. And sometimes I get actors and they're like I don't want to be an act, I don't want to be in model, I only want to be an actor. But I really try to encourage them to go ahead and take both, because you just never know. A lot of times when you look at it TV you're thinking, wow, that's a cute girl or that's a cute guy on that commercial. It didn't just happen by chance. Not only were they a good actor, they were able to read their script well, but then they also had a good. They look good as well.

Speaker 2: 8:35

Yes, yeah, oftentimes you'll see a lot of people on like movies and then suddenly like they're doing makeup.

Speaker 1: 8:41

They have to model for those campaigns Right.

Speaker 2: 8:45

So why not Two birds, one stone?

Speaker 1: 8:46

I love it.

Speaker 2: 8:47

And then I know you said that they have. I think you said it was like eight steps, but I know there's like a phase. Yes yes, Phase one, phase two and phase three. Talk to me about those.

Speaker 1: 8:59

Okay. So phase one is where the models and actors get the bulk of their training. That's where they're learning things like how to walk, how to pose in front of the camera, how to read a script. Those things are just kind of building really good self-esteem, building character. Then phase two really, we start talking to them about what you should be expecting from your agency, agency expectations, what we're expecting from you, because a lot of models just coming in they think that, oh, I have an agency, now my job is done. But you know, when you really start signing the dotted line, your agency is getting 20 percent of whatever you book and you're getting 80 percent. So there's some work that models and actors need to do as well, and I need to correct that. Typically acting is we'll get 15 percent, modeling will get 20 percent. So, long story short, we do want the models to be involved. We don't want you to just okay, my photo shoot's done here, do your work. It's a joint. It's a joint, you know, team, because we don't want to put our models in for jobs and they're out having a wedding or maybe on a vacation or something along those lines. So, um, and then phase three is where we actually start booking to work.

Speaker 1: 10:08

Yeah, it is a very competitive field. So I want to say that, uh, a lot of girls between the ages of maybe 12 and 21,. They want to be models or actors. It's only the strong will survive. If you are cry, baby, this probably would not be the business for you, because you might hear the word know a lot. You might hear let's get your skin clear, let's lose five pounds. You might hear you may be too dark for this ad or maybe too light for this ad. So we just have to be realistic about the things that we're applying for as well.

Speaker 2: 10:41

Absolutely, and you've mentioned realistic a lot. How is it? I'm sure with your experience it's probably not, but is it ever hard or you've probably gotten the thick skin to tell people sometimes these things Because I feel like I would be a crybaby? Yes, yes you know I'm no model at all, but if I ever wanted to, I definitely could not, Because sometimes it's really hard, for I can't imagine young teens like look, you're a little bit on the thicker side. We need to just lose a couple pounds. Right, I'm not good enough.

Speaker 2: 11:14

It's all about like look, so how are you, how do you handle that and how have you grown your thick skin for?

Speaker 1: 11:20

Yes, that's a really good question, because I am a crybaby at heart and when I hear the word no, the hardest thing I have to do is call my models and tell the models well, we put you in for the ad and unfortunately you didn't get it. But we follow it up with you, know, but that's not the end of the world. You know? No-transcript, wow, we weren't looking for this girl, but look at her, she's exactly what we want now. Yeah, so yeah. But the main thing is just talking to the talent and letting them know that it is competitive and it's important, because we want to build good self-esteem, not tear it down.

Speaker 2: 12:23

Yes, absolutely. I'd like to ask you about your other offerings. You have High Fashion Runway. Three hour class creating your portfolio. Two hour seminar has professional photo shoot. High fashion hair and makeup. Two hour seminar comp cards. Talk to me about these services and how they can also help give you an edge and like a competitiveness to what you want to do and where you want to go.

Speaker 1: 12:48

That's a really good one. Photos are going to play a very big part of this industry, because when you cannot be there in person, your photos are basically serving for you. So it's important that you know your uncle, robert, who's been shooting photos forever. At the family reunion we get that Robert may be a great photographer, but that's not really what we may be looking for at the time. We're looking for fashion photos, we're looking for amazing headshots, so we do have photographers that we bring in to do that type of work. So it really does start with really good photos.

Speaker 1: 13:19

And I tell the models all the time if this is what you really want to do, set aside some time, let's get a little training, let's put you in a position so that we do start applying for jobs. You can be right there at the top of the list with the ones who are eligible to get it, and what's going to make you eligible is, number one, your photos, because that's usually the first thing they're going to see. And then we have to make sure, too, that their social media is intact. If you're talking on social media about things that are not okay, typically companies don't really want you doing ads for them. And then the training that we offer is state-of-the-art training, so they're going to learn how to walk the catwalk, how to post for their pictures, how to dress for an open call, you know what not to wear, and things like that.

Speaker 1: 14:03

I also offer what we call wardrobe styling, and so I get a lot of women that come in who may not be really interested in modeling, but they've just at a place where they're like you know what? It's a new year, I have a birthday, it's Mother's Day, I want to look amazing, and they'll just come in and maybe take some wardrobe styling classes, and that's a lot of fun too.

Speaker 2: 14:21

Yeah, I'm sure I would like to ask you about your agency. Why should people come to your agency? What do you think makes you stand out? All that good stuff?

Speaker 1: 14:37

So I have this joke that I like to say to my husband there could be a million agencies under our zip code, but if they call all of them and then call mine, they're coming to us because our customer service is top tier. We really care about the models. We care about people in general. Again, when models don't get an assignment, it's our job to let them know. You know, you're not just out there in the cold want to talk about what happens.

Speaker 2: 14:56

Yeah, absolutely. And then for your location, do you have like a building where all of this takes place? Where is it and what kind of vibe is it?

Speaker 1: 15:02

Yes, so we have a really cute office space and our vibe is just kind of like city slick. We have a boutique that we recently opened up inside the building, so that's a lot of fun, okay.

Speaker 2: 15:13

Does it have?

Speaker 1: 15:14

clothes. It doesn't have clothes, but it has accessories. Okay, yes, yes. So now, not only are the models learning how to walk, but they're also learning how to pose with different items like purses, scarves and things of that nature. Very important, yes, it's very important.

Speaker 2: 15:28

I know it's a purse, but sometimes you're like wait, how do I like, how do you want me to have that? That is so true.

Speaker 1: 15:33

Yes, and if it's all about the bag, what do I do with it? Yeah, we want a lot of action with the bags. Yes, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 15:39

What have been some challenges for you? I know we got into it a little bit in the beginning, but could you share an experience, maybe that kind of like shifted your mindset or changed your perception of something or kind of rocked your world? Would you mind sharing something?

Speaker 1: 15:53

I'm sure you know it's very interesting when it comes to this industry because I can have a girl and I maybe I've worked with her all summer and now it's time to attend a national event like the ones we talked about earlier. And then, when the model gets there, we get a contract signed with a major booking agency in New York City. And then all of a sudden, the time comes where nothing's happening for about two months. So now she may be like okay, I kind of put going off to the army off a little bit because I got this contract signed. Why is nothing happening? So I have to really put myself in her position.

Speaker 1: 16:32

Things don't usually happen overnight in this business, but that you will sort of shift your mind a little bit because wow, someone who's doing something major like going off to college or joining the military. But they put it off because they thought they had a promising career in this business. And there's also times when a model will may go out and actually book a job, do a whole commercial, stay there for a whole day, even though they are compensated for it. And then we're told well, this commercial is not going to air and we've had to call them and say okay, we have your check for the commercial, but unfortunately it's not going to air. And sometimes they're like you know, I I wanted to air. It's not about the money. So you know, those are things that you sort of learn along the way, because before I got into this business I would have never, ever, thought in a million years that you could spend eight hours filming something just to be told it's not going to air, oh my goodness.

Speaker 2: 17:23

Yes, yes, that would break my heart Like I worked so hard.

Speaker 1: 17:26

Yes, yes and yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:28

You've got training in classes, model management, mm-hmm, and then next model search. Talk to me about that one. Next model search. What does that entail?

Speaker 1: 17:36

Yes, we have model searches throughout the year. We used to just give models an opportunity to just walk in any day off the street because they want to have an open call, but we found that that got to be very time consuming. So now what we do is we announce our model searches now, so we know that we're going to do two shows a year. We're going to do North Carolina Fashion Week, usually in the winter and typically in the spring. So we'll try to have about four model searches throughout the year to look for new talent. And then there's also other agencies reaching out to us for models for their events as well.

Speaker 2: 18:08

Wonderful. And then, where do you see yourself in the next five years as a person and with your business?

Speaker 1: 18:14

You know, that's very interesting because I thought five years ago that I was going to retire and say, okay, I think I'll just sit on the sideline, go to vacations, catch a fashion show here and there and just do a lot of traveling. But I can't seem to let it go. So this is something that I truly love. I love working with fashion. I meet some amazing people, sometimes models. They'll come back to me in years, like maybe four years, once they've graduated from college and say I just want to thank you for everything.

Speaker 1: 18:44

I had a young lady a couple of days ago. I met her in a store and she's like I'm a doctor now. But I just wanted to let you know that all the things you taught me in the modeling classes, I held on to those things all throughout my college career and you know so I'm such a crybaby at heart. So you know those things really, you know, touch home. But as far as where I see myself, I just love what I do. I love to travel. So don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with taking some time off to do that.

Speaker 1: 19:11

So, I want to just continue to travel and create experiences and just be there to mentor the talent.

Speaker 2: 19:17

Beautiful, I love that. The features and good hands y'all.

Speaker 1: 19:20

Yes, yes, yes.

Speaker 2: 19:21

I love it. Is there anything that maybe I have not touched on that you would like to share with our audience, whether it's about yourself, your business, anything at all?

Speaker 1: 19:34

I just want to make sure that the models know that typically what they see in the magazines is not the way it really is. Typically, when you see, if you go buy a shirt and you feel like, oh, I bought that shirt but it doesn't look like the girl in the magazine, that's because that shirt is typically cut down, the back pulled, glued on with some type of adhesive. So you know, I'm sharing this because I don't want the talent to be so hard on themselves. So you know, I'm sharing this because I don't want the talent to be so hard on themselves. And you know, now, with all the photoshopping and stuff, you can take things away. You can make someone look two or three sizes smaller, you can make them have perfect skin or the perfect body, which there is no such thing as perfect.

Speaker 2: 20:19

So it's important that models know that you know, continue to believe in yourself and just don't believe all the hype when it comes to the magazine ads and stuff like that. Oh for sure, and I love that you are part of the industry, but you're keeping it in a healthy, realistic way, because sometimes, even in movies or interviews, people are not acting unless they are acting.

Speaker 2: 20:31

But, yes, they're literally saying stuff like no, like you have to be this thin, and like what you see, like those girls work. They're like thin, yeah, and there's nothing wrong, I guess, with being thin either, but just a healthy mindset, with a healthy mindset, exactly, and so I just like that you are really advocating for people to be realistic and take care of themselves as well and to not fear that, because sometimes that can be so intimidating yes, I can't scream that enough from the mountaintop I want every young lady, and not just young ladies, women, my age too.

Speaker 1: 21:05

You know sometimes people get so worried about the tag and the clothes and the brand and the size and all that kind of stuff, but really, once you become okay with who you are, that those things don't really matter. It's all about feeling good about who you are. And we do offer classes to to bring the models and just the women that I meet along the way to that level, because we all need some help in something at some point.

Speaker 2: 21:30

Absolutely. And then when you have your upcoming events, I'm just like, oh my gosh, miami, london, like that's incredible that you offer that for your clients, like hello, thank you. Some of them have not even gone to like New York or come out of their small town Absolutely and to just take them to Miami or London. That's so incredible that you're giving them that opportunity.

Speaker 1: 21:51

It's such an experience for the talent. Yeah, we may spend two days doing what we're there to do, but then they'll get to take a photo shoot on the ocean Miami, miami beach. You know, imagine you've never been to New York city, but now you're in time, square Um and now you're posing for these amazing photographers. So these are experiences of a lifetime and the models will always have the images to prove. Hey, I was there and I had a good time.

Speaker 2: 22:14

Right? No, it's all about the experience and the memories you make and like if they're able to obviously like grow and continue on and you're able to help them. I'm sure that feels incredible oh yes, it does.

Speaker 1: 22:25

Yes, it does. There's nothing I like better than calling a model or an actor and saying guess what? I want to congratulate you, we got the job. So that's always a fun experience for me as well, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 22:35

Do you have any final parting words before I go to my final question that I like to ask everybody? Okay.

Speaker 1: 22:47

I guess my words of encouragement would be to believe in yourself, don't be afraid to dream and take the necessary steps needed to make your dream a little bit more realistic.

Speaker 2: 22:56

I love it. All right. My final question do you have a goal that, since it's the new year, a goal or a resolution, or you could just give us one that you would like to accomplish for this year, whether it's for yourself or your business, or maybe even both?

Speaker 1: 23:11

Oh, that's very interesting, because I actually do. I've been doing this since 1999, but I've been so busy with my job I haven't been able to do a lot for the community or in the community. So my goal this year is to get out in the community. I want to volunteer. I want our models to get out and do things. We want to make a difference.

Speaker 2: 23:29

I love it. Well, thank you so much for everything that you're doing for these girls, guys, women, everybody, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you guys, and I so appreciate you making time to be here today.

Speaker 1: 23:40

Thank you. I'm excited to be here and thank you for inviting me. You're so welcome.