Modelling is going through difficult times today like so many other business sectors. Therefore, in my opinion, agencies with extensive experience and a well-established structure should stick together. We should share knowledge, find compromises and offer solutions to problems. One of such agencies is Mandarin Model Management (Moldova). Viktor Shturbin, the company’s modelling agent, he tells us about the history of the agency, its first contract and some business costs.
— How did it all begin?
— Our agency was registered in 2004 in Chisinau, Moldova. At that time, modelling was just developing in the country and there were no professional agencies. We occupied a vacant niche and as a result almost all the work in the city was done by our models. Local gloss, television, look books and catalogues — all clients came to our agency. Primarily we operated only in the local market. We didn’t send any models to work for international contracts as there were no contacts, no connections and no understanding of how it all worked.
In 2008 there was a crisis and many magazines were closed. Stores preferred to save on shooting and used the global advertising products of the brands they sold. We were forced to adapt. It was difficult, but very interesting to learn from scratch without any help and learn step by step about all aspects of working with foreign agencies. The travel and contact base, as for many in those years, was the website models.com Later, groups and communities of models and agencies appeared on social networks. It has now become easier to work. Our first model flew to the Red Models Agency for an international contract in New York.
— Does your agency have any preferences in types?
— We are interested in many types, but we prefer commercial.
— What do you think is happening with modelling now? Will the model world be the same after the opening of all borders?
— It will definitely not be the same, but there is hope that after the opening of China, it will begin to recover faster.
— Do you think it is possible to keep the models under contract? Did you have to sue someone?
• The contract has to be kept. Modelling is a specific business: working with young people and many of whom are still at the developmental stage. It is extremely important to find an understanding and establish trusted relationships, otherwise you will have to part waves. We haven’t had to sue yet.
— Models often leave the mother agency and become freelancers after three or four trips, and go to the same agencies where the mother sent them. Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with this and whether it is necessary?
— In the contract you can put forward an agreement that if the model prematurely and for no reason breaks the contract, then she accepts that she should not fly to the same agencies to which her mother agency sent her. If she wants to return to them, then the mother agency continues to receive her commission from the model.
— Is there or was there a model in your agency that you remember well?
– Yes. This is the model that was the first to fly to an international contract in New York – Maria Kazaku. It was from her that we gained invaluable experience. At 16, she flew off with practically zero English on a long flight to New York! At 16 she was stressed, but coped. Today she is the casting director of Moldova Fashion Days.
Text by K. Mironova
Photo provided by V. Shturbin
