I am always surprised https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?search=fitness at the amount of fitness models who contact me who've never even gone to the Arnold Basic Fitness Weekend, or the Mr. Olympia, or the trade shows like the NNFA Expo West and others. If you want to make it in the fitness business you sure as hell got better treat it like a business.
I have seen many a pretty girl who wants to be considered a fitness model who thinks if indeed they stand there looking quite long enough, someone will probably offer to place their face in the cover of a magazine. Information flash, there are millions of beautiful ladies out there and to be noticed, you need to hussle to get that business like everybody else by networking the sofa off, or having an excellent agent (when you can afford any such thing) who is doing it for you.
Select a few major industry shows to attend (some of which were mentioned above) and head to them each year. Have an idea of attack of exactly how you plan to market yourself and network. Many fitness models, bodybuilders, etc visit a show as you big party. If that's you, then have fun at the party, but don't think you are really marketing yourself as a serous business person or athlete.
Another thing that generally amazes me may be the number of fitness models who either have no business cards, or involve some cards they printed up on their bubble plane printer in the home! They inquire me to help them or whichever and I say "give me your card" plus they appear at me like "I am so quite I should not want a card you fool." This attitude turns off editors, photographers, writers, and industry people faster then if they discovered you were a really transvestite. Don't do it. For each pretty female out there who thinks the globe owes them a favor, there are 100 who will be ready to act like professionals.
Ever wonder why some fitness model you know is doing better than you are even though you know you are prettier than her? Which may be why...never ever go to a display to network without good cards, bios, and professionally done head and body pictures you can give to said editors, publishers, photographers, industry types, etc. Don't stand around looking quite assuming they will find see them first, you and introduce yourself. And of program it should go without stating you should be in good condition and also have something of a tan to appear your best.
You want to go to the shows and party? Fine, but do it in private following the work is done and don't make a fool out of yourself at some industry sponsored gather. Hell, I was practically poured right into a cab at last years Arnold Common after likely to a sushi place with some well understand industry types and companies owners (you know who you are!) but at least nobody saw me! We'd our very own little private get together after the present to let loose.
Let me offer you one final real world example of how Never to market yourself. This past year I was on retainer as a consultant to a mid sized dietary supplement company. Who owns the company asked me easily knew a couple of fitness model types that could work his booth for a trade show. In fact, he requested "unknowns, some new faces people had not seen however but had real potential to grow with the business." I went and discovered him two such gals I thought fit the bill.
He offered to pay their flights, area, and food and also a thousand dollars each for the times work. The two ladies were told to end up being at the booth 9am razor-sharp. The night time before at the hotel, I saw both girls getting back in a cab at 11pm or so dressed to kill, clearly on their way out to party. The very next day they showed up at the booth an hour and a half past due and hung over! That which was the result of this? (1) it embarrassed me to no end as I experienced recommended them to the company owner (2) they might never get function from that company once again (3) they might never get any function from me once again and (4) they would not get a reference from either folks for other jobs.
I see this type of thing all the time in the fitness biz, and it's not limited to fitness models. Amazingly, a few weeks after the show they emailed me and the business owner wanting to know when their next job would be! Amazing...
Who loves you baby?
If there is one general truth, it's that the camera either loves you or it generally does not. Any professional photographers will tell you this. For some unknown reason, some individuals are extremely photogenic and some are not. Truth end up being known, there are several well known fitness models (who shall remain nameless as they would probably smack me the next time they noticed me) who aren't all that attractive personally. It's just that the camcorder loves them and they are extremely photogenic, but not terribly pretty personally.
Conversely, I have seen the reverse often; a girl who is much better looking in person than in photographs. Such may be the fate of the individual who desires to be a model of any sort, including a fitness model. If you find you aren't very photogenic, keep dealing with different photographers until you discover one that actually captures you well and pay out that photographer handsomely!
Now, to be bluntly honest, there are also some desire to be fitness versions who are not "unphotogenic", they're simply "fugly"! There are many people out there who have no business trying to be fitness models. It does not make them bad people, it just means they need to snap out of their delusions and find a occupation they are better suited for, like radio personality....
"How do I enter the magazines?"
This section sort of incorporates everything I have covered above, and adds in a few additional strategies. For instance, as I discussed earlier, competing in fitness displays and or number/bikini shows can increase your exposure, thus obtaining the attention of some magazine publisher or professional photographer. Networking correctly at the various industry events may also have the same effect, not to mention having a good portfolio carried out by a photographer that really captures your look, an excellent internet site, etc., will all increase your potential for getting into the publications, or getting ad work, and so on.
However, most of these strategies are still relatively passive versus active in my opinion. It's still the fitness model waiting to be "uncovered." As much as i am concerned, waiting is definitely for bus stops and pregnancy lab tests. Success waits for no guy...or girl as the case me be. So, after all of the above information is taken into account as having an extra effect to obtaining you magazine coverage, what else can be achieved?
For one thing, you should read and be familiar with all the magazines you intend to be in so you know who's who and what the style of the different magazines are. I could tell you at this time, if say the Editor-in-Chief of an excellent sized fitness or bodybuilding publications and says "hi, I am the Bob Smith what's your name?" and the fitness model has no idea who Bob Smith is usually, Bob won't take kindly compared to that. Why should he? You should know who the main players are in the publications you intend to be seen in. He is doing you the favor, not the other way around. You need to know who the major players are and actively seek them out, don't await them to "discover" you.
If you consider the masthead inside any magazine, it will tell you who the publisher is, who the Editor-in-Chief is etc. The mailing address for that magazine, and frequently the web site and email, can also be found. What is to stop you from finding out about those titles and mailing them your photos and resume directly? Nothing, that's what. In the event that you see a photo spread you think is really well done, what is to stop you from learning who the photographer is usually and contacting them straight and sending them your pics? Nothing, that's what.
My point being, you will want get a break available, make the break, don't sit there thinking it's looking for you, because it isn't. Be proactive, not really reactive! Luck may be the residue of style. Be successful by design. As my old brother used to say to me as a kid when I told him I was as well scared to ask out a pretty girl "what's the worst that can happen Will? All she can say is no." That is the most severe that can happen to you also.
Beware of internet idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum bags, and sleazoids!
This part is kind of self-explanatory but worth mentioning. Much like all industries that deal in entertainment based press (e.g., television, theater, modeling, etc.), the exercise industry attracts its far share of internet idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum luggage, and sleazoids, to mention just a few.
Addititionally there is the class of person referred to as the schmoe, but we will leave that for another place and period. Point is you intend to meet the right people without getting involved with that band of worthless types who'll only drag you down, delay you, or just smooth out screw you up and over.
For example, a guy comes up and says he wants to "shoot you" for the magazines, but what you don't know of this guy? He includes a camera plus some business cards, to ensure that makes him a photographer right? Wrong! If somebody wish to shoot you and they are not really a well-known name (and you should know who the well known https://snipplr.com/users/jaggedfitness photographers are because you researched that already!), discover out who they are. Do they possess references you can call? Girls you can contact he has shot before and had been happy with the work? What mags has he released in? Does he perform it professionally or as a hobby? That type of thing.
One more thing I see may be the big web scam. I'm amazed how many women get scammed by these internet idiots. Lesson here is you get everything you pay for, therefore when some person really wants to build you a website for free, you are getting what you purchase. Yes, there is good money to be made on the 'net, and the web can be great for advertising yourself and producing contacts, but most of it's a scam.
You are better off paying an excellent web designer and web master who has encounter with other fitness model types and has references you can talk to. I can't let you know the number of girls who have been screwed over by some internet thing that visited hell, just like the "fan" who volunteers to build a free web site and either runs off with hardly any money made from the site or puts their picks on porn sites and any number of other things that made them regret like hell ever agreeing to the site to begin with.
Clearly, I can't decrease the list of all the possible pitfalls of the net idiots, schlubs, morons, perverts, scum bags, and sleazoids away there found in the entertainment business, nevertheless, you get the idea. Be cautious.