kumimonster: (gillesCrawl)
No, this is not about a suspension show with flesh hooks, or pulling some hot body at a club.
This is about the type of hook up one does when aiding someone in various ways.

In the past week, I've had about 3 requests for help in a particular area.
Since the beginning of the year about three times that.
For some reason, it's picked up lately but even before I'd get a decent amount of requests each month.
What am I talking about?
Hooking models up with ways to find work, particularly in Europe.
They also request to get set up for gigs at events as well as introduced to the designers I know and work with.

The majority of the girls that write me, to be honest, are probably nice enough - they usually are at first - but then I really couldn't know that since I've never actually spoken to any of them for more than 2 minutes - if at all. But three of the times I did help out in the past, I ended up getting fucked - well actually, it was the guy I was seeing at the time that ended up getting fucked or some kind of attempt was made. In any case it got kind of ugly, full of drama, and generally sucked for all except for me. (Supposedly I got rid of a crap 'friend' or two, learned something new from the experience, etc. And yes, I did get most all of her shoots canceled and recanted all recommendations so that no future work was ever likely).

When I first started traveling to the EU for work, there were no other US models that were going out there that I could ask. There were a couple but I didn't know them well enough to ask. I did the research on my own. After several years, I can mentally list off the individual times a US model has introduced me to a photographer or set me up with a paying gig: 1. Emily Marilyn introduced me to a CH-based bondage photog who turned out to be a egotistical dick (to me) in the end. 2. [livejournal.com profile] ivy_red  & Kendra James have sent me links to some UK-based producers after we worked together out there a couple of times. (If I'm missing someone do comment!)

I have invested time, money, and effort in order to nurture and expand my network. Some of it has been quite enjoyable and rewarding because I have also met some truly great people as well as established wonderful friendships with individuals that I really trust. And so, through hours of e-mails, phone calls, and face-to-face contact I've been able to put a decent sized string of fetish-friendly (to a certain extent) places together in the EU (UK, FR, ES, PT, IT, GR, AT, CH, SK, CZ, PL, DE, NL, BE, DK, SE, LV, ES). There are also more places, but those are still in progress but that's almost 20 years of being in the fetish "community" which means a lot of people had to suffer my yapping at them.

(BTW, last year I did a month+ long tour of New Zealand and Australia - and as far as I can recall, there were no other US fetish models I could talk to about getting hooked up for shoots).

It can take a lot of physical as well as mental energy - sure anyone can just go and buy a ticket and fly, but I enjoy doing things personally and often without having to depend on people all the time. I've sorted out the best ways to travel for certain routes on my own, and luckily I've also avoided getting lost too horribly. Learning another language, or two, or three, or more also helps. Oh, and of course, I've experienced shooting with some photographers no other models known to me have worked with before. I'm not bragging about getting there first, what I'm saying is I couldn't just trust a familiar model I knew for a reference if I wanted to know if a particular producer was safe.

What else? I have attempted to recommend some model/performers for gigs and those producers have gone forward to book them on my recommendation. Sometimes no one shows up, or if they do, things go horribly wrong due to lack of professionalism from the person I suggested. I refuse to back someone who will end up breaking down any sort of trusting relationship I've built up. If I want to screw things up with a promoter or producer, I'm well-capable of doing it on my own. If someone's going to ruin my reputation in fetish, regardless of what its current status is, I can do that myself too.

Another thing? Why would I want to introduce you to my designers? Sure, I want them to make money and sell their clothing. Here's the link to their site, here's their address. Go buy lots of latex! I want them to sell a lot because that's why they use me. But you want me to introduce you to them so you can work for them the way I do?
(I think Darenzia put it best "Kumi, can u just give me money? And latex. All of it.")

 
Understandably, the economy sucks for a lot of people, but it's not necessarily better across the pond, it's just different. But as it is in most parts of the world, people that work for a living in a competitive area are highly unlikely to simply give up their contact lists, unless of course they enjoy slitting their own throats.


So then, will I help anyone? Perhaps, on the rare chance the opportunity arises and I'm feeling charitable (and my brain takes a dump).
However, I am lecturing on the subject (Models-A-Broad) at FetishCon in August this year.
I won't give up my contact list or phone numbers of the best paying producers, but I will have information some might actually find useful since it's obvious most are too lazy or incapable of doing the research themselves.

oh, and sometime photographers that i've worked with do ask me for models. And I do give those out, but I'm highly selective and chances are, I usually help out models that have helped me out ... er... yeah.
kumimonster: (gilles Gants)
i love being able to travel around europe and not only take the time to work and earn a living, but to also visit and hang out with the same people.

this week i've received over a dozen - almost 20 - emails from girls. asking me to give them leads for finding gigs in europe. oh, excuse me. PAID gigs.

i'm not saying i know everything and everyone out there, but i'm wondering if other models get emails like this? i can't be the only one. ?

i work my ASS off sourcing new photographers and producers, both online and in real life. why should i just simply give up the information? am i getting anything out of it? am i getting a cut? or should i just be nice?

i can't remember the last time someone actually hooked me up with a lead. i mean actively contacted me and said, 'hey kumi, this guy wants to shoot you and will pay you such n such money.'

i'm not saying it hasn't happened because i know it has. it's just been a very long time and it would take some thinking.

i spend a lot of time traveling and meeting people. some of my introductions took several visits to a particular city or country. so for example, if i spend the time to fly to a city, sometimes more than ones, to physically search for and eventually - hopefully - meet up with someone i'd like to work with, why should i give up their personal contact details to someone else?

sure it's nice to help people out, but then this isnt my hobby. this is my job.

and for the record. this next trip to europe already has me helping out one model who asked for contacts and that's it. so dont bother writing me if you're going to europe in april/may/etc. i'm not an agency. but if you'd like to offer a cut of your earnings, then sure.



---

screw this. i'm going to the bar.
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kumimonster: (Default)
hmm
so looking at omp since i havent been in there for a while
figured i would update my lil travel postings just in case i get more than just offers for straight porn or personal handjob gigs with a new fetish twist added in the description. bah.

anyhoo, checking out the forums and stuff.
wow. there are a LOT of really 'very experienced fetish models' out there as well as uber established photographers.
well, at least that is what they say so as far as their credits.
im not that dumb, and i think i have a decent grasp of who is 'known' but some of these people i have never even heard of. that's to be expected, one cant know everything but i do try and keep up on changes and trends as far as fetish goes on multiple continents so it gets a bit tricky.

anyhoo, i start checking out profiles and pictures... nice bodies but nothing that fetishy as far as photos. maybe a shiny glove here or there, maybe a high heel. pfft.
the images aren't bad really, but they arent really that great. and does it count to list a credit if you take an event photo (say a girl was wearing a certain designer and you take a snap shot of her at event. now you can list that designer in your list of photo coups)

travel... extensive travel. i love to travel too, but i wouldnt credit my trips from say, san jose to san francisco as extensive travel. psshaw!

oh, and speaking of clothing and wardrobe, gaaahhhh. i HATE ripped and tacky stockings. tho that's just a personal type of thing. and the BLACK lipstick has GOT to GO. i havent tried that stuff since well, like about 20 years ago.

anyhoo, so wardrobe. some of these girls state they have a fetish wardrobe and yet while browsing thru so called fetish images (already very few of those in their ports as mentioned above), i see no variety, nothing really THAT fetish, nor anything that would give me an inkling as to this collection of fetish gear that they say they posess. really, having a decent selection is somewhat important. you cant keep shooting in the same tired ass black bought of ebay dress that comes in a box (no offense to ebay, of course), not that i wear stuff that comes out of a box normally but the stuff is good for spanking and play that involves impact and possible destruction.

bah.
then i look at the minimum rates some of these girls are demanding
and quite a few have limits that dont even get close to mine!
that's it. rates are doubling now.


bah. i gotta go drink some chocolate milk.
er, chocolate soy milk.
kumimonster: (tsubasa yellow1)
i have a model mayhem profile.


here is the about me section of one of the models

I'm not interested in posing for classic glamour shots. Also, I'm not interested in fetish shoots where I pose as a bottom, but I would consider posing as a top. I will not pose nude or topless. I'm interested in working with photographers who have a unique style. I enjoy working on projects that are dark, unusual, creepy or bizarre. I personally feel that photographic work that is executed with the only intent being to make a sexy image is boring and easy. I took all of these photos myself, except the mime shots. But I designed the costume, chose the location, lit the set, set up the camera angle, did my make-up and hair, posed and told then "photographer" when to click the shutter, so I feel I can still take the credit for them. In fact, if I had a cable release that day, I wouldn't have needed the help with the clicking the shutter. Anyway, my point is that I would also be interested in developing the creative direction of shoots that I'm involved in, providing the photographer wants that.

ok so who's gonna jump for a chance to shoot first?
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kumimonster: (purple butts)
apparently i have irked someone enough to receive email.
jeeze what else is new. actually, i dont ever receive much email such as this, but i'm pretty sure some people dont like me - as if i care.

anyway, i am a fetish elitist snob and i need to go away and let other girls have their chance

well, no shit to the first and ?!?!? to the last.



tee heee!
oh i dont know if my life can go on. someone said a mean thing and my life is shit. i am so depressed. i am going to cry myself to sleep and hide away from the world. maybe put on some smiths or something. find a dull knife.

hah. fucking idiots.
when i stop having fun and getting paid to do my job, then perhaps. although i didn't realize i was preventing other girls from attaining their lofty fetish goals. not like there's that much money in the scene for fetish models. bahahahhaaa.
kumimonster: (Default)
I NEED MEASUREMENT CHARTS FILLED OUT !!!!!!

in vienna now which means we're going to start working on designs/patterns to go with faces/bodies



[livejournal.com profile] charlottelang
[livejournal.com profile] juliesimone
[livejournal.com profile] puremeow
eden wells

[livejournal.com profile] lydiamorgan (unless you want to defect to simon's camp!)
kumimonster: (sdg baldSM)
unless i have specifically given permission

i am NOT a reference
nor a friend
especially if we've never met.
i have very few of those
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kumimonster: (cmwSix)
i dont know what there are more of now
fetish photographers or fetish models.

but one thing is true, they're all over the fucking place.
i suppose it doesn't matter if one is doing consistantly stand alone work and able to make money off of it.
but shit. a lot of times, that's what it is: shit.
when do all the patronizingly candy coated comments stop and the serious critiques begin?
when is it alright to tell someone their work sucks and not be innundated with a million statements from a variety of allies defending that which is mediocre and mundane?
it seems never in this "industry".
of course, there is that little saying, if you can't say anything else, then don't say anything at all...
but how is someone supposed to learn then?

of course, if you've got something bad to say or it goes against the masses of brown-nosers, chances are, you're just an asshole with an unpopular opinion.
heh
yea. assholes and opinions. everyone knows about those things.


the other nite at dinner, a few of us were discussing this topic.
those included, in my opinion, are and were established photographers in their own right, with complete resumes behind them that didn't just list admissions in anthologies or magazines, but actually contracted for their work with repeat customers for paid publication submissions. the photographers that were present lived off of their work, quite nicely in fact. One of them also keeps an expense vacuum in the form of a companion with a fondness for shopping. heh.

anyways, it was realized, that in other areas of photography, you can tell someone that you think their work simply sucks. of course, many follow it up with criticism and what not, which is nice, but not always the case. And with these critical words, there's often very little ass-kissing or attempts to soften the blow in order not to injure delicate emotions. people are happy because someone took the time to explain what they saw was wrong instead of fielding trite pleasantries and compliments.

for some reason, it seems to me, that in this fetish "industry" thing, there's a lot of damn pussies out there.
most communities - be it in yahoo or LJ, yes, even the ones I run - are full of massive amounts of ass-kissing.
i'm not saying complements are bad or shouldn't be given. But for fucksake, there's a lot of crap out there.
I can understand liking an image because of what it conveys - perhaps a kink not often represented that thrills you, or some sort of edgy behavior depicted pushing limits. Usually the photograph itself might be a bit unfinished or even not that good as far as popular opinion (ie. amateurish), but it does trigger an emotional reaction. Ok. I'm not talking about those types of photos.
i'm talking about the boring stuff that innundates and overflows. the stuff you just try to skim by really fast while hoping something will catch your eye... uh. yeah. right. not.

yes. i do post a lot of crap too. but hell, my crap is better than yours.
and if you dont like it, then i really dont care.
i'm still working, flying across the fucking planet, and having a great damn time.

oh. and then...

fuck. if you want to model, then treat it like any other job that's based off of a commodity.
this commodity being a product called: your looks.
as a model, that product is you.
some people wont like the product you're pushing.
granted there's a bit of personalitly included, but if you're a good model, you can fake a good personality.
especially if you're getting paid to.
but in the end, it doesn't matter if you're nice or can make people laugh.
it all hinges upon that outside superficial shell and the body below it.
if you don't like it that people don't like your product, if you cant take the "insults" then get the fuck out.
sure you can think that maybe someone out there does, that's always the case.
but the thing is, if you want to be successful, you need to be able to appeal to more than just a few.
not only that, you need to appeal to the people that run things.
not just the fans on the intraweb.
and there are a lot of fine ass chicks out there...
some don't even use the internet all that much.
oh, and if you're short, you're not doing runway fashion.
and why the fuck would someone email me about that kind of stuff anyways?
i dont do that shit.
i know my limitations.
do you?

everyone says you can't make money at this.
but they're wrong.
you can make money.
it's just that chances are, you wont.
i just fell into this sort of. i didn't just start. i met someone who knew someone who knew someone.
we all had the same interests and at the time in the U.S. what we were doing was still somewhat new. In Europe it had already begun.
it's been about a shit load of years for me now.
but i always remember that there are others that have been around longer.

when i started it was much different than now and the internet wasn't the way to meet people.
i met people through other people and attended events and gatherings in order to establish my own connections.
later, i flew to places to meet people and have face to face meetings.
i chase down and discover my own leads rather than having a majority of my potiential shoots coming from other models and I try not to work with people EVERYONE else has worked with before.
sure, the internet is great at facilitating meetings nowadays and i've used it too, but there are and will be limits. especially if and when i chose to deal with other professional photographers that may dabble in fetish and yet work in more commerical/fashion areas.
business is still business and this is my job and i prefer meeting people face to face if at all possible.

will i give you my connections? fuck no.
i've worked hard at making them, and unless you've kicked down to me then chances are, i wont want to open up my big list to you.
I do have one. it's divided up by cities & states (domestically) and countries too (Intl).
It lists websites and amount paid and other little details.
anyways, the last time i tried to help someone out i got screwed.
fuck you, by the way. come near me i cut off your clit.
i've tried to set girls up in the past - quite some time ago actually - with fashion shows, and those bitches ran off with the clothing that they thought wouldn't be missed.
Of course, at the same time, i end up looking like a total shit because of association.
Connections are all over the place on the interweb nowadays so go find then make some of your own.
That way you can have your own stories instead of using someone else's as a foundation.
And if you do, then give credit where credit is due.
Oh, and the good ones are fewer and far between and even harder to keep without real life interaction.
good fucking luck.
pet peeve:
Don't tell them I sent you. If I did, I'd tell them myself.
another pet peeve:
Working on building a connection for over a year, only to have someone jump on that shit.
i work at nuturing some relationships for quite some time, including flying to other cities to do so, then some fucker sends off a single email. cunt.


this rant in response to the emails i found today...
how can i become a fetish/bondage/pinup photographer/model blah blah blah...
who do you shoot with...?
who should i shoot with...?
which models are the best and will you hook me up?
blah blah etc etc blah blah crap?

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