Contracts for different types of modeling can be confusing enough, but modeling agencies tend to keep the contracts simple and have narrowed down their scope to four types of contracts in Hong Kong and other cities. Make it your goal to understand what one-time contracts, Mother agency contracts, non-exclusive contracts and exclusive contracts are before you sign.
One-Time Contractual Obligations in Hong Kong
In many cities including Hong Kong this type of contract is only good for a single booking. As soon as the project is complete, your contract with the agency ends. Be sure that all the details; such as the amount you will be paid, how your photos are going to be used, how long they will be used, restrictions for working with competing companies and/or agencies after the booking, and the commission taken by the agency are all clearly explained in the contract. Some models will utilize this method when they want to be able to work with big clients but either don’t want to fully sign with an agency or the agency doesn’t want to fully sign with them in Hong Kong.
Mother Agency Contracts in Hong Kong
While one-time contracts may be the simplest contract that you will see in Hong Kong. Mother Agency contracts are sometimes much more complicated in nature. For many models in Hong Kong, a mother agency is the one you first begin working with. They help you learn the industry, build your portfolio and give you guidance on how to navigate the industry and be successful. This may be the first contract you ever sign and also one of the most confusing to understand. Mother agencies are often in smaller markets and local to where the model is living. Once the new faces have gotten their feet wet by working locally in Hong Kong, the agency will often promote models to other agencies in larger markets such as Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Miami or even to overseas markets like Paris, Milan and Tokyo.
Like all agencies, mother agencies run off commission (about 10%-20%) not only on the jobs they get their models directly, but also on the jobs their models get from their other agencies. Think of this basically as a “finder’s fee” for placing you with the other agency that is also booking jobs with you in Hong Kong.
Typically, models get 20% deducted from their check for each job they book and the agencies split it 50/50. So, your mother agency will get 10% and the agent that booked you for the job will also get 10%. However, this is where knowing exactly what your contract says is very important to you. The rates deducted from your check by your mother agent may be in addition to whatever the secondary agency charges (typically 20%), meaning you could be losing up to 30%-40% of your paycheck per booking. While regular commission rates are usually added on top of the rate a model will be getting paid for a booking, mother agency commissions are often taken directly from the model’s paycheck.
With mother agency contracts in Hong Kong it is also important to note how long the contract is binding. Some contracts only last a year or two, but others can last the duration of your entire career. You also do not have to sign a mother agency contract at all. You can have different agencies in different cities and whoever books the job for you is the one that gets the commission from your earnings. This can be ideal because you don’t have to keep track of the negotiations between your agents.
Non-Exclusive Contracts in Hong Kong
Non-exclusive contracts are common with commercial models and give models much more leeway with their careers. These agreements allow the model to work with as many other agencies as they would like in a specific market. Because of the increased flexibility of the model, you may not receive as much hands-on guidance, but there are certainly significant benefits to this type of contract as well in Hong Kong. Namely, if you find work on your own you do not owe the agency you have a non-exclusive contract with any money, and if they find it for you, they earn a commission.
Exclusive Contracts in Hong Kong
When you sign an exclusive contract with a modeling agency in Hong Kong, you can only be represented by that agency for the duration of the contract. Each agency is different, however, and the term “exclusive” may be limited by time, geography or type of modeling (ex: commercial or editorial). This means that you may still be able to have other agencies, but you have to make sure you are following the rules laid out in your contract and may not be able to sign with anyone else without clearance.
This type of contract gives a lot of power to the agency, so if you are considering an exclusive contract it is even more important to make sure you are working with a reputable modeling agency that has your best interests as a priority. It is also a good idea to sign a short-term contract with them so that if you feel like they are not upholding their end of the deal, you aren’t stuck.
