queenbrat

queenbrat

photography vs model looks

 
QueenBrat HOB entry
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
QueenBrat HOB entry
  •  Today was a slow day for me. I worked at JCNY and HOB like usual, but I didn’t have to rush to rehearsals and shows. I took some pictures for my entry into HOB this week. My own pictures. Two of my pictures are above. I love taking pictures and once I learn how to use Photoshop they will be better. I can add text in Photoshop but that is about it. I wanted to take a class that’s starting this week but because I am in so many shows over the next few weeks I can’t do it. Some of my friends routinely make their own backgrounds and they are amazing.  But, Photoshop or not I keep trying. Often some contests in SL are about how amazing the photographer is and not about the models. If you want to hire the photographer that’s fine but to me, most contests should be about how the model looks. How attractive is the model. Do they style well and pick the right fashions?  But, I’m not running these contests and they can do what they like of course. I’ve seen pics from some great photographers and the model looked terrible. The purpose of the picture was about being artistic and not how the model looked.  I’ve seen  some great pictures too, of course. It’s all so subjective though. What I think looks terrible sometimes, other people love, and probably vice versa. We don’t all have to agree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine happens to be right. Just Kidding.
queenbrat

MRI challenge 2

   So this week we found out our next challenge for MRI. The first task was to take a picture of how we look now and combine it with a picture of what we looked like as a newbie player. We could use an old picture of ourselves or take a new picture but in our newbie outfits and skins. Well, I honestly think I burned all pictures of me as a newbie or didn’t take many because I couldn’t easily think of any that I had. So I put on all my old newbie stuff. Anyone can do this since it is all sitting there waiting in your SL Library. I put those clothes and that skin and shape on and, oh- my- gosh, did I ever really look that bad? Apparently I did. Although what’s funny about that to me is, that all new players think they are just quite hot. It isn’t until you play for a little while and see how other people look that you realize you don’t look very good. Anyway, so I had my newbie picture combined with what I look like now by a friend since that requires Photoshop and I haven’t been able to develop my Photoshop skills that far yet. It is quite a striking difference when you see the 2 pictures together.

 We could also choose to do a task involving making a 10 point marketing plan for our blog. I plan to do both since we get more points for that, however, I know nothing about marketing and this is a true challenge for me. It is quite interesting from what research I have done so far.  The idea to me is still a little foreign, I only started blogging a little less than 2 weeks ago. However, I will approach it like I do everything and give it my all.

queenbrat

oh my gosh that’s me

QueenBrat, oh my gosh that's me
QueenBrat on a wall

    So today was a pretty good day modelling wise. I got picked to compete for both House of Beningborough and JCNY for the week. I had a dress rehearsal and it went well. The designer was there and that always makes me nervous because I think well, what if she hates everything that I just did, but she only made a couple requests and I was totally fine with it. I want the designer to be completely happy and the small changes made do look better anyway. So what makes this a good day you might say, well I love competing both places and when I enter it’s always thrilling when I get a yes. So today was a two yes day. I’ve talked before about how I get 5 or so no’s for every yes I hear so on a day I got two yes answers, it’s a good day. Then, when I got to JCNY I noticed there is a picture of me on the wall. I was thrilled when I saw it. I even took a picture to share in here lol.

    So I am going to keep writing in my blog. We get more points for the MRI competition if we continue blogging but more importantly than that, I like it.  I can post things about Sl and modelling that amuse and interest me and annoy me. Maybe I will be entertaining and provide information that others need.

  We got our next challenge for MRI which I will talk about in my next post.

queenbrat

unprofessional behavior

   If there is 1 thing I really dislike ( ok there are many things, since I’m easily annoyed), it is unprofessional behavior. I’m talking about agencies that plan things and then don’t show up. Today, I get ready to go to an audition that I spent a lot of time and money on I might add, only to find when I get there that no one is there.  The agency owner isn’t even online. One other model showed up to audition, which also shows an appalling lack of interest, but that was all. I waited 25 mins to see if the agency owner would come but it was a total waste of my time. I am just the kind of person that when I say I will do something, I do it. If I make a committment, I follow through to the best of my ability. I might not be so annoyed if this was the first time because rl happens and I understand that and rl comes first, but this is not the first time the agency owner failed to show up. Now I am intentionally not leaving clues to who this agency is because that will not help. But, I am quite annoyed with this.  

    I went to  rehearsal for a show today and it went well so I am happy about that. The show is on Friday and we have this rehearsal and a dress rehearsal tomorrow. I am always a tad bit nervous when I go to a new runway and learn a new walk that I will totally mess it up. I wonder if other SL models feel this way too. I have been in a lot of shows and learned fairly complicated walks many times so I am not sure why I still get nervous. Unless maybe it isn’t nerves as much as excited energy at the new challenge and opportunity I have. I do love new challenges.  I also take notes to make sure I don’t forget the walk, especially during weeks I am in more than 1 show. I am in 2 this week. I think being prepared is important so I review, in my head, the walk and have the notes to refer to if I need them.

queenbrat

heartache in SL

   So today we learned that a fellow model was attacked in rl and died. I didn’t know her. Her SL name was Celina Langer. I had seen her around, said hi maybe. Even though I didn’t know her it just made me sad. A tragic loss for her family and friends. People say SL is a game, but you make real connections with people and so I’m sure the grief her SL friends feel is close to the same as those in her rl. It just reminded me that life is precious and the friends we make in SL are to be valued. A lot of people modelled alongside her and recall her as a lovely person.

   I got a new job today. I will be a live model at Gems & Kisses. This is a great SL jewelry store.  The owners and models there are just so nice. I can’t wait to start.

queenbrat

It’s me again

   It amazes me sometimes how being a model in SL is like a full-time job but I don’t really get paid for it and in fact have to spend money to do it. lol Only on SL does that make sense. And even though it takes inordinate amounts of time I still love every minute of it. Maybe in the future I will ask myself why I spend so much time at this and want to do it so much but for now, I am going with it. I know there are people who in rl are models and also model on SL and I think that’s awesome. But in rl I am a 39-year-old woman. Those days have long passed me by. And thats ok. In rl modelling was never a dream or a goal, but in SL it is. I’m lucky that in rl, I have a husband who doesn’t understand why I want to do this but supports me anyway. I’m very lucky. He even fixes technical issues I have in SL when they crop up. I recommend that anyone thinking about modelling in SL seriously think about the time factor involved. There are days that I’m doing modeling jobs, rehearsals and preparing for jobs from morning until night. Then there are all the other things that need to be done such as shopping for things I need and working on pictures for contests. These are just some of the time-consuming activities. So make sure if you want to model that you you think about not only the cost involved, but the time requirements as well.

queenbrat

Last night -make it count

  I think I like blogging. I know less than a week ago when I did this for the first time, I had no clue. It is fun though. Tonight is the last chance to leave a message to count in the MRI challenge we had this week. So in less than a week I learned how to blog and left 13 messages. I’m sure there are bloggers who leave way more than that per day. I’m just getting started though so give me time. I know it wont count for the contest but I’m keeping my blog. I even got my own domain. My hubby in rl said, was that the best name you could come up with?  lol I picked my SL name. He doesn’t have to like it. I should have known I would like this since I rarely shut up, always have a lot to say and an opinion.

  Imagine, now I have a place to go when I see something great in SL. I also have a place to go to talk about the unfair things in SL and the not so great things and how I’d make it better. I named my blog  Brat’s corner. I hope people understand the meaning without me explaining it. I thought it was fun. I wanted to come up with a nice name that was profound. But, in the end, I went for humor. As I do in my life. I make jokes. I kid around. I try to make the best of situations. Do I say things that make people think I should be in a corner? Well um,yes, sometimes I do. But, as I always say old enough to know better and young enough not to care. We play SL, we have fun. If we didn’t have fun, why do it? Modelling is my fun. SL and the people I have met, friendships I have made, are something to be valued. I never take that for granted and I am lucky.

queenbrat

I pay to model

Ok, you might be saying to yourself, what?

 Is she nuts? Doesn’t she know that you are supposed to get paid for doing a job and not have to pay yourself?

Well, the answer is yes I do know that and perhaps I am nuts. A lot of people think if you model in SL you will make lots of lindens when in fact you will have to pay lots of lindens for the privilege. Lets look at all the things you have to get when you first start modelling. First, there is your look. No one is going to hire you if you look funky. So you have to invest in quality skins, hair and shapes. And not just 1 of each, although if that’s all you can do at first ok. You need to have different lengths of quality hair in your chosen color and as you get going add to that with quality hair in other colors and styles. Second quality clothes,shoes and accessories are important. We all know the free stuff people get when they start SL. Don’t wear that. Most of it is not good and that’s why it is free. I’ve never seen high quality free stuff. Now, there are good stores that offer a free outfit a month. etc. and that’s fine. I’m talking about all the free stuff noobs run around collecting from all the places in SL devoted to this activity. Don’t wear it. Get as much quality stuff as you can afford. If that’s only 1 outfit you will wear to auditions at first that’s fine. Add to your wardrobe when you can. Some places have hunts. While a lot of stuff in a hunt is junk, there are hunts that have quality clothing and accessories. But, and this is key, you will only get quality stuff in a hunt if it’s a good store. A store that has a good reputation will generally offer something decent in a hunt because their reputation is important to them. They don’t want people coming in saying wow nice store, but they sure gave us garbage that is promptly thrown out. Third, models need good poses and huds for modelling. This can really add up. There are a lot of stores that sell huds and poses. In game, I have whole notecards on it. Try to find poses that are smooth and not all jerky looking.

So now you have a decent look, are working on getting poses and starting to audition. Now what? Well the next 2 expenses are, or can be, really high. Take modelling classes and start working on a portfolio. Modelling classes can be offered for a few thousand for a class or program up to over 10k. Research the program. I recommend you go to www.agencyreport.com. Many modelling programs are listed there and can give you an idea. However, that site isn’t always unbiased so ask around. Ask other models you know and trust. Ask in modelling groups. When it comes to modelling portfolios and pictures generally speaking you get what you pay for. Some photographers only charge 200-300L a picture and are really good while others are really bad. Some photographers charge a lot but are unreliable, sloppy or have too large of an ego to give you what you want. Again ask around. Join flickr and modelling groups there. Look at pictures and find out who did pictures you love. This is an area you may have to save for. You may only be able to buy pictures once in a while if you need to enter a contest at first. You can also start working on your own photography skills if this is something you like.

Let me be frank here, I don’t know anyone who makes large amounts of lindens modelling. For most of us this is just an expensive hobby. Yes, I make lindens doing shows and fashion shoots but often spend more than I make trying to get my look perfect. I’m a modelling addict so this is ok with me. Would I like to make more, of course. Would winning a contest like this help a lot? Of course it would. But I love what I do, and so it’s worth it to me to keep trying and hoping and dreaming.

 

queenbrat

An average Sunday

JCNY
Sunday Showcase at JCNY

   So today was like most weekends in SL for me -very busy. I went to compete in a contest and wasn’t eliminated which is always good. After that I went to JCNY for the Showcase models get to do on Sunday. It was sponsored by Divine and I got this great dress to wear. This is me after the show modelling for a while. This morning I was at House of Beningborough and tonight I have an audition. Then after the audition I have to go to a grand opening for a friends  magazine. Docseree Mistwalker opened DMG Creations and E-Style fashion magazine. She’s great so people should check her out. A magazine people can  read. What a great concept. I can’t tell you how many times I got a magazine to read but the print was so small or the magazine so poorly done I was thinking what’s the point.

So very busy,this is how weekends are a lot for me. I have to go from 1 thing straight to the next. But, it’s fun and I enjoy it. I hope I did well in my audition. I didn’t have a chance to change. We were told hey there’s an audition in 30 mins but I was afk working on my blog! lol By the time I popped my head back into SL I had 10 minutes to get there.

  If I had a store or an agency I would give out more notice. It is just a pet peeve of mine. Only models online during that specific time frame could audition which leaves a lot of people out. Granted even with last-minute notice there were still maybe 15 people there. I just feel bad because I know how I feel when I miss opportunities because I didn’t know. I think it is fairer if more notice is given so people have a chance to audition.

 On a positive note, I entered the Vanilla C Calendar Contest with a picture that can be seen on my flickr. I didn’t win, Katherine Comet won with a terrific picture and I am very happy for her. However, I was chosen to be on May in the calendar. I took the picture myself so getting anything from my own pictures is very rewarding and makes me want to keep pursuing photography.

queenbrat

Exploring SL

Botanical Gardens in SL
Striking a pose at the gardens
JAPAN TEMPURA ISLAND in SL
pretty location in SL

I really don’t think enough people spend time exploring all the awesome places there are to see in SL. Above are pictures from 2 places I found. The first is the Botanical Gardens of SL. They have very pretty gardens with nice water views and sunrises and sunsets to see. You can buy some of the plants too or just hang out and enjoy the beauty.

The second picture is Japan Tempura Island. This Sim is so pretty with the forest and colors. There might be more to see in the Sim, but I can never get past this area because I like it so much. My point however, is there are so many Sims to visit in SL. Some people never leave their small chosen areas and explore. I’ve been to outer space, Paris, Atlantis,beautiful gardens, wild animal parks. The list is endless. I highly recommend doing a search for something you like and just going to check it out. The other plus in doing this as a model is that I find places to take pictures. Pictures taken in world instead of in a studio can be quite nice. All you have to do is go look.