AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL WALLER

We had the honor of sitting down with Michael Waller, Owner/Agent of Republica Management. During this interview, you’ll learn more about his exciting success story, and what drives him to be successful. We hope you enjoy this profile on Mr. Waller!

Tell us who inspired you to get into the business, and to become and agency?

“I opened an agency because I had always worked at large agencies where you represent 300 models and you throw them out there and see who succeeds and go with that. I wanted to represent a few select models, and do great things with them. I kind of wanted to open a little/GIANT agency. I couldn’t see me doing the things I wanted to at other existing agencies because of creative differences or just a totally different managing direction, and when it’s not your agency, its NOT your agency. So, I said to myself, I’ll open my own!

How long has your agency been in business? 

“I’m going into my 4^th season!”
 

Outside of looks and physical characteristics, what are the most important qualities you look for in a model?

Models that want to do this because they want to make money, not because they want to live “the lifestyle” or be in the “model scene”. I like working with people who see this as what it is…a business, and they care enough to show up to their castings, looking amazing; and by that I mean dressed like a model, with an outgoing personality to make a lasting impression on a client…not just another pretty face waiting in line to be seen. I like working with Models who are fearless, confident, determined, responsible, and willing to make the many sacrifices it takes to be successful.  It takes a lot of inner strength to be a successful model, a lot of the traits I mentioned are ones learned at home, someone with exceptional potential, and these internal qualities can be very successful.
 

Tell us the name of your latest phenom?

My latest phenomenonis Clay Parton who has for me been an incredible professional experience, one I am very grateful for and will surely never forget. I feel very lucky to have launched & now manage his career. With Clay, I’ve don things as an agent I could have only dreamed of; things I’m very proud of.  I think the most unbelievable though was booking him for Dolce & Gabbana exclusive show in January 2006.  Not only did he work with Dominico Dolce & Stefan Gabbana whole week before the show, but he opened the show!  That really could have been any new face or supermodel from any agency in the world, quite literally. That moment is one I will never forget, and I’m sure neither will he…and I was super proud to have booked it direct from beautiful Miami Beach!

What makes him so special?

Well, from aside from being unbelievably beautiful, Clay is VERY down to Earth. Clay trusted me unconditionally to start his career, when honestly he could have been with any agency he desired.  But like I said, he’s very well grounded and wasn’t amused in the slightest by the agencies that have been around 15, 20 years, or agencies with a global network of offices. Instead, he liked my small board, my energy, and I guess we hit it off from the start because he signed with me! Clay cares enough to show up to his castings, looking appropriate, has a great personality (he’s so funny)! He definitely brings to the table so much more than his looks, which is great because I know Clay has been one to have the crew on a job laughing and having a great time.

How did you discover him/her?

That’s a great question, and I really have to tell the STORY because there’s a moral to the story. The morale of the story is “Always be Nice”. There was once upon a time a photographer named Dave McMahan that I met actually before I opened my agency.  I took time and gave him pointers on what to improve on his photography, creatively more technical because he always had the technical down. Well obviously this photographer and I became good friends and he is still one of my closes friends. Dave McMahan first spotted Clay on a photo assignment in Orlando. Clay had no agency and Dave emailed me photos and I was like, “I mean, he looks interesting but he’s in Orlando and I need him here in Miami”. A few weeks passed, and Dave called to tell me Clay would be in South Beach that weekend and that he might give me a call to meet. Clay called and I agreed to meet with him. And I still to this day remember seeing an undiscovered Clay walking towards me and I remember thinking “this guy is a star!”. I honestly was at a loss for words for the first few minutes but the rest is history. I honestly probably would have never gotten to meet Clay had I not been nice to someone I didn’t know. The most memorable line Clay said that day to me was, “You really think I can do this?” I still to this day am mind boggled by that.

What specific projects do you have him/her working on?

Clay has appeared in the pages of L’UOMO VOGUE, VOGUE HOMMES, ID, V Magazine just to name a few. Right now he has 10 pages in Flaunt Magazine coming out shot by Nicolas Wagner and a DIESEL campaign shot by Laurie Bartley. Other Amazings are in the work but can’t be released as of yet!

What is the long-term prospect for his career?

The long term prospect for Clay’s career is to make money! I think that by continuing to build his base of repetitive clients, and keeping a steady appearance in the right editorials/fashion magazines he should be around for a long time, he’s only 21!

Do you have any other specials phenoms on the horizon? 

That would be 18 year old Swedish Beauty…MAN, and yes, that’s he’s real name and what a man he is! He just shot Hollister with Bruce Weber and has amazing stuff in the works that I can’t yet release. All I can say its via Milan! 

How should someone contact you if they wanted to get in touch with your agency? 

Email me! I read every one! michael@republicamanagement.com

Not all models or accepted candidates will qualify for our Talent Scout Program. If we believe you do qualify, we will begin working exclusively on your behalf to place you with an agency. Our Talent Scout Program has the resources and the connection in Miami, New York, and LA to help place you with an agency.

Because we limit our engagement to 120 days, this affords a reasonable time frame that won’t string the model along either, and provides you 4 months to work on your portfolio, or garner the additional experience necessary that will make you more appealing to our affiliated agencies.  

Many websites ask for substantial upfront fees and also provide ‘so called’ guarantees that your pictures will be seen by hundreds of agencies. Well, we can tell you that the industry works substantially different than what you sometimes are told or hear, and you should never pay these large upfront fees. Granted, these sites may forward your pictures to 100 agencies, but your pictures will never be ‘seriously viewed’ or considered.

That’s the reason we have an ‘application process’ that allows us to weed through the submissions (and it only costs $10.00 instead of hundreds of dollars). We keep it real by only accepting the candidates that have three legitimate skill sets:
1)     Members with Talent: Acting, Dancing, Singing, or a legitimate skill set that will be able to utilize our Casting Center
2)     Promotional Models: The model that may not fit the profile of a ‘runway model’, but rather has the ability and look to get consistent promotional work through our Casting Center
3)     Agency Placement Potential: Models that may be signed through our Talent Scout Organization; the models that we feel have legitimate potential to become a Level 3 model (Signed with an Agency)

Again, keeping your costs low is our goal and setting the expectations from the beginning; we don’t want you to pay monthly fees unless we think we can actually earn revenue through our site (through our casting center or by being placed with an agency).

What’s the difference with our Talent Scout program? It’s our regional connections! That’s right, because we operate on a regional basis, we are developing firm industry relationships in each specific region. Models of Miami works with agencies, in a non-exclusive manner, and we are not forced to be exclusive to one or the other. That keeps our focus broad and it keeps the competitive juices flowing between agencies. We’re able to independently work without the constraints of an exclusive arrangement. Most importantly, we operate with the highest level of integrity and ethics.

Finally, our Talent Scout Program provides you the assurance that if accepted, your pictures truly will be viewed by our partnering agencies in the Miami region, and in New York and LA. We’re personalizing the process, and not embellishing the process. Unlike other companies, we can honestly tell you that you ‘won’t be seen by 100 agencies’ within the first 24 hours. You will, however, be clearly looked at an analyzed by our partnering agencies, and only those agencies that have specific needs that you may match. Will this be within 24 hours? No. Will it be within the first 30 to 60 days…yes…as long as you’re fully prepared to be looked at! Will you get signed with an agency within the first 30 days, probably not. But we’re giving you an up-front, honest timeframe by requesting 120 days to place you with an agency if you are selected for our Talent Scout Program.

Remember, there’s a big difference between simply being seen by an agency and being carefully looked at and considered by an agency. We don’t want you to just be ‘seen’…we want you to be carefully considered to fill an agency need. Models of Miami understands the true Life Cycle of a Model, and that’s why we’re here…we’re keeping it real. If everyone in this industry was honest and ethical, then that would eliminate the need for us!