Moda Model Management - Cape Town

DO yourself a favor and get a better agency than MODA. I was with this agency recently. My experience was not good at all. ALthough MODA is a small agency, it doesnt mean its a good thing. They consist of just 2 bookers and the CEO, ALI whom is also at the bookers table everyday. He does not have his own office because like I said they are very small agency. The problem with MODA lies with the CEO, Ali. Ali prior to opening the agency had zero experience in the fashion industry. In fact he came to the USA to study opening Subway sandwich shops in Capetown. His lack of knowledge in the fashion world really shows in the way he markets his models. For instance, I know that th =e season for Capetown starts in October. But, Ali, kept pressuring my mother agent to have me come as early as August. Ali is also a very cheap man, and its fault. He would not advance me a ticket to Capetown. He only advanced apartment and some pocket money. So it was horrible to be rushed into coming to Capetown on such short notice while having to comp roundtrip airfare myself. I reached out to my mother agent at the time and asked them to ask MODA if I could come in October because it was cheaper prices to fly and that is when the season starts. They told me Ali declined and said I should come now to meet the clients early. Needless to say when I got there, as I was scheduled to leave which was in end of November, season was starting to pick up. Season was starting to pick up as I was on my way out. I was not happy about this as I incurred debt to MODA from the advanced apartment and pocket money because there weren't alot of opportunities for me to get booked. They sent me on more Go-sees than castings because there were simply not alot of casting to go to. Also, Ali has a real problem at knowing how to market a model He only will send you to things that fit your age and race which is also not a great business move You see, an agency can't make money if they are limiting their talent because the old saying in fashion agencies is "when the model makes money, we make money too". Because Ali, limited me to just jobs that fit my age and race, I did not book many jobs to cover my expenses.

Ali is also very unprofessional and gossips alot. When I was there he talked about my roomate in a negative way to me, which confused me because I just didnt expect him to do this. One time when a couple girls and I were at a go-see at the agency, one of the bookers was arguing at a client. Ali, left the room to see what was going on. He comes back and starts talking to the client about what was going on, talking negatively about the person that was on the phone with the booker. This is very unprofessional and I felt it reflects negatively on the agency.

Bottom line is, if you want to work and I mean work alot, don't go to MODA. Ali is very stubborn and does not listen. He tried to make do a job that I did not want to do just so he wouldnt have to give me pocket money for the week. He also focuses on certain models more than others. If you have a strength, MODA WILL NOT do what they can to help you get those kinds of jobs. They will just market you how they think is best and to be honest that is very scary coming from an agent that doesn't know really anything about fashion at all.