Last year the lovely people over at RMG Models asked me to answer some questions for a blog post that they were doing. The other day Megan Pugh, Director at RMG Models ( https://www.rmg-models.co.uk/ ), and I sat down for a bit of a chat via Zoom and I turned the tables and asked her some questions this time.
We discussed a little about Megan and her journey to becoming the Director of RMG, what makes a good model, social media influencers, cosmetic surgery and also what the agency is doing to try and support their models in these uncertain times.
It was really interesting to hear a little more about Megan and the industry from the model agent side. We all work so closely together but rarely get the time to stop and have a chat about our industry. There’s something for all aspiring models as well as established models to take away from this interview and I want to say a massive thanks to Megan for taking the time to have a chat with me!
Give it a read…
MEGAN PUGH, DIRECTOR @ RMG MODELS - MATT WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Strange times right now! How are RMG and the modelling industry being affected by everything going on at the moment?
The business; our Models and our Clients have all been hugely affected by COVID-19. Many are self-employed and small businesses and as you can imagine the industry has pretty much come to a standstill unfortunately.
We are still working every day to keep in contact with many of our clients; some are still booking weekly, others are planning castings and shoots for when isolation is lifted and everything ‘gets back to normal’.
The priority is our nation’s health but we as a business will do everything we can to support our clients and colleagues. Were all in this together, we got this!
How are you guys supporting your models?
The team are keeping in contact with as many models as possible during this time, it’s important to check in and keep everyone feeling positive! Our social media is, as always being used as a page of beauty and joy, which we hope keeps its followers’ spirits up.
We’re working from home every day to ensure we have lots of work in the pipeline for when life gets back on track. We’ve also worked on a couple of ‘lockdown’ shoots, whereby the models have shot some content at home for our clients, so that’s been a fun distraction!
Let’s get back to more positive things! Let’s find out a little more about you how you became director of RMG... So how did you become the director of RMG?
I briefly modelled for RMG when I was 17, a year or so later a Booker position came up and the team asked me to come on board. I then moved up to management quickly and was made one of the company directors within 3 years of joining the team. I’ll have been here 10 years in June 2020 (Which is making me feel pretty old!)
One of the first modelling jobs Megan did was with Avon. Here she is on the cover at the age of 17.
PHOTO CREDIT: AVON
What makes RMG different from other model agencies?
RMG pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable; we are a young, fun team so always aim to be relatable to the industry professionals that we work with on a daily basis, off the back of that we have really strong relationships with both our models and clients. We always ensure to make our models a priority, we work hard to look after them and ensure they are happy, paid fairly and well represented in the industry.
As a model yourself, do you approach being the director of a model agency in a different way to perhaps previous agents you have worked with?
I took a step back from modelling years ago to focus on running the agency, however, I think working as a model on shoots, travelling, attending castings etc. has given me ample experience to give advice to our models and new faces, allowing me to see the industry from their point of view. I feel I've had a good insight into both sides of the industry and use this to build the best relationships I can with my models and clients. All of which has helped to grow the business and push forward into one of the leading agencies in the country.
How do you feel the industry has changed since you have been in it?
Massively! When I first started there were no petite models, curve models were just on the rise… we now represent more real/petite/curve/character models than ever before, so it’s great to see the industry becoming more inclusive and reflective of the world we live in. I think the industry has come on leaps and bounds and it’s extremely refreshing to see how it is evolving.
What makes a good model?
A good attitude will always result in a good career. First impressions are important so show your personality, always be kind, respectful, professional and receptive to the knowledge you are given and you will learn, grow and will have a successful career. You will get re-booked time and time again if you make a good impression on a client!
What qualities do you, as an agency, look for in a model?
Personality is everything! It’s so important to have a positive, professional attitude towards work; you have to have confidence and strong interpersonal skills as you will be meeting new people on a daily basis. Models must also have a huge amount of patience, it takes time to be successful in this industry and build lasting relationships.
A model will also need to be resilient in order to cope with the criticism and rejection this industry brings. As well as the castings, travelling, long hours (so an interest in caffeine is helpful!)
How has social media impacted the model industry and the rise of the ‘influencer’ for 2020?
Social media has changed everything! It’s done wonderful things for new start-up brands and businesses, it’s helped grow companies and build hugely successful careers for millions of people. It does have its downside though; people can get obsessed with how many followers and likes they have, so the impact can be negative for many individuals.
However you choose to use your profile, don’t get too hung up on the numbers. Focus on putting out positive content, having genuine interactions and always be kind!
As a model agent, how do you feel about cosmetic procedures?
It’s essential to think long and hard before you do anything as drastic as cosmetic surgery, if it is a specific issue that affects your day-to-day life or your confidence, cosmetic surgery can have really positive outcomes.
The most important thing is that you are sure, you do your research and you are doing it for yourself, not for someone else or to look like someone else. You also don’t want to regret something you can’t change so don’t rush into anything. As a commercial agency, we obviously prefer the natural look so would encourage all of our models to stay away from the needle!
Tell us something as an agent about your job that models should know and probably don’t?
We are continuously promoting you, even if you don't hear from us we are sending you out to our huge client base consistently for roles.
It’s also a race against time when we’re working on bookings, it’s imperative that we get our selections and availability’s off to a client as quickly as possible in order to secure the jobs, so replying to our messages quickly is a must!
What are one thing you love about your job and one thing you hate about your job?
I love the variety this job brings, every day we meet new people, work on new and interesting briefs, secure new clients and have success stories. It’s never boring!
I can’t say I hate anything about my job, there are always difficulties that you overcome but I truly love what I do and love coming to work every day.
What would you change about the modelling industry if you could?
I would love to see greater relationships between modelling agencies; we are all in the same business and share many of the same models so it would be great to have an open dialogue between agencies. We’re all guilty of holding our cards close to our chest but I think the industry would benefit from being more open and transparent.
How do you define ‘beauty’?
You can find beauty in everyone and will find it in a different way in each person that you meet.
What one piece of advice would you give models in 2020?
What some models don’t realise is that you are self-employed; you are your own business, your own manager, your own accountant so you have to give this career 100% in order to be successful.
If you weren’t a model agent what would you be doing?
My only regret was not showing up to Uni to continue studying Art and Product Design, I imagine I’d be doing something in that field if I wasn’t at RMG.
And because you guys asked me… What 3 things do you have on you at all times?
Phone, Lip balm, water (don’t hate, hydrate!)
Once again a massive thank you to Megan for taking the time to chat to me! I hope you’re all staying creative and most importantly safe. If you need some pointers about staying creative then you can download your free ‘How to Stay Creative’ guide simply by signing up to the newsletter on the Creative Nowhere Land website right here… You will be able to stay up to date on all things creative when CNL goes live!
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