got 99 problems and a models 1
I’m frustrated because I’m running a clothing brand and trying to get it established, like all new clothing brand owners will tell you - my clothing brand is unique and offers something different. I just want to take my ideas and put it on a shirt and hoody. I want people to wear it especially the people I admire.
I have no knowledge of the fashion industry, and no special knowledge of business. I just know you buy something for 17 you sell it for 28 (in reference to a styles P lyric). I may make some decisions in one point of time, and change the way I operate at another point in time after realising my initial decisions put me at a weak position and at a loss.
At the time I contacted model 1, I had money to spare for payment. It makes for a good relationship if you can make your employees happy - and they will genuinely seek for the better of your business if you do so. So I paid model 1.
There was another model, model 0 who I did pay also, but she did a shabby job. The photography was lazy, there was no lighting, her gloomy and ugly tatted boyfriend was in the shot, she was part nude, they were making out. The post wasn’t even worthy of being called photography and was no where near on par with her other posts in terms of quality. I had just paid for some soiling of my brand name. The post contained everything I did not ask for, and my money was taken.
Model 1 also took an extremely long time to post her work, without communication? My messages were seen but ignored, its the biggest way to place doubt in a employer. She ultimately came through but it made me realise that I have to be more protective of myself - I cannot place 100 percent trust in all of these employees. Because ultimately this is not their business they do not care if it takes off or not. Their pay will be the same, and their money is never at risk.
So as way of attempting to protect myself a small brand who does not want to be taken advantage of - I request for free work. In that the model can keep the shirt. This is not forced, at the least it is unideal for the company. It gives it a certain type of image (such as a cheapskate) and work ideally should always be paid for, not matter how bad or small. But this is simply a request, there was no contract, there was no last minute changes, there was no lies. I asked model 2 if she was willing to model for free in which her reply was something along the lines of ’i don’t usually model for free (so I suppose I am to assume that you are doing a one off for me?) but okay!’ my response and somewhat reiteration of the request send me your size and address information if (IF) you are willing to model for free. And what do you know, she sent me that information. What am I to assume, other than the fact she, by sending me the information, was willing to model the clothing for free?
My attempt at trying to be as explicit and transparent as possible was redundant. Model 2, in light of seeing model 1′s post asked model 1 if she was paid for her work in which model 1 told her she was. In light of this information Model 2 is now demanding payment. Now I’m all for equal pay at the workplace. But there is a huge undermining of the terms here. I understand that I withheld this information and surely this would’ve made the situation a whole lot clearer (e.g. there would not be this sense that I am trying to cheat employees). Nonetheless the information was not withheld intentionally.
Once again my clothing brand has been put into some kind of almost-hostage position. I’m now somewhat forced to pay this model 2. Because she has two of my shirts. If I do not pay her, then I’ve wasted the money I used to send the shirts, and have given her two free shirts and most likely she will not post any modelling or photography in detest for my brand.
This snooping around by model 2 was an attempt to unveil some sort of underlying lies I might have been conducting. But the fact of the matter is, there were no lies. It was an attempt to expose me. It was an attempt to expose me because she did not enquire further about the matter of not being paid, therefore there is no capacity for me to give a lie about. For example say asked ‘do you pay your other models?’. ‘am I your first model?’ ‘do you usually not pay?’ I would have given her the answer she sought. Instead there was this attempt to seek the answers without even questioning in the first place.
I’m frustrated because there was no attempt to compromise. Yet, after I fulfilled my part of the job (or deal you might say) there is an attempt at compromising which does not help and puts my brand in a weaker position. Who is to say that had she demanded payment I would have sent the clothes in the first place? Who is to say that had she demanded payment I would happy be happy to pay her, but at a certain amount - given she has (literally) less than half the followers of Model 1.
She is enquiring now as opposed to before in which the only difference is my items are now in her possession. So she has more (coercive) wagering power.
1) It is a low blow on her behalf.
2) I will be watching her closely.
3) Depending on how she goes about this, I will dust my hands of her.
Ultimately, I will not demand that she models both the tees. However I will demand that she is not paid as much as Model 1.
I will demand that she receives payment after the work is fully and wholly complete.
Upon any conflict and attempt to receive the same amount as Model 1, will result in mentioning of the followers and demanding that both of the shirts be modelled.
Any attempt to take complete advantage of my clothing brand and I will dismiss her, and regard the case as a simple loss and lesson learned in which I will add to my soon to become, plethora of experience.