Promo to Go

Okay, you possess the goods, you have the look, you’re ripped to the bone. You might think the magazines will be beating down your doors. It isn’t gonna happen unless your name is Arnold or Monica. You must be seen’and seen by the right people. You must become a master of self-promotion, your own Don King, sans the hairdo.

My first suggestion would be to take some candid photos of yourself to send out to the magazine professionals. I wouldn’t necessarily hire Herb Ritz, but make sure you send in photos that show the best you possible. Beautiful smile, ripped abs, proportioned bodyparts and a look that screams, ‘You need me.’ Include a nice, brief cover letter that tells them a little something about who you are, where you are and how interested you are in being involved in the modeling profession.

Don’t go overboard: Be honest and to the point. You may want to include your height, weight and so on. After you send the kit to your target magazines, wait. Wait, train, stay in shape, and be ready. You never know when you’ll get the call. It could be an immediate thing, and it could take several months.

Another way to be seen by the right people is to attend the big expos that take place at events like the Mr. Olympia, the Arnold Classic and the larger amateur bodybuilding contests like the USA and Nationals. Common sense would tell you that photographers will be there; magazine professionals will be there, and even television producers may be there.

Keep your eyes peeled as you make your way through the crowd, and be on the lookout for the people who can help get you where you want to go. Photographers want to photograph beautiful, in-shape people. They benefit more than you do, so believe they are searching the crowd as well. Remember that it’s a process that takes time and persistence. Remain patient and realize that your time will come eventually if you are qualified. You may not have the ‘look’ a particular magazine wants, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t right for the next one or the one after that.

Fitness modeling is a fun and personally rewarding business, and it’s well worth the effort. Rejection, on the other hand, is sometimes hard to swallow. Don’t allow rejection to dissuade you from reaching your goal of gracing the cover of a national fitness magazine. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be writing this article.

Editor’s note: Send your questions to [email protected]. His new book You Too Can Be a Fitness Model, is available from Home Gym Warehouse, 1-800-447-0008, or at www.home-gym.com.