Shop Gotham has had the pleasure of speaking with a fit model here in NYC. A fit model is someone who tries on designer clothes before they hit the stores. Like every other job, it has its highs and lows.
Shop Gotham (SG): What bugs you most about your job?
Fit Model (FM): What bugs me most about the job might be that everyone assumes I’m dumb because I’m a model. Some people can get a little condescending because of that, and that’s the most infuriating thing in the world to me. Also long fittings- we’re talking 6 to 7 hour fittings- are pretty brutal because you’re just standing there, in four inch heels, for sooooo long. Your feet & body get achy, and if you’re working with a team that doesn’t ask for a lot of input, it gets HELLA boring. But you just have to suck it up, let your mind wander, and think of the dollar signs.
SG: Which brings us to the next question. What’s the pay scale like?
FM: At my most high-paying account, my take after my fit model agent’s commission is roughly $200.
SG: Per hour?
FM: Yup.
SG: Did you come to New York to be a model?
FM: No, I came here to be an actor. So for an actor, it’s a godsend of a day job. And for the most part, it’s pretty flexible, usually just a few hours a day.
SG: Is it fairly consistent?
FM: Right now I happen to be in the midst of a solid month of 9-5 work, which is extremely rare for a part-timer, and that amount of hours is really difficult. But I’m going to make a quarter of my last year’s income in a month, and it’s hard to say no to that.
SG: Well, thanks for taking the time out to speak to us. It’s been very interesting!
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