How did you find Barbizon of Akron and Pro-Model and Talent Management (PMTM)?

Jonathan: Long story short, I was with an agency in Cleveland that did nothing for me so I called the photographer that took my headshots and asked him about other good agencies around Northeast Ohio and he said, "Without a doubt, Pro-Model and Talent Management in Akron."

How did you like the Barbizon training and did you find the training helpful?

Jonathan: I truly enjoyed the Barbizon training I received; it really helped me to build up my confidence. This industry can be extremely critical and to be able to always keep your head up is important. Plus, the instructors were great!

Have you attended any auditions or done any assignments with Pro-Model and Talent, if so, what?

Jonathan: I did a little bit of everything with Pro-Model and Talent. I was booked for photoshoots for companies like JenFe’, runway shows at the IX Center, JS Knight Center, Playhouse Square, for Today’s Bride, Lexus, Matrix, and others. I was also on television for Protein Tastees.

What has been your favorite assignment so far and why?

Jonathan: I would say the industrial video at the Beck Center. Even though I was on set for over 12 hours, it was so much fun to be part of a production.

Did you ever see models from other agencies at the auditions you went on

Jonathan: Yes I did, and they never represented themselves, or their agencies, properly. The models and actors at Pro-Model and Talent are very disciplined and respectful; We walk into an audition knowing what to do.

Many times people feel they do not need any training to be a model or an actor; what would you say to someone who said that to you?

Jonathan: I would say that’s a crock! Models and actors are physically and mentally in shape much like professional athletes are. You have to constantly be on top of your game, and without non-stop education you will get nowhere. I would not have booked the assignments that I did if it weren’t for the training I received at Barbizon of Akron and the representation I have through Pro-Model and Talent Management.

Tell us about your convention experience with Pro-Model and Talent.

Jonathan: I was very prepared, and as a group we were much more prepared than the other models/talent with agencies at the convention.

What happened at the convention and afterward?

Jonathan: I won some awards at the convention and received some callbacks with the people who wanted to work with me. Then, I moved to Los Angeles and now I am starting to work with the manager that I met at the convention.

Many times, I hear people say that it’s a waste of time and money to go to a modeling and talent convention. They say that you can go to New York or Los Angeles, find an agent or manager, and begin auditioning without a problem. What is your opinion on that?

Jonathan: It is hard enough to start auditioning even when you have people representing you. It takes a good while to get going and if you don’t have an agent or manager when you start in the business it is exponentially harder to begin auditioning. It’s like having a business plan for a company but not having anyone to back it up to provide credibility.

Any words of advice you can give to those who are thinking about enrolling into Barbizon of Akron?

Jonathan: Even if you don’t pursue modeling or acting after Barbizon, it is still worth going through the classes to learn stuff about yourself that you may not have already known.

Do you feel that someone who doesn’t have training is really competing with you—for local jobs in Ohio, and now in Los Angeles?

Jonathan: No. People with no training don’t have a chance in this industry. Even if you have a good instinct for something like acting, you still wouldn’t know how to control it and use it properly.