When hundreds of talented performers cross paths with star-making agents, the flowering of a performance career isn’t a matter of if, but of who and when. For actors, models, and other budding artists at the 2005 MAAI convention, the seeds of success start sprouting right now.

By Shelby Harwood

When I first entered the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel this past spring, I thought about all the famous people coming and going in the many luxurious lobbies and ballrooms around the world. New York City is certainly a place where the stars of TV, film, music, and modeling make their mark, and the Waldorf, with its amazing architecture and history of catering to the rich and famous, seems the ideal setting in which to rub elbows with the stars and star-makers of the world who frequently stay here when visiting the Big Apple.

But once a year each spring, the hotel’s doors open and its stellar staff welcomes the next generation of stars as well — hundreds of unknown performers who, as they arrive, certainly look as though they have stars in their eyes. Children, teens, and adults from all over the United States and several countries with dreams of success check into the Waldorf to be discovered as the household names of tomorrow at the Modeling Association of America International annual convention. At MAAI, they work hard for an entire week, appearing in everything from runway modeling to scenes in mock TV commercials, hoping that, somehow, they will stand out from the crowd and make it big in the world of modeling and show business.

As the week progresses, convention participants are given the chance to meet representatives from elite talent agencies and scouting firms from around the world, as well as Hollywood managers and casting directors, in search of bright new talent. Among the agencies represented at MAAI are Elite Model Management, World Top Inc. International Model Agency in Tokyo, Ikon New York, IMG models, and many more. In all, more than 60 agencies send representatives to the MAAI convention every year. Why would these busy agents go to all the expense to attend? Because, always on the lookout for fresh new faces, the agents have come to depend on MAAI as one of the leading sources of promising undiscovered talent.

But the agents wouldn’t have so deep a talent pool with so many choices without the hard year-round work of the top modeling and talent schools in the U.S., where many potential actors, models, and performance artists learn their craft. Member schools take great pride in the people they bring to MAAI, spending many months and training dollars preparing their students for their big on-stage tests at the MAAI convention. Each agency/school competes to be named an award winner, with such titles as Agency of the Year, School of the Year, the Group Runway Award, or the Excellence Award all up for grabs. No matter what size the agency — small school, medium school, or large school — all venture into New York City to prove their students can provide the modeling and entertainment industry with its next big-name performers.

Emcee’s Richard Bey and Valencia Yearwood discuss their background and careers with Shelby Harwood (R). Richard is a famous talk show host and Valencia is a dancer and actress who appeared on Broadway in The Lion King and Once Upon a Mattress.

Joan See, founder of the School for Film and Television and the school’s artistic director for 25 years, was inducted into the MAAI Hall of Fame. Presenting the award was MAAI’s Betty Lane Gramling.

Famed casting director Joan D’Incecco encourages models to pursue their dreams. Her credits include One Life to Live and Car 54, Where Are You?

Preparation Is All About Attitude

By Amy McGee

“It’s all about attitude!” That was the theme of the welcoming address given by Betty Lane Gramling of the MAAI Advisory Panel, and I couldn’t agree more after successfully competing at the 2005 MAAI Convention. After months of preparation at the John Robert Powers School, Extreme Model and Talent, in Columbus, Ohio, I left with a 2nd Runner-up award for the Cold-read Monologue event and an honorary mention in Soap Opera Scene Reading.

For those of you considering competing in next year’s MAAI Convention, I encourage you mold that attitude by finding a modeling and talent center in your area, taking their advice, practicing your lines, looks and stances at home, and remembering these tips.

• Focus and practice. Decide early which competitions are for you and decide which monologue, song, dance, etc., you will be doing. Rehearse each piece well so that you will be prepared when it’s time for you to take the stage. This will give you the confidence to give a good performance. Remember to practice each piece in front of a mirror, before you go to your competition to get warmed up. Don’t forget to smile! Think about how grateful you are for the opportunity to be there. I know I was.

• Costume consciousness. Decide which clothes you will be wearing for each competition, and make sure to try them on before coming to the convention. Your school director can advise you on what to bring. Remember that competitions are not fashion shows; the judges are assessing your acting or modeling ability. Keep your wardrobe simple for daytime. The same goes for makeup. Practice putting on makeup before the convention, especially if you are unaccustomed to wearing it. Keep it simple and tasteful.

• Courtesy considerations. Demonstrating good manners and people skills is a must. You will meet many representatives working in the industry, and you have only one chance to make a positive first impression. Greet your fellow contestants, judges, and agents alike with a winning smile. Treat others the way in which you would like to be treated.

Think of the MAAI competition as a launch pad for your career as an actor, model, singer, or dancer, as well as an incredible opportunity to expand your network. If you follow this advice and do your best, the end of the convention will become a solid starting point as you progress toward achieving your goals.

Lawrence Zarian (C) shares a photo op with (L-R) Manish Patel, Betty Lane Gramling, Lawrence, and Shelby Harwood.

John Robert Powers- Philadelphia’s Garry Ross introduces celebrities (from left): Lawrence Zarian, Melissa Gallo, Garry, Tom Pelphrey, Stephanie Gatschet, and John Paul Lavoisier.

At the awards Breakfast, World Top Model Agent Hiromi Tashiro (L) awards scholarships to models who will go to Japan. With Hiromi are Shelby Harwood (C) and Betty Dunn (R).

Pageantry President Betty Dunn (2nd from right) shares a moment with celebrity soap stars (L-R): Stephanie Gatschet (Guiding Light), Tom Pelphrey (Guiding Light) and John Paul Lavoisier (One Life to Live).

Not to be overlooked, though, are MAAI’s many individual competition categories for children through adults, such as: Swimsuit, TV Commercials, Cold Reading, Monologue, Runway Modeling, Soap Star, Legs, and Voice-Over Narration, as well as events that show off the talents of singing, dancing, and photography. It is in these competitions where not only judges but also agents have the opportunity to find that “diamond in the rough” who, with proper care and polishing, will go on to dazzle us all.

While all of these pressure-packed events serve as learning experiences for MAAI’s busy contestants, attendees also may opt to sign up for seminars presented by show-business veterans and industry experts. If you were an actor, you could attend a seminar that explained all the ins and outs of acting — from the way to prepare for and approach an audition to performing on Broadway. If you wanted to gear up for a fashion modeling career, MAAI offered workshops hosted by super models, who demonstrated the correct way to walk on a runway and how to maintain a healthy diet.

Even with all the classes and competition events, MAAI delegates usually still found time to visit the fabulous sites of New York City, and often one of their favorite diversions was to attend a Broadway play, where, if they are actors, they could envision themselves one day being on-stage doing what they love most as professional actors. I can’t speak for anyone else, but when I came back to the Waldorf after a night out amid the lights and the action on Broadway, I was re-energized and ready to tackle another day taking in the MAAI convention’s whirlwind of offerings.

Like many pageants, the MAAI convention has one big trick up its sleeve for its finale — the Gala Awards Ceremony, this year hosted by Richard Bey and Valencia Yearwood. The most formal part of the entire week, this event pulled out all the stops, with on-stage congratulations coming from celebrity soap opera stars Melissa Gallo and John Paul Lavoisier of One Life To Live, who signed autographs, posed for tons of pictures, and dispensed wisdom to the contestants.

What’s the bottom line at MAAI? For many, the convention offers a way to learn more about the business, an opportunity to compete and measure themselves against some of the country’s top contenders, and a chance to open the door to fame and fortune. What’s the biggest thrill for MAAI conventioneers? That’s easy. It’s seeing real people who heard opportunity knock, stepped through that door, and made it big in a beauty, fashion, talent, or modeling career. And it’s knowing that, not so long ago, some of the world’s favorite stars started out in this very same spot — springtime at MAAI!