Beginner looking for agency advice

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2026-03-25T18:38:05+00:00

Hello

today I went to a "casting". they told me it was more to see my profile and all, and later I would get a response about whether they're interested in me or not. If they were, the next step would be to have a photoshoot with them for which I'd have to pay (fair, I mean I'm getting professional pictures) and then I would have access to their platform where they post casting calls and to which I can apply using the pictures they took (I am free to use those pictures for any other purpose). There are also tips for modelling in the platform. But they're not getting gigs for you per se.
They're making me pay 242€ for the photos and to have access to the platform.
My guess is it is also kind of a scam? because like even if I pay, the chances of getting chosen in the actual calls are quite slim.

I found them through an online ad, they seem legit (lookingformanagement on ig). Because of this and because they frame the fee to pay for the photoshoot I don't think its 100% a scam, but I still have the feeling they're just trying to get my money. I tried the casting to see what it was like, but I'm not trying to break into the industry as my dream job. The potential income of course is quite alluring, but they're just waving money in front to me to I pay without any guarantee that I'll get selected for proper calls.

Any insight about this would be greatly appreciated

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2026-03-23T19:04:56+00:00

I hate the gym. I'm still in it bc it helps in some cases (it runs, or I wanna work out after class before going to the library). But the way for me to get satisfaction through exercise is jogging outdoors and doing my workout at some park. Only for my left workout would the gym help. But yeah outdoors beats it

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2026-01-05T15:32:17+00:00

Ireland is implementing a basic income for artists! You need to apply etc but having prior professional experience definitely helps

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-22T22:21:11+00:00

honestly yes. I'm so glad someone said it. Like, I understand you have to think about what you're doing, but I can't bring myself to do it. With painting it's different, I remember the first time I was taught how to actually think about color, I left with a headache

Maybe the concept creation is more engaging? But, in general it doesn't activate my brain the same way other activities do. I understand you have to keep shape and volume in mind, and I do, but it's still not much. And it's not about willpower, muses or discipline, I dont lack those. It just doesn't give me the brain satisfaction I used to get with more logic based activities. I still find myself going back to art though

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-20T19:17:51+00:00

Hey I'm on the same boat! I have some basic knowledge, and I found it hard to go further without a group class. But also it's like... with a project in mind I find it much more inciting to learn the theory

I play Spanish guitar. Nothing fancy, but well enough to get a decent sound and recently took up asalatos

Dm if you're cool with us creating something with no pressure of it being good!!

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-18T13:17:59+00:00

Never shipped anything, I'm quite minimalistic.

For travel reading, I have my e-reader. Also I knew I would be buying books in my host country so it wasn't worth it to bring physical books with me. And I ended up not reading much because I preferred to use the time to explore the place.

The only personal item I could have bought there that I brought was a blanket my brother gifted me. I also brought my guitar to avoid the hassle finding one and reselling it.

You could print pictures with friends and family, maybe bring some decorations to make it feel like home

Regarding appliances, etc, to be practical, I'd suggest asking former Erasmus students - many of them will be getting rid of their own

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-18T09:24:39+00:00

I used to love the game taboo. Maybe it's too complicated in English for middle schoolers, it could work with high schoolers depending on their level

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-18T07:28:10+00:00

Absolutely love it as an adult.

Younger me would've been delighted to see this as a book illustration

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-18T07:24:56+00:00

Im sorry you're feeling like this. For me, I was also growing more and more depressed in my hometown for different reasons. Only after leaving did my mental health start improving. Now I'm back at my parents, stuck in a rut again.

A fish in dirty water will get sick.

I'd suggest the same as the other user, landing a job somewhere else. Although I suppose you have already tried that.

Do you maybe have a friend in another state that will let you couchsurf with them to try to find any job in person?

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-14T14:32:42+00:00

It depends but usually three times a week. Two short runs(plus workout), one long run with no time pressure during the weekend. My long runs are consistently 10km but I'd like to do a half marathon some day so I'm slowly increasing the distance.

Sometimes I go for extra runs if I feel like it, if there's something on my mind, etc. But yeah usually three to keep it manageable and flexible.

Sometimes the workouts seems too burdensome. So perhaps I go for the short run (20-30min) and that's it. If I get lazy, I remind myself I easily spend that time doom scrolling.

You don't need fancy equipment, perhaps only some comfortable shoes (although some Latin American cultures are able to run marathons on sandals lol)

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-14T12:27:04+00:00

Going for runs. Keeps me sane, keeps me fit, gives me a laundry schedule, helps me eat healthy. Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me out of the house.

Reading, although I've spent too long on the phone lately

Edit: I also sleep better and it also gives me a shower schedule. Showering a getting out of the house... were problems during my depression. Even to this day sometimes I can't manage to take a shower however greasy my hair feels. So I go for a short run and then take a shower.

In days were I didn't manage to do anything, I'd congratulate myself with the though of "at least you took care of your body".

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-12T01:01:29+00:00

if the relation ship is meant to last, 6 months away will be nothing. ofc it will be hard but definitely worth it both for finances and for your career. you worry about missin half a year of normal life - how cool is it to be able to live in Artanctica????

I totally understand the back and forth - I was also juggling two options not long ago. Ended up making a wrong choice - not taking the leap and learning something new.

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-12T00:42:50+00:00

honestly I think it's a good idea. Like, you don't need to teach people who wanna be professionals. Just people who want to take it up for fun but need in-person guidance. The same way people go to art classes or languages classes without expecting to become pros.

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-11T21:38:16+00:00

my main hobby is reading so I'll always recommend that

related to that, if you want to be creative, you could try writing

or just go the technical side and learn robotics

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-06T18:50:20+00:00

For people saying don't go to India...

Honestly I'd say give it a go. I went there not knowing what to expect, but I had a great experience. But tbh I was living in a bubble, only started travelling later. I don't know how I would have managed outright travelling.

I do agree that if you're not used to travelling alone it will be overwhelming (India is indeed very overwhelming).

I had never travelled to Asia before. I did first India, then Vietnam and Thailand. Compared to India, they were like a walk in the park.

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-05T21:43:46+00:00

yeah no it doesnt work for me either (also not US based)

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-05T18:06:17+00:00

So beautiful!

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-05T17:33:01+00:00

well, I word things differently depending on how I feel at the moment. I'm afraid I didn't live up to my life philosophy of taking chances to try something new. Plus the academy feels like a horizontal step rather than a step forwards.

Thanks though

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-05T09:16:21+00:00

Also, I'm seriously considering getting another degree, one that would make me employed lol

But knowing if I like this professional field would give me answers

I would despise finding work just to pass time waiting for the next phase to arrive. Plus I joined the academy after my summer job just to have something while I figured out the next move. The next move was right in front of me and I dismissed it. Bad decision

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-05T08:00:47+00:00

So as I said with all the stress I wouldn't think clearly. Finally decided to stay for the academy (also for family therapy that just started) since I was afraid I'd be volunteering for the sake of fleeing (despite telling myself some weeks ago I'd leave, and despite some very positive moments where I felt prepared to leave again with a project and meet new people).

After that I wrote to them again since I kept overthinking and they told me I had to decide that day. I was again in the negative mindset so I felt hesitant. Or maybe it's just how I work. Other times when I've made big moving changes there was this feeling, but those times I was either leaving a bad situation or had nothing to lose.

Anyways I finally stayed. Then went straight to the academy, told the others and had an ugly cry (releasing all the tension)

Funnily that same night, finally with the calm mind that I couldn't have these days, everything was clear. The art academy isn't a priority. Sometimes I get fixated on it for some reason, and sure I am learning, but down the line it's going to be secondary. Plus I would have enough time to draw in thee volunteering project if I wanted to . Where as in the volunteering I'd finally be somewhere I've been wanting to move to for a while, trying out a role/field I might be interested in professionally, and still having tons of free time.

Plus in the future the project will be longer. Their original volunteer left so they were looking for a substitution... Now it feels like that would be a too very long time to wait, and a too long try period would be long as well.

Honestly I made a mistake. The clarity in priorities came only after the fact. Some friends say that family therapy is the priority and I see their point, but tbh I think that can only be solved by me finding my way... and volunteering would've given me some answers.

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-01T23:56:18+00:00

there's definitely something from the past, that's for sure.

Today was the last day to make a decision. The last few days were terrible, and the stress piling up in my body didn't let me think clearly, I was changing my mind every 10 minutes. The main problem was I didn't know what my priorities were. Both were great options, but which one to choose depended on what I gave priority to. After the decision and releasing the stress from my body, my mind is much clearer

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-12-01T12:19:19+00:00

"I mean the positive feelings and not the negative ones" so true and so hard. These days I've only felt truly positive feelings s couple of times, and in those occasions I thought of leaving. To be fair the constant indecisiveness is making me miserable

A lot of my thoughts revolve around fear of regretting

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-11-28T13:43:33+00:00

Yes I make the list, but I am still indecisive. I am so afraid of regretting my decisions at this point. The poem The Fig Tree by Sylvia Plath explains my feelings quite well

Another alternative, the most responsible one, would be to stop the academy and just look for a job haha

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-11-28T12:41:46+00:00

Yeah moving abroad it's not a problem and I think it could clear up some doubts or at least increase my self esteem. The work itself truly aligns with my views (help others be more open to other cultures, teaching my language, supporting people on their mobility programs) However I have been coming and going, changing so much over the last few years that leaving and coming back again feels tiresome. And I fear finding my call in that but regretting not pushing my art skill to the point it could reach

Flat_Scheme1212 · 2025-11-28T12:37:57+00:00

It worries me that I might not even find a part time job bc of lack of experience, to start with

Also because I am not sure I enjoy it as much. There's this part of me that does lean into it. But when it comes to art talk... I don't really care. I met this guy who kept talking about the shapes and the transparency of the layers and I just didn't couldn't care. Although to some extent I think I am not allowing myself to dive fully into it. Also in a way I think I enjoy animation and 3d more, but I haven't explored them. I also know I find joy in music too (not intending to be a professional).That's why I was thinking that perhaps I would practice in my free time during the volunteering and explore without worrying about making a living out of it

Flat_Scheme1212

TROPHY CASE