Houston based 'Model Mayhem' site

[Ray]

My partner and I have been kicking around the idea of creating a site similar to model mayhem or omp, those type sites, but focused on Houston area models, photographers and mua (initially anyway, if it takes off, we might expand it to other cities in Texas). My partner happens to be a pretty talented programmer who will be handling all of the code.

What I would like to know from you all that use those sites, what sort of features would you be interested in seeing? If you could change the sites you currently use, what would you change about them? Any ideas or suggestions are welcome and as the site is being developed, I may recruit some of you to help test out new functions if anyone is interested.

[Redmouse]

Sounds interesting. I've never used either of the sites you mentioned before but I have an idea of what they do. I hope this idea becomes a reality. :)

[ShutterBrain]

What a great idea. I paid for the OMP listings for a few months but never used it. As soon as I cancelled it I needed a TFP model for a shoot.

[brad]

I have a free account at OMP.. but it really sucks.

Model Mayhem is better done, but I think it suffers from a lack of focus... too many models/photographers/muas in too many places to be useful. I think a more regional (just Texas) would be better.

[jamesw]

Great idea! I use MM to find photographers and models in the Houston area for networking. I've been trying to put together an underwater pool shoot here in Houston, but it's been frustrating. On MM, you can't send a message to a group of your friends, only one at a time. It would be nice to have a better messaging system.

If you set up a site, you'll naturally have a more granular breakdown for our area. On MM it's just "Texas" and that's it. Houston - Inside the Loop, Houston NW, Houston SW, etc would be great.

Good luck, I'd love to help out.

Cheers
James

[ShutterBrain]

Brad,
Just left Grand Prairie Monday. I had a foot race with a woman named Rita (as slow a I was driving I could have walked faster). I won this time.

[lucian]

What does "MUA" standfor?

I think it would be a good idea for a site that is unique to TX.

[brad]

MUA = Make Up Artist

[srwatters]

I would kill for a Texas metro (Austin, DFW, Houston) based model/photographer site. While I get most of my models from OMP, I have found a couple on MM, but the MM interface is really lacking. I also use Garage Glamour, but with much less success than OMP. There is also One Talent Source, but it has a large majority of minor (child) actors and models. Plus it is also nationally based and I can't ever find local talent. YMMV.

[LoungeLizard]

I think it would be great.

[Abel]

i think it would be great...

one thing though... it will be tough to cater towards houston only. thats how this forum started, it was for houston photogs originally but them i got members from all over texas so then i just opened it up to everyone.

so bear that in mind when choosing a domain name, get one for houston base as well as state wide for the near future.

[Ray]

good idea, thx

Originally Posted by Abel

so bear that in mind when choosing a domain name, get one for houston base as well as state wide for the near future.

[Ray]

what is it lacking that you would like to have? (I've only been to the site a couple of times)

Originally Posted by srwatters

I would kill for a Texas metro (Austin, DFW, Houston) based model/photographer site. While I get most of my models from OMP, I have found a couple on MM, but the MM interface is really lacking. I also use Garage Glamour, but with much less success than OMP. There is also One Talent Source, but it has a large majority of minor (child) actors and models. Plus it is also nationally based and I can't ever find local talent. YMMV.

[srwatters]

There are a few things on each site that I like:

1. OMP - portfolio, method of contact (desire to work with, email, etc.), new model alerts
2. MM - comment on images in portfolio, tag system
3. GG - search engine, model update alerts

Personally I could ditch the whole forum idea and use it as a contact and portfolio site only.

Hey how much do I get as a consultant?

[brad]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Personally I could ditch the whole forum idea and use it as a contact and portfolio site only.

Indeed.. I'd love it to go one step further and be a place not just where models and photographers can contact one another for TFP's or whatever, but a place where we could actually make money... in other words, serious professionals only... and if there is a good enough base of models and photographers and MUAs.. then perhaps agents and casting directors might start looking there, too. :)