John Jebbia  wrote:
The key to getting interest is to constantly check the travel/availability notices. As far as I'm concerned, those are the only models actively seeking work.

... but many of the models create a casting call or travel notice and never check in again, much less reply to legitimate offers.

SayCheeZ!  wrote:

... but many of the models create a casting call or travel notice and never check in again, much less reply to legitimate offers.

I have shot with mostly traveling models over the last 14 years and have never had one fail to respond to an inquiry from me about a shoot. I have found them to be professional in setting up shoots, arriving on time (even one coming during a Blizzard) and a delight to work with.

SayCheeZ!  wrote:
... but many of the models create a casting call or travel notice and never check in again, much less reply to legitimate offers.

Nothing is foolproof, but it does increase your odds.

Know what drives me insane, is these models who sent out unsolicited work requests, which by itself I have no problem with. I actually appreciate knowing who's currently available. But then you respond that you're interested and they wait until the day before they're supposed to be here to follow up.

Bob Helm Photography wrote:
Six isn't really that many/. When I was in sales they said the response rate on direct mail is about 2 %, To make one sale you needed to talk to 5 customers and to talk to five customers you need to have five appointments.

I can understand having a list of models you want to shoot, I know I do but the list that I contact is a lot longer than the just the ones I want to shoot the most.
.

You make a strong point, I travel a lot and have booked more than 5 shoots in a week on a few occasions but it took over 20 people to get there. Some don't respond, some get flaky and some work out. Persistence pays off. It could be in the message. Yes there are girls on here who I've seen on here for 5 years and their profile remains active but they haven't updated a photo since I friended them 5 years ago, half the time I wonder if they're real people on the other end.

Weldphoto wrote:
Perhaps Mayhem should drop the free memberships. People tend to pay attention to what costs them money.

MM brings in revenue in multiple income streams. Advertising is one of those streams and is based on membership numbers.

Facebook is free, they recently lost billions of dollars of advertising revenue because people want policies changed.

There are serious, constantly repeating coding problems/issues on Model Mayhem. So far, they've not been fixed. Take a good look at the Site Related forum and reconsider.

Do you think with a reduced income stream,  they will find a way to fix something that they haven't been able to fix with their currennt income?  (You can't charge the same amount for lower exposure to ads, they are probably paid by the click).

Or, more likely - will the people who are paying simply bail as well, since it is money spent to have problems, fewer choices, etc.?

You said it yourself - "People tend to pay attention to what costs them money."

Weldphoto wrote:
Perhaps Mayhem should drop the free memberships. People tend to pay attention to what costs them money.

That would be the bullet in the back of the head for MM
See the historical database for the entry under One Model Place

John Jebbia  wrote:

Nothing is foolproof, but it does increase your odds.

Know what drives me insane, is these models who sent out unsolicited work requests, which by itself I have no problem with. I actually appreciate knowing who's currently available. But then you respond that you're interested and they wait until the day before they're supposed to be here to follow up.

Then you were just a backup in case someone else cancels.

Weldphoto wrote:
Perhaps Mayhem should drop the free memberships. People tend to pay attention to what costs them money.

Years ago a site I still have photos on decided to charge members    Models left in droves, quickly followed by lots of photographers.   Those who decided to pay soon left because there were so few models.   When the site owner decided to allow members  have reduced photo slots for free it was too late.   Today the site gets little traffic.   Models for the most part won't pay to be members of sites and with Facebook and IG who could blame them.   My experience has been most models do this for a few weeks or months and quit.   

Photographers tend to have more $$$ and will pay but often leave or only do free memberships when they can't get models.

Weldphoto wrote:
Perhaps Mayhem should drop the free memberships. People tend to pay attention to what costs them money.

If that happened this site would definitely lose me. Also, doubtful you'd get any new models. Some traveling models might decide it's worth it. But if they were going to try that it seems the time would have been a few years ago when the site was still relevant.

My opinion is taking an opposite approach would be more attractive, allow models and photographers with free memberships to actually contact each other again.

Dea and the Beast wrote:
Then you were just a backup in case someone else cancels.

Well that plan is gonna backfire, with me at least. I tend to plan my shoots out and if they wait till the last minute, I usually already have someone booked.

Weldphoto wrote:
Perhaps Mayhem should drop the free memberships. People tend to pay attention to what costs them money.

That might work..

7 Mile Productions wrote:
I dont know if most realize how flat looking cell phone pix look . . .

A model told me that she thinks her photos are fine. This in spite of the fact that every image is out of focus.

Her MM profile says that she wants to learn how to take more professional images.

7 Mile Productions wrote:
I dont know if most realize how flat looking cell phone pix look and every look is the same -  no depth of field no buttery bokeh.  I wont work with a model if all she has is candids.  Thats what the step up selfie really is.  Eg there is a throwing a bullet and shooting it difference between a picture and a photograph/visage/

Yes, that may be true to a photographer but the audience for models is much larger and generally doesn't care or sometimes even prefers selfies. Models can make thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of dollars per month through Instagram and selling access to selfies via various platforms.