1. What is the Register of Artists' Models?

RAM was founded in 1996 by a small group of models in London, who were not happy with the media-fuelled public perception of the work as a joke and an easy way for the desperate to get their hands on a little fast cash.  We felt that our lowly status and the appalling pay and working conditions were bound up with each other.

RAM sought to restore the status of the life model to that of earlier times, but we realized that a change in attitude towards life models could only be brought about by improving the service offered by models, in terms of competence, conduct and reliability.

We are not an agency, even though many models refer to us as 'the agency'.  In fact, the greatest service we have provided for models in London has been to prevent, simply by our existence, a certain national employment agency from taking over the modelling scene altogether.  Most models are not inclined to give ten per cent of their earnings to an agency when, for a fixed annual fee, they can get work through our website, both by advertising themselves in 'RAM Members Online' and by answering the ads on the site.

However, we no longer function as an unofficial union.  In the end, models preferred to see themselves as customers buying a service from RAM, rather than as members of a democratically controlled society for mutual self-interest.  This resulted in our conversion to a business.  However, we remain mindful of our original aims and objects, and still publish the RAM Guidelines on pay, working conditions and conduct.

What have we achieved?

Although unregistered models are reluctant to admit it, the average fees for modelling (in London at least) increased by some 30% above the rate of inflation between 1996 and 2004.  No trade union achieved an average increase on this scale during the same period.  Models in many areas can now expect to earn more than twice the Minimum Wage instead of just above it.  Unfortunately, we expect a gradual reversal of this situation, now that the Internet is encouraging a return to the old free-for-all.  The new freedom may have its advantages, but good pay and working conditions are not going to be among them.

RAM registered models are generally acknowledged to have a much better record of competence, conduct and reliability than those who will not join us or who have been rejected for membership.  Models and tutors alike can feel that they have an avenue of complaint against unacceptable treatment or unprofessional behaviour.

The RAM Guidelines, which can be printed from our website, form the only comprehensive consultative document available to employers and models on such things as pay, conduct and working conditions.  The website itself is an important source of information and, of course, work.

Can members influence policy?

The RAM Guidelines slowly evolved from the results of votes taken at 32 meetings, held between 1996 and 2004.  Any member was entitled to attend those quarterly meetings (traditionally called the 'Get-togethers') and to take part in discussions on issues affecting models.  Since conversion to a business, the Get-togethers are not an official activity, and votes taken at them are not binding on the proprietors of RAM.  However, we hope that members will continue to hold the Get-togethers independently, because we still pay careful attention to any advice or requests coming from them.

How do I join?

This varies according to the part of the country you live in.  LONDON applicants must pose at one of the Bare Facts life drawing workshops in Holloway (Wednesday evenings) or Richmond (Friday evenings), by way of an audition.  You are asked to do a combination of short (5 or 10 minute) poses and one or two longer ones, up to 45 minutes.  We are checking basic ability to keep still for long periods as well as initiative (you choose the poses) and a reasonable body awareness in the short poses, enabling you to do more than just sit or stand around.

BEGINNERS can apply in London, but they usually have to come back two or three times before they gain enough confidence and ability to be accepted onto the Register.  However, this isn't always the case - some people are 'naturals'!

Most applicants are accepted.  The decision is made by the workshop leader with the help of any other RAM members who may be present.

PLEASE NOTE: As with auditions in any field of work, you will not be paid for the session.  The affiliated workshops would simply not provide this service for us if they had to pay applicants to audition.

OUTSIDE LONDON, you join as an Associate Member initially.  You can convert to full membership at any time after that by providing two references from tutors.  References should mention competence, conduct and reliability.  There are a few affiliated workshops outside London, where you can audition instead of supplying references.  You will get more information about converting to full membership after you have joined.  

Associate membership gives you all the benefits of full membership, such as having a password to the job contact details on the website, and being able to have an entry on the 'RAM Members Online' page of the website, but it is made clear to employers that you have neither auditioned nor provided references.  This is done simply by means of a red 'A' in front of your membership number.  The only acceptable reason for not supplying references quite soon after you join would be that you are a beginner, so it followers that experience cannot be mentioned in the website profiles of associate members.  This can be put right as soon as you convert to full membership by supplying references.

PLEASE NOTE: Associate membership is NOT available for people wishing to work within the circle of the M25.

Is it worth joining?

Some models feel that the amount of work they get out of membership of RAM is not the point.  It has to be admitted, though, that most applicants these days prefer to make a decision based on how much they are likely to earn by joining.  Many models in London, particularly females, find that they get quite a lot of work through appearing on the website and/or by answering jobs ads on the site.  You have to be a RAM member to access the contact info for the jobs.  For areas outside London, it's difficult for us to know how well the system works - we don't get enough feedback!

The website may not be the only incentive to join.  Some colleges and private art groups now employ only RAM members, and we expect this trend to continue.

You may also have heard of the Bare Facts model booking service for London.  Bare Facts is no longer owned by RAM, but only RAM models are offered work through Bare Facts.  (Please note: Bare Facts can find work for only a small proportion of London RAM members).

Older male models who are thinking of joining purely and simply to get work should consider the unfortunate fact that models in their category may not get work from our licensees very often unless they are already very well known on the scene.  You may have heard the oft-repeated and politically correct theory that for art it doesn't matter at all what you look like, how old you are or what sex you are.  Sadly, this is very often not true.  Another factor is that some of those older male models who have been doing the job for a very long time have built up excellent reputations, so they pick up most of the work available for models in that category.  Set against this is the fact that our website ads are restricted to RAM members, and they are likely to be for models of any description, so you may have the edge on the competition if you visit the website regularly.

Two things should be considered.  Firstly, joining RAM and paying your fee does NOT necessarily lead to work, although it almost always does in the case of London females, and often does in the case of London males.  The situation outside London is not clear, so if your only motive in joining is to get work, you could be taking a gamble.  Secondly, we continue to be influenced by our original commitment to stabilizing the life modelling industry.  That means we are still making some effort (possibly in vain) to avoid a return to the bad old days when life modelling was considered a quick and easy way for anybody to get their hands on a little cash.  That's why joining RAM as a Full member remains an unhurried process.  You should also note that when you pay the annual RAM fee you are not buying a service, you are paying an annual membership fee.  The services we provide are not entitlements and are offered at our discretion and on our terms, and can be withdrawn or altered at any time.

What are the rules?

If accepted, you will be joining an organization which has its roots in the struggle to improve the status of the life model.  One of the chief ways of doing this is to improve the average quality of service provided by models, so you will be expected to help maintain the high standards of competence, conduct and reliability for which we are collectively known.  Models can be struck off the Register following reasonable complaints about competence, conduct or reliability from licence-holding tutors or artists, or from Bare Facts model booking service.  This applies to Full members, Associate members and Guests alike.  But if you've read this far and still want to join, you're probably not the sort of person who is likely to be struck off.

What about security?

Our licensing system should help ensure that you are not contacted by the sort of people you may not wish to hear from, but no system is perfect.  Members themselves can cooperate by reporting any suspect emails or untoward incidents and by never making information in the password-protected areas of the website available to people who are not licence-holders, or to non-RAM models.  In fact you can be struck off the RAM register for doing so.

You should also read he security warnings on the website when you submit (after joining) info for publication on the Web.

How much does RAM membership cost?

Full and Associate membership cost £30 a year.

LONDON applicants are now asked to pay in advance, before doing the audition.  This was not a step we wanted to take, but many models who successfully auditioned were failing to join afterwards.  This was strange behaviour, as it meant they were volunteering their time for nothing.  The problem was that they were making the waiting list for auditions unnecessarily long, which was unfair on those who were serious about joining.  Membership runs for 12 months, starting from the first day of the month in which you join.

What is the next step?

The next step is to GO HERE for a handy summary of the membership types and for links to the correct application forms for each type.

Note for beginners or applicants from outside the UK

As a result of pressure from Inland Revenue, at least three quarters of all available modelling work in the UK has to be done on an employed rather than self-employed basis.  This means you have to give the employer your National Insurance Number and bank details and sign a contract of employment.  You may have to wait up to two months for the pay and when you get it you will find that tax has been deducted at the full rate of 23 per cent.  This applies even if the employment lasts for only two hours.  Some beginners are confident that this won't apply to them because they have a Schedule D Certificate of self-employment, therefore the employer is obliged to treat them as self-employed.  The fact is that employers are under no such obligation.