Meet Linda Robirds of It Model Management

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Robirds.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was a single mom and needed a job so I applied at a modeling agency, I turned them down when they offered me the position because I felt they were way too cool for me and I would never fit in this business. After desperately needing a job I called back and said I accept. That was 27 years ago this March. I worked with them for 22 years and decided I wanted to own my own agency. So after much thought and prayer, I teamed up with my dear friend and we opened it model management 4.5 years ago. We started with just 25 talent and now we represent over 600 talent for commercials and print work. We love our family of talent and are very blessed to be on this journey with them… We also have the greatest opportunity to work with the most amazing clients and companies from photographers, producers, ad directors and all those who work so hard in our business.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was an extremely difficult beginning, not the work part or even starting our own business, but the emotional part of it. I left a company after 22 years and I know there were lots of hard feelings. There were roadblocks brought on from those hard feelings and we had to learn to work through those. We put our heads down and would not quit or let it get to us (too much) and we just wanted to persevere and do what we love to do and what we know how to do. After 2.5 years we have overcome the obstacles that plagued us from the beginning, and definitely new ones pop up on a regular basis, We are still learning what it means to own a business versus working at one and the responsibility that comes along with it. Nevertheless, we have learned to overcome and continue with our work ethic and not to allow outside distractions take away our joy of our wonderful and amazing company, It Model Management.

It Model Management – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
It Model Management is a talent agency that represents men and women for print and commercials. I am the go between for our clients and the models/actors. My job is to make EVERYONE happy and make the clients’ job easy and smooth and for the models to get work with awesome clients and to make money. I try very hard at making sure I treat everyone with kindness and fairness and try to always do what is best for everyone so that everyone feels good about their experience with It Models.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being able to go home everyday with a smile on my face and knowing that I gave all that I have for that day. I think our reputation is so much more important than how much money we make or what kind of cars or houses we have. I want when It Models is spoken of that people would say they were so nice and worked hard for us and treated us so well. My business partner and I have a saying that when this is no longer fun and it is a chore to do, we are out of this business.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5151 California Ave. #100
  Irvine, CA 92617
• Website: www.itmodelmanagement.com
• Phone: 949-825-7009
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @itmodelmanagement

Image Credit:
Joe Regan Photography

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