Today we’d like to introduce you to Ford Nelson.
Ford, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Sophomore year of college; I attended NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina where I had a lot going for me. I was involved in several extracurricular, had a strong social life, maintained a healthy lifestyle, and held a high GPA; however, I was not feeling fulfilled. I had no major to pursue and a life behind a desk working for another person’s gain did not appeal to me, so I decided to drop out. Of course, my parents weren’t thrilled with the idea; I remember the talk I had with my dad when I broke the news. He warned me of the realities of life and strongly advised against it, but I assured him that this was the best move for me. I already had a job with a local Whole Foods lined up and new roommates to live within an affordable area. Impressed with my planning, he gave me his blessing and allowed me to continue on my journey.
In truth, I had no idea what I was doing. I worked at Whole Foods, worked out after my shifts, and smoked imagination-inducing plants. Bored with that lifestyle, I started to audition for local Theatre shows. I quickly went from community theatre to paid theatre gigs. I heard of a nationally touring theatre group based out of Durham, the town right next to Raleigh. I auditioned, got a pivotal role, and became a regular for their local and national tours. I spent a year doing tours for Theatre Delta, and interactive theatre experience for social change, and it was one of the best experiences of my life; I honestly felt like I was flying. I was surrounded by amazing people doing something I loved while igniting important conversations. I got to meet a lot of interesting people and got to learn a lot of diverse perspectives. I finally felt fulfilled, however the experience happened so infrequently. Deep down, I knew I had a lot more potential for me and my future career. After months of consideration, I decided to leave it all behind and move to Atlanta.
I didn’t know anyone when I got down here, but luckily my job with Whole Foods transferred. I found a gym and I found a grocery store where I could afford to shop and I started my new life. I started out auditioning for student films and booked quite a few of them. This made me realize that I am cast-able, but also that my reach was limited. I turned to Instagram as a means to market myself, yet I had few quality pictures. In my past, people said that I would be a good model. I never believed them, I thought they were just trying to get something from me. But one day at the gym light was hitting me just right and I thought, “You know, maybe I can do this,” so I joined the Atlanta models Facebook group and started networking. I met so many wonderfully passionate people, from makeup artists to photographers to fashion designers. Soon my network of people grew and even more eyes were on me. A couple of agencies reached out requesting me to audition for them, but none of them appealed to me until Denarrius from The Heights Agency reached out. What he had to offer was low commitment with a high potential for reward, a network of models, photographers, and designers working together to compete projects. How could I say no?
With a growing network and Instagram page, I feel the spotlight approaching. I have booked two TV show pilots solely based on my Instagram posts using relevant hashtags. I also have been working with a manager in Charlotte to help expand my reach and potential. Even today, I have been featured in Boyfriend Magazine and on their official Instagram to market Issue 10, Generation XX. All my hard work is paying off; things seem to be falling into place.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No journey is without obstacles. I left a very comfortable and familiar life in Raleigh to come to the city where I knew no one, just because I thought that I could “make it.” I thought several times, especially early in my career, about going back to college and getting a degree, thinking that it would provide me a sense of security, as this industry is unpredictable (even now, so many of my friends are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic). However, this is the youngest I’ll ever be with the least amount of responsibilities I’ll ever have. This is the perfect time in my life for me to pursue such an unpredictable career.
Staying current and relevant is a challenge as well. I am constantly going back into my files to find quality images to post and trying to squeeze a photoshoot into my schedule. While working at Whole Foods in Atlanta, I made enough to barely pay the bills, but I had plenty of time to network and collaborate with others. Now I have a job that allows me to have surplus income, yet it requires six, 10+ hour days a week, leaving just enough time for me to exercise and prepare for the next day, no time to look for gigs or network without negatively affecting my sleep schedule, which I value. I went from cutting my own hair to save money, to being able to walk out of the liquor store without thinking twice. I am fortunate to be in a creative business with a sustainable income, but the money comes with the sacrifice of time.
Socially, I feel a little isolated. While my network is large, my support system seems distant. I am very fortunate to have a loving family and very supportive friends back in Raleigh, but here in Atlanta, I have yet to form a solid support system with close friends. I treat myself as a business, I handle industry interactions as such, but sometimes I feel like I also treat personal interactions like a business too. I am learning who to treat like a friend, and who to treat like a business partnership.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m probably known for my versatility, and I don’t just mean with my career. Since I was young, I’ve always been curious about how things work, especially mechanically. This led to me having a plethora of diverse skills, from crafts to chemistry to physique. I’m certainly not an expert at anything, but I have the capacity to learn just about anything.
Listening is a huge part of my personality. I genuinely enjoy learning about the people and the situations I am around. Everyone has a different life and therefore provides diverse perspectives that I can learn from. I’d rather ask a question and learn from it, no matter how ignorant I seem, than assume I know the answer and live in my own world.
Apart from that, the real ones know me for my soap. I have a full, all-natural soap making studio in my bedroom where I bust out some impressive bars. I’m currently working to perfect a facial cleansing bar and an After-Sun bar. I would like to explore other cosmetics such as hair products and skin conditioners. Maybe it’s just a hobby, maybe it’s a future endeavor. We’ll see how things go.
Overall, I am proud to be the person I have developed myself to be while also being willing to continue to develop. I am 100% unashamedly and enthusiastically myself, I feel that I am enough, and I feel like that sets me apart. Personally, I’d rather see a genuine person succeed than someone trying to be something they’re not.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Be intentional and have grit. This was one of the first lessons I learned after dropping out of college. Nothing is going to happen unless you lay the groundwork for opportunities to come around. It’s going to suck, you’ll have to do things that are hard, but you’ve just got to do the damn thing. Time is going to pass whether you want it to or not, so might as well put it to use. Do the things that suck. I would’ve never moved to Atlanta if I didn’t do theatre in Raleigh. I wouldn’t have signed with The Heights Agency if I didn’t first put together a small portfolio through the Atlanta model’s Facebook page. I would’ve never booked two TV show pilots if I didn’t maintain an accessible Instagram. My dad always said: luck favors the prepared, and it couldn’t be more true.
Don’t be conceited, have some humility. In the modeling industry you have to be self-confident (or conceited) to believe you’re good enough. But if you walk into a room and expect people to treat you any better than a normal person, you better be insanely talented or have a lot of money, otherwise no one will want to work with you, and that goes for any industry. A lot of success depends on the people you know and being available at the right time. Be willing to meet people, get to know them, and be open to working with them. You never know who else they know or who else is watching them. Likewise, you have to have the humility to accept criticism, but the wisdom to know when to make a change.
Be creative and be willing to fail. Not every one of your ideas is going to be game changing, but it is important to explore each idea and, regardless of the outcome, learn from it. Constantly looking to improve will cause you to improve. Find things that inspire you and use that inspiration to fuel your own creativity and drive. Personally, my inspiration comes from nature, music, art, and interpersonal interactions. Anything can create the spark, you have to have the fuel ready.
Pricing:
- Basic Modeling Booking – Starting at $125/day
Contact Info:
- Email: officialfordmgmt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officiallyford/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Eugene Manning, Farrah Lee, Jeremy Barton, Nate Lavigne, Bob Nelson, Zachery Taylor, Carlos Stephenson
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