Soliciting models at the gym.

By Matt Baumgartner

One of the constant tasks of having a clothing line, I’m learning, is that we have to shoot a seasonal Look book (a little photo storybook of your collection. Our Fall13 Look book is here.) and a seasonal line sheet (a catalogue of all the items in your collection with the pricing attached. This is the book you give to buyers so they know how much your clothes cost.)

Anyway, about 4-5 times a year we need to shoot the clothing with models (sexy man models). And each shoot we try to use a different model.

So, because I am normally in Albany, there really isn’t a never-evending supply of 6′ 2″ 170lb size medium handsome in-shape guys running around. Expecially now that Brian Taft has moved out of town. :(

Often times when I am at the gym, (Formerly Gold’s Gym. Now called Vent. Which is a perfect name because every time I’m in there I need to VENT to somebody about how annoying it is that the magazines are all from LAST YEAR. It’s like I’m trying to run on the treadmill while reading the white hot new gossip story about how Jesse James just cheated on that chick from Speed.)

Sorry, I got sidetracked….

Often times when I am at the gym, I see a guy working out who fits the description of what we need in a model. I never approach the guy because I worry I would come across as super creepy. That is, until last week, when I approached someone for the first time.

I saw him doing dips, and I was like, that guy is really in good shape. he’d look great in our clothes. Go ask him to model for the spring website photos.

So, I stare at him like a creepy person for about 2 minutes, waiting for him to finish his reps, or whatever.

Lucky for me, he starts walking over towards me.

I walk towards him and greet him by the ab machines.

“Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but can I ask you something?” I need a cigarette.

“Sure. What’s up.”

“So, I own some restaurants in Albany, and also have a clothing line called Howes & Baum. Each season we need take photos for our website and for promotional stuff and we need to find new guys for the photos. I’m gonna give you my business card, you can look up the website, and if it interests you, let me know. My email is on the back.”

“I’m not gonna end up naked in your basement am I?” he says without smiling.

“HAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAH!!!! THAT’S SO FUNNY! no.” I need a cigarette.

I don’t really remember too much after that. But I left and he emailed me later that night saying that he looked up the clothing line, and he is flattered that I would want to use him.

He said that he just moved back to Albany from some place I’ve never heard of, and he said that he’d love to help out. Great.

So I emailed him back and asked him some general questions, and he hasn’t gotten back to me.

That was 5 days ago.

So, like I normally do when I ask someone out and I don’t hear back from them, I assume he dropped his backpack into the toilet, which had his cell phone and his computer inside.

That’s the end of that story. I’ll write more if something further develops.

p.s. Vent Gym, please don’t terminate my membership if this is some gym membership violation.

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