The 907 Strut: Lights, Camera, STRUT!! 5 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Modeling Workshop Information!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Lights, Camera, STRUT!! 5 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Modeling Workshop Information!

Do you see you name in flashing lights? Is your dream to grace the cover of magazines, strut down the runway, and get paid to travel the world?

If you hope to make your way in the entertainment and fashion industry, then Dominick Liriano is the man to see. Dominick is the CEO and Founder of Alaska Fashion Week as well as many other roles in the entertainment business. He offers Alaska’s top Modeling Workshop with celebrity designers (more info below) and works with designers from Alaska all the way to Africa!I got the opportunity to chat with him over coffee and there he gave much advice to aspiring models and budding entrepreneurs alike. Here are Dominick’s 5 tips to anyone daring to make their way in the industry!

5)Don’t Be a Copycat

The name, Alaska Fashion Week, came about in an unconventional way. Originally Dominick’s vision was to bring high fashion to Anchorage, therefore he came up with, Anchorage Fashion Week. He expressed his idea with some of his colleagues and began to promote the idea of Anchorage Fashion Week. He began spreading the word, creating the logo and even printing shirts of his upcoming venue. To his surprise someone bought the name Anchorage Fashion Week before Dominick did himself. Instead of giving up or giving in, Dominick remained loyal to his original idea of bringing high fashion to Anchorage but expanded it to Alaska Fashion Week.

Dominick does give advise to anyone that may be inspired by someone else. “If you’re inspired, either do it better or don’t do it at all! If you copycat you cannot grow. You wont push the limits, you will remain where you are.” He uses the example, “If I teach you how to walk the catwalk you have to make it your own! Nobody can walk my walk better than me, but you can walk your own walk better than anyone else!”

4)Learn How to take Criticism

In my interview with Dominick, he stressed the importance of taking criticism. He noted that a lot of people within the entertainment business have a hard time dealing with the truth. He said that “If you don’t tell me what I did wrong I will keep repeating the errors.” This is why he prefers to be told the bad vs. the good during his fashion shows. He uses the negatives as fuel to grow in his profession. From Dominick himself, “If you cannot handle the truth then you are in the wrong profession.”

3)Always be Prepared

Models will have to walk in shoes that may be a size up or a size down! No matter what, you better sell it! “I have had models dancing on the catwalk at the last minute. Do you think they expected to be doing the merengue.0? No, but they were prepared to do anything!” A models worst nightmare is falling on the catwalk. “There is no crying on the catwalk. You better get up and walk. Shoes or Not!”

*Another way models show that they are prepared is by having a straight face! No matter where the camera comes from, they will be flawless!*

2)Confidence is Key

You hear is all the time that confidence is key, here Dominick explains why. “ Models are walking mannequins and a model without confidence will not go anywhere! Confidence is something that makes you unforgettable! Some models walk in and out and are forgotten because they lack confidence.” “Be happy with yourself! We all have our flaws but life is about the challenge. If you don’t like something, fit it. But make sure you fix it for you!”

1) Follow Your Passion

"If I'm going to do fashion, I have to put myself and my soul into it. If you don't put passion into what you're doing, you're not going to go anywhere. For me, I don't focus on money because when I do something and I do it from my heart."

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Join The Modeling Workshop Jan 18-19!

Making your way in the fashion industry is hard enough but being in Alaska has its own boundaries. Being that we do not have many MAJOR modeling agencies, we are lacking proper education for aspiring models. At Dominick’s Modeling Workshop, you will be educated in the different types of modeling, proper etiquette at casting calls for designers and agencies, how to master your signature walk (Watch out Naomi!) and soooo much more! Below are a few more perks of joining the modeling workshop and contact info for Dominick Liriano!

Perks of joining the Modeling Workshop

· One model will be selected to walk in Montana’s Fashion Week! All expenses paid, all you need to bring is your fierce signature walk!

· There is room for everyone! Dominick has opened the workshop to men, women, and children. This is an opportunity for straight and plus size models to create there signature walk and gain skills for casting calls!

· “What if I’m shorter than the average model?” There is an opportunity for you as well! In the last AFW, there were models as short as 5’5 without heels walking in the show!

· You have a chance to really see what this industry is all about! He is bringing celebrity designers to give you the in’s and out’s of the fashion industry!

· Once you've been in the modeling workshop, Dominick says there is no need to go to a casting call for him!