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Interview
by Edo Q ©
2009 CoverMen
Mag!
December, 2009
-Hello
John, I'm flattered you accepted to be interviewed for
my online mag, to start this interview off, please give
me some background information. 
I was born
and raised in Buffalo, NY. And before you say it, yes
it’s cold and yes we get a lot of snow lol. But as I
like to refer to it – “The Center of the Universe.”
Lol. I grew up in more of the suburbs. Sometimes during
the summer you’d walk outside and you could smell the
cow manure. Good wake up call!
I come from a
very traditional and grounded family. My parents have
been happily married for over 35 years. They taught
me “please and thank you” go a lot further then you
think. It turns out they’re right. They really stressed
with hard work, perseverance, and honesty everything
else will fall into place. I have an older brother who
lives in Tribeca with his wife. I see him a couple times
a month. We get together to play basketball, maybe meet
each other out for a drink, or I’ll go over to his place
for a Sunday dinner. And I also have an older sister
who is finishing up grad school in Boston. She has a
one year old daughter, so I’m Uncle John John. It’s
fun to have a little one running around.
As
far as my education goes, I went to a small liberal
arts college in Rochester, NY called St. John Fisher
College. I was recruited to play basketball there. I
played 3 years before my knees went bad. But by that
time I was bartending, had a girlfriend, and was enjoying
the “college life.” Lol. I graduated with a 3.5 GPA.
My degree was in marketing with a concentration in communication/journalism.
I’m
currently living on the Upper West Side near the Lincoln
Center. But when I first moved to NYC I was living in
Weehawken, NJ.
-Let's look back at how
you started modeling, tell me about how you got discovered.
Long
story but I’ll try to make it quick. After I graduated
I got a job in Rochester doing internet sales. But I
wasn’t actually doing the sales. I was cold calling
to set up appointments for my sales executive to make
the sales pitch. The owner was an egocentric maniac
and one day he gave a speech to us about “why can’t
we be the best at our job?”
In the meantime
I was always thinking about acting and modeling but
never really acted on those thoughts. And by this time
I hated my job. Absolutely dreaded it. So the boss gave
this speech and I took it to heart. The next day I walked
into my managers office and told him I quit. When I
asked why I said, “Why can’t I be the next best model
or actor?” His response? “Go for it! You’ll regret it
if you don’t.”
So I quit July 2008. During August
2008 I visited a friend in Hoboken for two weeks. And
for those two weeks I pounded the pavement. I walked
from agency to agency, open call to open call, showing
my polaroids. Took a lot of “no’s” and “we’ll get back
to you if we’re interested.” One of my last days I was
there I went to Model Service Agency. They liked me
and asked when I could move down.
I was totally
happy. So exciting. I said I need to save up a little
more money but I’ll move down in a few months. So I
moved back to Buffalo. Lived with my parents. And worked
for my sister’s friends debt collection company until
the end of January 2009. And on January 30, 2009 my
mom drove me to Weehawken, NJ. My home for the time
being. And as the saying goes… “The rest is history.”
-How did you get your first modeling
job and what was it like?
My first paying
job was for Lacoste’s e-commerce. I booked it in June
because I remember I had just moved into my new apartment.
So it took me over 4 months to finally book a job. Anyways,
I wasn’t that nervous because apparently they had already
booked another guy but they didn’t like how the pictures
turned out. So my mentality was that I have nothing
to lose. And really that’s how I look at everything.
Got nothing to lose. Everything to gain.
-What
was your first impression of the modeling world and
was there anything that surprised you or that you didn't
expect?
I knew going into it that it’s very
cut throat. There’s a lot of harsh criticism. Luckily
for me I played for one of the strictest basketball
coaches ever. He would yell and scream at everything
you did wrong. It helped build thick skin. So when people
say that my hair isn’t right, or I’m not thin enough
I don’t really take it personally.
Nothing really
hasn’t surprised me that much. I’ve heard rumors or
horror stories about what other models went through
on photo shoots or go-sees. Use your imagination as
to what supposedly happened lol. But none of that has
happened to me. My agent, Kevin Holloman, is on top
of his game. He only sends me to the best of the best
so I feel safe and comfortable wherever I go.
-How
do you prepare yourself for a photography session? I
mean physically, mentally and so on...
Every
time I’m on my way to a photo shoot I tell myself two
things. 1) I’m going to own this shoot. The pictures
I’m gonna get are going to be the best. I’m confident.
I’m comfortable. You know what you’re doing. Now let’s
go do it. 2) Make the most of the time. Don’t ever take
the test shoots for granted so make it worth your time.
With that mentality I’ve really gotten some
good, quality pictures. It’s pretty funny to look at
the pictures from my first shoot to my most recent ones.
It’s amazing what experience and being comfortable in
front of the camera can do.
Physically speaking
I don’t do anything out of the norm. I’m not one of
those “crash dieters” who are like “OMG I have a shoot
tomorrow! I’m only going to eat olives, drink water,
do sit ups, then throw up.” Lol. That’s not for me.
I’ll get to my work out later in the questionnaire.
But I also like to see the photographers work
beforehand. It’s good to try to get a feel for the photographers
look. But it’s also good to know what type of look the
photographer is trying to capture. Dark and gloomy?
Sexy? It just helps to prepare and make the most of
the shoot.
-How do you do to connect with
the photographer in front of you and what comes to your
mind when a photographer asks you for a sexy/sensual
pose?
I really want to become an actor so
I see modeling as a form of acting just without any
words. When the photographer asks me to be sexy I try
to picture “sexy” in my mind and become that. I try
to become “tough” or “innocent” and so on.
Connecting
with a photographer is just being personable. I see
it as business meeting. You might not like all the people
you work with but for the 2-3 hours you’re in the meeting
with them you have to put on that face and get along.
The best pictures in my book are with photographers
who I clicked with. No pun intended.
Obviously
I’m not going to like every person I come across in
the modeling industry. But for the seconds, minutes,
or hours that I’m with that person you guarantee they
believe that I totally like them. It’s just common sense
business. Don’t have to be best friends but you definitely
have to be able to work together.
I think a lot
of my pictures show that I’ve gotten along with the
photographer. The model and photographer are both there
for the same reason. So why not make the best of it.
And I think my personality helps. I’m outgoing. Like
to talk and joke around so I think that helps make the
environment relaxed.
-If you could choose
your "dream campaign", what would that be?
Good
question! I have several. I’m a pretty athletic, sporty
guy so I’d love to do a Nike campaign. But I think they
usually choose professional athletes. But it’d be sweet
to do an ad with Lebron James.
I like the outdoors
too. I love to fish and ski. Anything that keeps me
outside. I really like the whole North Face brand. It
fits my country upbringing to a T.
But in terms
of high fashion I have to say Calvin Klein. He’s been
original since day 1. Never changed his line because
some trend wasn’t what CK was. He’s stood true to himself.
And plus they have Eva Mendes! She’s hot! Call me!
-Tell
me about your professional plans: apart from modeling,
what else would you like to pursue or you are
already pursuing?
I have a couple ideas.
I’m actually headed out west to Aspen in February to
ski. There is a possibility I don’t return. Might become
a ski bum. Grow a huge fluffy beard. Work at a bar at
night. Ski all day.
I’ve also thought about
going back to school to get my Master’s in something
statistics related. I’m a big numbers type of guy. And
I’d love to develop some type of statistical analysis
in regards to sports. Something that would combine all
types of ratings of players to help general managers
and coaches evaluate players. I know there’s stuff
out there already but I’d want to expand on it.
But
that’s all nonsense because what I really want to do
is become an actor. So really I don’t have a fall back
plan. I can’t move back home for several reasons. 1)
I don’t have a job. 2) My dad turned in my car. 3) I’d
be able to live at home for about 2 weeks until my parents
got annoyed and started making me pay rent lol.
So
my eggs are all in this basket. Do or die. Now or never.
Make it happen! I love to joke around and have fun so
I would jump at the chance to be in a Judd Apatow video.
Anything like Superbad, Old School, Anchorman, Wedding
Crashers, etc. I recently finished up an acting class
and my teacher was pretty impressed so I’m only looking
to improve on that.
I believe if you don’t have
a sense of urgency then you’ll always remain complacent.
That’s why I say it’s now or never. If I don’t do it
now, when will I do it? And personally, I think I work
best under pressure. So I put the pressure on me knowing
that I can’t fail at this. There isn’t anything else
to do but to succeed. So only time will tell. But I
know how it’s going to play out ?
-Do
you have a personal motto, or song, or quote that sums
up your thoughts about life in a sentence?
This
is an easy one. I gave the best man speech at my brother’s
wedding. I had the place laughing and crying. Afterwards
everyone came up and complimented me on such a good
speech. Right away my aunt and uncle said I need to
be in front of the camera more often.
So as
I got more serious about moving my uncle told me a story
about when he was younger all he wanted to do was be
around music. When bands came into town he’d go to the
arena and wait around all day and help set up. He eventually
got to travel with the likes of Blood, Sweat n Tears
and such. He told me to be around what I want to do.
Go for it.
Afterwards he starts his own internet
business selling switch plates. Biggest one in the world.
Google switch plates and his company is in the top three
that appear. He took a huge risk. But this is what he
told that I repeat to myself every day…
“Profit
is the reward for risk.”
I could’ve stayed in
Rochester and lived a marginal, average life. Nothing
wrong with that. But I want more. Obviously if it were
easy everyone would be doing it. It really makes sense
though. Everyone who’s successful has had to take some
type of risk to get to where they are. 
My aunt
and uncle have been two of my biggest supporters. The
only thing they ask in return is that I include them
in my speech when I win an Oscar. Consider it done!
Other
ones I still really like and have written in my date
book that I read every day…
-
There are three types of people in this world. Those
who make things happen. Those who watch things happen.
And those who wonder what just happened.
-
Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.
-
The difference between a successful man and others is
not a lack of power, not a lack of knowledge, but rather
in a lack of will.
-
To shine like the sun, first you got to burn like it.
And
one that isn’t so serious but it explains life – “Sometimes
you eat the bear. Sometimes the bear eats you.”
-How do you do to stay in shape? Do you work out, diet
or you don’t need
any of that?
I
used to be able to eat anything I wanted to and not
gain weight. I could down a box of ho-ho’s, a carton
of ice cream, and a 2-liter of soda in a day and if
anything I would lose weight. Don’t believe me? Call
my mom! Lol.
But
now I do try to watch what I eat. I’m not a calorie
counter or anything like that. But I try to have everything
that I eat be beneficial. I will admit though once and
a while I’ll go out and have a few beers with friends.
It’s always good to relax, unwind, and get away from
the pressures of the industry.
As
far as working out, I go to the gym 5 times a week.
The two days I don’t go I may go to yoga one day and
play basketball the other. It really depends on how
I feel.
A
lot my staying in shape is dedicated to self control.
Being able to control what you eat. Or really just having
one cookie. Like, one cookie isn’t bad for you. It’s
the 14 that you eat afterwards that are lol. I’m proud
of my self discipline. I made a real commitment to the
gym and to watching what I eat and I feel like it’s
paying off.
-Thanks
John for taking your time to answer my questions,
it was a gift to
me and my readers!
IT
WAS A PLEASURE!!!!
CHECK
OUT MY BLOG: www.JOHNHUETTER.blogspot.com
Cheers!!!
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