diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index 73032bf368..27788eb354 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Avatar::Avatar() :
     _owningAvatarMixer(),
     _collisionFlags(0),
     _initialized(false),
-    _billboardHysteresis(false)
+    _shouldRenderBillboard(true)
 {
     // we may have been created in the network thread, but we live in the main thread
     moveToThread(Application::getInstance()->thread());
@@ -91,11 +91,14 @@ Avatar::Avatar() :
 Avatar::~Avatar() {
 }
 
+const float BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE = 40.0f;
+
 void Avatar::init() {
     getHead()->init();
     getHand()->init();
     _skeletonModel.init();
     _initialized = true;
+    _shouldRenderBillboard = (getLODDistance() >= BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE);
 }
 
 glm::vec3 Avatar::getChestPosition() const {
@@ -117,20 +120,30 @@ void Avatar::simulate(float deltaTime) {
         setScale(_targetScale);
     }
 
+    // update the billboard render flag
+    const float BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION = 0.1f;
+    if (_shouldRenderBillboard) {
+        if (getLODDistance() < BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE * (1.0f - BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION)) {
+            _shouldRenderBillboard = false;
+        }
+    } else if (getLODDistance() > BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE * (1.0f + BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION)) {
+        _shouldRenderBillboard = true;
+    }
+
     // copy velocity so we can use it later for acceleration
     glm::vec3 oldVelocity = getVelocity();
     
     getHand()->simulate(deltaTime, false);
     _skeletonModel.setLODDistance(getLODDistance());
-    _skeletonModel.simulate(deltaTime);
-    Head* head = getHead();
+    _skeletonModel.simulate(deltaTime, _shouldRenderBillboard);
     glm::vec3 headPosition;
     if (!_skeletonModel.getHeadPosition(headPosition)) {
         headPosition = _position;
     }
+    Head* head = getHead();
     head->setPosition(headPosition);
     head->setScale(_scale);
-    getHead()->simulate(deltaTime, false);
+    head->simulate(deltaTime, false, _shouldRenderBillboard);
     
     // use speed and angular velocity to determine walking vs. standing
     if (_speed + fabs(_bodyYawDelta) > 0.2) {
@@ -291,22 +304,10 @@ glm::quat Avatar::computeRotationFromBodyToWorldUp(float proportion) const {
     return glm::angleAxis(angle * proportion, axis);
 }
 
-const float BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE = 40.0f;
-
 void Avatar::renderBody() {    
-    if (!_billboard.isEmpty()) {
-        const float BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION = 0.1f;
-        if (_billboardHysteresis) {
-            if (getLODDistance() < BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE * (1.0f - BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION)) {
-                _billboardHysteresis = false;
-            }
-        } else if (getLODDistance() > BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE * (1.0f + BILLBOARD_HYSTERESIS_PROPORTION)) {
-            _billboardHysteresis = true;
-        }
-        if (_billboardHysteresis) {
-            renderBillboard();
-            return;
-        }
+    if (_shouldRenderBillboard) {
+        renderBillboard();
+        return;
     }
     _skeletonModel.render(1.0f);
     getHead()->render(1.0f);
@@ -314,9 +315,14 @@ void Avatar::renderBody() {
 }
 
 void Avatar::renderBillboard() {
+    if (_billboard.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (!_billboardTexture) {
-        QImage image = QImage::fromData(_billboard).convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32);
-        
+        QImage image = QImage::fromData(_billboard);
+        if (image.format() != QImage::Format_ARGB32) {
+            image = image.convertToFormat(QImage::Format_ARGB32);
+        }
         _billboardTexture.reset(new Texture());
         glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, _billboardTexture->getID());
         glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL_RGBA, image.width(), image.height(), 1,
@@ -555,16 +561,16 @@ bool Avatar::findParticleCollisions(const glm::vec3& particleCenter, float parti
     return collided;
 }
 
-void Avatar::setFaceModelURL(const QUrl &faceModelURL) {
+void Avatar::setFaceModelURL(const QUrl& faceModelURL) {
     AvatarData::setFaceModelURL(faceModelURL);
     const QUrl DEFAULT_FACE_MODEL_URL = QUrl::fromLocalFile("resources/meshes/defaultAvatar_head.fst");
-    getHead()->getFaceModel().setURL(_faceModelURL, DEFAULT_FACE_MODEL_URL);
+    getHead()->getFaceModel().setURL(_faceModelURL, DEFAULT_FACE_MODEL_URL, !isMyAvatar());
 }
 
-void Avatar::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl &skeletonModelURL) {
+void Avatar::setSkeletonModelURL(const QUrl& skeletonModelURL) {
     AvatarData::setSkeletonModelURL(skeletonModelURL);
     const QUrl DEFAULT_SKELETON_MODEL_URL = QUrl::fromLocalFile("resources/meshes/defaultAvatar_body.fst");
-    _skeletonModel.setURL(_skeletonModelURL, DEFAULT_SKELETON_MODEL_URL);
+    _skeletonModel.setURL(_skeletonModelURL, DEFAULT_SKELETON_MODEL_URL, !isMyAvatar());
 }
 
 void Avatar::setDisplayName(const QString& displayName) {
@@ -577,9 +583,6 @@ void Avatar::setBillboard(const QByteArray& billboard) {
     
     // clear out any existing billboard texture
     _billboardTexture.reset();
-    
-    // reset the hysteresis value
-    _billboardHysteresis = (getLODDistance() >= BILLBOARD_LOD_DISTANCE);
 }
 
 int Avatar::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
index 9ca6173089..8de5da8d50 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.h
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ private:
 
     bool _initialized;
     QScopedPointer<Texture> _billboardTexture;
-    bool _billboardHysteresis;
+    bool _shouldRenderBillboard;
 
     void renderBody();
     void renderBillboard();
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.cpp
index 2a1593b776..04f1388015 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ FaceModel::FaceModel(Head* owningHead) :
 {
 }
 
-void FaceModel::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+void FaceModel::simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad) {
     if (!isActive()) {
-        Model::simulate(deltaTime);
+        Model::simulate(deltaTime, delayLoad);
         return;
     }
     Avatar* owningAvatar = static_cast<Avatar*>(_owningHead->_owningAvatar);
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void FaceModel::simulate(float deltaTime) {
     setPupilDilation(_owningHead->getPupilDilation());
     setBlendshapeCoefficients(_owningHead->getBlendshapeCoefficients());
     
-    Model::simulate(deltaTime);
+    Model::simulate(deltaTime, delayLoad);
 }
 
 bool FaceModel::render(float alpha) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.h b/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.h
index d0f0f6baef..597075dc42 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/FaceModel.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public:
 
     FaceModel(Head* owningHead);
 
-    void simulate(float deltaTime);
+    void simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad = false);
     bool render(float alpha);
     
 protected:
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
index e27c625bae..91cf3ab07f 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void Head::reset() {
 
 
 
-void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine) {
+void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine, bool delayLoad) {
     
     //  Update audio trailing average for rendering facial animations
     Faceshift* faceshift = Application::getInstance()->getFaceshift();
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine) {
     if (!isMine) {
         _faceModel.setLODDistance(static_cast<Avatar*>(_owningAvatar)->getLODDistance());
     }
-    _faceModel.simulate(deltaTime);
+    _faceModel.simulate(deltaTime, delayLoad);
     
     // the blend face may have custom eye meshes
     if (!_faceModel.getEyePositions(_leftEyePosition, _rightEyePosition)) {
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Head.h b/interface/src/avatar/Head.h
index 39a2f4eeb6..d51df8d168 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Head.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Head.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
     
     void init();
     void reset();
-    void simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine);
+    void simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine, bool delayLoad = false);
     void render(float alpha);
     void setScale(float scale);
     void setPosition(glm::vec3 position) { _position = position; }
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
index 0396b80e58..edb11a631e 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ SkeletonModel::SkeletonModel(Avatar* owningAvatar) :
     _owningAvatar(owningAvatar) {
 }
 
-void SkeletonModel::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+void SkeletonModel::simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad) {
     if (!isActive()) {
-        Model::simulate(deltaTime);
+        Model::simulate(deltaTime, delayLoad);
         return;
     }
     setTranslation(_owningAvatar->getPosition());
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void SkeletonModel::simulate(float deltaTime) {
     const float MODEL_SCALE = 0.0006f;
     setScale(glm::vec3(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f) * _owningAvatar->getScale() * MODEL_SCALE);
 
-    Model::simulate(deltaTime);
+    Model::simulate(deltaTime, delayLoad);
 
     // find the left and rightmost active Leap palms
     int leftPalmIndex, rightPalmIndex;
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.h b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.h
index e5ca5c7623..6f80d77edc 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.h
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/SkeletonModel.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public:
 
     SkeletonModel(Avatar* owningAvatar);
     
-    void simulate(float deltaTime);
+    void simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad = false);
     bool render(float alpha);
     
 protected:
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
index 78cc657018..13563be200 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.cpp
@@ -286,14 +286,14 @@ void GeometryCache::renderGrid(int xDivisions, int yDivisions) {
     buffer.release();
 }
 
-QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> GeometryCache::getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback) {
+QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> GeometryCache::getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad) {
     if (!url.isValid() && fallback.isValid()) {
-        return getGeometry(fallback);
+        return getGeometry(fallback, QUrl(), delayLoad);
     }
     QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> geometry = _networkGeometry.value(url);
     if (geometry.isNull()) {
         geometry = QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>(new NetworkGeometry(url, fallback.isValid() ?
-            getGeometry(fallback) : QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>()));
+            getGeometry(fallback, QUrl(), true) : QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>(), delayLoad));
         geometry->setLODParent(geometry);
         _networkGeometry.insert(url, geometry);
     }
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> GeometryCache::getGeometry(const QUrl& url, cons
 
 const float NetworkGeometry::NO_HYSTERESIS = -1.0f;
 
-NetworkGeometry::NetworkGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>& fallback,
+NetworkGeometry::NetworkGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>& fallback, bool delayLoad,
         const QVariantHash& mapping, const QUrl& textureBase) :
     _request(url),
     _reply(NULL),
@@ -318,8 +318,8 @@ NetworkGeometry::NetworkGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QSharedPointer<NetworkGe
     }
     _request.setAttribute(QNetworkRequest::CacheLoadControlAttribute, QNetworkRequest::PreferCache);
     
-    // if we already have a mapping (because we're an LOD), hold off on loading until we're requested
-    if (mapping.isEmpty()) {    
+    // start loading immediately unless instructed otherwise
+    if (!delayLoad) {    
         makeRequest();
     }
 }
@@ -330,9 +330,15 @@ NetworkGeometry::~NetworkGeometry() {
     }
 }
 
-QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> NetworkGeometry::getLODOrFallback(float distance, float& hysteresis) const {
+void NetworkGeometry::ensureLoading() {
+    if (!_startedLoading) {
+        makeRequest();
+    }
+}
+
+QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> NetworkGeometry::getLODOrFallback(float distance, float& hysteresis, bool delayLoad) const {
     if (_lodParent.data() != this) {
-        return _lodParent.data()->getLODOrFallback(distance, hysteresis);
+        return _lodParent.data()->getLODOrFallback(distance, hysteresis, delayLoad);
     }
     if (_failedToLoad && _fallback) {
         return _fallback;
@@ -357,8 +363,8 @@ QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> NetworkGeometry::getLODOrFallback(float distance
         return lod;
     }
     // if the ideal LOD isn't loaded, we need to make sure it's started to load, and possibly return the closest loaded one
-    if (!lod->_startedLoading) {
-        lod->makeRequest();
+    if (!delayLoad) {
+        lod->ensureLoading();
     }
     float closestDistance = FLT_MAX;
     if (isLoaded()) {
@@ -438,7 +444,7 @@ void NetworkGeometry::handleDownloadProgress(qint64 bytesReceived, qint64 bytesT
             QVariantHash lods = _mapping.value("lod").toHash();
             for (QVariantHash::const_iterator it = lods.begin(); it != lods.end(); it++) {
                 QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> geometry(new NetworkGeometry(url.resolved(it.key()),
-                    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>(), _mapping, _textureBase));    
+                    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>(), true, _mapping, _textureBase));    
                 geometry->setLODParent(_lodParent);
                 _lods.insert(it.value().toFloat(), geometry);
             }     
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
index ef53fe9c3e..a1d159be31 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/GeometryCache.h
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ public:
 
     /// Loads geometry from the specified URL.
     /// \param fallback a fallback URL to load if the desired one is unavailable
-    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl());
+    /// \param delayLoad if true, don't load the geometry immediately; wait until load is first requested
+    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(), bool delayLoad = false);
     
 private:
     
@@ -65,16 +66,19 @@ public:
     /// A hysteresis value indicating that we have no state memory.
     static const float NO_HYSTERESIS;
     
-    NetworkGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>& fallback,
+    NetworkGeometry(const QUrl& url, const QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry>& fallback, bool delayLoad,
         const QVariantHash& mapping = QVariantHash(), const QUrl& textureBase = QUrl());
     ~NetworkGeometry();
 
     /// Checks whether the geometry is fulled loaded.
     bool isLoaded() const { return !_geometry.joints.isEmpty(); }
 
+    /// Makes sure that the geometry has started loading.
+    void ensureLoading();
+
     /// Returns a pointer to the geometry appropriate for the specified distance.
     /// \param hysteresis a hysteresis parameter that prevents rapid model switching
-    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getLODOrFallback(float distance, float& hysteresis) const;
+    QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> getLODOrFallback(float distance, float& hysteresis, bool delayLoad = false) const;
 
     const FBXGeometry& getFBXGeometry() const { return _geometry; }
     const QVector<NetworkMesh>& getMeshes() const { return _meshes; }
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index 7fc16855e7..25c96c60c3 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -115,11 +115,11 @@ void Model::reset() {
     }
 }
 
-void Model::simulate(float deltaTime) {
+void Model::simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad) {
     // update our LOD
     QVector<JointState> newJointStates;
     if (_geometry) {
-        QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> geometry = _geometry->getLODOrFallback(_lodDistance, _lodHysteresis);
+        QSharedPointer<NetworkGeometry> geometry = _geometry->getLODOrFallback(_lodDistance, _lodHysteresis, delayLoad);
         if (_geometry != geometry) {
             if (!_jointStates.isEmpty()) {
                 // copy the existing joint states
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ void Model::simulate(float deltaTime) {
             _dilatedTextures.clear();
             _geometry = geometry;
         }
+        if (!delayLoad) {
+            _geometry->ensureLoading();
+        }
     }
     if (!isActive()) {
         return;
@@ -443,7 +446,7 @@ float Model::getRightArmLength() const {
     return getLimbLength(getRightHandJointIndex());
 }
 
-void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback) {
+void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback, bool delayLoad) {
     // don't recreate the geometry if it's the same URL
     if (_url == url) {
         return;
@@ -456,7 +459,13 @@ void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback) {
     _lodHysteresis = NetworkGeometry::NO_HYSTERESIS;
     
     // we retain a reference to the base geometry so that its reference count doesn't fall to zero
-    _baseGeometry = _geometry = Application::getInstance()->getGeometryCache()->getGeometry(url, fallback);
+    _baseGeometry = _geometry = Application::getInstance()->getGeometryCache()->getGeometry(url, fallback, delayLoad);
+}
+
+void Model::ensureLoading() {
+    if (_geometry) {
+        _geometry->ensureLoading();
+    }
 }
 
 glm::vec4 Model::computeAverageColor() const {
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
index fd44361a1b..fa89840a82 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.h
@@ -50,12 +50,15 @@ public:
     
     void init();
     void reset();
-    void simulate(float deltaTime);
+    void simulate(float deltaTime, bool delayLoad = false);
     bool render(float alpha);
     
-    Q_INVOKABLE void setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl());
+    Q_INVOKABLE void setURL(const QUrl& url, const QUrl& fallback = QUrl(), bool delayLoad = false);
     const QUrl& getURL() const { return _url; }
     
+    /// Makes sure our configured model is loading.
+    void ensureLoading();
+    
     /// Sets the distance parameter used for LOD computations.
     void setLODDistance(float distance) { _lodDistance = distance; }