Do you think that modeling agencies for kids and teens scam parents out of money
By sharone74
@sharone74 (4837)
United States
April 2, 2010 1:14pm CST
My friend has enrolled one of her daughters with one of those talent agencies that has those Open to everyone model searches that they advertise in the paper every few months. When they do choose you from the herd of people who come to these things there are suddenly all kinds of fees and expenses that have to come out of the pocket of the parents that are trying to launch a modeling career for their kids. I've been listening to her talking about this and that and she has paid a non refundable fee which is dependant upoon her coming up with another $500 to get a professional portfolio made, and then there is some other fee that she has to pay to the agency once the portfolio is completed and submitted. I don't know people have told me before about all these crazy fees and expenditures that you have to put up if selected for one of these model searches and it occurs to me that these people are where the talent agency is really making their biggest money from. Not from placements and commissions but just for all of the non refundable fees and kickbacks for outside services that they recommend to these people. I mean they have these model searches everywhere, in every little town, hamlet, and city in the country, probably around the world. I wonder how well this will come out when my friends part is done and it is time to start finding modeling jobs for the girl. They just seem a little to slick and polished as though they tell people all the same things from city to city and town to town on an endless tour which is intended to generate ready cash for the agencies to continue to tour and do these audition presentations and stuff.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@wickedlove (326)
• United States
2 Apr 10
I have my daughter in a legit agency. No payment at all for headshots, none at all for joining or anything. You have to do a lot of research for there are a lot of scams. My daughter has appeared in 3 magazines with no money taken from my pocket. Do the research. Legit agencies dont ask for tons and tons of money. Yes, its hard work to get accepted to a REAL agency and can takes weeks or months to even get a call back.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
10 Apr 10
You are absolutely right. There are some agencies out there that do model searches because they are truly looking for the next big face. These agencies work harder to get work for their clients too, because they make their money on commission, so the more work that they get their clients the more money that they make. however most of the big multi-million dollar modeling agencies out there did not manage to get to where they are strictly on commissions but off of the desperate hopes and dreams of thousands of unfortunate scam victims. Some may not even see what they are doing as a "scam" to them it is just business as usual. Because they were brought into the company, trained by them how to run the scam, and thus they believe tat this is the way their world is supposed to work.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
2 Apr 10
I think maybe they get "selected" not so much on their potential to be successful models but on the likelihood of either them or their parents being able and willing to pay the various fees? they are in it to make money not to benefit the models. OK, if the model hits the big time, they will get a good cut but thats just a chance. By giving people false hope, and charging them for it, they are laughing all the way to the bank. After all, if you put yourself up for this sort of thing and get "selected" they're on a safe bet that you won't turn down the "opportunity". But, as long as people pay up, it will continue.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
10 Apr 10
So many people dream of enrolling their children in modeling so that they can make money either towards their college educations or some more mercenary parents do it because they can't be models and they want to control the money and spend it if and when their kids hit the big time as children are not allowed to have, keep, or manage their money except in trust to a parent or guardian. Those who dream of making money off of their kids and leaving them with nothing but a career when they are 18, those people deserve to be taken. They deserve exactly what they get, which most often is absolutely nothing. There are some people who will manage the money for their child and save it for them until they reach their majority and then they give it to them, but the money from a successful acting or modeling career is often too tempting and they feel that they deserve to take something from it for themselves.
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
6 Apr 10
yes they are, they usually ask for some money to orbit our kids, I ever try to make my kids being a model. But since they ask for some money i just leave it behind.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
2 Apr 10
I believe that the majority of modeling agencies are a big scam. They just continuing taking your money and telling you what you want to hear. Promising the world. I had enrolled my daughter into the Barbizon School in New York years ago. Its a school that shows you how to become a model. They actually told my daughter that she was so commerical looking that she could probably end up on the Bill Cosby show. Well after a year of schooling and over 1000.00 dollars nothing every came of it but a fashion show on the runway for the families. That was it. No jobs no nothing. @sharone74 (4837)
• United States
7 Apr 10
That whole experience must have been dishearteningly frustrating. However Barbazon is a school of modeling, which means that there is a curriculum that a student must compete before they can graduate and then use the aquired knowlege, just like any other type of school. Schools are not agencies, they teach how to, they do not seek out or book employment for the students and vice versa.
@machivado (528)
• Indonesia
3 Apr 10
Well..I guess as long as they do what they presented to the kids..then I guess it should be okay....But I guess those fees just are nuts...I mean, the models are just kids without experience, not a top model...There's a big chance that it is a scam..
@tifychau (127)
• United States
3 Apr 10
I don't believe that all agencies are scams. There are definitely legitimate agencies that I've come across that can get you started in modeling careers. Although I DO agree that there are many scams out there, I feel that if you do some research on the company and make sure you are aware of the money coming out of your pocket, it should be fine. My sister signed up for an agency where they taught her about the business and some things about modeling. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are real agencies out there that you can go to if you are thinking of joining the business. You just have to do some research on them to make sure they are a legitimate agency that isn't trying to scam you.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
2 Apr 10
I think not only are they a waste of time and money, they are very detrimental to the kids. They are told "nope you dont have the look" they encourage poor body image. My daughter wanted to go to one when she was younger, I told her not a chance, you will have to wait until you are 18.
