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Let
us remind you we are not a model agency. We do not endeavour to find work
for you. We simply offer you the services above. But we have tried to add
some information to this page for you to bear in mind for future reference
in regards model agencies. everything below this sentence has been written
by someone with more insight into the world of model agencies, then we have.
We would suggest you read on, and look for other references to build up a
better knowledge of the industry before you give money away to agencies
promising to find you work.
News
articles that we have found on the internet by searching for scam model
agencies
MODEL
AGENCY EXPOSED
Ever fancied yourself as the next Kate Moss or Jodie Kidd? If you have,
you're not alone. Hundreds of young hopefuls attempt to break into the
industry each year. But it is not as easy as some agencies would have you
believe. Inside Out reporter Jo Palmer goes undercover to expose a
Southampton company which promises to turn ordinary people into models. Jo,
who is just five feet tall and a size 12, knows that she doesn't have the
physique of a supermodel. But at an audition in Portsmouth for 10AM
Management, she was told that she could get work in films, brochures and
catalogues.
Jo was then persuaded to pay £155 to have her photos taken, so that the
Southampton-based company could promote her to various model agencies. That
was three months ago and so far Jo hasn't received any offers of work. "I
have no illusions about my looks so I wasn't really expecting to be on the
cover of any magazines," she says. "But lots of impressionable teenagers and
children do go along to these events and they really get their hopes up.
"They are told they might have a future in modelling and they hand over
their money."
One reason that people agree to pay is that 10AM promise to refund your
money if you don't get a placement with a model agency within a year. Most
10AM clients do then get an offer from an agency - but the agency usually
wants more money up front. Gemma Norfolk is typical of
the people who have complained to Inside Out. The 20 year old paid for her
photos after attending a 10AM audition in Colchester and she subsequently
received three offers from agencies. But each of the agencies wanted further
payments to promote her. "I was really excited to start with because they
said I could do anything in the fashion industry that I wanted, including
catwalk," says Gemma. "But afterwards you get really disappointed and feel
stupid and embarrassed about the whole thing."
The owner of 10AM, Jamie Randall, says that some of his clients do get work,
but there are no guarantees. "It is not part of our service to obtain
modelling work. Our role is to secure a placement with an agency," says Mr
Randall. "There is no possibility of work until a client is signed by an
agency, after which, the prospects for work will be a matter of discussion
between the client and their agent." Mr Randall also says that the £155 fee
is for the photographs and that clients can avoid this fee if they bring
their own photos to the audition.
The Association of Model Agents says that reputable agencies never charge
upfront fees. It also recommends that prospective models send a snapshot to
agencies, rather than paying for expensive photographs.The Government
announced two years ago that it was going to change the law to stop agencies
charging people before they found them work. This hasn't happened yet, but
the Department of Trade and Industry says the amendments are still planned.
Jun 1 2007 By Adam Jupp,
The Evening Chronicle
Rogue trader watchdogs have produced a guide to warn people about potential
scam model agencies. The move has been made after a probe was launched into
a firm which staged a two-day photoshoot on Tyneside. Manchester-based
Modelsextra charged parents up to £120 per child, claiming they could help
them land TV extra and modelling work. But many say they have had extra cash
taken from their accounts, with others being offered jobs that have not
materialised. Now, Newcastle City Council trading standards officials have
produced a leaflet to tell hopefuls not to part with cash up-front. It comes
as more calls have flooded into the Chronicle from families who fear they
have been ripped-off.
The two-day Modelsextra audition was held at Newcastle bar Tiger Tiger on
April 21-22. Hopefuls were asked to pay either £75 or £120 per child in
exchange for photos to be taken of them. Those who coughed up were then
contacted by a separate agency called Shocks Talent. That firm, based in
Warrington, asked them to pay more money to sign up with them. Only after
parents had paid would their children be put forward for auditions. Both
firms have denied being connected to each other. Shocks Talent also promoted
an event called Model of Britain at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle.
They were asking parents £310 each to attend. They have since sent letters
to people, with raffle tickets stapled to them, saying that the even has
been put-off for four weeks.
However, the Chronicle has spoken to the hotel, who say it was canceled by
them after Shocks Talent failed to confirm their booking. Karen Crumpson
attended the initial Modelsextra event and has been left fuming after extra
cash has been taken from her bank account. She had taken daughter Liah,
seven. She said: "They said she could go for modeling or TV work and that it
was £75 for the modeling or £120 for TV work. I said we only wanted the
modeling work. But, when I looked at my bank, they had taken the £120 out."
Two to three weeks after the event, the family also received a call from
Shocks Talent offering them work for the tourist board, but nothing has come
of it since. The trading standards leaflet, which will be handed out at any
future casting events, says: "Agencies often prey on people who want to be
famous, advertising in newspapers or by posters to encourage potential
victims to attend meetings and casting seminars." It adds: "You may be
convinced into parting with money up front. The promise is usually that the
agency will take a portfolio of photographs - which are often overpriced and
of very poor quality - and find you at least one top agency which will offer
you a contract. You are told that you could get work in films, brochures and
catalogues but no work materialises and you don't ever get your money back."
Darren Scott, 36, of Jarrow, took sons Daniel, eight, and Kyle, five to the
event. He said: "The photographs they took, which we have been sent, are
absolutely terrible."
Darren also received a follow-up call from Shocks Talent, who said his
children could get work with the North East tourist board. He contacted them
and was told there were no links with either Modelsextra or Shocks Talent.
What
is a modelling agency
You hear that all the top models have great agencies, and you think, "If I
can only sign with a modeling agency I will be set." But what exactly is a
modeling agency and what does it do? This is not an easy question to answer.
Modeling agencies operate as small independent business with no two agencies
working the same. A lot depends on the market in which an agency operates
and the owner(s) and agency's personnel. The other problem with describing a
modeling agency is that there are a lot of rip-off and scam agencies out
there. Because most wannabe models know little about how the modeling
business works, they are easy prey for these vultures. We can look at what
an agency might be at its best and worst and what they can do for your
career as a model.
A
modeling agency's number one purpose is to find the model work. They work as
the model's representative or agent. As an agent they seek and negotiate
contracts of employment for the model or talent who is an independent
business. For finding the model work, they take a percent of what the model
makes (10% to 33%). In some states they are considered private employment
agencies and must be licensed by the state. That sounds fairly simple and
straightforward, but it is amazing how it can vary.
Many modeling agencies in the UK compete to fill that demand with the
finest talent in the nation. When an agency sees someone who has potential
or someone who satisfies the demand, they will invest in that individual to
get him/her ready for the market. They don't do this to be nice people -
they do it because they feel they can make money from that person. They know
the market and they will invest in you (a loan against future earnings) to
prepare you for that market. If they guess wrong and you do not become
marketable and profitable, they will cut their losses and drop you. The top
agencies are working with big-budget ad agencies and fashion designers so
there is money available to develop new talent. These top agencies will help
train you (more like on the job training), get you test shoots, layout your
portfolio, and put together comp cards and other printed materials you need.
They take care of finding you work, booking the jobs, bill for the jobs and
eventually cut a check for the work you do. Once you are in an agency like
this all you have to worry about is following instructions and modeling.
Within a secondary market, the modeling agencies are not working with big
budget clients. In some cities there may be enough work that an agency can
be a full time operation - perhaps even supporting a few people on staff but
there is not enough work to pay for the development of new talent. For this
type of agency you must provide the marketing tools and training. The agency
may help you with where to go to get photos, composites and training, but
they can't afford to pay for it or loan you money. There just isn't enough
budget for them to guess wrong even once. So it is up to you to foot the
bill. This is fine if the agency is really out there looking for work for
its models and there is enough of a market to make a living. The problem I
have found with some of these agencies is that they have no idea what they
are doing. They are having a great time playing at being a modeling agency,
but you could do better marketing yourself.
What if you do find a good agency, what will they do for you? A good agency
will help manage your career and find you work. In big cities this can be
split into two parts, managers and bookers. The manager will help you
develop your "look", your modeling skills, and develop
your natural talents. They will help in preparing your marketing materials
for the market in which they think you will be most successful. They should
have knowledge of the market place and will honestly evaluate your potential
for that market. They should have contacts so they can send you to
photographers, graphic designers and printers to prepare your marketing
materials. They should have the means to prepare you to be a model. The
booking side is where the agency tracks down who uses models. The agency has
a phone that is manned and an office that a client can visit. They make the
rounds to keep in touch with those who use models and provide them with
composites and head sheets of their talent. They advertise, do lunches, do
cold calls and turn over stones to find who is hiring models. They book time
for models to work, give direction to get there and make sure models show
up. They handle billing, collections, and complaints. A good agency finds
you work and earns every cent of their commission (usually 15% to 33%). But,
in smaller markets, they are a rarity.
Further on down the ladder you find agencies in markets that are too small
to support a full time modeling agency. In these markets the modeling school
is usually the full time moneymaker and the agency is just a hook. If you
finish the school you get to be in the agency. This can be fine if you like
to play at modeling and have the money to do so. In most cases if your city
has a population of less then a million it will not be able to support a
full time agency. Even in a city of a million you may be better off
marketing yourself than working with a so-so agency. When you get to a city
with a population of a couple million or more there may be just too much
ground to cover and an agency can be very helpful. How do you find a
modeling agency?
Since Modeling Agencies want to be easy-to-find, you should also be able to
locate them in your local yellow pages. If you find one in your area, you
will want to contact them to see what their new model screening process is.
Some may have you send a couple of snap shots to them. Others might have an
open call where they have all new wannabes show up at once to be evaluated.
Others might schedule an interview time for you. All work differently, so
call to find out first. Also, be sure to check out the agencies you find
with the Better Business Bureau to see if they have any complaints against
them. And don't be pressured into signing anything right away. If they offer
a contract or want you to sign up for a class, ask if you can take the
contract with you and you will get back to them in a few days.
Checking out a Modeling Agency
A
certain mystery surrounds the modeling industry. How does one become a top
model? There is no clear cut answer to that question. Because of this
mystery and uncertainty, a great deal of room exists in which a scam artist
can work. Since a modeling agency is often the key to becoming a successful
model, this is where many scams take place. How do you find a legitimate
modeling agency? There is no easy answer. First, there is no rating service
for modeling agencies; there is no governmental authority; there is no
licencing organization to tell you which agency is legitimate and which is
not. Most agencies are small, independent businesses working in a very
competitive market place. These seem to be in constant flux with new ones
starting, old ones merging, and some closing up shop. This makes it a real
challenge to find just a legitimate agency, let alone a good agency. The
following are some ideas on how to find and then check out a modeling agency
in your area:
1)
To find the modeling agencies in your area you can check the yellow pages of
the phone book under Modeling Agencies. Remember, a modeling agency wants to
be easy to find so a phone listing is a must. From the agencies' listings
you may find they are often, also, modeling schools. If there are no
agencies listed for your area, you may have to check with the closest large
city. If some one approaches you and says they are a scout for some agency
and you can't find them in the phone book, be very skeptical.
2)
One thing I like to do to check out agencies is to call them after business
hours. I can find out fast which agencies are trying to be legitimate
businesses. The idea behind this is that modeling is a very competitive,
fast moving business and things don't just happen 9 to 5. If, I, as a
photographer, have an emergency come up after business hours (a
cancellation, a client who has to shoot tomorrow and will pay anything to do
it) I need to be able to contact someone now or I am down the road to
another agency. A good agency knows this and you will find, when you call
them after hours, they will have an answering machine or service that will
give you an emergency number to call (a cell phone or pager). If you find
the machine just tells you to call back during business hours or they have
no after hour answering service at all, look for another agency.
3)
The best way, which takes the most work, to find a good agency in your area
is by studying and researching your market.
A)
If you follow the local news media (newspaper, TV), there is a good chance
information on local agencies will show up. This past year the Portland
newspaper had articles on a local girl who was discovered and went off to
Europe to model (the article gave the name of the local agency that signed
her) and a new face modeling contest the paper put on ( the judges were from
three local modeling agencies and the article gave the name of the agency
and the contact at the agency). One of the local TV news stations did a
story on a rip-off modeling agency and interviewed people from some of the
legitimate agencies. In one year of just following the news (which you
should be doing anyway to be an informed voter), I was able to find three
legitimate agencies and one scam agency.
B)
Another method of researching the local market takes even more work - follow
the local fashion print advertising. When you start to see which stores use
local models regularly, you can start making phone calls. Call the store and
find out who handles the advertising. You can hope that the person at the
store who does this can direct you to their advertising agency, their
photographer, or may even direct you to the modeling agency they use.
Basically, you are making phone calls to trace your way to a modeling agency
suppling the models for the store ads. This will lead you to an agency with
working models. I hate making cold calls like this myself, but this can be
an effective way to find a modeling agency. Then again, if you can make cold
calls like this, you may want to forget the modeling and become a
photography rep! Modeling Agency Contracts
There are three styles of contracts that you typically will run across. Some
modeling agencies will work with exclusive contracts. This means that they
are your exclusive representatives and they get a commission on any work you
do. They get this commission whether they find the work or you find it on
your own. If you sign this kind of contract, be sure the agency is really
going to be working for you. If they are providing a lot of guidance getting
your career started and are out there beating the bushes to find work for
you, this type of contract is fine. If the agency signs you just to fill
space in their roster and then leaves you hanging in limbo for the length of
your contract (usually one to two years) it can be a bad way to try and
start a career. Another type of contract is a non-exclusive modeling
contract. In this case if the modeling agency finds you work, they get paid
their commission. If you find work on your own you pay them nothing. You are
free to sign non-exclusive contracts with other modeling agencies. This way
you might have several agencies representing you at once. Now don't expect
the same service and help from a non-exclusive agency as with an exclusive
agency. In smaller markets, where you are expected to provide all of your
training, portfolios, composites and other marketing materials before an
agency will work with you, signing an exclusive contract is a kind of a
rip-off.
The final contract is a Mother Agency Agreement. I have not seen one of
these so I am not sure how they make it legally binding but you do hear
about them. In this case the modeling agency knows there is not enough work
locally to support any one over the long term. Their position then is to
move you on to a major market and get you signed with a major modeling
agency. They may get you work locally but it is more with the idea of
getting you ready for the major market. For helping prepare you and helping
to place you with a top modeling agency, they get a percent of your earnings
for a long time to come. You, in essence, never leave the mother agency -
you are just loaned out to the top agencies. This can be an attractive
arrangement if the mother agency invests time and money in your career and
gets you on with top money making agencies. The trouble comes when this gets
attached to a modeling school. You not only have to pay for all of the
classes, the photo shoots, the career guidance session, you then must keep
paying these people again for doing nothing. You need to examine these
agreements very carefully before you sign.
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