Tatianna, hate to break it to you but your very very likely in a scam. The fact that there was a JW in attendance should have been a red flag for you. (They fall for scams all the time, things like Quixtar or Avon or real estate scams)
My dad got into model scout, as did my friend josh. Both times it was a hug scam. People get into it thinking that it will be easy money. Think about it. Is the Model industry really that deperate for models that they need to hire 40 people to go out in your area and recruit attractive people?
What usually happens is you find someone, tell them they can be a model. Great. They call the place, and the place stes up an appointment. They tell the person they either need a) modeling classes ($1000) or b) Professional Photos ($1000) or c) they need to go to a modeling convention where many top model agencies will be at ($1500) or d) all of the above.
The problem Tatianna, is they make their money from selling the photos, classes, or trip to convention. Therefore, they accept everyone. In being a model scout, you are contributing to the scam by duping nice people who probably might have a good shot at real modeling. They will get ripped off big time, and you get 5% of it. Usually these model scout scams are set up so the scouts get like a bonus for every 20 people they fool.
I am a represented model and actor. How much did I have to pay? Zilch. My agency makes money for every gig they get me. They got me on West Wing, so they get 15% cut of what I earned. They got me a modeling shoot for a hip hop clothing company, again they get 15%. Since these real, credited agencies like the ones Im under actually make their money by what their models earn, they are much more picky in who they choose to represent. They will only represent people who they feel will make them money through modeling or acting.
Guess what else? They invest in you! A real agency if they beleive in a talent will pay for their professional photos or comp sheet. Real agencies don't need a gazillion scouts because people come to them. Lots of people. Too many to count.
It is of course possible you are not in a scam, but again a JW being in attendence should have been a red flag, as well as the sheer number of hired scouts.
the scam setup
You are approached at the mall by a talent scout who states that you have just been selected to interview with Model 1 because "you have the look" that could get you work as a model or actor. He gives you his card with a flyer and suggests you give him a call to set up an appointment.
The promotional brochure contains the following:
The hunt is on for new faces. MODEL 1, one of the largest talent management and scouting companies in the country, is looking for new faces. With offices in major cities we have everything you need to enter the industry . . . .
Visions of glamour, travel and money flash before your eyes so you attend the interview where you find yourself in an office filled with lots of other model and actor hopefuls. The Vice President of Talent Management informs you that he will likely recommend you for talent management services but that a committee of industry experts will make the final selection.
The Vice President also tells you that, as a prerequisite for agency representation, you must take modeling and acting training from Model 1. He states that their modeling and acting workshops have a limited enrollment and that only 10% of people interviewed are accepted for this training.
He then indicates that you must pay a deposit for the workshops which is fully refundable if you're not accepted by the review committee.
He also says that you are likely to obtain substantial paid employment if selected for their management services and that they have numerous well-known client businesses, organizations and entertainment entities who hire the models and actors they manage.
You are told that the way they get paid is by a percentage of the money paid by their clients to the models and actors they represent. They also claim to have provided casting services on numerous film productions, including, but not limited to, True Lies and Dave.
Excited about your future career in acting you agree to purchase the expensive talent management services sold by their agency.
In fact, their talent management services are not selective in scouting, screening and reviewing consumers for marketability as models or actors. Their principal source of income is not client-paid commissions but fees paid by consumers for their talent management services, including modeling and acting training.
It is highly unlikely that you will ever be able to obtain substantial paid employment as a model or actor through their efforts.
Some more:
Unscrupulous model and talent scouts have their acts down pat. Listen carefully to read between their lines."We're scouting for people with your 'look' to model and act." - I need to sign up as many people as possible. My commission depends on it.
"Your deposit is totally refundable." - Your deposit is refundable only if you meet very strict refund conditions.
"You must be specially selected for our program. Our talent experts will carefully evaluate your chances at success in the field and will only accept a few people into our program." - We take everyone with money.
"There's a guaranteed refund if you're not accepted into the program." - Everyone's accepted so you can forget the refund.
"You can't afford our fees? No problem. You can work them off with the high-paying jobs we'll get you." - We demand payment, whether or not you get work.
"Commissions from our clients are our major source of income." - Our income comes from the fees we charge suckers like you.
I hope the company you are working for is not Emodel ( a HUUUUGE scam, many many complaints to the BBB) or something, maybe if you told me the name of the company I can look them up in the Better Business Beruea.
Here is something I found on the net from another model scout, and is typical of the kind of literature they write:
Being a Model Scout"Hello! My name is Liz Havlin and I am a Model Scout! How I got this job was completely an accident. A friend of mine is a Fashion Model for Petite Catalogues and was complaining to me that although she made made good money, she wanted some diverse modeling experiences. SO, being the helpful friend that I am, I did a search for Modeling Companies on the Internet and found a company called eModel, who's spokesperson just HAPPENS to be Kim Alexis... wow! I was looking over the site for my friend and noticed that eModel was looking for Model Scouts. I thought, what the heck and emailed my resume in. I forgot about the email and was working away one day and here comes this phone call from eModel! I answered all of their questions and was pleasantly suprised to hear that they wanted me.
What I do in my job as a Model Scout is look for potential model talent. Some models are Runway Models and need to be tall & thin, but most are regular sized people like you & me who have attractive features and are usually height/weight proportionate. Print models can be any shape & size depending on which catalogues are looking for talent. Promotional models usually appear at events and do public appearances.
What I like most about my job is the look on someone's face when I ask, "Have you ever considered Modeling?" Most women & men never think their dreams could be realized in a few, short moments. I love to help people get where they want to be and to keep them motivated along the path of their dreams!
Now, I want to say that Modeling is a challenging career that is NOT likethe movies and NOT just hanging around wearing nice clothes. It takes dedication and responsibility to be in a high pressure career such as Modeling.
That was all bullshit, read between the lines. Her job is to find as many people as possible to scam out of a lot of money, sometimes as much as $5000. hats worse is how mean-spirited it is. People are like 'really? me? a model?' and as they start to see stars and big cash in their future they through reasoning and logic out the window. Remember the 'too good to be true' saying?
As opposed as many of you are to JW because of being scorned and burned by the cult, so too I have a huge vendetta against the hundreds of modeling and acting scams out there. What gets me so mad is that if you really want to act or model it's alot easier than you think, you dont need to fork over thousands of dollars.
-Dan
