My 18 year old daughter was approached in the mall by a young lady who asked if she wanted to do some fashion and hair modeling. She got a business card, but she does not recognize the name. How does she check them out to see if they are legitimate? What do you look for on a contract? Any advice anyone can give?
The only tip I know in this area is that if they want to sell you anything (modelling lessons, photo sessions) or ask you for any money up front then they are trying to scam you.
I would tend to agree with Lamia. I would also suggest that you get in touch with the Better Business Bureau in your locality to see if compleints have been filed against them. No 100% guarantee but better than nothing.
And if you DO sign a contract, read the fine print very carefully. The BBB could be in a position to give you useful tips in that respect.
That should be “complaints”, of course. And there’s always the Internet. Check if they have a Web site; if so, you could gather useful additional info.
Most likely they are trying to sell you something, like modeling lessons or professional photos to put into a portfolio. I know some models who do just fine, and it’s good for their self esteem to be earning money, but the mom always stays in the room so there’s nothing unsavory attempted. Even at a good, established studio, the closed room and a young lady dressed up make for an overcharged atmosphere.
My only advice here (from a friend who got taken for a lot of money several years ago) is: be very careful about signing anything, or paying for anything!
Sounds suspiciously like my “I’m a producer, wanna be in a movie?” pickup line…
cheesy guitar music begins
Be sure she doesn’t go any where alone. Don’t pay for anything, they approached HER. Don’t agree to photos anywhere but a professional office. No motels, apartments. or “on locations”, at least until you are a lot more familiar with the operation.
I have heard stories of many models who started out after they were approached on the street by agents.
So, this could be the start of something pretty nifty, you never know! But the warnings given here are all quite serious, and valid. Never pay anything, never let her be alone, read the fine print, look into the background of the agency, etc.
What was the name of the agency? Maybe someone around here knows of them.
–sublight.
Some models do get their start after being approached by legitimate modeling agents on the street or in a restaurant, club, etc. Of course, there’s also lots of scam artists and downright weirdos who only want your money or worse. How can you tell the difference?
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A legitimate agency (LA) will never charge the model for pictures, headshots, or make-up & hairstyling sessions.
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An LA will never make the model pay for “go-sees” or interviews with prospective clients, nor will an LA require the model to pay for their services in advance. Any payment to the agency comes AFTER getting a booking (and completing the job), and is in the form of a percentage paid by the client - NEVER, EVER, by the model.
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An LA will have a regular office, usually (unless it’s a really small [but legitimate] agency) with regular staff - receptionist, assistant, etc. (Not that weirdos can’t have an office too, but if someone claims to be legit and can only meet you in a motel, forget them.) An LA will be perfectly willing to meet the prospective model in a public place, during the day, and will have no objections to other persons - parents, lawyer, etc. - meeting with the agency to discuss anything at all pertaining to a possible contract, especially if the prospective model is under 18 years old. Forget about any supposed agent who can only meet at night or discourages the model from bringing anyone with her.
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An LA can NEVER guarantee that a model will get a certain number of bookings if she signs with them. The only guarantees for bookings come from a client who may choose to hire a model for a specified contractual arrangement.
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An LA will never tell a model that she will be able to get bookings or improve her chances of getting them if she goes to a certain “modeling school.” If an LA sees enough potential in a prospective model, THEY pay for whatever it takes to make her more marketable. LAs don’t tell prospective models that they need to take makeup or hairstyling lessons, because any legitimate shoot will have someone doing the makeup & hair - it really doesn’t matter what the model looks like in real life; it’s how she photographs that is important.
You should check out this agency before doing anything else. A reputable place will welcome your questions and will understand 100% any concerns you might have. DO NOT give them one cent. The second they ask for money, you know they are not reputable.
Forgot to mention the portfolio: a legitimate agency will never require that someone come in with a portfolio or that someone buy a portfolio through the agency. They might ask for a snapshot or two but nothing more. The agency pays for the portfolio if they want one; usually, models develop their portfolio by going on “go-sees.” Go-sees are when the model goes to see various photographers, who take pictures of her to see how she photographs in different outfits, under different lighting, etc. The model is usually given copies of the photographs to build her portfolio; the photographer also uses the photos for his own portfolio, and the agency uses the pictures to show to prospective clients. Eventually, the model will have a portfolio that she can take on go-sees (it helps the photographer, even if he’s planning to take more pictures anyway), but no legitimate place will expect her to have one when just starting out.
Models should NEVER pay for a portfolio!
Though I’m unfamiliar with the modeling business, I can see from Missbunny that aspiring models should stick to the one rule all aspiring writers need to learn:
Money flows toward the writer/model.
That was great info. Mind my asking if you are or have been in the business?
Make sure there’s film in the camera.
I think you might be concerned that these people are trying to lure your daughter into ‘nudie’ pictures. This is highly unlikely. Most people in the porno picture business just take out an ad in the paper that says, “nude models wanted. Earn cash” or something like that. There is no shortage of women who are willing to take their clothes off for money.
Another possibility not yet mentioned is that they might only be looking for local models, and/or girls willing to work for free. My x-girlfriend used to do mall modeling all the time. The local mall businesses would set up a modeling show in the mall as a advertisement. Something like, “come by the mall saturday to see the modeling show. Hair by XYZ and clothes by ABC…” The girls never got paid and only did it for the fun of dressing up and stuff.
omni-not, I used to do a little in my youth. Well, I’m still in my youth - in my younger youth would be more accurate. :)