WHAT A LEGITIMATE MODELING AGENCY WILL NEVER ASK YOU AND SOME RED FLAGS… (In the Entertainment industry. Illegitimate Modeling Agencies)

Models Targeted / Photo Credit: Fstoppers

WHAT A LEGITIMATE MODELING AGENCY WILL NEVER ASK YOU AND SOME RED FLAGS… (In the Entertainment industry. Illegitimate Modeling Agencies)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

WHAT A LEGITIMATE MODELING AGENCY WILL NEVER ASK YOU AND SOME RED FLAGS

So you think you may have what it takes to be a model or you have caught the eye of a modeling agent and they want to sign you to their agency, what now? Stories abound of unscrupulous agents taking advantage of eager girls, boys and hopefully moms with a dream, so how can you know if that interested agent is the real deal or a scam artist? There are some tell-tale signs that an agent or modeling agency is not above board. When an agency has a genuine interest in you as a model there are certain things they will never ask of you.

Just what are those things? Let’s take a look.

A Legitimate Agent Will Never Ask You for Money

Genuine agents make money by taking a percentage of a model`s fees. They do not have handling fees, signing fees, agency fees (outside of their cut - as noted above) or any other kind of up front 'before-you-can-be-signed' fee. Bogus agencies may insist you pay fees (often extortionate) for a shoot with them to be accepted. Agencies that require a portfolio hosting fee or charge for comp cards (z cards) will deduct this from a model`s first job fees.

They will never suggest to you that you need to spend money to make money. If an agent sees real potential in you that is where they will make their money, by taking a reasonable cut of the work that they get for you (usually no more than 15%). Legitimate modeling agencies do not have handling fees, signing fees, agency fees (outside of their cut of work done as noted above) or any other kind of upfront before-you-can-be-signed fee.

A Legitimate Agency Will Pay for Your Test Shots

Genuine agencies do not ask you to pay for test shoots or for the development of portfolios but may arrange specific photoshoots with a reputable or in-house photographer. They will invest in you and make their money back when they get you working. They will arrange for your test shots and only expect you to show up at the shoot on time and with a positive attitude. Most agencies have agreements with photographers and makeup artists whom they pay to take their test shots and even build a working portfolio for an up-and-coming model.

Models do need portfolios but when an agency is really interested in a girl and thinks she can make it as a model they will not ask for any money to help build it.

Never Pay for a Comp Card

Genuine agencies do not expect payment up front for your Z card or website profile. Some may deduct costs from the proceeds of the first paid assignment. Some do not charge fees for these. A comp card is the models equivalent of a business card. It is usually about the size of a 4x6 photograph, has between three and five shots of a model with different looks and includes a brief bio with basic info like eye color, hair color, height, weight, age, and shoe size.

Some aspiring models do pay for these themselves but these are girls who are looking to be signed, not models with an offer on the table. An agency that wants to develop and represent you will never ask you to pay for your own comp card or for the pictures necessary to make one. Also, along these same lines, a legitimate modeling agency will not ask you to pay to set up a web profile or other online promotion tool.

Don't forget that you’re an Investment for the Agency

This cannot be stressed enough: An agency that is truly interested in developing you as a model will not ask you to lay out any money up front. They will be looking to make money off of you in the future and will be willing to make an initial investment in making that happen. Modeling is a business and businesses mean taking risks, a legitimate agency that thinks you can work as a model will take a risk on you. This means that they will never ask you to pay for modeling classes of any kind. They may ask you to take some classes, especially runway or posing classes, but they will never ask you to pay a penny to do so.

Legitimate modelling agencies give a 30 day cooling off period for photographic and audio visual services when these are provided as an additional service.

Legitimate modelling agencies are, by law, registered as employment agencies.

Be Leery of Any Nude or Suggestive Photo Suggestions

Photographs like this are usually highly artistic and require a certain degree of experience on the part of the model to make them work. No legitimate modelling agency will ask you for nude or suggestive photographs so that they can assess your suitability as a model. No legitimate agency will ask you to audition via webcam.

Legitimate modelling agencies do not hold mass casting calls / auditions in hotels or shopping centers. Any attending 'scouts' are part of the scam team.

Legitimate agencies do not entice you to join with an immediate offer of work nor do they guarantee you paid work at any time.

Legitimate modeling agencies will not ask an inexperienced model who likely has a lot to learn about their best angles and how to pose to take risqué photos. What they may ask is for you to take a picture in a bikini or even lingerie but these shots will be catalog-looking, soft, somewhat innocent and not overly provocative. If an agent asks you to take sexy photos right away, walk out the door and don’t look back.

Legitimate model agencies have bona fide offices & employ staff who you can talk to on the telephone. Beware, anyone can set up an agency website with a telephone number so further research will also be needed.

Genuine agencies may have Facebook profiles where people can view information and news on the agency. This does not constitute scouting or advertising.

Genuine agencies DO NOT ADVERTISE ON GUMTREE, GOOGLE ADS, YAHOO ADS, FACEBOOK OR ANY SOCIAL NETWORK SITE (other than casting calls on bona fide model networking sites) Agencies receive hundreds of applications direct to their offices and have no need to waste valuable time trawling the internet for potential models. To make this clear, when making an internet search relating to modelling ALL the modelling adverts on the right of the screen & in the pink or blue boxes at the top of the results list are ALL scams. Do not presume that if the model agency website you are reading is genuine, that all sites advertised on the same page are also genuine. Google and Yahoo do not verify adverts. More often than not they are scams.

Beware of Portfolio Studios, they often call themselves agencies and infer that they can get you modelling work. What they actually do is set up photoshoots for anyone who will pay the fees. They have online application forms, using similar formats as the genuine modelling agencies. They do not turn away any paying customer - so there is no need for anyone to apply and be 'selected'. They charge a booking fee, and there is often a cancellation fee (which is illegal). The price you are quoted only includes studio and photographer time. There will be a separate extortionate fee for the images which are usually of poor quality. Some will use aggressive tactics to get people to pay up and will ignore the 7 day cooling off period required by law, The 'scouts' in malls are selling agents for these studios and not from genuine agencies.

There are reputable agencies in most major cities. This will help you sort them out. Google 'Model Agency (followed by the area you want to search). If you want to search for agencies that carry specific departments (ie commercial, editorial etc.) enter such into the google search facility.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Huffington Post, Backstage, Your Young Actor, Cast it Talent, Scambusters, New York Castings, Brock Kelly, SAG-AFTRA, Tina Wells, Live About, Balance Careers,

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Models Targeted / Photo Credit: Fstoppers