It's always flattering when someone approaches you at the mall and says, "You could be a model. You've got the 'look' we're after". And after I had my baby this have been a song into my ears "Your baby is so adorable", "She is very good looking and unique". "She could be a stunning model".....It's true some people have been discovered in everyday places like malls, boutiques, clubs, and airports but just take your breath before you make that call to set an appointment. First before you call you should ask yourself, "why me?". Don't let your emotions eat you. And after you have made that call then try to listen very careful and always read between the lines before you pay any fees or sign any papers.On one of my baby's well visit check up appointment I met one of these so called "an agent". We talked for a while and as they know how to sell their business I found myself giving him my phone number. Every morning he was calling me. I didn't expect to be called that much but the reason I was told was that "He knows how to spot a really model, and my baby has all the potentials that industry are looking for". He persuaded me until one day I decided to go with my baby to their "office". I am glad it wasn't far. I was just the next town from where I live. When I got there the first thing caught my eyes was the location. I was expecting to found a small modern office with babies professional fashion pictures all over the wall but it was a in a big building like a warehousing kind of structure. Second I was surprised by the number of people and children who were there on that particular day.
When I got there the lady in front of the gate asked me the name of the person who "referred" me. I told them and I was directed to one of the small makeshift rooms and met the person who we first met outside my baby pediatrician's office and kept calling me everyday. At first he was so happy to see me before I knew I was given so many papers to sign. He was telling he is a little bit on rush because that day it turned out so many people responded to their ads.
The building was big but those offices were not in a so much closed room to able to mute all that noises from kids who were inside that building. The noises annoyed my baby and she started to be cranky. The agent was telling me to sign here, sign here and there but I wasn't gonna sign something I haven't read. I asked him if I could take those papers with me home to read and would returned them the next day. Oh my! He turned to be like the persona I never met or talked to him before. He was like "you didn't understand anything I was explaining to you on the phone?" I didn't remember any serious discussion we had apart from him telling me my baby was unique everyday. He didn't want me to do that but he had no choice but to let me go with my papers but he told me they wouldn't take any pictures of my baby that day without signed papers. I was okay with that..I was not in rush at all and my baby was no where near in a good mood to able to got good shots anyway. .
When I got home and read those forms, I was just amazed by the language used in the contract. First I was responsible for the cost of the whole photo shoot (head shots) as they didn't accept any professional pictures done somewhere else. Second they said taking that photo shoot was not a guarantee of getting any casting call. Third if she got any casting call they won't paid for any of those unless my baby got a call for a real job. The fourth thing I noticed was that in that agent most of the jobs the paid was $150 to $250. They said the big plus was having my baby get "exposure" to that industry.
I know some or most of the rules apply the same to many agents but those rules are okay to those who really want to put their babies into that industry. For those who we went there because of them "agent" kept persuade us it was just a rip off for those who singed those form on the spot and allowed their babies to take a head shoot or photo shoot and paid for that. . I didn't return those papers and I have never received any call from them again. I wonder how many of those moms who were there on that particular day, didn't get time to read those papers and decided if they wanted to have such a big commitment? Taking your baby to casting calls every when they call you it is not easy if your are not prepared for that. Also paying for almost $300 for a photo shoot to make a baby portfolio compare the kids look and size change very rapidly is it worth? I was glad I trusted my guts.
Things you need to try to understand........ when they say:-
"Your deposit is totally refundable."
Your deposit is refundable only if you meet very strict refund conditions."
"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.
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 almost everyone.
"There's a guaranteed refund if you're not accepted into the program."
Everyone's accepted into the program. 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 you..
Some few tips
Be suspicious if a company requires an up-front fee to serve as your agent.
Compare fees and the work quality of several photographers.
Steer clear of modeling companies that require you to use a specific photographer.
Be cautious if the school has a special referral relationship with a specific modeling agency. The two could be splitting your fees, or the agency may not be suited to your needs.
Good luck
Good luck
