| Have you been ripped off? Worried that you will | | | | realistic: A school will not make you a superstar, |
| be? | | | | no matter what they tell you. Only you can do |
| It’s important to understand exactly what | | | | that! |
| you are paying for, and to be certain you are | | | | Schools vary significantly, even within the same |
| getting a fair price. Make sure anything you hand | | | | chain. Some have a model agency or talent |
| over your hard earned money for is worth the | | | | agency to help you get work after you complete |
| cost. Obviously this is not a concern with large, | | | | the training, some don’t, and some say they |
| well-established and reputable agencies such as | | | | do but really don’t. Check out claims of the |
| Ford Modeling Agency, Elite Modeling Agency and | | | | agency’s success. Ask for student and |
| William Morris Agency; however, most models and | | | | graduate referrals. Find out about the background |
| actors don’t start there. | | | | of the instructors. Are they former students or |
| Don't pay a huge sum of money to have your | | | | professionals? |
| photo(s) posted on some obscure website with | | | | Shop around since prices vary as do services. |
| the expectation of being “discovered”. It | | | | Audit a class (sit in for free). Make sure the model |
| won’t happen no matter what the ads or | | | | and actors are learning something worthwhile |
| salespeople for the site tell you. Talent agencies | | | | rather than spending an hour meditating. Don’t |
| and casting directors don’t have the time to | | | | be pressured. Make an informed decision. |
| be surfing the net looking for the next big thing. | | | | Know exactly what you are paying for and get |
| You have to go to them. Because your | | | | everything in writing. If they won't put a |
| competition IS. | | | | statement or promise in writing, it's just not true. |
| Don’t pay for overpriced photos. Really | | | | Your most affordable option is training at the local |
| research the photographers in your area to find | | | | theater or park district. Check your local yellow |
| out what kind of work they do, as well as to | | | | pages for performing arts schools and theaters. |
| determine if their pricing competitive. | | | | No longer just about beauty, pageants are fun |
| Don’t pay for a model portfolio shoot. A | | | | and exciting. They can also be costly, political and |
| portfolio is built over time with different | | | | full of stage mothers. Having trained many |
| photographers. Actors don't need a portfolio. | | | | pageant contestants, I can tell you that the |
| Never believe promises of stardom, no matter | | | | requirements are vastly different from the real |
| how tempting. You can’t buy success. If | | | | world of modeling and acting. Today’s models |
| someone promises you a job if you take classes | | | | anbd actors are natural. On the pageant circuit, |
| or pay for a portfolio, run! There are no | | | | kids wear makeup and gowns, the runway walk is |
| guarantees in this business. Only the client can | | | | different and the entire experience is plastic and |
| make the hiring decision. | | | | phony. It hasn’t changed much since the |
| Don’t pay to have someone look at your | | | | 60’s. |
| photos to tell you if you have potential. Legitimate | | | | If pageants are your thing, have a great time. |
| modeling agencies will look at your photos for | | | | You can gain confidence and poise, and learn to |
| free. Talent agencies never charge you to | | | | interact with people. But be sure to remember |
| audition. | | | | that most of the techniques needed to compete |
| Don't pay to attend a model search, talent search | | | | successfully in pageants do not translate into |
| or singing audition. America's Next Top Model and | | | | today's modeling and acting. |
| American Idol never charge a fee. | | | | Don’t pay money to work with any modeling |
| Modeling conventions are usually very expensive, | | | | agency, talent manager or photographer, even if |
| and I have yet to meet anyone that got anything | | | | they promise you a job. These people can’t |
| out of it other than the experience. Talent | | | | make anyone hire you. |
| agencies are paid to be there, which isn’t | | | | Don’t pay to sign a contract. If you are |
| necessarily a bad thing. No one does anything for | | | | offered a contract by a talent or modeling |
| free. Legitimate agents do attend some of these | | | | agency, ask to take it home to review it. If the |
| events. By contract with the convention owners, | | | | agency will not allow you to do this, be very |
| they agree to “call-back” a specified | | | | suspicious. And signing a contract is free! |
| number of actors and models for a second | | | | Most states require modeling agencies and talent |
| audition. Those that don't make the final cut | | | | agencies to be licensed. The agency’s license |
| (most talent) are encouraged to come back again | | | | is usually displayed in the lobby. If you don’t |
| next year, "You were so close!". Hmmm...more | | | | see it, call the state’s Office of Consumer |
| money! | | | | Affairs to check it out. Talent managers do not |
| Even though a valid talent scout may be seriously | | | | require licenses. |
| interested in you, the agency will expect you to | | | | Always check with the Better Business Bureau to |
| relocate to their area of business (New York, Los | | | | make sure the agency is reputable before signing |
| Angeles, etc.) with NO guarantee of getting work. | | | | anything. Go to Also check out the agency with |
| The model or talent agency will not pay to | | | | the State Attorney General by logging on to Call |
| relocate you. Anyway, you can submit your | | | | the Federal Trade Commission 202-326-3650 |
| photos for free to any model or talent agency | | | | before making a commitment. Obviously, this is |
| anywhere. You can also attend modeling agency | | | | not necessary if the agency is Ford Modeling |
| open calls for free. Legitimate talent agencies and | | | | Agency, Elite Modeling Agency or other |
| modeling agencies never charge to see you. | | | | well-known talent agency. |
| So if you have $5,000-$10,000 to spend, you can | | | | Be very careful of ads in the local paper or on |
| have a good time, build your confidence and | | | | the Internet. They may not be actual jobs, but |
| improve your audition skills. Or you could spend | | | | are sometimes scams or something worse. There |
| that money on trip to New York and Los Angeles | | | | are several legitimate websites that list modeling |
| to make the rounds at the agencies that have | | | | jobs and acting jobs. Use your common sense. |
| open calls. There will be plenty of money left over | | | | Also beware of any ads stating "models and |
| for acting classes, modeling clasees, photos and | | | | actors needed--no experience necessary!" Rarely |
| comp cards. | | | | will a legitimate agency advertise for new talent. |
| As a former owner, I DO support the idea of | | | | This includes most model searches. Get all the |
| modeling schools and acting schools. If it’s the | | | | information possible and check it out before |
| right school, you can learn about the performing | | | | wasting your time. If you call and can't get a real |
| arts business, how to apply makeup, how to | | | | person or a straight answer about the audition, |
| audition, how to do a cold read, how to walk the | | | | forget about it. |
| runway and much more. Most importantly, models | | | | Never pay to audition. You cannot buy fame or |
| and actors gain so much confidence. All of these | | | | success in the performing arts. |
| things will help you in the future no matter what | | | | Don’t pay money to get a modeling or acting |
| your career choice. And modeling and acting | | | | job. If they want money from YOU, it’s NOT |
| school is usually far less expensive than attending | | | | a job. There are scams that claim the aspiring |
| a convention. | | | | model can get a modeling job, but they need to |
| Attending a performing arts school for models | | | | pay for the clothing samples. Are they serious? |
| and actors is not a requirement, but over the | | | | Use caution and your common sense. If it sounds |
| years I rarely had anyone who didn’t love it | | | | too good to be true, IT IS! |
| and benefit from it. However, you must be | | | | |