Posted by TM on April 07, 2005 at 01:35:36:
In Reply to: If it smells like a fish posted by Wilfredo on April 06, 2005 at 22:43:40:
Location: Spokane
Okay lets see... I am aware of these modeling schools that charge fees to learn to become a model etc - there is one locally called 'Barbizon'. At the first meeting I had with the young lady I asked her what the difference is between Mode and an organization like Barbizon. She knew of Barbizon, as she is from the area, and she told me that Barbizon was quite different from Mode. "Barbizon is what we call a 'modeling school'. They take pretty much anybody and charge fees for modeling classes and seminars. The people who go through a program like Barbizon are most likely hoping to be signed to an agency when they are done. Thats the difference - we are an agency - they are a school. You don't have to have been through a school to work with us, we provide that kind of information down the road" Her explanation was a bit more thought out and drawn out than that, but it made complete sense to me... As for the portfolio, I doubt that this is a scam involving portfolios since they really aren't pressuring me to put down money for one right away. She said that I could work off of my polaroids (from the polaroid shoot) for a while if i needed to, that money issues were something that i could work out with darrin, and that portfolios are built up over time. they are a combination of the shoots that we set up (that i will pay for - 'around $150 per look') and, after I've done some jobs, my work. I went into this skeptical, knowing that portfolios are one of the most common ways to get scammed - so I'm pretty comfortable with Mode in that respect. As for the orientation comment... At the meeting with Darrin I mentioned that I would be almost completely available and willing to work often and travel this summer, after school gets out for me. He said that was great, but if that were the case, we would have to get things rolling. So he pulled out his calendar and said that there was a new model orientation on april 8th at 5 PM. we also needed to schedule the polaroid shoot asap to get approval from Kelly Streit, so he asked if I could come in at 3 PM before the orientation. He said to bring shorts or wear boxers, 2 packs of Spectra polaroid film, be clean shaven, and 75 dollars, and to bring a parent to the orientation. He said that there would be some light hair and makeup for the polaroids, and they would provide a photographer. It doesn't sound weird to me that they want to use a photographer they are familiar with that will give them the looks they want etc. he said that after the shoot we'll sit down and choose the best six or so pictures to send to Kelly. Umm... I am in the 'class of person' that would be expected, I'm 6' tall, 145 pounds, pretty toned... And if you go to their website you can browse through their models and they all seem to fit the proper description. Speaking of the website - please go there - I'm a tad confused that they basically consider Heather Marks to be a Mode Model, but everywhere I have seen it says she's with other agencies... Although if mode is her mother agent, and they place her with these various other agencies to do work for them, it would make sense. The site is really in depth with lots and lots of information - It doesn't sound AT ALL like it is anything other than an actual agency. many of their models are busy and their work is posted daily by Kelly Streit. Sooo... Heather Marks, Tricia Helfer, Marla Boehr etc etc... this are pretty big models that Mode associates itself with - Has anyone heard of Mode? Maybe they are just under the radar because they aren't based in New York... Please look at the site and read about the company... I think its legit.