Posted by TM on April 07, 2005 at 14:39:20:
In Reply to: Perhaps posted by Wilfredo on April 07, 2005 at 07:41:06:
Location: Spokane
Alright guys - I appreciate your help and your input. After much thought on the matter I was feeling quite skeptical. I looked at Modemodels.com closer and noticed something. The 'Our Company' section refers to model scouting and development... It also refers to a $300 or so 'Test shoot' after the polaroid shoot... So it was really looking like it was some kind of cover for a modeling school or something that will make money off of these photo shoots and classes and workshops that will comprise me 'development' as a model. So i picked up the phone to call the office and get a little clarification. I was going to ask straight up and either call them out or get some major clarification. Well Darrin was there and he picked up the phone. I told him that i had asked around and done some more reading and things seem a little suspicious. I said 'now that i've really read about the company on the site its referring to 'development' and 'scouting' - Is this a kind of modified modeling school? Do you charge for my polaroid shoot, then charge for a test shoot, then charge for classes and such to 'develop' me?' And he quickly said 'NOT AT ALL - First of all, if you want references or advice about us, call the agencies in New York." (At this point he told me to call IMG models, and Women/Supreme Models in New York - he even offered me the numbers but said i could get them online, too.) As for the 'Test shoot' he said that yes, there is another shoot after the polaroid shoot, and its basically to get some professional shots to market me with - and the price could be $300, could be $200 could be $400 - It depends on the photographer and other things. (and heres a good thing he said - implying that i can find my own photographer if i want) If i know a fashion photographer friend or something that will do it for cheap or free, then it will be cheap or free! They just need some good professional shots to start a portfolio etc. As for the 'development' that i was QUITE suspicious of - he put my worries to rest with one word - free. He said, 'yes, we have occasional workshops that we provide our models, to help them develop technique (etc) - but they are always completely free.' *Siiiigh* :) thats a good thing! So in the end overall I just asked him ' Are you guys about scouting and development and these expensive photo shoots one after another, or are you about getting work for your models?' and he calmly said that 'If [i] walked into Mode HQ and stood infront of the comp card wall - 95% of the models on that wall are working. 95%. THAT is how we make money. We don't get money from your polaroid shoot, we don't get money from your first shoot, we don't get money from the workshops that we offer our models - we make money when you work.' Finally - as for the overall money worries in the beginning he said "Things are a little expensive in the beginning, it takes an investment to get your portfolio started - especially for a student like you. Some people can jump right in and pay for a big portfolio - but other people just can't - its understandable and with those people we just continue to develop as much as possible with what we have - we don't dump them. We sign and work with models because they have potential - not because they have a bunch of money... Soooo - i'm feeling good again lol again they were totally understandable of my skepticism. Since Mode is a mother agent for international and non-regional work, he referred me to two of the biggest agencies in the world and told me to ask about Mode Models. 'Workshops' are free to the models, money issues are negotiable... 'we sign and work with models because they have potential, not because they have a bunch of money'... Are things sounding any better to anyone else?