Great American Model & Talent Search - scam, right?

[lecach]

Has anyone taken their child to one of those casting calls for the Great American Model Search? We did without researching it first then came home and found some info online that sounded scam-ish. We got a letter in the mail saying we were one of the limited families selected and inviting us to an informational meeting next week that will last 1 1/2 hours. I'm pretty sure they are going to try and sell us something. Anyone ever done this? I know our DS is cute but still....

 

[tjlovespooh]

Although I've never heard of this it does sound like a scam to me. If you decide to go forward with it just be very careful.

 

[DVCLiz]

The key would be whether they ask you for any money. The minute they do, get up and leave, because it's a scam. No reputable agency would do things in that sequence.

 

[bookgirl]

basically if you have to pay for anything it's a scam

real agents take clients on contingint (spelling)

they don't get money till you get a job

real agents will usually even upfront the money for head shots so don't fall for that either

most agents only need a polaroid of your childs face so don't pay for head shots at all till you have an agent with a signed contract

agents get 10% AFTER you get your first job don't give any money to anyone


He is a very cute kid by the way.

 

[WhoLetTheMouseOut]

LIFE LESSON #147:

. . . If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

 

[Darcy03231]

My step-daughter's mother took her to one of those and of course she was chosen. It turned out to be a modeling school (not sure if I can post the name). Total cost for the school was $2000 and they were up front about not guaranteeing any jobs from it. I think as long as you are willing to pay your child will be chosen.

 

[AlleyKat]

They will contact you, stating whomever was seen meets the critieria they are looking for BUT you'll need(costly)photos taken by a professional photographer.

Guess who employs the photographer....

They will hand you your photos as you go on your merry way. They are not affiliated with any agency or anyone who could remotely help get a modeling career off the gound.

Yes, it's a scam!

If you want your child to model/be in commercials, take them to a reputable modeling agency, NOT a modeling school.

A lot of agencies will review photos you submit to them online.

It saves you a lot of time and expense, as well as the agency. They in turn will contact you by phone or email if your child possesses qualities they are looking for.

Some may have you come in if your child fits criteria they need for a commercial.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Sounds a little like the thing my daughter wanted to do. We heard a radio commercial for the chance to meet a talent agent for Disney and Nick. DD age 11 is all excited and calls the phone number. woman gets on the phonewith her and tells her about an audition thing that we should come to. Dress nice please and bring a photo.

I call back to confirm and find out that it is John Robert Powers modeling school. I forwarn my daughters that they are going to want lots of money and we won't do that. So I take both daughters to the audition. They give my daughters a script to read over -- different depending on the age of the child. We Spend hours there -- first in a presentation before a packed room. Basically a sales pitch -- the woman from the agency showed pics of her kids and talked about what they had done. then she showed pics of kids from the agency and talked abou the jobs they had gotten. She mentioned the boy from According to Jim.

Then they began to call names and take people into offices to talk to them. We met with some lady who asked the girls questions. She (of course) told me that both girls had great personalities for tv/commercials and movies.

She gave me a packet from the agency and sent the girls to meet the mysterious casting agent. At this point the parents had to wait outside (but we could see in though a big window) the girls take turns doing their commercial as they are video taped. I can watch and I see that my older daughter is definitly doing a better job than the younger one who was nervous and stiffer. The talent agent was very nice to both girls. When we left we were told to call the next morning to see what the agent had to say and that if she liked us we would have to come back the next day for more interviews (and bring our checkbooks.)

When I looked at the price of the school I almost fainted -- it was thousands of dollars per child. I told the girls right then and there that going had been an experience but we would not be signing up.

Just to see what they would say I called the next day. I almost laughed when the rep from John Robert Powers got on the phone with me. She said that it almost never happens that they take 2 kids from 1 family but both my girls were so talented that they wanted both of them. I said sorry but no.

Of course if you do a google search on JRP agency you can find all kind of stories telling you that it is a scam. I wonder how many people plunked down money that day?

 

[mom2starchild]

This company is not an agency, they do not try to promote your child for work. They provide EXPOSURE!!!
This is a great company and they have provided so much for my son. My son did this search when he was 2. He meet with 35 different agents, casting directors, fashion editors, etc. They provided us with headshots, coaching, and have updates on him for the rest of his life or as long as he continues in the business. Agencies, real SAG agencies, will not pay for you to have headshots done, you have to provide these and some agents want at least 200. My son has been working now 9 years, he is a professional actor, has signed with numerous agents, been in numerous print ads, commercials including national ones that have run for over 5 years.
This company is not a school, no classes are required, they are a scouting service for agents for a convention where you get NATIONAL exposure from these professionals. to what they have helped me achieve for his success!!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

This company is not an agency, they do not try to promote your child for work. They provide EXPOSURE!!!
This is a great company and they have provided so much for my son. My son did this search when he was 2. He meet with 35 different agents, casting directors, fashion editors, etc. They provided us with headshots, coaching, and have updates on him for the rest of his life or as long as he continues in the business. Agencies, real SAG agencies, will not pay for you to have headshots done, you have to provide these and some agents want at least 200. My son has been working now 9 years, he is a professional actor, has signed with numerous agents, been in numerous print ads, commercials including national ones that have run for over 5 years.
This company is not a school, no classes are required, they are a scouting service for agents for a convention where you get NATIONAL exposure from these professionals. to what they have helped me achieve for his success!!!!

Have you ever had to pay them for anything, or did they provide all of this exposure for free? How do they make their money???

 

[mom2starchild]

Have you ever had to pay them for anything, or did they provide all of this exposure for free? How do they make their money???

Yes, I paid them a fee to attend the convention. All the other things were offered as a service. The small fee that I paid them in 1998 has saved me thousands of dollars and not to mention so much time. I did not have to go state to state. Just the convention. That is haow they make money. They are a business and has been operatiing since in the 1970's. They are with the Better Business Bureau in Pennsylvania.

 

[drakethib]

Sorry all.

It just seems to much to put kids through regardless of cost.


JMHO

 

[shelly3girls]

Has anyone taken their child to one of those casting calls for the Great American Model Search? We did without researching it first then came home and found some info online that sounded scam-ish. We got a letter in the mail saying we were one of the limited families selected and inviting us to an informational meeting next week that will last 1 1/2 hours. I'm pretty sure they are going to try and sell us something. Anyone ever done this? I know our DS is cute but still....

I don't know if it is a scam or not but I can tell you that I received this letter with all 3 of my kids. The most recent one coming 4 months after my son was born. I swear they just buy lists from the hospitals or maybe get them from the birth announcements in the newspaper???

 

[disneymom3]

This company is not an agency, they do not try to promote your child for work. They provide EXPOSURE!!!
This is a great company and they have provided so much for my son. My son did this search when he was 2. He meet with 35 different agents, casting directors, fashion editors, etc. They provided us with headshots, coaching, and have updates on him for the rest of his life or as long as he continues in the business. Agencies, real SAG agencies, will not pay for you to have headshots done, you have to provide these and some agents want at least 200. My son has been working now 9 years, he is a professional actor, has signed with numerous agents, been in numerous print ads, commercials including national ones that have run for over 5 years.
This company is not a school, no classes are required, they are a scouting service for agents for a convention where you get NATIONAL exposure from these professionals. to what they have helped me achieve for his success!!!!

Kind of unusual that your first post on the DIS boards is on this forum and this topic. At any rate, welcome to the DIS? Do you have a trip planned anytime soon?

As for the agency, DD went to one of those big casting call things and we did indeed get the call that she was selected. They wanted $175 to place her on their client photo base and in their headshot book. Now, we had just paid some money to have a webpage only viewed by clients of another talent agency that we had worked with and had gotten successful audtions for so it didn't seem that out of line. Until the book came. All of the pictures looked nice and centered etc but the one they put in of DD was off center and in that shot her hair was in her eyes. It was like they chose the most unflattering one possible. In hindsight, we think they had their little book and just inserted the pic of the kids whose parents were gullible enough to give them money. Oh well. Lesson learned. And at least she had made more than that on the jobs from the other place!

 

[cciappa]

GAM&T is not a scam. Again, GAM&T is not, but there are others that are (ex. JustOurKids.com and many like them). What GAM&T does is hold these open casting calls at cities around the country. They get people out to these by bulk mailing. Not a bad practice as most all businesses including your local pizza shops do it.

GAM&T hires local talent agents or brings in respected agents to run the open calls in various cities around the country. These agents select the kids and young adults that they believe have "the look" or "potential" to be selected for work.

In my area (Chicago) the open call was run by a couple folks from a pretty well known and respected local Chicago talent agency. They selected the kids with the most potential for the GAM&T folks. A few weeks later the GAM&T letter came saying one of our children was selected to go to the GAM&T event.

So at the local cities when the open casting calls are held you may have hundreds of people show up with their kids and the professional agents / scouts, working on behalf of or hired by GAM&T select those children with the most potential. I can only assume that the Great American Model and Talent pays these agents for thier work. Still, only a small percentage of the participants who attend the open call get selected by these scouts. I brought three kids, one got selected. A neighbor brought two, neither of them were selected.

When I say selected I mean you get a letter saying your child was selected and you (The Parents) get invited back to another meeting to describe the program being offered by GAM&T and the programs format (Ex. Convention with runway, photos, commercial skits, and coaching prior to the live event in front of the agents and scouts). Yes it is sort of a sales pitch when you (The parents) get invited back without the kids. But in reality they need to explain the program to you without interruption so you know exactly what it is. GAM&T is not an agency nor do they claim to be.

The program in this case is a convention (Pittsburgh or L.A.) where you can bring your child and get them in front of agents from all over the country (Primarly what you are shooting for is L.A. and N.Y. but any other major market is good too ex. Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, etc...). Anyway L.A. and N.Y. are the big markets in this industry and agents, casting directors, etc... are at the GAM&T events in Pittsburgh and L.A. from many major markets, including L.A. and N.Y..

Yes there is a fee and yes GMAT is a business that is in business to make money. Their fee is about $600 and well worth it for this type of exposure. This is because to get your child in front of this many agents, scouts, casting directors, etc... from this many major markets would be exceptionally difficult if not impossible to do on your own and in person. Certainly, even if you were able to do it most of these agents would never see your child live and in person, you may or may not get to meet them, etc... So for this kind of money the GAM&T event is well worth it (Can you say tons of travel and knocking on doors without this event).

While in Pittsburgh or L.A. your child gets Photos done. It is part of the package and they stay on file with GAM&T in the event any of the agents, scouts, etc... decide they want them. Also, you child gets coaching and practice for the runway routine and the commercial skits they will do. Yes the do a live runway presentation (in front of no less than 20 agents, casting directors, scouts, etc...). They walk the runway to the center, do a turn, pose, walk to the end and do another pose or wave or whatever. All the agents and scouts are sitting just a few feet away. After the runway segment the child moves on to a brief three pose photo session. The child has to know to pose, then after the photo is taken to immediately go into the next pose, etc... This is covered in the coaching before hand. Finally, the child moves on to a film session where they do a brief commercial skit (ex. "Trix are for kids") in front of camera into a mic etc... This is also covered in the coaching session before hand.

After all this everyone goes back into the main room where childrens numbers are called (Each child is given and wears a number for the event) if an agent or scout wants to meet with them.

Others have their numbers are called if they will receive a letter about an opportunity from an agent or scout. This means there is an actual opportunity for them in the near future and the letter will arrive by mail.

Still others have their numbers called simply for recognition (meaning there is no opportunity or agent meeting for them right now but some agent or scout wrote their number down and thought they presented well on runway, on camera, or on film) and they may be contacted in the future.

For infants and kids up to 4 years old there is only a pre-session photo shoot and a runway presentation where parents must carry the child and present them on the runway to the agents, scouts, and casting directors.

Regardless, this is no scam. One of my children (Infant daughter) was acknowledged for her looks (Runway), then also her number was called for an opportunity (meaning we will get a letter about it sometime in the near future), and two agents selected her number and wanted to meet with us right at the event.

Anyway, our family made the trip to Pittsburgh and made a little vacation out of it too. It was worth the money and is not a scam. I was minorly disappointed because there were only a couple agents from L.A. and N.Y. and more from other major metros (ex. Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, etc...)

That said, I understand how many people may pay for this, then come a long way to get to Pittsburgh or to L.A. and spend money on lodging etc... then never have their childs name or number called. Certainly that would seem like a scam to me as well, particularly if I was sold a bill of goods that my child was going to be made a star. Yet GAM&T never ever told us that. Oh sure, they sort of dangled the the dream and some success stories in front of us. Yet they (GMAT) clearly stated they were not agents and that our child may or may not have interest expressed, etc... Yet I am sure there are people, the same ones who fail to follow directions at the event itself, who when not called, cry scam.

We should all remember, these folks (Agents, casting directors, scouts, etc...) are looking for a specific "Look", "Type of Child", "Size", "Mannerisms", and of course their needs change over time. Certainly not everyone can be selected. Those whose children are not are the folks who cry scam.

Certainly to them it likely seems that way, and I can understand that. But simply put, it is not a scam and you have to keep it in perspective. They never sold me a bill of goods that my child was going to be a star or anything like that. They did not do it in the open call in my city and never did it at all. I knew right up front that while they were selling a dream, the chances of success are very slim. Yet I decided to give it a whirl. We were lucky and have two children that have unprecedented opportunities becuase of this.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Very strange that the 2 posters defending this company are posting their first post?????????

 

[ScotsMinnie]

and cciappa only joined today............

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't know about this particular company. When DD first started, I took her to Model Search America. While at the event, they told her that she was too short to be a model. She accepted that and we thought it was over.

Oddly, she got a call about a month later from a company local to the Kansas City area. The guy wanted to know if Kendall had signed with anyone. She told him no and he said he was shocked because she was definitely model material. Of course, this really got DD going. She begged me to take her to a meeting at the companies office. Once we got there, a salesman proceeded to lay out the program. For just $1200, they would teach DD how to be a model. After that, they would arrange for a photo shoot and they would represent her. I was leery, but DD wanted it so much. I forked over the $1200.

DD went to classes and she did learn somethings she would not have known had she not attended. She did get some great pictures, but I paid a lot of money for them. Once she finished the program, we heard nothing from them. I started doing research and realized that a company like that is only in it for one thing. They want you to take their class. After that, you are on your own.

I contacted a SAG agent in Kansas City. I sent DD's pictures in and they agreed to a meeting. She was signed with the SAG talent agent.

Eventually, we moved to Florida where DD has several good agents. We pay nothing to them until DD books work. At that point, they get a percentage of the amount earned.

Do I regret taking DD to the Model Search? No. It was enough to light a fire under us. She had been wanting to get involved in acting for a long time and I had dragged my feet. It also taught me that you should do a lot of research before taking on such an effort. Since that time, I've learned a ton about the entertainment. I'm now a member of the board of the Florida Cast and Crew Association and I try to educate others getting into the business. My best advice to anyone getting into the entertainment business is to do your research. There is a ton of information available on the net. Join some actor message boards. Most are very good about answering questions for newbies.

 

[MaleficentFan]

These types of businesses always make me skeptical. I worked for years in the industry as a child... print ads, commercial work, movie work. I actually was one of those children who got to say "Trix are for kids" on national television in several real Trix commercials. As you can tell by my home location I worked out of NYC. I started with an agency and ended up working with a manager. My parents NEVER had to pay a fee to get me started... I NEVER needed national "exposure" to work. My agency and later my manager got me "exposure". And quite frankly, the more you work the more "exposure" you get. I worked frequently enough that my college education at a private university (not bragging... just indicting it wasn't in-state, resident tuition level) was fully paid for by my work from age 8 months through age 12. I would be leery of these places.

As a side note... I recently received one of those letters after bringing home DD (3 months old last week). They had "heard" about my child and wanted to work with her. I love my daughter... and she's an attractive baby. But she has a facial birthmark. It covers a decent portion of her face. Without out it she could be the next Gerber baby... but nobody is going to want to use her until and unless her birthmark fades. So tell me... just how much can they really have "heard"?

 

[bushbabiesmom]

I have an analytical mind and psychology is my chosen field. I went to an open call (done by the radio) yesterday and my twins were chosen. I then went to the parent only meeting today. Here were my immediate and initial impressions:

1) The suit the presenter was wearing (and the shirt underneath), were cheaply made. He did not "present" as a person representing a modeling agency. He presented as someone who hadn't spent time or money on his clothes. He was portly, though, so some of the money might have gone to food. His shoes were cheap to. My first assessment: "Not good."

2) He had dandruff and hair on his shoulders. There's no way you can tell me about modeling or represent my child if you don't know that appearance is the first way to sell me something (see #1). Its basic human psychology.

3) The hotel where the casting call was held was a cheap one off a major highway (see #1 and #2).

4) They didn't have a stand to put the TV on and had to prop it on a table. As a speaker and trainer, I know one thing for certain: Plan ahead. Book a hotel that has the equipment you need or bring it yourself. Nothing looks worse than something cheaply done or thrown together (see #1, #2, and #3).

5) He spent too much time trying to sell his agency. Who they've sponsored, how much time and money they save you, etc. This could have been done with a nice brochure or a quick handout. I don't need the visuals to tell me whether you're good or not. I need references. However, they obviously figured out that presentation is a PART of suckering...ahem...I mean selling to you, because they DID have a video! Which leads to #6.

6) This is the digital age. It costs next to nothing to put together a nice video and put it on a DVD. I've done it on my own computer and my work has been requested by others. Ummm...they had a VHS. Where all the "testimonials" were read from cue-cards (very obviously not done in a genuine and open fashion) and where the poor people couldn't read their lines off the cards correctly. I was not impressed and I wasn't convinced. Many of their testimonials couldn't list who they'd done work with without stuttering or looking at the card to make sure. Shouldn't they KNOW who they've worked with? And if these are agents and scouts and etc. doing the testimonials, shouldn't they be a little more polished.

7) My last impression was the closer for me. It was like those TV ads: And if you call NOW, you can get this amazing deal (all 150,000 spatulas plus a free pot holder) for only $19.95!!! Their price was surprisingly low (however, I noticed they made a point of mentioning the "coaching" classes...optional of course) at $595.00. And they offered an amazing amount of service and work for your child's career...but you had to pay it today or tomorrow.

Ummm...Shyster 101: Go For Emotional Response, Ask For Money, Get It Quick


Now, if they ARE reputable, then my apologies...but you can see why they won't be getting my money. Plus the Michigan Attorney General warns against them specifically. Check out their site or do a Google or backgroundcheck (don't use the one that GMAT refers you to, if you'll notice, the site name is spelled wrong...its probably a "mirror" site that LOOKS like the real deal, but isn't).

I hope this helps people!