John Casablanca---another Barbizon?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay--I'm dabbling a little bit and checking out places to send DD's pic to for consideration. I submitted an inquiry through their modeling agency only to be called by the person who runs the Young children's division. They can only accept talent after a 45 minute interview...they want you to get composite cards made--photo shoot...umm..hello that's $600 your asking for buddy? They are an agency/school and it sounds like another Barbizon to me.

In my research I have found that a simple home shot photo would suffice--and that reputable places will not have a school AND agency. Though technically their agency is MTM so not "really" an agency/school.

The red flags are going off as this sounds soooo like Barbizon.

Help--anyone familiar with this place?

 

[Disney_1derland]

They are a school and agency. They are very big here where we are and yes, I would put them in league with Barbizon.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks--that's what I thought.

 

[alabamaalan]

I have always heard warnings to stay away from them.

 

[SPAM]

yep, back in middle school they tried to sign me. it sounded like if i had come in even with an extra arm they would have told me how "in that was right now" and then have me pay for test shots.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'd RUN!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'd RUN!!!

Thanks!

I have found reputable places--this is the first one that's sending me "for the hills".


beautiful pic of your dd by the way.

 

[summerrluvv]

Here is a site to send your child's pics to (if interested). They are a reputable agency in Manhattan.

http://www.willykids.com/

 

[Cyndirella]

It's so funny you posted this...my DH's brother called him the other day and was telling him that he was going to modeling school. DH started laughing...you would just have to see his brother to understand....he is tall, but has a large "beer gut", has hair down to his waist that he wears in a ponytail, and has graying hair. Not what you would think of as model material. Come to find out, his teenage son(also not model material) had 'won' free classes somehow at John Casablancas. Brother in law took him in to get his paperwork done and the woman there starts telling him he has just the look they need, and there is a big market for biker men, and she can get him jobs that pay $90/hr. So he is signed up for classes too. I just found this too hard to believe, went on the Internet and typed in 'John Casablancas' and the first page in the search was a website called "Rip Off Report" - lots of people on there saying how they were scammed. I told DH but I don't know if he passed on the info to his brother or not.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

Hey Lisa - not sure if the situation is exactly the same in the US, but I used to book models (kids and adults) for magazines in the UK and the rule is that a reputable agency will never ask for money upfront. They get part of the fee for any jobs they get you and that's that.

 

[SamRoc]

I would stay away from these schools like John Casablancas that offer classes. Another one to be careful of is John Robert Powers. You should never pay money upfront for representation or headshots. Its different if after you get an agent or manager and they recommend a few different photographers that they like.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Thats so true, I model also, and if anyone asks for money up front, forget it, they get it from the client and pay for your headshots, etc.

Hey Lisa - not sure if the situation is exactly the same in the US, but I used to book models (kids and adults) for magazines in the UK and the rule is that a reputable agency will never ask for money upfront. They get part of the fee for any jobs they get you and that's that.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Unfortunately, depending on where you are that might be all that is available. My DS is adorable (she said humbly) and so many people have said he looks just like the little boy in Jerry Maguire. But the only places around here (Toledo) is John Casablancas. So no one will ever see him in this cute phase, I guess!
Robin M.

 

[Feralpeg]

Unfortunately, depending on where you are that might be all that is available. My DS is adorable (she said humbly) and so many people have said he looks just like the little boy in Jerry Maguire. But the only places around here (Toledo) is John Casablancas. So no one will ever see him in this cute phase, I guess!
Robin M.

You don't necessarily need an agent that is in your town. If you go to www.sag.com and do a search for agents located closest to you (it looks like Detroit or Chicago for you), you can send a picture of your son to those agents. They may decide to represent him. Even though they don't live in your town, that doesn't mean that they don't get work in your area. There are only so many SAG agents out there, so they cover large territories. I would strongly recommend using a SAG agent if possible. That doesn't mean you have to join SAG. It just means that that particular agent has met the qualifications to be a SAG affiliate. That's a good thing. You don't need fancy pictures of little ones to begin with. Just send a clear photo of your child's face along with a cover letter to the agent and ask if they would be interested in speaking to you.

My DD has a couple of agents that are not in the Orlando area.

 

[dcgrumpy]

run from anyplace that asks you for money

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks for the tips guys.

Feralpeg...your tips I have been already following in the research. I guess I posted b/c I thought the days of Barbizon were long gone and I was trying to be careful in who I was inquiring with and was shocked about.....(cue scary music)....the mention of the "comp card" and "the interview". Oh the days of Barbizon when they told me that they'd teach me how to speak so that (sign of the cross)--when I say "Jesus wept" it won't sound like "Jesus swept".

I now have them in my "do not go" to pile.

Thankfully--I have had some good resources in central florida who spoke with me on what to look for and what to avoid .

Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[That Guy James]

I think some of the arguments here have validation but a lot of Modeling agencies have turned to schooling their talent in order to present them to their clients, ... I understand how some people feel about being ask for money up-front because I was also myself taken once in the late 1970s by Barbizon but when it comes to John Casablancas I would not be so quick to judge them or compare them to barbizon simply because I have worked in this industry for many years and a lot of the agencies have had to change the way they do business,

IF you go to a Job interview for lets say an Electrician and have no experience you're NOT going to get the job,
These days A lot of people think they can just walk into a Talent agency with a perfect smile and good looks and "Bam" automatically become the next top model or actor but today it really doesn’t work that way without having some experience and or schooling,

It's like I want to be a NeuroSurgeon but lets face it without years of Medical training it’s not going to happen.
What would you do if you Highly recommended a friend for a job they said they could do and they screwed it up making you look really bad and of course staining your perfect reputation ?, Your word nor theirs would be trusted again.

A lot of actors that have been in this business for many years still pay for a continue to go to acting classes and workshops for actors, If you have any doubts about it ... Google it.

 

[undertheradar]

Awesome, 12+ year bump!

 

[bellebud]

omg, I NEVER remember to look at the date!! how does this always happen?? Did "That Guy James" go and dig this up and reply to it?

 

[jevs]

I was reading something recently about the extras on The Walking Dead having to go to special zombie school.