Conference moira::parenting

I would think that if they are truely interested and capable of finding jobs for
the children, they would not charge the up front fee.

We have a friend who is a celebrity look-a-like and asked about modeling
agencies for children.  His advise was to find one that did not charge for a
portfolio or anything like that.  If they want your business, let them work for,
not have you pay for it.

Dave

    
    re .0
    
    There are some modeling schools around. You may want to check
    out the prices of lessons and get some information about agencies
    from these schools, like a second opinion.
    
    
    Eva

    
    For additional information, please see note 169 in PARENTING_V3.
    
    

My impression is that there are a lot of scam-artist modeling agencies.
My sister entered my nephew in some sort of "modeling contest" or
talent search.  I'm a little sketchy on the details but I remember
that it cost her over $100 and never resulted in modeling jobs
though she was told that my nephew looked great and had lots of
potential.

I'm sure that there exist real opportunities and modeling agencies
of great integrity, but I'd be wary.  Some questions I might want
to ask:
   What percentage of graduates get actual modeling jobs?
   How much does the average kid who finds modeling jobs make?
   Are there any parents of these models that I can talk to?
   How does the agency make their money (from a commision? flat fee?
   if commision, how much?)
   Who are this agency's competitors?  (I'm not sure they'll answer
   this, but you can always ask :-)  Then you can call them up
   and see what kinds of financial arrangements they offer.

I seem to recall an article in one of the parenting magazines
(probably "Parents" or "Parenting") that discussed this subject.
Maybe the Nashua library has the ability to figure out which 
month and magazine???  I think it was around 1992 -- I don't think
it was *very* recent.
     

    I don't know if it's still active or not, but there used to be a notes
    file on modeling.

    
    There is a notesfile on Modeling, note 35 is titled
    Children and Modeling
    
    Add entry   MRKTNG::MODELING
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Dianne

    There was a news cast about just such a thing a couple of months ago -
    on 20/20 or something.  Anyway, the experts say by law they are not
    suppose to charge a fee until the person is "working" and bringing in
    an income.  It sounds like the place your looked into is a scam to get
    people to buy into their school.  
    
    Good luck,
    
    Terri

    My daughter went to the LaFemmina Modeling school in Worcester.
    She also had to attend the classes (each Saturday morning) for two
    years, she did runway, modeling pagents etc.  but you are right they
    do not guarantee any jobs after the classes are over.  That we werent
    as concerned with as our child learning self asteem, assertiveness
    and the ability to get along with others, along with public speaking,
    which most modeling schools have their clients do.  We saw Shannon
    in those two years grow and become a very independent young lady.
    Shannon agrees that it was the best two years and well worth the money
    for all she got out of it.  After she graduated from the modeling
    school they had her do her portfolio.  Well, let me tell you that was
    mega money.  We had them done through the modeling agency (who they
    suggested) and we spent over $500 on the portfolio.  I see that as
    a waste now (but you know kids) everyone else was getting theirs done
    and she wanted hers.  She has put the portfolio away and never looked
    at the pictures again.  So, I guess what I am getting at is it is
    excellent experience for any child who has the willingness to be in
    that environment.  But it does get costly, especially when they put on
    the pagents, I can go on and on about the money not only for the
    school, but the gowns, dressy outfits etc.  It can get costly.
    
    

Thank you for all your replies.  We will be checking out other
agencies.

  --Cida

    My neice just went through an agency in Boston.  At the initial
    try-outs the director of the agency told my sister that she intended to
    take a special interest in my neice, she had real potential... Well
    $1500 later my neice learned to wax her brows, walk a runway, turns and
    the proper way to take off her coat.  Once again no guarantees and my
    sister never heard from that director after she paid the $1500.
    
    She just graduated last Tuesday.  The cost per person to attend was
    $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for children.  Oh yes, no cameras or video
    recorders, but you could purchase a video of the event fo $40.00.
    
    Now before you can sign up for jobs you must have a portfolio done.  Of
    course they recommend using theirs at a cost of $300 and up.  
    
    It is costly, I only touched the tip of the iceberg.  The cost never
    ends you keep writing the checks and the agency keeps depositing them. 
    

    Sometimes stores have 'informal' modeling available. My brother's kids
    [in naperville, IL] have done modeling for the local shopping center;
    not sure what they get paid if anything, but i know neither one of them
    had to sign up thru an agency.  some of the stores around here [mass]
    put up signs when they need in-store models.  might be worth checking
    out with various store PR departments.