Beware of dodgy modelling agencies (UK)

[susieflash]

Not sure if this has ever come up on this board, but something happened to me recently that I thought I would warn people about.

I was 'scouted' by a modelling agency called Vanity London when I was standing outside TopShop on Oxford Street last week. She took my photo and handed me a card, and a few days later the agency called me and told me I'd have to have professional photos taken at The Lounge Studios. I would need at least 3 photos, each costing £60. They booked me in for the photography session, but I decided to do some research and found this:

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17042485&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=exclusive--war-on-model-agencies-who-rip-off-young-girls--name_page.html

so I promptly cancelled the appointment.

I have never yearned to be a model, so I wasn't too annoyed, but I feel that this scam preys on girls who may dream of becoming models.

 

[LadyDust]

Ah thanks for this, i was scouted by them on Tuesday as i was going into Topshop (Ox Cir) and she took the photo and gave me the card n everything... fortunately, i've missed their phonecalls (by being at work) so i haven't had the photoshoot arrange yet.

Sigh!!! KNEW it would turn out to be a scam!!

Thanks again :-)

p.s. Any aspiring models should stick to well known agencies! Hell, if i'd got scouted by Storm or Premier, i'd be on cloud 9! LOL (No chance)

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Me three. I have always got scouted at Topshop. Some are valid, some are not.

 

[Acid]

there are sooooo many fake agencies that scout around by topshop
another is called **** models or something, everytime i go past i see that desperate woman handing out her card to girls smiling into their eyes

its shocking how these people can get away with it

 

[LadyDust]

Hmm... it's pretty embarrassing, I wonder what can be done to stop this sort of thing? If it happens to me again i'm not gonna be so polite!
god, the cheek.

 

[Kalista]

I, too, have been 'scouted' a couple of times by these people. It is really irritating. Just ignore them or firmly tell them you aren't interested and walk away.

 

[notmanons]

there are sooooo many fake agencies that scout around by topshop
another is called **** models or something, everytime i go past i see that desperate woman handing out her card to girls smiling into their eyes

its shocking how these people can get away with it

OMG I know someone who got 'scouted' by **** but she didn't care, she refused.

 

[BetteT]

In the States ... it's a big scam to get money out of model wannabees ... scouting them in shopping malls. They pay the "scouts" a small percentage of what they get the "models" to buy ... sometimes. Sometimes the "scouts' get ripped off, too. I've heard lots of horror stories about being "scouted" ... it's big time business here and a great way to make a lot of money.

They are not real agencis at all ... they are just web sites and you have to pay for pictures and pay them to put your images up for the world to so ... and they say that all the top agencies and top clients check their site to find models ... but it's not true. I've never met a model who got an agent or a legitimate gig from these types of sites.

I guess that in the UK there really are legitimate scouts ... but in the US ... the agencies have more than enough girls coming in on open calls and mailing in their pictures, that they don't use scouts much at all.

So any aspiring models in the US ... should be extremely careful ... you can loose a lot of money to these types of scams ... happens all the time.

 

[smartarse]

^true in the States you get alot of cons but there are a select few that are legit. They don't ask for money and often they are connected with big reputable agencies and certainly if they 'want you' they take a pola of you on the spot and get your info. Those that are dodgey they'll mention money either upfront or 'if and when' you agreed. But as always use your common sense.

*a RED FLAG if 'out of pocket payment' is mentioned