Avoiding Pitfalls

      Have you heard this expression? "If something sounds to good to be true it probably is." A cold hard fact of life is that not everyone has our best interests at heart. Having said this, we should also not have to live our lives in a state of paranoia. Not unlike other businesses, the business of Modeling has its own share of pitfalls. Knowledge is power. The more we learn the stronger we become.  We trust that you will find the following information helpful as you pursue your career in modeling. To return to this site after visiting the hyperlinks below simply click on the back button at the top of your browser..

          The Federal Trade Commission publishes documents to warn the general public about frauds and scams as well as their rights of complaint under the law. You can reach their site through their URL which is http://www.ftc.gov. Two particular articles you may be interested in reading involve information on what to watch out for when dealing with model and talent agencies, model and acting schools, and talent scouts. You may click on the following hyperlinks to read these very informative articles:

           http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9905/model-1.htm 

           http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9905/screen.htm         

          The following link provides a lengthy but interesting treatment of just a few of the marketing scams models have to deal with: http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/Delivered/modeling.htm

          From time to time we get email from models asking if a certain agency is legit...several emails included the information that the "agencies" were listed with the Better Business Bureau.  Just because a modeling school, agency or model management company is listed with a business bureau is not a guarantee of legitimate business practices. Business bureaus can tell you if a certain business has had any complaints filed against it "IF" the persons being scammed filed a complaint with them.  The Attorney Generals Office in each state can be very helpful when checking out a school, agency, scouting company or model management company. You may also want to speak directly to clients of the agent or agency. A legitimate agent or agency will be proud to give references.

           A good article by the Better Business Bureau on Talent and Modeling agencies:

           http://bbb.org/library/model.asp

          Model agency scams are not just a small town problem. 

          Modeling scams by the New York Consumer Affairs Office: 

          http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dca/html/pressmodeling.html  

          D.C. Model Agency scams: 

          http://www.thecommondenominator.com/cl100499.html

          Additional Reading on Model Agencies:

          http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cos34.htm

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