HELP!! My husband just signed up with Model Search America for a convention in Vegas. They are charging $1200 for this! Does anyone have experience with this company or know anything about the business? Everything about it feels like a scam... HELP.

They are known to be a scam.

http://www.easybackgroundcheck.com/msashowcase.html

That link takes you to a story about how they are a scam.

Thank you so much. Yikes!

I have been through them... RUN! Run very fast! Run very far! They are the biggest scam I have ever seen! They will persuade you out of sooooo much money.

Hello blue:

Yeah, I'm an actor and model. I did pay for an on camera acting class put on by my agent, and I paid for my portfolio, but nothing else.

Yes, you can see me in several movies - Black Widow and Harry & The Hendersons amongst others. I played a jailbird in Harry & The Hendersons. That's type casting.

excon

HELP!!!!! My husband just signed up with Model Search America for a convention in Vegas. They are charging $1200 for this! Does anyone have experience with this company or know anything about the business? Everything about it feels like a scam...HELP.
Im in the UK I have started my own agency for models and my advice to you is DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT!!

Apart from a portfolio You Should NEVER Have to pay money to be seen in the industries. There are ways you can be noticed by the right people without having to pay them for it.

Its about marketing yourself in the right way.

If I can help in anyway let me know.

Bianca

HELP!!!!! My husband just signed up with Model Search America for a convention in Vegas. They are charging $1200 for this! Does anyone have experience with this company or know anything about the business? Everything about it feels like a scam...HELP.

Model Search America is a good place to go if you have a unique look or talent. They have many agents and contacts from all over the world. Probably, your best investment is to get an education about the entertainment and understand what you are doing. Knowledge will remove the fear.

If you are interested in learning more, write me back.

This Web site tells that the out-of-pocket expenses with Model Search America never seem to end --

Model Search Experience (http://www.modelingadvice.com/ModelSearch.html)

You need to market yourself to get discovered! People who scream scams are amatuers.

What the heck are you talking about, wisethinking? Don't dig up old threads, and don't tell people to go through scam modeling agencies to be "discovered" or whatever.

They are known to be a scam.

http://www.easybackgroundcheck.com/msashowcase.html

Disagree that they are a scam, agree that they are accused of a scam. The problem in the modeling industry is there are a lot of people who want to get involved in this exciting industry but don't know how. When you don't know what you are doing it causes fear. That is why all these modeling companies are accused of scams when they are not. If they were scams they would be shut down. Right? A scam is illegal. But they are not shut down. What people need to understand is that you need to promote yourself to many people and businesses. The problem with Model Search America is that model's expectations are unrealistic. MSA is only source of promoting yourself. Is MSA a good decision to invest in if you are a female and 5'3"? No. MSA is a good decision if you have a unique talent or if you have a global marketable look, like being a 5' 9" female model. Then it would make sense to make this kind of investment.

To be successful in this business is no different than any other business. You need to understand business marketing. What you need to do is promote yourself so that you can get in front of the right people who will be able to use your services. You need to have the tools to promote yourself--Photographs, portfolios, comp cards, business cards, headshots. You need to have the skills and training. Modeling classes, acting classes, marketing classes, education etc.

What has been so interesting to me about this industry is all these people trying to get involved but lose all their common sense. I am not saying that about you in particular, but the public as a whole. It is the fear that causes all these people screaming scam when actually it just takes some knowledge to understand the business to be successful.

So, why do I even care? I care because I would like the public to know the truth about this industry. It is exciting for sure! But on the same token it is a very difficult business to be in. It takes a lot of dedication to the arts. You need to be promoting yourself constantly. You need to meet a lot of people and contacts. You need to deal with rejection well and just go on to the next.

Most important of all. You need to follow your dreams and never give up.

If you would like further help with anything about the industry, write me back.

HELP!!!!! My husband just signed up with Model Search America for a convention in Vegas. They are charging $1200 for this! Does anyone have experience with this company or know anything about the business? Everything about it feels like a scam...HELP.

If you spent the $1200 and went and a casting director discovered you for a movie and were paid X amount would it be a scam? If an agent told you that you should not be in the business would it be a scam then? If you went and all your dreams came true, would it be a scam? If you went and all your dreams were broken, would it be a scam?

Do you see what I am driving at? What you need is knowledge about the business. Would you like to become successful in the modeling and entertainment industry? I can help you. I would like to help many people. If you are interested, write me back.

I can't stand people who discriminate against others, and what you said is rude. Is being a decent person a good decision for you if you are short? Yes. Is it a good decision if you think beautiful people have to be tall, yes, but obviously you are too judgmental to see past that. The things that you say are exactly like the things the modeling scam people say.

No, wisethinking, I am not scared or unsure of my thoughts. I have done plenty of modeling and yes! They are a scam. They make promises that they don't keep!(mind you after they have taken your money) I do agree with the fact that some people that walk into those "meetings" know that they are not "model material". However, they (model search scams) should not be charging out the a** for you to take pictures, just to be able to meet the "real agencies". If you have it, you should be able to meet these folks without a $1200 fee. An agency will take your photos at no charge if you have what it takes.

THEY ARE A SCAM!! I'll stick by my first post!

If you spent the $1200 and went and a casting director discovered you for a movie and were paid X amount would it be a scam? Hello again, Oh Wise One:

I re-iterate, I see casting directors for FREE. They even ASK to see me.

In answer to your question. It would NOT be a scam to the one who got the part. It WOULD be a scam to the 1,000's who didn't.

excon

What the heck are you talking about, wisethinking? Don't dig up old threads, and don't tell people to go through scam modeling agencies to be "discovered" or whatever.

I'm talking about being knowlegable in the industry. The problem with the modeling entertainment industry is people who are not even involved in the industry giving advice and accusing modeling companies as a scam. Wouldn't you agree that a scam is wrong? That a scam is illegal? So how do you explain how these businesses stay in business. Wouldn't they be put in jail. The reason that they are not, is because they are not scams. So why do they get accused of scams? Because so many people want to get involved in the industry and they don't know how and then get advice from people who don't know anything about the industry. I place a challenge on you, please explain to me how MSA is a scam.

Hello again, Oh Wise One:

I re-iterate, I see casting directors for FREE. They even ASK to see me.

In answer to your question. It would NOT be a scam to the one who got the part. It WOULD be a scam to the 1,000's who didn't.

excon

If you are a model or an actor or have your own business it is all the same. It costs money to promote yourself, business or product. I agree there are times when you can present yourself for free, but there are other times that it is not. In either case, you may be fortunate to have something come your way. But one thing is for sure, if you don't ever promote yourself you will not ever get any offers.

In response that you think it would be a scam to all who didn't get selected, doesn't make any sense. Does that mean that any person or company that promotes themselves that they are guaranteed a response? Does that mean if Sears advertises on TV or on magazines and spends millions on advertising that there is a guarantee that people will shop there? If Sears didn't get any response does that make the TV stations and magazines a scam because they spent money on advertising and promotion and got no results.

So no I do not agree it is a scam. It is the public's lack of knowledge of how the industry works.

I disagree---it costs money to promote yourself.

I disagree that they are a scam. Yes it is expensive to go to the convention. The convention is one way to promote yourself to many casting directors and modeling agencies from around the country and some parts of the world.

Disagree. It is not that short people are not attractive. It is the difference between what is a global look versus a local look. You market them differently.

I think these "conventions" are called "cattle calls."

I agree. I can tell you are successful in this industry by your choice of words. Good for you! You have what it takes!

I'm not in this industry. I read a lot. The last thing I would do is sell my soul as a model.

I'm not in this industry. I read a lot. The last thing I would do is sell my soul as a model.

You are absolutely right. In order to do well in any industry or profession you have to have passion for it.

And the look they want and the money to put out for all the incidentals and the brains to not get railroaded in some way...

My passion is elsewhere. To each his own.

and the look they want and the money to put out for all the incidentals and the brains to not get railroaded in some way..............

My passion is elsewhere. To each his own.

You should always follow your passions. It would not be smart for you to get into the modeling industry if you are not interested.

I have followed my passions all my life. Maybe in the next life with a perfect body I can get into the modeling industry.

I have followed my passions all my life. Maybe in the next life with a perfect body I can get into the modeling industry.
You don't have to have a perfect body to get into the entertainment industry. If you are trying to get into high fashion modeling , well , then , yes , you have to have a perfect body. But, if you are interested in other aspects of the business there are different types of opportunities available for you. If you are interested in learning more, write back and I can tell you some ways that are less expensive than going to a convention. And like I said before, the conventions only make sense for people with a global look or some unique talent. For local looks and talents there are different marketing approaches.

A global look?

Most women in this world are 5'6 and under, women who are 5'9 are a minority, hon. Maybe you are too hung up on looks, but that's the reality.

I have been in the industry and you don't have to have a "perfect" body... you have to be a "coat hanger"! Skinny is the word... clothes need to hang on you like a hanger. The "perfect" body would have bigger breasts and buns. Yes, you can be 5'2 as long as you aren't going after "catwalk" jobs, but you could just as well get jobs for commercials or ads... you just have to be photogenic.

The answer would still be... if you haven't been in the industry, a good place to start would be a actual modeling agency... not a place that will take your money no matter what you look like and give you false hope... been there, done that... and then got led into the right direction from a fellow model. Went right into an agency, they paid me for photo shoots and I got leads on jobs.


EDIT:: excon.. that was supposed to be a balancer... not saying YOU were wrong :)

Again Wise: Please stop abusing the rate system. You are not starting on the right foot here. If this continues, you will be reported for misuse of the system. If the admins agree... you could be banned from this site.
It is always fun to have a good debate... but keep it as that... when you disagree, trying to make rates go down, continuously on one person... that is considered harassment. If you disagree, but the poster has not been rude or offensive, you just need to place another post with your thoughts.

Thank you... and a better start from here.

I have been through them.............RUN! Run very fast! Run very far! They are the biggest scam I have ever seen! They will persuade you out of sooooo much money.

So, lets say you didn't pay a dime and you still didn't get picked would it be scam?

Again Wise: Please stop abusing the rate system. You are not starting out on the right foot here. If this continues, you will be reported for misuse of the system. If the admins agree...you could be banned from this site.
It is always fun to have a good debate...but keep it as that...when you disagree, trying to make rates go down, continuously on one person....that is considered harassment. If you disagree, but the poster has not been rude or offensive, you just need to place another post with your thoughts.

Thank you....and a better start from here.

There is nothing wrong with me disagreeing with you. My problem with your comments is that you are accusing a company of being a scam and you don't even understand the industry. If MSA was a scam how could they be in business for all these years. Don't you think they would be in jail by now? Take a look at JRP or John Casa Blanca or even Barbizon, don't you think they would all be out of business? But they are not. Why? Because they are a legit company. The problem is not these companies, but it is the perception of unknowledgeable people trying to get in the business and not understanding with what to do. If you are interested in being successful in the industry, I can help.

I have been in the industry and you don't have to have a "perfect" body....you have to be a "coat hanger"! Skinny is the word....clothes need to hang on you like a hanger. The "perfect" body would have bigger breasts and buns. Yes, you can be 5'2 as long as you aren't going after "catwalk" jobs, but you could just as well get jobs for commercials or ads...you just have to be photogenic.

The answer would still be.....if you haven't been in the industry, a good place to start would be a actual modeling agency...not a place that will take your money no matter what you look like and give you false hope........been there, done that...and then got led into the right direction from a fellow model. Went right into an agency, they paid me for photo shoots and I got leads on jobs.


EDIT:: excon..that was supposed to be a balancer...not saying YOU were wrong :)
You are right that you don't have to have a globally marketable look ( 5'9" and a size 3 or a unique talent) to get involved into the business. But you need to know how to market yourself. If you are a average person with looks or talents then it only makes sense to market yourself locally not at a convention or to agents other than local. At any rate, the model and talent still will be responsible to pay for their own photography, modeling classes, acting classes etc.

A global look?

Most women in this world are 5'6 and under, women who are 5'9 are a minority, hon. Maybe you are too hung up on looks, but that's the reality.

This industry is all about looks. If you have a global look, you would fall in the category along with Tyra Banks. Take a look at her models. None of them are 5'3". They are all high fashion models. These types of models have a particular niche in the industry and are the highest paid.

So where does the average model go? Certaintly, not to a convention but to local casting directos and agencies.

There is a market for all types models. You just need to know how to market yourself correctly and not blame other businesses for your mistakes.

So, lets say you didn't pay a dime and you still didn't get picked would it be scam?

Nope, that would be fair, everyone getting a fair chance, no one losing a bunch of money. Either way, charging out the butt just to get looked at, it's not illegal, just a scam, a ploy to make money, kind of like a lot of other legal things. Casinoes, etc... taking chances/risks for possible payoffs, however, it's not cool to pay for something and then be denied, that's why this is a scam, it's not illegal, just totally stupid and lame. This person will probably end up paying out the nose and not getting anything out of it, therefore, it's a scam, and not a good idea for them, and that's all there is to it. All the points of this argument have been explored, it's time for this thread to die.

There is nothing wrong with me disagreeing with you. My problem with your comments is that you are accusing a company of being a scam and you don't even understand the industry. If MSA was a scam how could they be in business for all these years. Don't you think they would be in jail by now? Take a look at JRP or John Casa Blanca or even Barbizon, don't you think they would all be out of business? But they are not. Why? Because they are a legit company. The problem is not these companies, but it is the perception of unknowledgeable people trying to get in the business and not understanding with what to do. If you are interested in being successful in the industry, I can help.


No, not anything wrong with a disagreement on the page. It is wrong when you attack someone with reddies! If you don't know the site and rules... don't use it

So, lets say you didn't pay a dime and you still didn't get picked would it be scam?
No it wouldn't... you have not given them anything for their nothing. It's when you give and get nothing in return. You mentioned Barbizon and such... you pay for your shoots with them, but you get what you paid for... not just empty promises. Please stop just blurting your opinion, open your eyes and read... I am in and have been in the industry. You keep noting that no one here is in the industry... where is your proof or backup to what you say? We have pointed the OP in the direction of websites so they can read for themselves and get the info they asked for, you on the other hand... it looks like all opinions.



Advice for OP: Go on Google... get the addresses to (real) agencies, take head and full body shots of yourself (not professional) and mail them... then just call and check in with them every-so-often.. it worked for me, and guess what... IT WAS FREE!!


I agree with Charlotte... THE END!

Couldn't spread the love again so soon rpg219. But, I just got to agree with you! :)

Comments on this post
rpg219 agrees: Thanks Clough!

You are more than welcome! :)

Let me give you some sound advice. If you are to sign with an agency, do not pay them one red cent! If they say they require money from you to build your portfolio, then walk away. If you are luck enough to be signed by a reputable ageny then it is them that will invest the time and money in developing you. It doesn' t mean they will not get their money back, that comes in the form of collecting from jobs you book. As for the subject of knwing if you have "modeling potential" then

The best way to find out is to find out when the agencies have open calls and show up. Wear NO make up and find out what they would like you to wear when you show up. Also, it is a good idea to bring a swimsuit to change into in case they want to see your body. I can go on should you need more advice. Good luck!