Muse models Mode Models of Portland Oregon only These fools told me they were a big international company, never paid me for my gig, charged $500 for my photo shoot, refused to give me my digitals and allegedly have a side line with web cams Portland, Oregon

I am the owner of Muse Models. I can't believe I am addressing such insane accusations, but here it goes...

I agree with Cassy about the not paying their models. I was one of the many models that they did pay for their gig. I have also heard that they also send out checks to models for their gig but it a bounced check. And I know for a fact that was true because I do know that individual model. 

sorry everyone! correction on the part about me being one of the many models that did get paid for their gig. I was one of the many models who DID NOT! get paid for their gig! 

The owner doesn't address the allegations of them not paying models.  It's true that there have been instances where models have not been paid.  I agree that they are a great company and do actively promote their models and get them great jobs including Nike, Addidas, etc.  But it's not fair to not pay models while they are posting on twitter with their new lap pad.  I really hope they make good on payment.  I'm afraid this company may be facing a breach of contract lawsuit.  It would be unfortunate.....for everyone.

I have been to casting with fred meyer and nike and even they know that muse does not pay there models. Please do not waste your time or money because you will not see a dime. I'll update this as soon as I get paid for the work I did for muse. I'm guessing that will be never.

Muse is a real company and they certainly get work for some of their models. This is something I can confirm. I got scouted by them a while ago, I’ve been to the agency several times, and almost signed a contract, but decided not to. Now I am signed or in the process of getting signed with major agencies in Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, and NY. There are a few things I would like to address here. First, from my experience with my agency in Paris and from all of the models I’ve talked to here, an agency should never charge a model for Polaroids (snap shots). I got charged 100 bucks by Muse, because I thought it was normal. I understand that Muse is a very small agency, so it makes sense that they need to cover their costs. But charging 100 dollars for a few snap shots is absurd. Second, charging for a book or comp cards is also very odd. The way it works with reputable agencies is like this: they make you a book, send you to get your hair cut, buy you flights to go to different shows, give you money for food and a hotel, etc. They DO charge you, but not upfront. What they do is put a negative balance on your account. For example, at my agency in Paris, they charged me something like 30 euros for a book, a few hundred comp cards, and a haircut. They also bought me a flight to and from Portland. It isn’t a debt I will ever have to pay with money, but they will just subtract it from whatever I make in my jobs. Thus, if you never get any jobs, you will never have to pay a dime! If you get jobs, you just work your debt off. I hope this makes sense. Basically, an agency should NEVER charge you ANYTHING for snap shots, flights, hotels, getting put on a website, comp cards, food, etc. Any charges just go onto your account, like I said, and you pay those off by working. Finally, an agency should never ask a model to pay for a photoshoot. What usually happens is something called getting “tested.” My mother agency in the US and my agency in Paris send me to photographers who take my pictures. They get to keep my pictures for their portfolio, and I get to keep a few pictures for mine. This is all for free! A good agency knows many up-and-coming photographers who would kill to shoot some pictures with a model. Anyways, I hope this clears some things up. I’ve met the owners of Muse and they are very, very nice people. But the way they run their agency isn’t normal or fair to many of their models. If you have what it takes to be a model, I would suggest that you shoot higher. Get a good agency if you can. For the US, shoot for an agency like DNA, Ford, or Red. For Paris, Success is good, and so is Ford Paris. In Milan, I love Models, Why Not, and Elite are all good. But to be clear, Muse Models is not a scam, but they may have questionable business practices.

I signed with Muse Models about two years ago. My first job was months after I actually signed with them and it took them an entire year to pay me for that job.  I had to continually call and e-mail before they paid me a year later.

When I went to New York to try to book jobs, I had to do all the work on my own.  No one from my agency helped book meetings or any jobs.

I signed a two year contract and when I was finished with contract and wanted to be released, I attempted to get a copy from Muse so I could make sure they no longer represented me before signing elsewhere.  They would not return my calls or e-mails and I never received my contract.  I finally got an e-mail that I would be finished with Muse Models at the end of that month and that my two outstanding paychecks (from jobs that I did four and five months ago) would come by the end of the month.  I have yet to receive those last two paychecks.

RESEARCH agencies before signing with one.  Do NOT sign with Muse Models.  There are other, far more reputable agencies who will fulfill their commitments to you!