Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency is a SCAM AGENCY Mississauga Ontario

The truth is that Carolyn's is not necessarily a "hoax." I know friends of frends who are a part of this agency and they have gotten both auditons and jobs. However, they do try to take as. uch money from you as they can. I thought I would see this agency for myself and I sent in my headshot and received an email  looking to set an appointment. Once I got there however the woman hardly asked me any questions and then said, 'so should I set up a photoshoot?!" It was very suprisingly quick and she was a little too excited!!!!My sister and I barely had any time to look over the contract before she asked us for the photoshoot.  We asked her for more time and she reluctantly agreed. When we asked how much the membership fee (every agency has one) she handed us a paper with two options. One was just a photoshoot for about 700 dollars! and the other photoshoot and classes was 900 dollars! I have done my research and most agency fees are only about 250 dollars a year, more or less. We were clearly only considering the 700 dolar option but she began pushing classes on us. They were useless classes like RUNWAY WALKING workshops which is ridiculous because I am no where tall enough to EVER be hired as a runway model. Because the photoshoot was so expensive, I asked her if I could try to find another photographer for less. She said we can but the agency might not approve them, so we should email her with the photographers we found. We agreed and left. By he end of the week I sent the woman about five photographers I had researched that charged aboht 200 dollars. She didn't answer. I sent her a follow up email a week later, then another the next week. She never responded to me, not even to say they had changed their mind or something. Very Unprofessional. Clearly the agency work side by side with their expensive photographers and classes and wanted to take as much of my money as they could, rather than have me working for them and make money off of me that way. The decent way. Not a hoax but definitley takes advantage of you. I was smart enough to know not to agree because I've done my research, don't make that mistake either. I recommend finding another talent agency, there is no point of spending more money for equal quality.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better Business Bureau with an A + Rating? well (((link redacted))) also because she's a breast cancer survivor doesn't make the agency legit It's not represented by ACTRA for a reason  "a friend suggested I try them as they have a good reputation" well look what happens when you google the agency:

(((link redacted)))
(((link redacted)))
http://www.ripoffreport.com/modeling-agencies/carolyn-s-model-tale/carolyn-s-model-talent-agenc-14a59.htm

only bad reviews and representatives of carolyn's trying to cover up her bad image. just stay away

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Carolyn's has been awesome for me and my daughter! They do ask for a fee upfront, but it's not thousands (which is what scams ask for), its a couple hundred. They also never pushed for their classes or their photographers. In fact, when I was asking them for ideas for pictures (and their thoughts on the ones I had posted) they told me they would be happy to do my daughter's shoot for free (which they apparently commonly do for babies). They have never pushed us or anybody we know to use their photographer (and from what I hear they offer a hefty discount if you choose to use theirs).

If you go on Carolyn's facebook page, you can see actual people talking about the jobs they got and their kids got. There's multiple things added a day about the parts people are working on that day...

In fact, my daughter has her first audition today, its for a commercial. And she got it through Carolyn's! It took just under two months since our sign up, but we just kept updating her pictures and her measurements and stats and they definitely pulled through!

This seems like someone who didn't get an audition and it blaming it on the company. They submit you, if you aren't chosen, it's not their fault. If you aren't happy, go to another company... don't tell people it's a scam :/

We went to an open call today at Carolyns Kids. The staff are nice, but regardless of what any of the pro-Carolyns' have written - the baby program is a scam. First of all, they obviously don't have many people doing the math when you figure they say they only take 4 children of each age category at any given time - yet they sign up on average 10 to 12 babies per week - that is 500 to 600 new clients a year who they say they 'protect'.

When I brought this to their attention, they could not give me an answer. Secondly, my wife was a professional model
in Toronto in the 80's, and she knows what to look for and what questions to ask. The Carolyns' rep made no sense in
answering the questions my wife answered her a about the industry, and when my wife told her that an agency is not supposed to charge an admin fee the girl literally started sweating and rambling on about studios charging fees and them being charged to the agency and then you having these charges taken from your cheque. Not in the real world!

Finally, not ONE baby was really looked at and none of the parents were interviewed. Theyjust asked for $300 and handed you a one page 'contract' to hand back with your $300! EVERY one who had $300 was a new client. EVERY ONE!

The topper was when we said we would think about it and they said we had to give them the 300 today or they may have to give our babies 'spot' to someone else and we would have to come back again and start over. My wife said, 'if we send the money or call in our credit card number in 3 days - you only do open calls once a week so how will any other baby get
our daughters' 'spot'. At that, they suddenly thought of a way to fax in the contract when we called in the number.

What a complete scam! I know there are people who have found success with them and my hats off to them - but the hundreds of people who are paying fees are what is carrying this agency.

I unfortunatly stumbled upon this complaint about Carolyn's Model and Talent Agency...Which is completely wrong.
I signed with Carolyn's over 2 years ago as I am a actress/model. I have been scammed before by an agency that is now closed down (as scam agencies never last long, they take their money and run).
I went to Carolyn's after a friend suggested I try them as they have a good reputation in the GTA. When I needed new photos, I used Carolyn's photographer Darcy, who was AWESOME and I only paid $250 for almost a full day shoot. Carolyn's daughter did my makeup (she is an amazing makeup artist) and they are some of the best photos I have ever gotten of myself! (And I've had many photo shoots). Anyone who knows the industry, as Carolyn said, knows that sometimes it takes a while before a casting director may find that you are what they are looking for.
Carolyn's has treated me with nothing but respect and honesty. I have felt bad because I live in Ottawa and cannot always come to the auditions they have called me for!
Lauren needs to understand that jobs in this industry are NOT automatic in a span of only a year.
Carolyn has worked very hard for her agency and its reputation, and is an amazing woman who has survived alot. Please do a little more research and don't jump to conclusions when you don't get your way in this industry.

Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency has been in business for over 20 years, and in the industry for over 50 years. This young lady, is a disgruntled individual who does not understand how the industry works. An agency submits talent and models to clients and it is up to the client to choose who they want to book. Payment can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on when the agency gets paid. When the agency gets paid than the talent gets paid, as per her contract that she signed. Young and new models don't understand that it can take a long time to get going in the business, by doing a lot of various jobs that they go after and achieve themselves. We always suggest, community theatre, fashion shows, gaining more experience by getting test shoots from various photographers to help increase their book. An agency will only help those that want to help themselves. Models and Actors can't just sit back and wait for the phone to ring. Regarding photos, if a a model or actor does not like the photographers work, the agency will request a new shoot. All photographers that the agency is familiar with are professional photographers that have worked in the industry for years . She did not pay $600.00 for photos. There is no such charge. Charges for photos that are a half day shoot with professional photographers that the agency gets reduced rates for the models are $250.00 for about a half day shoot. A model must than pay for the printing of his or her Composite Cards, or 8 x 10's which are unlimited and can be changed at any time, during their duration at the agency. A model must than pay for couriers, to be place on casting services, such as breakdown express and casting workbook.

We represent many individuals all ages with great success stories, from hit tv series, to many commercials , catalogues and movies. An agency cannot be blamed for somebody not getting enough work, especially in these economic times. Clients are extremely careful, with who they choose and they want lots of choice. This young lady Lauren did promotional work, which is a different venue.

Carolyn Nikkanen is also a 3 time breast cancer survivor, does many seminars throughout on Ontario on "how not to be scammed in the industry". She is also a spokesperson for the Cancer Society.

We are members of the Better Business Bureau with an A + Rating, companies do not achieve A+ ratings for being a scam. Agencies that are scams are only in business for a short time, not a long time. And as I mentioned earlier, Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency is a very successful agency that has been in business for over 20 years. Visit our website www.carolynsonline.com for correct information. We invite you to call us at anytime, or feel free to drop in and visit our agency at anytime.