Page Parkes Agency Houston Went for an Open Call, Was Sold a Model Camp for $1250 RIPOFF Houston Texas

Hi, after reading the comments here I wanted to share my own experiences at Page Parkes. I am the father of a model represented by Page Parkes. My daughter was signed in May of 2013. She started attending classes in January and went to Model Camp in March. During Model camp she auditioned for the agency and in May we were surprised and thrilled with the news she had been accepted by the agency. Afterwards she attended agent review where she actually received a call back from an agency in London. You do not know how excited we were. A few weeks later we got the news that the agency in London was not going to sign her this year. Yes we paid a lot to get to this point! But consider this. This is not a show up and just smile and look pretty job. This is a career and with any career you have to pay for classes to be trained and mentored. I consider the cost to be her college tuition. My daughter spends many hours a week training at home and follows up with classes and private lessons at Page. She sacrifices and eats healthier than most people and goes to the gym daily. She has almost completed her first year with Page Parkes, been in a few runway shows and continues to meet with many photographers to build her portfolio. During this year she has made several new friends at Page that she has seen move on to NYC, California and other countries all because they started at Page Parkes. Again, if your complaint is the cost, then maybe your not ready to sacrifice and help start your child's career. Would you want a doctor to do surgery on you without training or experience? Accepting some financial responsibility also shows how committed you are to your child's success. This is not a baby sitting service where you drop your child off. This is a career in the making. This has been the most exciting time in our lives working with the Page Parkes agency and we look forward to the future with them.

I am an employee at Page Parks' husband's agency...Studio One to One. This company is also known for doing a lot of Kids Contests.....also known as "CuteKids Contest!"

Sadly, I had several customers come up to me when we were promoting the "cutekids contest" this august....their remarks were all negative, which is why our store didn't have enough kids enter the contest. All our potential customers had told me that page parks was a rip off and they make you pay for stupid little classes and they make you pay them so that they can use your pictures. I found that ridiculous, which is why I came to ripoff report to try to find out for myself.

After working at such an unorganized place like studio one to one for so long, and seeing how the customers always feel ripped off, lots of refunds, lots of people that are upset because things get misspelled on their pictures, they aren't the right color tone, they're not studio plussed , they're not the right size, blah blah blah, and after going into the corporate office several times for "manager meetings" with the rude area manager only to find that corporate is an apartment looking building with small offices for their employees, a CEO that isn't ever in his office, and a vice president who doesn't know what the words "inconsiderate" and "irrational" mean, I sadly found all the exclamations from the page parks ripoff report true. If the CEO is disorganized and too laid back, why should his wife be any different. I guess both companies are just a joke. If I didn't have to pay bills I'd be long gone. Unfortunately, our bad economy prevents me from leaving.

Anonymous Employee

I am an employee at Page Parks' husband's agency...Studio One to One. This company is also known for doing a lot of Kids Contests.....also known as "CuteKids Contest!"

Sadly, I had several customers come up to me when we were promoting the "cutekids contest" this august....their remarks were all negative, which is why our store didn't have enough kids enter the contest. All our potential customers had told me that page parks was a rip off and they make you pay for stupid little classes and they make you pay them so that they can use your pictures. I found that ridiculous, which is why I came to ripoff report to try to find out for myself.

After working at such an unorganized place like studio one to one for so long, and seeing how the customers always feel ripped off, lots of refunds, lots of people that are upset because things get misspelled on their pictures, they aren't the right color tone, they're not studio plussed , they're not the right size, blah blah blah, and after going into the corporate office several times for "manager meetings" with the rude area manager only to find that corporate is an apartment looking building with small offices for their employees, a CEO that isn't ever in his office, and a vice president who doesn't know what the words "inconsiderate" and "irrational" mean, I sadly found all the exclamations from the page parks ripoff report true. If the CEO is disorganized and too laid back, why should his wife be any different. I guess both companies are just a joke. If I didn't have to pay bills I'd be long gone. Unfortunately, our bad economy prevents me from leaving.

Anonymous Employee

I am an employee at Page Parks' husband's agency...Studio One to One. This company is also known for doing a lot of Kids Contests.....also known as "CuteKids Contest!"

Sadly, I had several customers come up to me when we were promoting the "cutekids contest" this august....their remarks were all negative, which is why our store didn't have enough kids enter the contest. All our potential customers had told me that page parks was a rip off and they make you pay for stupid little classes and they make you pay them so that they can use your pictures. I found that ridiculous, which is why I came to ripoff report to try to find out for myself.

After working at such an unorganized place like studio one to one for so long, and seeing how the customers always feel ripped off, lots of refunds, lots of people that are upset because things get misspelled on their pictures, they aren't the right color tone, they're not studio plussed , they're not the right size, blah blah blah, and after going into the corporate office several times for "manager meetings" with the rude area manager only to find that corporate is an apartment looking building with small offices for their employees, a CEO that isn't ever in his office, and a vice president who doesn't know what the words "inconsiderate" and "irrational" mean, I sadly found all the exclamations from the page parks ripoff report true. If the CEO is disorganized and too laid back, why should his wife be any different. I guess both companies are just a joke. If I didn't have to pay bills I'd be long gone. Unfortunately, our bad economy prevents me from leaving.

Anonymous Employee

I am an employee at Page Parks' husband's agency...Studio One to One. This company is also known for doing a lot of Kids Contests.....also known as "CuteKids Contest!"

Sadly, I had several customers come up to me when we were promoting the "cutekids contest" this august....their remarks were all negative, which is why our store didn't have enough kids enter the contest. All our potential customers had told me that page parks was a rip off and they make you pay for stupid little classes and they make you pay them so that they can use your pictures. I found that ridiculous, which is why I came to ripoff report to try to find out for myself.

After working at such an unorganized place like studio one to one for so long, and seeing how the customers always feel ripped off, lots of refunds, lots of people that are upset because things get misspelled on their pictures, they aren't the right color tone, they're not studio plussed , they're not the right size, blah blah blah, and after going into the corporate office several times for "manager meetings" with the rude area manager only to find that corporate is an apartment looking building with small offices for their employees, a CEO that isn't ever in his office, and a vice president who doesn't know what the words "inconsiderate" and "irrational" mean, I sadly found all the exclamations from the page parks ripoff report true. If the CEO is disorganized and too laid back, why should his wife be any different. I guess both companies are just a joke. If I didn't have to pay bills I'd be long gone. Unfortunately, our bad economy prevents me from leaving.

Anonymous Employee

First of all, the only reason you're complaining is because you were naive. This happens every day and is not illegal or a scam. If you were serious about getting your daughter into modeling you should have taken more time to research it and find out that real modeling agencies will never make you pay. They will take your daughter if they think they can make money off of her. Not your money. Money from clients. (By real I mean ones that get you booked. This place is legit but worthless) THIS IS YOUR FAULT. This happens all the time because mothers want people to tell them that their daughter is beautiful and is going to be a model and ignore all the red flags because of it. But there is technically nothing wrong with what they did. Some girls do need to be trained. If your daughter walked in unprofessionally, any agency would tell her to go get training unless she looked like Cindy Crawford which I doubt she does. Go to a real agency. You know which ones they are. Ford, elite, willamina. The only reason you mothers don't is because you're scared she'll be rejected. If she is, guess what, it's probably not going to happen. Don't keep wasting her time and your money on a pipe dream. Invest that in med school or something.

Note to the person from PP's who posted a rebuttal. First you speak about PP is third person then refer to the photographer as "my husband". I think the cat's out of the bag. You made yourself look really bad by trying to pose as someone else. NOTE TO MOTHERS/MODELS: REAL MODELING AGENTS DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO ON THIS WEBSITE AND TRY TO DO DAMAGE CONTROL. THEY'RE BUSY BOOKING PEOPLE.

Another note to the other mother who reported on the camp her daughter went to. You don't go to a modeling camp and tell them how to cut your hair. That defeats the purpose. Why would a 12 year old pick her "look". That's for them to decide. I bet a million bucks you had your kid in pagents. You're a pushy mom who knows nothing of what you're doing. Get a clue.

My daughter has been with Page Parkes agency both here and in Dallas for a couple of years now. She did go through the classes and loved every minute of it. The instructors were open and honest, the information we received assisted us in choosing Page 713 to represent her. Remember, as a parent, YOU have the choice!!

I can say we have had nothing but a positive, wonderful experience working with all 3 divisions of this company!

My daughter has been with Page Parkes agency both here and in Dallas for a couple of years now. She did go through the classes and loved every minute of it. The instructors were open and honest, the information we received assisted us in choosing Page 713 to represent her. Remember, as a parent, YOU have the choice!!

I can say we have had nothing but a positive, wonderful experience working with all 3 divisions of this company!

My daughter has been with Page Parkes agency both here and in Dallas for a couple of years now. She did go through the classes and loved every minute of it. The instructors were open and honest, the information we received assisted us in choosing Page 713 to represent her. Remember, as a parent, YOU have the choice!!

I can say we have had nothing but a positive, wonderful experience working with all 3 divisions of this company!

My daughter has been with Page Parkes agency both here and in Dallas for a couple of years now. She did go through the classes and loved every minute of it. The instructors were open and honest, the information we received assisted us in choosing Page 713 to represent her. Remember, as a parent, YOU have the choice!!

I can say we have had nothing but a positive, wonderful experience working with all 3 divisions of this company!

My daughter wanted to become a model. Page Parkes was suppossedly one of the best agencies in the state of Texas so we decided to take her there, even though we had heard it was a rip-off by others. It's amazing how stupid I was to believe they were a good agency.

Anyway, we sent in photos of her and received a call a couple of weeks later inviting her to an open call. We were excited! The lady there talked about their past successes, namely ALEXIS BLEDEL (I later read that she had never had any acting experience and doesn't believe in it, so why does Page Parkes credit her success with themselves?). So, we are waiting and then we seperatly enter a room to meet with a representative.

All the while, we are believing my daughter will get representaton if they like her. So the representative measures her and says that she would do well in the fashion division. We are even more excited! Then she hands me papers on a MODEL CAMP! I never was told anything about this model camp that costed $1695! My daughter looked like she really wanted to do this though, so I stupidly payed the money, although she had already taken a class at KD Studio in Dallas.

FUNNY IS THAT THEY SAID MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TRAINING BUT THEY NEVER EVAULATED HER! THEY PROBABLY JUST WANTED THE MONEY. IF THEY HAD EVALUATED HER OR EVEN ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY TRAINING, SHE MOST LIKELY WOULD'VE BEEN CLIENT-READY, EVEN IF SHE WASN'T, THEY COULD'VE TOLD US BUT INSTEAD THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE HER AUDITION FOR THEM!

Like the naive parent I was, I spent probably the worst investment of my life! My daughter took the camp, and hated it! It was unorganized, Joy came in and talked about the modeling business while using some lanuguage like "crap" that I really didn't appreciate. Then came haircuts. My daughter told the hairstylists what she wanted her hair to look like and it turned out completely different, luckily it was still a nice haircut but we wish they were more informative.

Next came makeup, which again was unorganized as the girls passed the makeup around without being informed how to apply it. Next was runway, where the instructor taught the girls how to walk. She told one girl that she had a nice butt and had them walk to a song that included the word "b****" in it.

Finally was photoposing. This was my daughter's only favorite class of the course. She did stances and learned how to feel the emotion and took pretend pictures with the other models and performed in front of everyone. That night, they had dinner, mexican at the hotel, and went to their rooms with their roommate (I was not allowed to stay with my daughter). By the way, the hotel had construction going on at 8:30 in the morning, so no good night sleep for me!

The next day was the photoshoot, on location. Half of the girls went to one location, the other half went to another. As the girls were getting on one bus, my daughter and the other models heard THEIR GROUP LEADER say to the bus drivers "It's not my problem, it's yours!" (HOW DARE SHE LET THOSE YOUNG GIRLS RIDE WITH BUS DRIVERS THAT SHE HAD ISSUES WITH!). The bus drivers then talked to each other in Jamaican and drove off.

The models arrived at an old-looking place and met the photographer, who seemed rather odd, according to my daughter. They did their first look in a parking garage (why there for a photoshoot?) and did two more looks. In between looks, the photographer and his assistants looked at the girls' photos. (By the way, the girls WERE NOT allowed to look at their own photos and when my daughter did look, the assitant said "What are you looking at" to my daughter. WHAT WERE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? WHY WEREN'T THE GIRLS ALLOWED TO SEE THEIR PHOTOS?)

Then the camp ended and the models headed back to the agency. I met with my daughter and then we could just leave. I assumed there would be a showing of photos or something but NO! They did say we could ask questions so I asked if they were signed with the agency. No, they would

I am an actor and I live in New York. But I grew up in Houston, TX and ever since I can remember got my haircut at Page's first studio on Voss. I remember Page always coming in and being so wonderful and sweet and when I became old enough, my Mom placed me into the school there. Because I begged her! THANK GOD!

I was with Page from the time I was 12 and stopped briefly to go to college. After college I moved to NY and just recently graduated from The William Esper studio where I was on scholarship.(There was only one scholarship recipient) I have been fortunate to have steady work every month since graduating and have just recently joined The Screen Actor's Guild.

I have done all of this without representation. In NYC it is very difficult to get an agent so a lot of very reputable actors and artists are left to "go it alone". Because I have a good relationship with Page, I still call on her for advise when I need someone who I can trust. She always does what she can to help... and I am not even currently with her agency(the geographic thing).

Now, how did I not just get eaten up alive here in this big city, which every day feels more like a small town?... because of the skills that I learned through not only Page's school but in the early days of being with the agency. Through learning how to act in a professional manner... to learn good business habits with follow ups, marketing and early audition experience, crucial make up skills, how to shake hands with someone, how to walk into and out of a room... how to dress for an audition also, the difference between makeup for commercial, theatre, and film work... these all have been vital things for me to have in my toolbox as an actor.

You could be the most talented person in the room but if you cannot walk into one on a major audition, you could just blow it. And yes there are expenses, the brushes, the photos, the portfolio, the clothes and I could go on. But if your daughter is serious about wanting to be in this business, those expenses never ever stop and if anything they increase.

In fact, I have a lot of friends who are professional models for reputable designers and for market in showroom, they are required to go hair and makeup ready requiring them to wake up at 5am to be there by 8am for a 16+hr day on their feet... with no lunch and no breaks. I have been required on a number of films and theatre projects in NY to do my own makeup, and to this day, it is Page's instruction that has helped me. I honestly couldn't imagine being in this business without first starting there. Also, a lot of photographers ask that you provide film... it usually cuts costs.

And training? I personally would be afraid of anyone who wouldn't want to train, or at least keep working on their artistry. The work of an actor, even a model because there is so much you have to tap into to deliver a variety of shots... never ever stops. But really who would want it to? There is just so much to learn and it sometimes is a slow process. Everyone keeps training, it is just all part of it.

Oh and, there continue to be expenses... I just got new headshots in February and need to take them again because I have changed and the old ones no longer serve me anymore... the going rate is 500.00-1000.00 for that and that is just the fee for the photographer. Touch ups(150.00 per photo, prints, reproductions(150 for 100 headshots)... makeup and hair(I provide my own stylits... about 200.00 each) and clothes.

Also there is the reel. I just looked into mine and it is going to cost roughly about 1000.00. And I am just starting after school... these are the going rates for all of us. So if anything, not only is it wonderful that Page giving you a huge deal, she is giving your daughter a huge lesson in the business. Be grateful. Be also very grateful that they chose your daughter, Page is a very kind and loving person and sees people all of the time and has a very very good eye. She, I truely believe would never try to scam anyone.

Oh also about the school. No, you are right no agency has a school attached to them because no agency cares that much about their clients. In NY you are required and expected to get that on your own. And by the time you get to bigger markets you are expected to know everything already. No where in Houston will you find a better and more professional training program. There just isn't one around... I can say that because I am from there.

And think about it for a minute, with the going rates in the market and the fee that Page has to pay her teachers to train the students. My private coach is about 100/hr and a makeup lesson is about the same... so is hair. To pay someone to give a style overhaul is about 75.00hr 3hr minimum. Do you honestly believe that Page is trying to pull one over on the public? Do you also believe that she would have been in business since the 80's if she had?

Page Parkes is the most loyal agent around, I feel confident that she would do anything for any of the people she represents. I know from experience that she would.

I truely hope your daughter had a wonderful time at the camp and learned something about the business... and good luck with your future endeavors.

Amanda ****

I strongly disagree with the ripoff report by "Dumb Dora" on 10-11-05 regarding the Page Parkes Center of Modeling and Acting.

I am the mother of Nicole, and want to share my
experience of doing business for over 13 years with the Page Parkes Organization.

My daughter was scouted at an event in the Galleria when she was eleven years old. She is currently 24 and is still working in both the modeling and acting industries.

Nicole filled out an application and submitted a picture when she was shopping with some friends. I was unaware that she had submitted this application. I received a call at work one day inviting me to bring her to Page Parkes for a
talent evaluation appointment. After talking to her and discovering that she really was interested in modeling, I decided to take her in for this meeting. As Nicole was in school at the time and I lived and worked in far Northwest Houston, I was happy to hear that they would interview us in the evening to accomodate my schedule.

At this meeting, I was advised that Nicole had
potential in the business and would be accepted for training if I decided to allow her to participate. I was provided information on the preteen modeling class and advised it would cost
$1000.00. I was not pressured to sign at that time, I was simply given the information on the course and told to go home and discuss it with my daughter. The course was designed to train a child in the necessary skills for modeling and to create a beginning portfolio.

I was a single mother who received no child support and this was a significant investment for me to make. However, Nicole had been in competitive dance since she was 7 and the cost of this course was in line with what I had been paying for her to participate in competitive dance so we decided to let her try modeling instead.

Nicole was trained in runway, photo posing, how to apply natural and camera ready makeup, ect. All of the skills necessary for her to be able to compete for modeling jobs once she was accepted for representation into the agency. After she completed her course, she and the other kids in her class had to audition before the agency to prove that they were ready to see clients. Nicole and I were both very excited the day we learned she had been accepted into the agency. We also both felt very confident that she was ready to try her hand at modeling since we knew she had the basic skills necessary to perform the job.

Although I never really cared if she worked at eleven, Nicole did earn the cost of her training back in a short period of time. She also developed significantly more self esteem and self confidence, which was my main goal in enrolling her for this course. She has continued to work steadily for over 13 years.

When Nicole was 13, she was in an international modeling contest that was televised live before 70 milion people and she won a modeling contract in Milan, Italy. ALL of her training had come thru the Page Parkes organization, so if you ask me if the training offered by them is valid I will ABSOLUTELY say yes!

Over the years, Nicole has continued to train and develop her skills and is now in Hollywood. I am amazed that "Dumb Dora" would think that you would not need to continue to train in an industry as competitive as modeling/acting as I know of no industry that does not encourage ongoing training.

I have been in literally thousands of castings/auditions with my daughter. You can ALWAYS tell the "trained" talent versus the untrained. I felt sorry for the untrained talent. I am amazed that "Dumb Dora" would think it is reasonable to place her child into one of the most competitive industries in the world without training. Based on what I have observed over the years, this is the quickest way to destroy a talent's self esteem.

I am also surprised to hear that "Dumb Dora" would think that"a legitimate agency" would not
charge for training. In my years of dealing with some of the top agencies in the world, I have never met one who paid for talent to enter the business. Looks are only a part of what it takes to be successful in these industries and I, myself, would have a hard time believing in someone who did not believe in themselves enough to invest in their own future. If an agency invested in all the people who they think has potential in the business based on looks, they would probably not be in business very long. Maybe this is why Page Parkes is still in business after 25 years.

After Nicole won the contest in South Africa, I decided to let her do correspondence school and she and I travelled the world together for 4 years. I have been in many of the major modeling markets in the world with my daughter. She is represented by some of the finest modeling/entertainment agencies in the world...all arranged by Page Parkes.

EVERYWHERE we went in the world, I have heard how well respected Page Parkes is, both as a person and as an organization. I have always been very proud to be associated with them.

So my response to "Dumb Dora" is that you still have not done your homework. Your child was in one of the most reputable and safest places to launch a career in the modeling/acting industries and you were so focused on the fact that it costs money to train her to have the necessary tools to compete, that you lost sight of what was best for your child if she wants to model. I would suggest that before she is capable of earning the $100-$150 hr that a beginning model makes...or the thousands that my child now earns per day, she would first need to acquire the skills that are necessary to receive that kind of money and then to continue to train to develop her skills to the level of a true professional.

Page Parkes Center of Modeling and Acting is an internationally recognized organization that is well respected by some of the top modeling/entertainment agents and casting directors in the world. I have personal knowledge of many successful/talented people who have been lucky enough to have been scouted and launched in the business thru this fine agency.

I believe my decision to allow my child to follow her dreams and try her hand at modeling was one of the finest decisions I have ever made in my life. Both my life and that of my children have been significantly changed and enriched by that choice.....and I am truly grateful that it was done under the careful and loving guidance of Page Parkes. I have nothing but admiration and respect for her and would not hesitate to recommend that anyone who has an interest in exploring the modeling/acting industries make the Page Parkes Center of Modeling and Acting their first stop.

My experience and that of many other people I know has been outstanding.......

sign me

"A VERY SATISFIED PARENT!!!!!"

In response to the complaint by Ms Dora:

The Page Parkes Corporation owns two modeling agencies, Page 214 in Dallas, and Page 713 in Houston, as well as one developement center located in Houston. Each company owned by the PPC is fully licensed and in compliance with applicable state enforcement agencies.

Our Development Center offers classes in Personal Development, Acting, and Modeling. When someone calls one of our offices expressing an interest in either representation or training, they are either referred to an Open Call (at one of the agencies) or a Talent Evaluation (at our school).

When someone attends Open Call and we feel they are not ready for the agency (lack of industry knowledge, incomplete or nonexistent tools etc.), but they do have potential in the modeling or acting industry, they are referred to the Center to inquire about a Talent Evaluation.

As is true in many professions, there are very few people who walk in off the street and are immediately ready to be submitted as working models or actors. Models and Actors are able to claim starting wages that are often unheard of in an hourly capacity (often upwards of $150/hr)--without the proper tools and knowledge, they simply aren't client-ready.

As this customer mentioned, she was handed a contract for a "Model Camp" which clearly stated the cost of $1,250. This was not something we attempted to "hard sell" her during her first visit, but an option we left her with as our representative must have felt she had potential, but needed to refine her skills, and learn more about the industry. In addition, at registration, all students sign a Training Agreement that ensures their understanding and acceptance of the fact that they are receiving TRAINING and NOT representation.

At this point, or at any point, we would encourage a client with any questions to ask those questions--particularly if there are any questions involving moneys or fees.

The Page Parkes Corporation has many success stories that we count among our graduates including: Brooke Burns who replaced Pamela Anderson on "Baywatch" and is currently starring in "Pepper Dennis" airing on The WB in April, Alexis Bledel from "The Gilmore Girls" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", Alex Shanklin a model for Target, Kenneth Cole, etc., Nicole Rawlins who has appeared on "CSI Miami", "Ocean Drive" and countless national and international print advertisements, Shantel Van Santen who appeared on the "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" televised competition, along with many others. I believe it was our school that helped them refine their talents to become successful in the industry.

Page Parkes is a member of the Better Business Bureau and was awarded the Pinnacle Award of Excellence in 2005 as well as sitting on the BBB board of education. We pride ourselves in our honesty and integrity. If Ms. Dora would have brought her issues to our attention, we would have been happy to address her issues and do anything within our power to achieve resolution to her satisfaction.

As for my husband, he is a former franchisee of the Glamour Shots system, and left several years ago to start Studio One to One--a family and children's portrait studio. Neither our agencies, nor our school has ever used either Glamour Shots or Studio One to One to photograph our models or students.

Unfortunately it is difficult for me to address any concerns, from any client or model, if they don't make their concerns known.