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Report: #1326955

Complaint Review: Pro Model and Talent - akron

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  • Reported By: No fool — Ohio USA
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  • Pro Model and Talent 3421 Ridgewood Rd., East Entrance akron, USA

Pro Model and Talent Bait and switch, scam, must pay for 'training' akron Ohio

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I submitted my daughter's headshots and recieved a call back. A cursory search of their website seemed professional, so when the call back did not include any notice of fees we went to the open casting. 

We drove two hours round trip, and sat for three hours in the open casting call room. Several other model/actor hopefuls were there, and they talked about their company and how several models have succeeded. There was still no mention of fees. They called each person in for a personal interveiw. 

My daughter has experience, so I'd like to state that they were aware that she 1) had a portfolio, and 2) had competed in and won a runway competition. I was told it was not necessary to bring her portfolio to open casting. The 'personal interview' consisted of the director asking my daughter about how confident she was, and having her walk down a hallway to demonstrate her 'runway' walk. 

She was excited to get a call back, and I asked directly if this meant they wanted to sign her. They claim they do 'direct sign', and wanted to know. They hedged, and I should have seen it coming. I drove her to the call back anyway, with a heads up to her that something wasn't correct in the process. They refuse to release names of talent direct signed, or their direct sign percentage. Also note all of their 'sucess' stories admit they paid the thousand or so for classes, in their own interviews.

The interveiw started out polite, with the representative talking directly to my daughter about how pleased they were with her and how much she was going to be working, starting with training on how to pose and such.They went so far as to say she'd make new friends. I asked how much this was going to cost and was told $1,099 all in full or $1,399 payment plan. We were told since she didn't have a portfolio or know 'left model pose and right model pose' she needed training to represent the agency 'properly at their caliber'. This did not include photo fees, comp card fees, etc.

First, they didn't do test shoots or any of the traditional steps agents do to test a model's caliber. Having a model walk down a cramped hallway is not going to show talent, for anyone. Second, I was told to not bring her portfolio. Third, the classes are taught by the employees of the agency. This is a red flag. You are, essentially, paying the agent. Yes, they claim that we as parents invest in our children through dance, gymnastics and so on, so why not modeling classes? And they are correct, however, do NOT pay thousands for an uncredited class taught by someone with no teaching credentials. That's insanity. Pay for theater classes at the local community college- they are one fifth the price and taught by people with actual credentials. Note- just because someone 'once taught theater' doesn't mean they have active credentials.

They manner in which they conducted the interveiw with my daughter was clearly to excite her so I would pay for the classes and not let her down. Thankfully for me my daughter is a smart kid and rolled her eyes as we left, procaliming them for the scam they are. 

Lastly, think about this- PMTM proclaims it is an agency, and do list sucesses on their website where talent has signed with other agencies. However, PMTM's 'work' consists of getting talent to take the classes and sending them to casting calls and then to lease/sign out to other agencies. They operate as a mother agency, which means they do recieve a cut of the booking fees booked through other agencies. They also book talent to hair shows and grocery store promo work- which you can sign up for by simply calling the salons and submitting, or signing up at any employment agency to do. 

So, PMTM gets money up front, money when you book through them, and money when you sign through other agencies through them. 

If you are serious, save the money and skip this agency. You can accomplish what you desire by signing up for open casting calls, having great comp cards sent out, and doing the legwork yourself. This company simply creates a space for itself as a middle man, and charges for the service. There are several casting agents in Ohio that are professional and do NOT charge for the service of listing you, or your children, on their network. The bottom line is, if you have the talent and what the directors are seeking, you'll land the job anyway, without PMTM.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/08/2016 04:26 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/pro-model-and-talent/akron-44333/pro-model-and-talent-bait-and-switch-scam-must-pay-for-training-akron-ohio-1326955. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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