ChrisPgh

Around here, it is usual to be charged to have your headshot on the website. So there is nothing untoward there, although I am very unclear on how much being on a website really helps. My current agency has never pushed me to be on the site; they just submit me for the jobs they think make sense.

As far as not getting auditions, I had the same experience with my first agency. It was weird since they were the ones who came to me, not the other way around. I think some different things could have been in play there, but I don't want to go into that. In the end, I was just going to give up, then my current agency was looking for Asians so I contacted them, they were interested, and things have been better since. It may take time to increase to number of jobs you get. It may be that smaller markets proide fewer opportunities. It may be that there needs to be some kind of synergy between talent and agent. But what you are going through is not, I think, that uncommon.

austinmodelsandtalent

Since your profile indicates that you are in Texas, I will assume the agency you are asking about is in Texas also. According to the State of Texas, there exists no "Exxcel Model and Talent," at least as far as being a legitimately licensed and bonded company (as is required in Texas) - this at least according to the state's database.

In Texas, some new agency rules and regulations were recently adopted which do allow the agency to charge a fee to list you on their website. I think ours is one of the few agencies in TX right now that does not charge for this... but according to the law, they are allowed to charge for that.

I cannot imagine, in today's day and age, why any agency would not utilize the Internet to list all of their talent online. It is so much easier to direct a client when they call to a profile on the agency site instead of scrambling to get comp cards or headshots sent off to them. In the old days, for actors in L.A., we would make sure everyone was listed in the Academy Player's Directory. When casting directors would be on the phone, we could direct them to a specific person for a role even before packaging up the headshot/resumes for the drop off service guy.

I have always believed that, "as a business," an agency should be an agency and not a school or a photography studio. If they're offering free workshops or free photography (or testing), this is really good. If they are pressuring you to spend money directly to them, or to anyone specific that they 'require' you use, then you do need to consider reporting them as this is a violation (not having a license, however, is an even larger violation... if indeed that is the case).

Please note, I only accessed the online database to search the company name you provided. I am making no definitive statements as to whether they are indeed licensed or not. You can simply request (again, as stipulated as your right in Texas) to view their State Certificate of Registration. This should be displayed clearly in their place of business and their license number must appear on all their advertising and website.

What is the website for Excel?

nikausmom

The website is

http://www.exxcelmodel.com/

Thanks, Wendy