Once again, I put my skepticism aside and go to an open call for a company who claims that they are not looking for money. So I get a call back and am actually making arrangements with my family and friends thinking that I'm about to pack up and move to L.A. (which is what they were saying), but unfortunately at this "call back" they basically gave me a package for the prices of their "showcase" which cost like two thousand dollars. There was nothing mentioned about money the first day nor when they called me back. I've always heard that you should never pay money for representation or for "showcases." I am sooo disappointed. I thought this was really going to be my chance....Fooled yet again....
It's never that cut-and-dry. Each market is different with differentregulations. Scam artists get away with things they get away with by mimicking seemlessly what a legit company/person would do. The problme lies there.
1. This company could've been totally legit by doingtwo things. 1. Warning you there is no guarantee of success and 2. NOT claiming that they are a free service and use the (free) initial interview as a selling ploy to talk down the competition in which they both charge for the exact same thing. Instead they should tell you that the initial interview is free but to be at the convention would cost (but then they are the same compnay they claimed they weren't so the sales pitch goes outthe window.) Blatant mis-representation. In changing those two things does that make them ethical? No. But a legitimate operating business? Yes...depending on which market they are working out of.
2. Management companies can and aresupposed to charger for more things than photos. In fact they aen'tr supposed to charge for photos. But management companies manage your career (and most models don't need management companies) They charge you various things. It's called the cost of running a management company. You are charge for the cost of them marketing you, creating marketing materials such as comp cards, portfolio prints, stamps and more, for landing you press/interviews/features/etc... and even for getting you signed to an agency. In some markets like New York they can even find you work. While on the other hand in markets like California it is illegal for a management companyto solicit work on a talent's behalf. And lastly, in markets like Georgia which is unregulated, it is up to the discretion of the management company or agency as long as they uphold ethics in standard business practices which will never resemble laws needed to protect the talent.
Also know this. Except for New York where the TOP fashion houses have redefined themselves to be management companies...a management company and an agency are two TOTALLY different things with totally different functions. An agency's job is to find you work. You may see an agency doing many of the things a management company will do because it still falls in line with finding you work.
But for the sake of brevity on that last point: Agencies find you work and represent you to clients the hopes of landing a job. Like a temporary or recruiting agency. They get you hired. Management Companies guide you in your personal and professional lives and their fee is REGARDLESS of if you find work or not. Think of them as like a business manager or resume writing service. They prepare you forwhen you get the job.
Hello there. When a management company is interested in representing you as a talent, the talent should never ever pay for anything. But if you're a talent looking for development in order to be management material, yes, the talent pays for the photos necessary for the talent's career.
Once again, I put my skepticism aside and go to an open call for a company who claims that they are not looking for money. So I get a call back and am actually making arrangements with my family and friends thinking that I'm about to pack up and move to L.A. (which is what they were saying), but unfortunately at this "call back" they basically gave me a package for the prices of their "showcase" which cost like two thousand dollars. There was nothing mentioned about money the first day nor when they called me back. I've always heard that you should never pay money for representation or for "showcases." I am sooo disappointed. I thought this was really going to be my chance....Fooled yet again.... 
