ITM (International Talent Management)
in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
To Whom It May Concern:
As a witness to many unfortunate scams I am shocked
to see that you have yet to cover ITM (International
Talent Management).
This "developing/scouting/placement" convention
is nothing more than a new way for OTM Models, Axis Models,
A-Line Models, Alpha Models, and "The Agency" to
reap more money from innocent young kids —and adults —who
want to pursue a career in modeling and haven't researched
other conventions.
Here is my story...
Out of pure fear from the owner of this company, I submit
my experience from an anonymous standpoint.
Mr. R.D. Ecksmith is a well-connected man in the South,
and I fear what may happen if my identity is revealed.
I went to the ITM convention and paid my $600 registration
to them. Of course I also had to shell out for all my
transportation, meals and lodging.
ITM said that the money goes to pay for the event and
to the agents who attend.
NOT TRUE. They don't pay the attending agents at all.
I casually mentioned to one of the agents in the lobby
during the convention how they must love getting to have
a paid trip to scout and leave with a check.
They freaked out when I told them what the models get
told.
Doug Hill (the president) tells us models that for each
model the agents call back, they get paid.
Wouldn't the agents be calling as many people back as
possible?
If you're going to try to explain where my $600 went,
at least try to lie a little better.
Before going to see the agents for call backs on Sunday,
Doug and his staff made us sign an exclusive Mother Agency
contract for "The Agency."
They would not allow us to see the agents unless we
signed it. The contract was absolutely ridiculous. It
granted The Agency or ITM (same thing) full control of
all decisions, dealings and negotiations regarding me
as a model.
So if an agent called me back, they had to actually
have Doug decide if I can be represented by them.
I wasn't fully aware what the contract meant when I
signed it. We didn't have any opportunity to ask.
What I found out after many months was that some agencies
did have an interest in me, but Doug's staff never even
told me!
They just had me do another photo shoot in Charlotte
for $450, saying agents wanted to see more stuff.
It was terrible and I don't understand why I couldn't
just go to the agencies that wanted me in the big cities
and shoot there —I would have paid my transportation.
Let's face it, I want to model, and if it takes a trip
to New York or Los Angeles to even see an agency that
even expressed an interest, I'm going!
Doug's staff said that they were developing me, and
they thought that it was in my best interest to stay
in one city doing OTM promo work for the time being,
as well as attend other ITM conventions.
I have yet to work a job for more than $30 a day for
OTM, and I have been with them for over two years!
I went to their office at 5500 Executive Drive in Charlotte
to see what was up, and to see what kind of operation
they were running.
This is what I found out...
OTM and ITM and The Agency are all owned by R.D. (Robert)
Ecksmith. The same man responsible for On Track Modeling
scams that are publicized everywhere.
Doug Hill is his henchman running the show for The Agency
and the IT convention. They trade models back and forth,
and have them shell out thousands to either get materials
for OTM or the convention.
They are the worst shoots, and if you want to know why,
just look for articles dealing with OTM photo shoots
on the web.
They're all the same people! I couldn't believe what
kind of scam they had going on. It was like seeing all
my time and money that I had spent flash before my eyes.
Not to mention their office was a mess, but it looked
like they ran a money factory. I saw a circle of money.
So many ways to shuffle people along and make a bundle.
1. Models get scouted by OTM.
They shoot and get crappy comp cards. They get promotional
work, which is, for instance, wearing daisy dukes and
a torn t-shirt, handing out t-shirts, being gawked at
by rednecks at a Nascar event.
This is modeling? WTF?!
I don't think in New York and Milan modeling agencies
have their models signing people up for credit cards
on street corners, handing out t-shirts, and what not.
You know, I don't need to spend $1,000 on a bad photo
shoot and comp cards to work at Hooters.
2. OTM suggests the ITM convention where models
can "get in front of top agencies and be placed."
How? Just spend $600 and get yourself to the convention.
And does this sound familiar...
"You know, you should have another comp card made
up. It's been a while and you can use another shoot...
Pay us another $200 and we'll shoot you in the lobby
of the hotel or in your room."
I'm sure all the agents (nine out of ten have a polaroid
camera) really could care less what I look like in front
of the hotel instead of in it!
I got ridiculed by agents who said my pictures are absolutely
terrible, unprofessional, and I look better in a polaroid
on the spot.
3. OTM's and ITM's newest scam offering is their
personal website promo.
For $20 a month, I can now have a site that won't be
seen and won't even work.
When they prove that their online photo gallery books
jobs, let me know, but I won't hold my breath.
Thank you for listening and I hope all will heed the
warnings!
P.O.
P.S. Below are links that might help to reinforce my
story. I have proof the owner of ITM is the owner of
OTM:
ITM
owner (BBB report)
OTM
owner (BBB report)
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