Millie Lewis AMTC
(American Modeling and Talent Convention)

Hi,

My name is T.P. and I am 19 years old. I have been a model since I was 12 years old.

I first started out attending a Modeling School in Omaha, NE, where I learned everything that I did NOT need to know.

The experience was good. I met a lot of people and lived a nice dream, but soon realized that it was taking me nowhere.

I then attended a Convention in Orlando called the Millie Lewis Convention. Again, the experience was fun, but it was just a waste of money.

All this time I was paying for pictures that were useless because I was living in the great state of Iowa where there are no opportunities in the Modeling or Acting Industry.

T.P.

To Whom It May Concern:

In letter #16, P.O. wrote: "And, of course, that judge would say that because if there weren't suckers such as myself, they wouldn't get their "free paid vacation" at the AMTC convention."

I was a judge at the AMTC. It was not a "free paid vacation." Judges are required to attend as many competitions as possible.

C.C.

Do judges pay for airfare to and accommodations at the AMTC?

The AMTC pays for it all.

K.H.

P.,

I find the claim that AMTC judges get a free paid vacation very, very offensive. I am a judge. We do not get a free paid vacation. We go to the convention to work —and we do work.

You don't take our work seriously enough but neither does AMTC. We get a per diem and expenses paid but that is not enough. AMTC should pay us to work. We get next to nothing —it is an insult.

I agree that the screening of contestants for AMTC is not good enough, and the prices for contestants should be lower. While they need to be more selective and charge less, I am going to continue going.

O.N.

To Whom it May Concern:

Attached you will find a telemarketing script used by the AMTC. It is called a "suggestion," but I know for a fact that many contestants that have attended the AMTC have heard this script, as I showed a few and they said that this is what they heard over the phone.

One woman even said, "I can't believe this. I thought I was special." She even cried, because she felt as though she had been scammed. She told me that she wouldn't have spent ANY money at the AMTC if she had read this beforehand.

I thought you would like to see it on your site, and possibly get some reactions from your readers that have attended the AMTC. I think that this is going to be an unpleasant surprise.

Sincerely,

L.A.

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to thank you for this informative website. It has saved us thousands of dollars. Thank you so very much!

Yesterday we took our daughter to the talent search conducted in Jacksonville, Florida.

This morning we were pleasantly surprised to receive a "call back."

We scheduled an appointment with the local agency for this evening.

We began to talk about the $1,800 that this would cost.

After careful discussion we decided to check the BBB for any derogatory information about the company or companies.

We found none but noted they were in the business of putting on conventions, and they are not modeling and talent agents.

The more we talked, the more this sounded fishy.

We found ourselves asking questions we could not answer like:

How many people got the call back?

How many people will be at the convention?

What do people who attended the convention have to say about it?

Have they really discovered people?

And most importantly, Is this a scam?

I do not believe that it is a scam; they are in the business of putting on conventions, and they do put on conventions.

However, I do believe it is very deceptive.

They get people to believe they are wanted and have the desired look or talent; then they make them pay to prove it.

After reading the portion of the BBB website that cautioned about folks asking for money up front, or pressuring you to make a decision today, the red flags really went up.

Then I found your website. It is very well organized and informative.

Again, thank you very much!

M.E.K.

September 10, 2002

Mrs. Carey Arban
President
American Modeling & Talent Convention
510 Haddington Lane
Peachtree City, GA 30269

Dear Mrs. Carey Arban:

In your first letter, you said: "We are not IMTA."

How is AMTC different from IMTA?

Correct me if I am wrong, but based on letters from you and people who attended IMTA which are on the website, the AMTC website, and the BBB record for AMTC, both IMTA and AMTC are very similar in the following ways:

* IMTA and AMTC hold modeling conventions.

* IMTA and AMTC hold modeling conventions twice a year.

* IMTA and AMTC pay for agents to attend modeling conventions.

* IMTA and AMTC are attended by top modeling agency agents.

* IMTA and AMTC's primary purpose is to provide a forum for aspiring models to be seen and signed by top or reputable agencies.

* IMTA and AMTC are closely affiliated with modeling schools (IMTA with two; AMTC with the International Modeling School).

* IMTA and AMTC can cost at least $5,000 (incl. all expenses).

* IMTA and AMTC's potential models are not screened by top agency agents who will attend the conventions using photos before they pay $5,000.

* IMTA and AMTC do not disclose their success rate (signed models) in their BBB record like MSA and NYC Fame.

* IMTA and AMTC do not disclose their success rate (signed models) immediately after every modeling convention.

* IMTA and AMTC do not offer a money-back guarantee if the aspiring models are not signed by a modeling agency.

* IMTA and AMTC do not receive a commission or finder's fee like modeling scouts at top agencies.

* IMTA and AMTC are paid upfront not based on their scouting performance.

* IMTA and AMTC fees are non-refundable.

How is AMTC different from IMTA?

Related: Modeling Photography and Convention Prices
[Modeling Agency President Speaks Out Against Expensive Conventions, Calls Modeling Schools A Complete Scam]

Millie Lewis (AMTC) Letters Index