New York Model Contract (NYMC)
Visions Showcase
Complaints / Praise
To Whom It May Concern:
I just came across this website and need some information.
My daughter has done modeling school and IMTA.
Last night we went to an open call for the NYMC, and
she was chosen to attend the convention in Virginia.
However, I have not seen this on your website —the
instructor waived the fee of $575 for my daughter to
attend this convention.
So I figure what does she have to lose except hotel
and food expenses?
But, after reading all the complaints, I feel like it
might be just a waste of time, and another disappointment
for my daughter.
My daughter did get signed with the Diva agency in NY
from the IMTA convention in LA; however, this just cost
me more money for her to spend last summer in New York
as she never did get any paying work.
Please comment.
Thank you,
M.B.
M.,
Thanks for writing. You raised a few important issues
for the first time.
Typical advice for anyone considering attending a convention
has been to evaluate the opportunity by looking at its
success rate, i.e., the percentage of aspiring models
who attended the convention and were signed by a modeling
agency.
But that is probably only half of it; the other half
is the success rate of the agencies at these conventions
in terms of finding work for the models whom they signed
from modeling conventions.
The advice given to aspiring models who were not planning
to attend a modeling convention, but who were looking
for representation, has been to find out, among other
things, the agency's success rate.
The two ideas have to be merged in considering a modeling
convention. The organizers of modeling conventions should
give not only the success rate of the convention itself,
but also the success rates of the modeling agencies who
are going to attend.
Model Search America, perhaps the only modeling convention
which discloses its success rate, provided not only the
success rate of representation, but also the success
rate of work after representation:
- The firm notes that between 10% and 20% of models
attending past conventions have been selected for representation,
and about 8% to 10% have gone on to earn money working
as models.
When you only look at the excitement of getting signed,
finding representation with a modeling agency, you can
miss the important issue you addressed, getting signed
but not getting work. Getting paying work is the goal
so it is more significant.
The other issue you raised is also important: the cost
of moving to and living in another city. Anyone who does
not live in New York City or a major market is at a considerable
disadvantage, not only in terms of getting signed, but
also getting work that pays, and pays more than the cost
of living.
Parents and aspiring models are therefore well advised
to consider all the expenses and all the risks at the
beginning. They may find it makes more sense to save
their money for college.
There is an argument for people outside top markets
which says unless you are signed by a top agency, which
has managed to get a very high percentage of its models
work, and high-paying work, the whole thing is not worth
it.
This argument may sound like Linda Evangelista's comment, "I
don't get out of bed for less than $10,000." But
it is not an arrogant approach; it is more realistic.
It recognizes risks and costs.
By the way, when Ms. Evangelista made that world-famous
comment, she was widely criticised, but her remark was
not made in arrogance. It was simply her way of answering
a question about her rates.
To Whom It May Concern:
I never called New York Model Contract —because
I just decided to dump the "middle man" —and
go directly through the agencies.
I actually got a call back with Page Parkes and Pulse
Management.
I just went to the store, bought a pack of Polaroid
film for $12, snapped them, and began emailing those
agencies who accepted email photos.
The others who did not accept email, I just mailed them
off.
So overall I have invested $12 (in addition to the $80
lost to MMS) in my aspiring model career.
And, in my terms, that is not bad considering how much
money I have seen other people on Modeling Scams wasting,
ranging into the "grands."
But I did call up NYMC to ask about their website. They
don't have one. I did not ask why.
Pulse Management does not have a lot of info on their
website www.pulsemanagement.com, but I called up using
a false name, and I asked if they were a talent agency
or just consultants, they said they were an agency.
I also sent them an email yesterday from a separate
email address, asking the same questions to see if they
would change their answers.
I asked what their success rate was, but he said he
didn't understand my question. He said he had not been
asked that before.
Not that that means anything bad, but that's pretty
scary if no one has been asking that question!
It's pretty important to me. So I just rephrased it,
and asked how many models have made it successfully,
and he said to check out their discoveries on their website.
There are maybe 100-200 models, actors, and athletes.
They even have a music group called "Youngstown." I've
never heard of them, though.
I asked, "Do you charge any fees for modeling?" He
told me no. (This was another question that I put in
an email to them to see if they would change their answer.)
I also asked what types of models they used, and he
said basically all of the categories: fashion, editorial,
commercial, yada, yada, yada.
I also asked the income range. He told me that they
don't send out any model to work for less than $60/hr.
The next income range they have is $125/hr, and then
he said from there the sky is the limit.
I suppose this is okay for a beginner to gain experience,
start a portfolio, and then apply for another agency,
but I don't think that this would be a company which
I could try to make a career out of, unless a miracle
happens where I become in demand.
I am pretty keen on keeping track of the modeling agencies
out there, but I have never heard of Pulse. Not that
the income is low, but it's just that a shoot may last
about an hour or two, and unless they find you work several
times in a week, well, I would still be making the same
as if I were working for McDonald's every month.
I know I would be working out slow at first, but I don't
want to end up like the person on this site who said
her daughter got signed, but had no work that paid for
the cost of moving to the area. All AC but no DC.
My advice for aspiring models is: Don't mess around
with these searches and scouts, because they are a waste
of time and money. Submit your snaps straight to the
agency.
Don't go out and get portfolios because most agencies
DON'T want them anyway. Portfolios are created AFTER
you get signed with an agency, NOT beforehand.
So I decided not even to pursue NYMC. I pretty much
threw their info in the trash, and I did not even go
to their seminar on Saturday.
However, what both Page Parkes told me and Pulse was
that even though they may sign me, I still need some
knowledge about the industry, and they directed me to
some books to either check out from my local library
or buy. None of the books were over $10.
N.G.
To Whom It May Concern:
My daughter has been through modeling school training,
participated in IMTA, and has been "selected by
NYMC" to attend a "showcase."
NYMC, which is also known as American Music
Search, Visions Showcase, and New York Model
Contracts, (same folks, same phone number
listings) is most likely a [BLEEP].
It's not so much that they lie; it's what they
don't tell you that is harmful and basically scandalous.
The fact of the matter is NYMC is IN NO WAY
A NECESSARY STEP IN BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL MODEL.
NYMC is a WASTE OF MONEY unless you like attending
these "showcases" or "seminars" to
pay lots of money for information you can obtain from
books or legitimate agents who will work for
you or your child.
Not only that, but I have found that each and every NYMC
employee that I have spoken with
(I can provide names) has been rude, unprofessional,
and has not been empowered to answer any of my questions
directly or adequately.
I have left messages for the Director, Steven March,
to contact me directly, and he has never returned my
phone call (that's just plain rude where I am from).
My recommendation to others is if you hear about a seminar,
or if you are invited to a showcase for NYMC, Visions
Showcase, or American Music Search, RUN THE OTHER WAY,
and DON'T OPEN YOUR PURSE OR WALLET!
M.N.
To Whom It May Concern:
Last night I attended a NYMC/Visions Showcase in Pensacola,
Florida.
Someone stated that they give you five months to prepare
for the Showcase. That is not true, because I auditioned
on the September 23, and the showcase is in two months
on November 23.
I just wanted to correct that comment.
Q.H.
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