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.

Redacted Info


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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