Booking Actors and Models
(bammodels.com)
To Whom It May Concern:
I am trying to find out about Robert Amatruda & Associates and Booking
Actors & Models (bammodels.com).
They are making a swing though the country having "auditions." I
attended the Sept. 28 convention in Dallas, and my daughter
has received a call back from them.
I am supposed to meet them tomorrow. On the phone they
said that they "very interested" in my daughter,
and want us to go to Los Angles to take photos. These
photo packages range from $1,000 to $6,000, not to mention
having to pay air and hotel in L.A.!!!
Needless to say, this sent up the RED flags and I started
investigating. This is how I found your site. Based of
the info and cautions I read here and other places, I
think you might have helped save me some money.
Nevertheless, I was wondering if you knew anything about
them?
Thanks for the informative site.
W.,
Booking Actors and Models (bammodels.com) has
an unsatisfactory record at the BBB. The record says
they commit fraud.
BOOKING ACTORS & MODELS (BAM)
7030 Hollywood Blvd
HOLLYWOOD, CA
- We rate this company as having an unsatisfactory
business performance record.
-
- Complainants allege verbal misrepresentations are
made to prospective clients regarding the company's
ability to procure employment, and the likelihood for
work in the industry.
-
- Other customers complain that the total costs for
services was much higher than the cost originally explained.
-
- Requests for refunds are generally denied.
-
- On February 2, 2002, we verified this company is
not licensed as an agency through the Department of
Industrial Relations Labor Standards Division.
-
- This means that the company cannot represent, promote,
procure, or attempt to procure employment, auditions,
or other types of bookings on behalf of clients.
-
- If you have questions about licensing requirements,
you may call the Department at 415-703-4846.
It sounds a lot like the BBB record for Options Talent
(now known as Trans Continental Talent), which also puts
pictures on websites.
The Booking Actors and Models website
FAQ had the right question but the wrong answer. They
asked: "What are the percentages
and success rates of finding jobs on this website?"
Then they answered:
- First of all, let us correct one misconception. We
can't get you jobs, only you can do that. What we will
do is match your profile to every casting that fits
your type. Presently, our computer log states that
we generate over 1,000 castings-matches per month.
That means our mailings include, and our messengers
and couriers carry, over 1,000 headshots and/or zed-comp
cards to Casting Directors and photographers EVERY
month. Success rates are gauged by the following: Availability.
Representation (management and/or agency representation).
Images (quality of photographs/reproductions [i.e.,
zeds-comps/headshots]). Experience (tear-sheets and
resumes). Dedication. Training (for actors). It should
be obvious then that success rates vary widely on each
individual. However, you can view who's getting called
back on castings by viewing the BAM NEWS link from
the BAMmodels.com home page. The number of models/actors
on our web is growing daily - it is now in the hundreds.
The more dedicated people we represent the more attractive
we become to Casting Directors.
Let us correct one misconception. The internet is not
the place to go to get discovered or find work. The published
success stories of picture websites leading to modeling
careers are few and far between. The place to get discovered
is at a modeling agency. Walk in. You don't need a computer,
a computer log, or a digital picture. You don't need
to pay a cent.
They said: "It should be obvious then that success
rates vary widely on each individual." What are
they trying to say? They ask for upfront fees but they
don't give you their success rate. What is wrong with
this picture?
The BAM website spiel and non-answer about their success
rate matches exactly what you would expect after reading
the BBB record which said Booking Actors and
Models creates a misconception: "verbal
misrepresentations are made to prospective clients regarding
the company's ability to procure employment, and the
likelihood for work in the industry."
The pathetic answer to their question is as pathetic
as the answer one mother received when she asked the
organizers of a modeling convention about their success
rate: "It depends what the agencies are looking
for."
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