Elite Pro Models (Grand
Rapids, MI)
(This company is not the Elite
in NY, and not affiliated with Elite in NY)
To Whom It May Concern:
I am from the Muskegon area, and recently found a "modeling
scout" using the company name of "Elite Pro
Models" with a person named "James M. Kavanagh" as
its President.
The website address is: www.elitepromodels.com.
The office phone is: (616) 363-6890.
The office is located at "4920 Plainfield NE, Suite
12, Grand Rapids, MI 49525."
I was wondering if this person or group is listed on
any known scam lists or if it is legit. I am only inquiring
as I am new to this field of work.
Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you soon.
J.Q.
J.,
The first question is about the name. Is it affiliated
with Elite in New York? Evidently no. Why are they using
the same name as one of the top agencies in their name
if they are working in the same industry? How is it not
confusingly similar to Elite Models? Whose models are
obviously professionals. How it is not a trademark violation?
The name itself raises the basic question are they abusing
a famous name for their business? If you are in the industry,
you cannot not know about Elite, so they cannot plead
ignorance. There are scam agencies and companies in this
industry who use famous names (celebrities and agencies)
to make people think they are large, established, successful,
and respected.
You said they have an office but the website itself
seems to suggest it is nothing more than a website. The
site pushes the internet as an exposure tool, using the
typical pipe dream sales pitch. The internet is going
to cause a revolution in the modeling industry. It does
not look as if they offer anything more than internet
comp cards.
- Still skeptical the internet will revolutionize the
modeling industry? Remember a few years ago when
people scoffed at the notion that jobseekers could
simply post their resumes online and not have mail
out dozens of resumes to find a job? Or that people
around the world could post items for sale and others
would bid on them? Well internet companies have
proven that forward thinking will dominate in the 21st
century. We welcome you to join us as we play
our role in the technology revolution.
There were so many people who felt the internet would
change everything. But the stories of dot-com business
failures are everywhere.
It appears as if it is very new. According to the whois
domain record, the domain was registered less than six
months ago:
- Domain Name: ELITEPROMODELS.COM.
Created on: Thu, Jun 06, 2002
Have they done anything? Where are the success stories?
Where are the tear sheets? You said they scout. They
called themselves a "world scouting organization."
- As a scouting company, we pride ourselves on being
the gateway to that industry. Scouting is an industry
term that means finding new models. Our job is to find
the future models for the modeling industries.
Whom have they discovered? Has anyone got work through
their website? What is the professional background of
the leader? Was he a model scout? Was he a booker?
They claimed: "Agencies contact Elite Pro Models
requesting the models that they are interested in working
with or representing."
Really? Which agencies? Why don't they tell you? Are
there any names and quotes from these agencies saying
they use the website and they have selected a model?
What is "exposure" if nobody gets work? It's
a myth. It's really just exposure to the possibility
of exposure. The whole internet revolution theory is
just that, a theory.
Do they ask for money? Is this a free internet portfolio
hosting service?
I don't know what information you were given, or what
you can provide, but based on their website, there is
not enough information to make any kind of financial
commitment.
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