Model Scout
To Whom It May Concern:
I have recently become a scout for OTG. After scouting
a few people, I have heard some negative stuff about
the company.
This sparked my curiosity, and so I went online to check
out what was out there, only to discover more negative
stuff.
Is there any model scouting company out there that is
not a scam? Can you please tell me who they are?
T.T.
T.,
I will assume you are looking for a job as a model scout
at a reputable company.
If you want to become a model scout, first work as a
model booker. Model bookers make the best model scouts.
When you are a model booker, you know what models the
clients want. If you aren't, how could you?
Bill Ford of Ford Models in New York said the following
about one scouting company: "They walk up and down
the streets with [scouts] who've never been in the business
before. Why would they know what to look for?"
Model scouting firms are a fairly new idea. Their track
record is bad. Their performance is poor. Are their scouts
even qualified to scout? The scouts do not have up-to-the-minute
understanding of what clients want. So they present their
finds to agents, but 90% of the time the agents tell
them they bombed, because the agencies choose only about
10% of the models they scouted.
A few of the scouts in model scouting firms may have
background as agents or bookers, but the fashion industry,
etc., changes. To be an effective scout, you need current
understanding of the latest trends, that is, the latest
demands of clients. This is why successful and growing
agencies would want scouts who are, first and foremost,
bookers.
Model scouting companies are apparently or evidently
not under contract with top agencies. The agencies have
their own scouts —who have industry experience
and current insight —so they are qualified to scout
models.
Some of the top agencies not only have their own scouts
but they also have their own model searches. Ford has
Super Model of The World; I think Next may have their
own search; and Elite has their Look of The Year contest.
So to answer your question, no, I don't know of a model
scouting company which is not a scam. I am not saying
all scouting companies are scams; I am saying I don't
know any which aren't. There isn't one I would dare to
recommend.
If the scouting firms are ever under contract with a
top agency, or when they require top agents to screen
aspiring models before they pay to attend conventions,
or charge aspiring models only after they are
discovered, I'll take another look.
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