What next?
Daniel T.
My daughter gets a call from John Casablancas, apparently because she
signed up to win something at the mall. She didn't win but according to
the person we talked to she was referred to the center as a "possible
model". I talked to the director of the center and she assured me this
isn't a pitch for the school so we went.
She (along with a bunch of other people) did the runway thing and had a
personal interview. At the interview, they said my daughter was a
"perfect petite" and "has great hair". They want to do some photos that
will cost us $20 but we get to keep the negatives, and they talked about
"developing" her.
They talked about the school some, I again said I am not interested in
it.
Despite that, they asked us to come back for a follow-up interview next
week and we have no idea what to expect. Could this be some kind of scam
where they get her hopes up and then hit her with the school as the
"only way to make it"? I really don't want to go through that, but if
this has a chance of being legit, I don't want to blow it...
--
Is your company in Tampa?
Improve it's understanding of OO.
Hire me... <http://home1.gte.net/danielt3/resume.html>
KellyL
"Daniel T." <notda...@gte.net> wrote:
**Maybe you can tell me what is going on...
**
**My daughter gets a call from John Casablancas, apparently because she
**signed up to win something at the mall. She didn't win but according to
**the person we talked to she was referred to the center as a "possible
**model". I talked to the director of the center and she assured me this
**isn't a pitch for the school so we went.
**
**She (along with a bunch of other people) did the runway thing and had a
**personal interview. At the interview, they said my daughter was a
**"perfect petite" and "has great hair". They want to do some photos that
**will cost us $20 but we get to keep the negatives, and they talked about
**"developing" her.
**
**They talked about the school some, I again said I am not interested in
**it.
**
**Despite that, they asked us to come back for a follow-up interview next
**week and we have no idea what to expect. Could this be some kind of scam
**where they get her hopes up and then hit her with the school as the
**"only way to make it"? I really don't want to go through that, but if
**this has a chance of being legit, I don't want to blow it...
Casablancas is anything but legit - it is a franchise. John Casablancas
of ELITE models has licensed his name... If your daughter was cold
called, and they are continuing to promote the 'school', RUN, RUN, RUN
and make sure your chequebook and credit cards are in your possesion
when you leave:
http://www.angelfire.com/space/modelingscams/letters.john.casablancas.02.
html
Modeling Scams - Letters - John Casablancas Modeling School
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2002/07/25/theFearlessConsumerOneBorn.
html
The HooK: THE FEARLESS CONSUMER- One born every...
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/politics/columns/citypolitic/186
6/
Girls Interrupted €
Bill
KellyL wrote:
> Casablancas is anything but legit - it is a franchise. John Casablancas
> of ELITE models has licensed his name... If your daughter was cold
> called, and they are continuing to promote the 'school', RUN, RUN, RUN
> and make sure your chequebook and credit cards are in your possesion
> when you leave:
Daniel, KellyL is right on target about Casablancas. RUN!!!
I want to add this comment:
when Kelly mentions "franchise".... she is talking about a corporate
franchise, in which
individual talent agencies in various cities "buy" the rights to use the
name and the
"model" of agenting by said organization. And what Casablancas/Elite
does is to market
to innocents.... the gimmick involves promising fame and fortune as soon
as you sign.
Problem is that in the signing process, you are strongly URGED to take
in-house classes
which cost thousands of dollars, and are required to use in-house
photographers where
you will pay $500 for headshots whereas you could hire an independent
photographer
who specializes in actor photography might charge you $150.
The other kind of "franchise" is that which is allowed by the unions,
SAG and AFTRA.
Check out sag.com for what this means. A talent agency may not run an
in-house
school. A talent agency may not require your to list favored
photographers. A
talent agent may not charge any up front fees. A talent agent must
focus on one
thing: getting an actor auditions for which he/she is suited, and for
which, once
the actor is hired, they take their 10% commission and further ensure
that the actor
is duly compensated. And to do anything else is a conflict of interest.
I've been discussing scam agencies with an established L.A. casting
director who is
also a member of CSA (Casting Society of America). She sent me this
post earlier
this week. I have her permission to quote her post.... and if you want
to follow
up, email me privately, and I'll give you her name and email address.
"Dear Bill...... How right you are.... It is these very types of schools
that
take hugh amounts of money.... as you have stated.... and make promises
to
thousands upon thousands of unsuspecting innocent girls and boys....(
But
mostly little girls... who have wonderful dreams of becoming top models
or
actresses ) only to find out that most of these schools are more like
finishing and or etiquette schools..... Their Pitch.... is usually
where most
girls hang out.... and of course that is at the Shopping Malls all
across
America.... If there were ever a count of how many kids were solicited
while
they were in a group of friend shopping that the Malls... I can go on
and on
about these Models/Acting so called schools..... I know lots and lots
from
hearing many many horror stories in the 15 years that I have been a
casting
director and acting coach... Please If ever I can be a part of
regulating
these types of places let me know.... Respectfully... xxxx xxxxxxx
Break a leg,
Bill Smith
Director
THE ACTING STUDIO
http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio
de Valois
You'll end up out of money, out of luck, and your kid's self-esteem destroyed!
Casablancas has been investigated by nearly every Better Business Bureau in the
States and barely stays out of trouble with tricky wording of contracts.
"Daniel left this mess on Sat, 24 Aug 2002 20:54:28 GMT for The Way to clean up:
Tao te Carl
The Starmaker
>
> Maybe you can tell me what is going on...
>
> My daughter gets a call from John Casablancas, apparently because she
> signed up to win something at the mall.
The minute she signed up for something she will be put on a
mailing list of people with an interest in whatever they are selling.
> She didn't win but according to
> the person we talked to she was referred to the center as a "possible
> model".
Meaning, someone with an interest in what they are selling.
It's called a hot Lead.
>I talked to the director of the center and she assured me this
> isn't a pitch for the school so we went.
>
> She (along with a bunch of other people) did the runway thing and had a
> personal interview. At the interview, they said my daughter was a
> "perfect petite" and "has great hair".
What did they say about her face?
Are they only going to take pictures of her hair??
> They want to do some photos that
> will cost us $20 but we get to keep the negatives, and they talked about
> "developing" her.
"Developing" her? That sounds like a long term money making venture.
Max out your credit cards!
>
> They talked about the school some, I again said I am not interested in
> it.
I thought you said they weren't going to pitch the school.
Is that Lie number one?
>
> Despite that, they asked us to come back for a follow-up interview next
> week and we have no idea what to expect.
Maybe they want to take more pictures of her "great hair"!
> Could this be some kind of scam
> where they get her hopes up and then hit her with the school as the
> "only way to make it"? I really don't want to go through that, but if
> this has a chance of being legit, I don't want to blow it...
Blow what? What is it you're expecting?
I don't get it?
You want your kid to be a hair model?
I'm missing something here.
You should ask them directly, Does she have a face to be a professional
model?
If they keep saying she has Great Hair than you probably got yourself a
little monkey with great hair!
Now I know that might sound cruel, but it could be true.
If somebody is trying to set me up with a blind date and all they can
tell
me is that "she has great hair", I'm running for the hills!
I don't have any children but I notice that ALL parents think that their
children
are beautiful. I don't know why that is...
I notice that the parents of the kids on the show "American Idol" really
think
their child can really sing and have a beautiful voice but that isn't
the reality.
They sound horrible!! But you'll never convince the parents of that.
I believe that a lot of Models type of businesses prey on the belief
that All
parents think their children are beautiful...but the reality is that
most people
are just normal looking and just a very small percentage of people pass
for
beautiful.
If your child is as beautiful as you believe, then she will never blow
it.
Because the beautiful people always get what they want.
If all they can say is that she is a perfect petie (whatever that means)
and she has great hair...
I wonder what her face looks like.
People stretch the truth for money.
The Starmaker
What next? Don't you feel people trying to put their hands in your
pocket,
taking your money out and putting it their pockets, using your
daughter's
innocence as a devise to enter your pocket? Are you going to let others
use your children to get to your pocketbook??
If your child wants to be a model, tell her when she's eighteen she
can use her own money to get into modeling.
Unless of course You were planning on using your daughter to make a
living
on her looks. Are you trying to make her the breadwinner of your home?
Maybe, you don't want to blow it.