Face National Models and Talent
To Whom It May Concern:
My five-year-old daughter was chosen by Face
National Models and Talent in Houston.
I took her to the open call for the first interview
on a Wednesday. We filled out a short one-page form,
put it in a basket, and then waited for an hour to be
called.
While waiting in line, there was a young lady (about
19) who had signed a contract with Face the night before.
I should have thought twice, after looking at her, but
I didn't.
Our interview consisted of my daughter walking up to
a table for a young man to look at her. He handed me
a blank form identical to the first form I had filled
out.
While waiting we were informed that if we received one
of these forms we were being asked to come back that
evening.
Our first interview was at 5:45 pm, and we had to return
at 8:00 pm dressed to impress in business attire.
We were told to be on time or too bad. I live approximately
an hour from the hotel, which gave me very little time
to get back.
Once we came back, we entered into a room of 187 call
backs along with many parents.
The room didn't accommodate enough sitting room, so
about 50-75 people stood.
Carrie began to ramble on about how Face is the best,
and how your looks were everything in this career.
I modeled briefly as a young teen and know what this
business is about, but I never expected to hear what
I heard.
I give the guy credit; he was very humorous and to the
point regarding looks.
He bashed several other companies and their modeling
camps. However, he never once really focused on money
Face makes off their photo shoots.
He made it sound as if you could use your own hand-picked
professional or theirs.
Being the skeptic that I am, I phoned their office to
verify the business, and I also went to their website.
After reviewing their website, I bought in. I made my
call back time the next day and she was in.
I was asked if I wanted to use their photographer, but
declined. Then I was told to have my pictures/comp cards
in hand by my next meeting in August 2002 (two weeks
to be exact).
I've been frantically searching for a good photograper
since mid-July. I also went shopping to buy a few new
outfits and shoes.
I found one photographer, but after meeting I didn't
feel secure with the outcome.
After my meeting, I came home to find a letter from
Face in the mail. What this letter said is not what we
were told in the meeting with Carrie.
The letter contains sentences such as:
- Read & learn your model information book (never
received one).
- Bring your photography for the agent to review at
the workshop (what workshop?).
- At your preview the agent will select the pictures
for your composite cards (we were told in the initial
meeting to already have them).
- And last but far from least, you must use Face to
supply your composite cards only (when did that rule
come into play?).
I came back to look at the Face website again and here
I am. I was linked to this site first. This site made
me call a friend who knows the in's and out's of the
Texans football team to check up on a statement made
by Carrie during the initial meeting.
Carrie had stated that they'd been contracted to do
promotional work for the Houston Texans, but from what
my friend has said they have not.
I'm glad I dug for information, because tomorrow my
daughter would have been at an expensive $400 photoshoot
with someone I'm unsure about to begin with.
But at least I now know that I have enough connections
here to find someone legitimate.
I only took my daughter to the Face National Models
and Talent open call because I was not thinking clearly.
Thank you for your website.
C.D.S.
P.S. I have a correction to make. The one photographer
I found was very nice and seemed great with my kid. She
was the one who made me go back to the website, by asking
me for the web address. Had she not asked for it, I wouldn't
have tried to go back. This is what me made unsure.
When trying to go back, I got Modeling Scams. She emailed
me this morning wanting the exact name of the company,
because she has another young lady coming in for a very
hasty photoshoot. She said she wants to make sure the
girl knows this information if she's using the same agency.
I have every intention of informing the Houston Police
Department of this agency's scam.
I will also inform the radio station 104-KRBE and the
Radisson Astrodome Hotel. They need to know that they
are contributing to the problem.
I myself did not become a victim, but I could have.
I hope everyone begins to notify the authorities and
anyone contributing to the problem. There are very young
teens and parents of small children that keep getting
scammed.
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