International Modeling and Talent
Association (IMTA)
To Whom It May Concern:
My daughter is a "student" at a John Robert
Powers Agency.... Recently she attended an audition for IMTA International
Model & Talent Association, and was "selected" to
go to New York for their model and talent scout program.
It costs $4,000. This is a lot of money for us to be
spending if my daughter is just a "fill-in" so
they can make their money.
My daughter is serious about this, and wants to be a "super
star"; however, she has been to these things before,
and I feel like it was a scam. Is this a scam as well?
I need to know as soon as possible, so if you could
get back to me very soon, I would appreciate it very
much.
Thank you,
C.T.
C.,
You are right to question the legitimacy and cost: $4,000 is
a lot of money. Does that include airfare etc.? Can you
provide more details about their model and talent scout
program? Is it just another modeling convention?
How long does it last? And what is the success rate?
Is there a money-back guarantee?
The IMTA website seems to indicate IMTA,
the "International Modeling and Talent Agency," offers
week-long modeling conventions. It does not say how many
attend nor, more importantly, how many get work.
When you click on the Events button on their website,
it tells you about buildings. It said the Westin Bonaventure
Hotel in Los Angeles is "one of the 10
most photographed buildings in the world." This
is ridiculous. What are they selling? A vacation?
The event in New York is from July 20-17, 2002. Is that
the one your daughter was "selected" to
attend?
- The Hilton New York, the site for the IMTA New
York, New York 2002, July 20-27. The Hilton New York
is Manhattan's largest hotel, with more than 2,000
guestrooms and suites, and numerous meeting and
banquet rooms, including four ballrooms. The Hilton
commands a city block on the Avenue of the Americas,
between West 53rd and 54th Street. Like the nearby
Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall, the Hilton
New York is a defining enduring icon in vibrant midtown
Manhattan.
Why are they telling you this? Again, it reads like
a travel advertisement, and it says nothing about the
purpose of going to the modeling convention. It says
nothing about model success rates.
You wrote, "She has been to these things before
and I feel like it was a scam. Is this a scam as
well?" The President of the Models Guild, an organization
that seeks to protect young talent from modeling scams,
etc., said modeling conventions can be fun, because you
travel and get to meet new people, but it is probably
not the best use of money for those who are serious about
being discovered.
Why on earth does an aspiring model have to stay at
the best and most expensive hotel to get discovered?
It's totally ridiculous, a serious waste of money, fluff.
Do you know of one supermodel who was discovered at a
modeling convention? I've heard of a disco, a beach,
a hair salon, etc. All places where it cost absolutely
nothing.
One of the last stories I heard was about the girl on
the cover of a recent issue of Elle magazine. How did
she get discovered? She walked into a modeling agency.
Before she left they signed her.
Related: Powers
That Be
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