International Modeling and Talent
Association (IMTA)
To Whom It May Concern:
We have a contract to pay $800 now —which is non-refundable —and
have $5,300 left until December 11 so we can go to the
IMTA - Los Angeles Convention.
John Robert Powers was the company that called us and "picked" us
after entering a Mall. The John Robert Powers Director
is John Velthuis.
John Robert Powers had a company come to interview over
250 of us; that company was United Model & Talent
(James Gholston). I have not been able to find this company
through the internet.
All documents signed refer to us going to LA for the
IMTA convention. It does say that IMTA and John Roberts
Powers do not guarantee contracts with agents, etc.
We are liable for photo shoot, portfolio, etc.
Please let me know asap if this is legit. We have our
organization meeting with the school this Friday, and,
if we are to cancel, we must do so within 10 days.
Thanks so much,
P.H.
P.,
IMTA is running the biggest modeling scam out there,
some people believe, because they have the most extreme
prices, but no guarantees, and no checks and balances
set against an extreme conflict of interest.
The point is they don't screen applicants before the
convention. They don't ask the agents who are going to
be there to screen the aspiring models before they or
their parents spend thousands of dollars.
Why don't they do the logical thing and first do what
NY agents ask: send pictures of the potential models
to the top NY agencies?
Because if they did, hundreds of their parents would
not pay $6,100. The agents would not want to see them.
They would not waste their time or money when they knew
the agents were not interested.
$6,100 for a modeling convention is totally ridiculous!
This is the most expensive modeling convention I have
ever heard of in my life. Other conventions charge less
than $500, but they have the same NY agents.
These people are obviously trying to make as much money
as possible. It is a multi-million-dollar business. A
thousand people paying $6,100 = $6,100,000.
There are two modeling schools which are used to recruit
big spenders: John Robert Powers and Barbizon. These
two businesses have created a closed system.
In the closed system potential models end up believing
two myths: 1) they need to go to a modeling school to
get discovered and signed by an agency; and, 2) they
need to attend a modeling convention to get discovered
and signed by and agency. Neither one is true except
according to their reality.
John Roberts Power and Barbizon and IMTA create their
own reality. Their reality is aspiring models must attend
the school to attend the convention, or they must be
referred by the school to attend the convention.
But their closed system is not THE system. It is simply
their version of reality to make millions. It is the
American modeling cartel.
But the American modeling cartel does not have a monopoly
on how to get discovered by a modeling agency. You can
walk into a local modeling agency on your own and get
signed. This does happen. You can also walk into a New
York modeling agency and get signed. And this also happens.
The smallest and the largest modeling agencies do not
require attendance at expensive modeling conventions,
or even cheap modeling conventions, to get signed. Nor
do they require modeling school attendance or graduation.
Modeling agencies will accept photo submissions —which
cost next to nothing because the photos can be Polaroids
and do not need to be professional —and they also
have their own open calls FREE.
You said: "We are liable for photo shoot, portfolio." Aspiring
models do not need a professional photo shoot or a portfolio
to get discovered. This is a huge myth perpetuated by
those who want to make money selling expensive photos.
It is a modeling photography scam.
Why? Because top NY agencies themselves do not ask for
and do not want professional photo submissions. They
want Polaroids which may cost $12. Others pay as much
as $1,200 for photos which they don't need, and agencies,
even if they are signed, will not use.
The best route is to go directly to the agencies, cut
out all the people who are trying to take your money.
As you yourself noted, they have no guarantees. Why pay
thousands to people who offer no guarantee when you can
get what you want free or for next to nothing?
Even the modeling schools like John Robert Powers are
no guarantee anyone will get work as a model. Which is
why people including a modeling and talent agency president
say they are a complete scam.
The top agencies do not look for modeling school graduates.
It gives the aspiring model no advantage in getting signed.
They want to see their face and figure, not their diploma.
And most agencies who sign new models, the BBB says,
teach their models what they need to know FREE.
There is a deceitful web of modeling school scams, modeling
convention scams, and modeling photography scams.
Are you at risk of being trapped by, or falling victim
to, all three?
Related: Powers
That Be
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