AMS Models
To Whom It May Concern:
I looked over your letters
section to find out whether the agency I
am interested in had a track record of fraud. The
agency, however, was not listed.
The agency name is AMS Models & Coordinators or
AMS Models Inc. They are located in Syracuse and their
web address is www.amsmodels.com.
I really don't want to be a victim of a modeling scam.
I was scammed once before, and I failed to report the
agency.
Can you please tell me whether AMS Models is a genuine
Model Management Agency?
Thank you,
No complaints on record, but they charge models for
training:
- We offer our Models the opportunity to enhance their
expertise by offering seminars on all of the skills
they need to become confident and well-rounded professionals
in the field of modeling. This is something we provide
to make you more marketable. We make our money by Booking
You.
-
- These seminars are provided at a reasonable cost
and taught by industry professionals. Some of the topics
we have covered in the past are: Modeling Basics, Runway
Modeling, Commercial Acting and the Do's and Don'ts
of working on a photo shoot.
What are their prices? They say the rate is "reasonable." Free
is reasonable. Reputable agencies train their models
free. Seminars or classes, it's the same thing: paying
for training. See the section on modeling
schools.
Find out how much the classes cost and if the payment
is due after the model works taken from the first paycheck.
They said:
- We provide major manufacturers, distributors, and
cosmetic companies with product promotion services.
AMS is a valuable outsource for in-store product representation
and demonstrations.
Promotional "modeling" is at the bottom of
modeling in terms of earnings. It typically does not
pay well, maybe $15/hour, but only for an hour or two.
You can ask if they get better rates or longer hours.
The other thing they do is (presumably low-end) fashion
shows. Does this company do any print modeling? Or only
promotions? What type of modeling do you want to do?
They also said:
- At AMS Models Inc. we have taken over 20 years of
professional experience in the Syracuse, Rochester
and Albany Modeling market and used it to form one
of Central New York's Largest and most comprehensive
Model Management, Product Promotions, and Fashion Event
Coordinating group.
Fashion shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan can
pay supermodels like Gisele $7,000-$10,000/hour, but
fashion shows in less popular cities can run at the promotional
rate of about $15/hour and earn the models less than
$100.
They say they are one of the "largest," but
this may mean very little if there is little work available,
or if the little available work only pays very little.
The point is, the financial risk is much higher for
you, as a new model, having to invest in photos and classes
with the distinct possibility you will never earn more
than you invest.
Faced with this risk, the important thing to find out
is when the payments on photos/training are due. It would
be reasonable and fair because of the risk for you if
the company makes the payments due after they get you
work, taking it from the first paycheck.
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