OTM (On Track Modeling) aka
AMG (Alpha Model Group)
To Whom It May Concern:
A photographer told me about this site because I told
him I might sign with OTM.
This is terrible to hear because I just signed with
them!
It is a non-exclusive contract.
They didn't really pressure me to use their photographer.
Lesley, one of the scouts, was very nice and said I could
find my own photographer if I wanted to.
I have gone to many model searches, and OTM is the only
one that doesn't charge a huge fee just to work with
them.
If you want to use their photographer, you can pay them
little by little; the first payment is about $129.
I just wondered if anyone could give me advice on whether
or not I should pursue a modeling career through them.
They didn't seem fake at all. They talked about all
kinds of modeling and how people get scammed.
I'm afraid of getting scammed now that I have read the
articles on this site.
I would like somebody else's insight on this matter
as soon as possible.
Thank you,
The fact that OTM talked about modeling scams does not
mean they are not running a modeling scam. One of the
biggest modeling scams out there right now talks about
modeling scams in its marketing. Why? Because they believe
people will trust them if they either expose modeling
scams or say they are different?
The fact that OTM does not charge a lot of money up
front like other modeling companies does not mean it
is legitimate. You said the first payment can be $129.
What is the total amount when you add up all the
photography expenses?
You as a model may be required to pay them up front
or little by little, but apparently, based on two reports,
OTM does not pay their models immediately. They are the
ONLY modeling agency I have heard about that keeps the
models' money for month after month after month after
month. THAT IS A RED FLAG!
A modeling agency should NOT get money from photography.
This is another red flag. It is a CLEAR conflict of interest.
Scam agencies do get their money from photography, and
this is well known; it is also why reputable agencies
do not make money from photography, because it makes
them look like a scam agency.
Reputable modeling agencies do not make a cent from
photography; they make money only after the model works.
Those which do require or strongly suggest a particular
photographer do not require an upfront payment; the model
does not pay for the photos until after the first modeling
job; it comes out of the model's first check.
If OTM is as good as they say, and they are not a modeling
scam, let them prove it. They can prove it by not charging
the models for photos until after the models work.
Shop around. One of the biggest mistakes made by aspiring
models is not shopping around. Because there are so many
modeling scams out there, you are best advised to avoid
any which have a high number of complaints or are involved
with a serious conflict of interest, and to top it all
off, do not have offices in your city or even your state.
Do you really think a modeling agency could get away
with delayed payments if they were only in the same cities
as the models?
The last time I heard a modeling agency was not paying
its models, it was exposed as a modeling scam by FOX
on the evening news.
|
