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Glamour Model Talent Inc. does it again... I can't believe I also got sucked in... Chicago Illinois
We got sucked into their company because of a baby expo in Tinley Park. There was an advertisement about a baby photo competition for Family Time Magazine. We paid $20 for the entry fee and then after that we could go to their office and pick up a cd of the pics.
We went to this expo in Sept. 06. I finally went downtown May 6, 07 to look at the pics. I asked if my son had what it takes to get into modeling. They of course said yes. But they also said not all kids have what it takes for them to even offer the test pics. I called my wife to see if it was ok to spend the $85 for the test pics, she said ok. This meeting was with Jay Esquis. They said to return in about a week to review the pics with them.
We returned and had a meeting with Gail Spangler. She reviewed the pics with us and told us that her and a group of other people get together every Friday to review the cd's from the week(which was about 96 cds that week). She said my son's cd was the only one they asked to see twice. She then stated that Glamour wanted to compile a portfolio for my son. They would pick up a majority of the cost for the pics. We were told we just had to pay $125 per pose, with 3 poses being taken, and that this was only about 10% of what the whole portfolio cost...ie Glamour was picking up 90% of the cost. We said ok. We were so excited that our son was accepted and that they said only about 5% of the test shots get through for a portfolio opportunity.
We had the portfolio pics taken on 2 seperate days 9-16-07 and 9-23-07. Then we were brought back in about 10 days later to review the pics. Gail was not there that day but Jay Esquis reviewed the pics with us. We looked at all the test shots...about 110 per pose. We picked out the pics w/Jay. After we left picking out the pics my wife got a weird feeling about the whole process b/c when we sat down to look at the pics we sorta felt like Jay should have told us what pics should be in the portfolio, since they were the professionals....but we did most of the picking.
We were told that the portfolio would be ready on 10-23-07. We never heard from anyone. So I started calling them. First thing was Gail was never returning our calls. And when I finally got a hold of her she told me there was a huge delay at the processing studio that they use. So they took the pics to another processing studio. We finally got the pics in early Dec ( i do not have the exact date.)
We were told by Gail that they would contact us if she finds any modeling opportunites for my son.
Over the past two weeks my wife has tried calling them three times to see if there was any kind of input on our son from possible jobs. She was always told that "Gail was not in the office today" or that "Gail was at lunch". My wife left a message each time but has never recieved a call back. My wife did some searching on the net about them the past few nites and found this site about the problems another person had with them. I am feeling like we were taken by them just like the other person said. I believe we will never see any work for him from them.
I should have seen the red flag when there were no pics in their office of their clients on any ads or magazine covers, just like the other person said. There were just photographs of people. These photos could have been of anyone.
We will be contacting the Village of Tinley Park about this situation and also the editors of Family Time Magazine.
Joe
Tinley Park, Illinois
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Matthew Nalett
chicago,Illinois,
United States of America
Hard Truth For Consumers
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, December 10, 2009
Hello i recently started working for Glamour Model Talent Inc in chicago and i am also a Music Promoter in the City of Chicago. I am in charge of the Music Division inside Glamour Model Talent Inc and i am helping musicians, bands, djs and record labels with Artist Development and also as well getting them professional photos taken.
Now i keep hearing all of this stuff that happend in 2007 about that magazine company and also about the photographer charging you $98.00 for a "test" shoot. Ok lets analize that shall we.
The Photographer is Independent Contact with most modeling agencies in chicago they do have to get paid for there work and also as well for touch up, editing and also as well for taking your photos why b***h or complain about it when you are also getting professional photos that are on a Photo CD even if you do not get a job with any agency you still got photos you can give out to potential people who might be needing talent that you find on your own.
1st. Photos will always have to be taken in any modeling type of agency some charge you a "application fee and or registration fee of over $300-$400 so basically your comp cards and printing and photos and everything else is included in Registration or Application Fee with other Talent Agencies.
2nd. Now with Glamour Model Talent Inc yes they charge you $98.00 to do a "test" photoshoot and they have you return the next week to review the photos, pick up your photo cd and also as well discuss with you about the printing for the comp cards and to further discuss potential jobs or whatever.
3rd. To be honest there is no "LOOK" for tv, commercials, film and whatever else might come around where people need talent however since talent companies work in volume and bulk it might take time for you to get your gig since companies (ad agencies or print agencies or casting calls) are looking for a certain height, width, size, race and demographics so the biggest part is to see who is a match in the system database. I know this is true since i was emailed by a lady who runs a ad agency looking for models and they wanted a certain demographics for a alcoholic drink ad.
The BBB is sort of hit and miss if the company (no matter what it is) does not pay there due's to be registered with them there Rating automatically drops does not matter if they have good or bad ratings.
For Scam companies the State of Illinois Consumers Affairs Dept and also as well the Chicago attorney general office would shut them down Quick if they were found out to be a scam they do not tolerate scam type of industries in chicago.
However like any major company you have your "Bad" apples where they tend to mislead people and or give people the wrong impression i have talked to the owner of the Modeling agency and he told me all about the issues that happened in 2007 regarding some Magazine agency looking for talent, so yes they had there issues back then however the 4-6 bad remarks over the hundreds of good remarks it sort of out weighs the bad remarks. But people live and thrive off of bad press and also as well they like all that drama so they tend to read the bad stuff rather then the good stuff.
Needless to say IF you come to a interview and they want to have photos taken for your test shoot or photo shoot well its really up to you to PAY for it? They are not really pulling your leg and or making you take the photos you can walk out of any agency at anytime. However possibly when you go to a agency have them show you recent or past work orders? that would be a good reassurance if you see proof on paper and also as well track record.
You see i am not just defending the talent agency i work for but well for everyone who does modeling and talent in chicago every agency who tries to find you jobs everyone must charge the client something either photos, registration, comp cards, and take a percent from jobs got for you. Also mostly for talent agencies since they work in BULK and MASS amounts of people are signed to the agency they have to pick and choose who does the next job so give them a break.
MY food for thought.
Kenneth
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Glamour was always helpful, not a scam business.
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, April 29, 2009
I was a model with Glamour Model Talent for four years. This agency has been
extremely successful in finding, developing, and placing talent with top casting and
advertising agents in the entertainment and modeling industry.
John Vuolo has been very successful in the industry for over 18 years placing talent
with agents and managers and she takes these incorrect statements seriously. He has an excellent reputation and finds these statements slanderous.
Glamour Model Talent, Inc. has worked very hard to have an excellent reputation in
the community and has proven that by the number of success talent stories.