Scout
Not Mentioned,#2UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 19, 2002
I just got into this company a few weeks ago, currently known as Trans Continental Talent. I have not yet discovered all the scams associated with the company, but myself and a few other scouts are just now realizing the poor set up of this company. When I asked my supervisor about the web site (under construction pages, dead links, and blockades) the responce I was given was it is all because of the new merger with trans continental records. the site has to be updated, and they are currently working to solve the problem....I have not seen any indication that that is the case. Inside this company, none of the departments talk with one another, each office has an office director who speaks with a rep from the coorporate office regularly to keep updated with the company events. A whole office conference call is conducted about every 2 weeks or so. Durring the conference call, all employees sit in the "fly by night" office, and listen to an unidentified coorporate rep talk about the statistic of the enrolments that month, and any upcomming plans or events, which seem to always be "in the works" or "not ready to make comments about". We are told nothing about the rest of the company, we as scouts are told the same things the talents are told. We have several agency's on our site that represent out models, and we have several clients that directly book out clients. In out training manual it lists: Boss New York LA Models Karin Models City Model Management ID Fusion Model Management New York Model Management T Management Wilhelmina Clariol Sony Music Marie Claire Magazine Yoplait Puma WB Network Empire Magazine MTV Macy's Wal-Mart Pontiac Cartoon Network Michael Jackson Pepsi Fox Network Televison Bride's Magazine From my research I have done tonight alone, I have discovered that several of the clients listed have disputed with TCT, and claim that they have never signed, or used any models from the site. I don't know what is or isn't true yet. I am going to approach coorporate with the information I've gathered tonight. I'll see if I can come up with some more answers for you. I'm very sorry for the anguish the company caused you, please don't blaim the scouts most of us are as ignorant as most of the "talent" approached on the street.
Tey
St. Petersburg,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, September 02, 2002
Okay Danny Boy, now that you have responded to the question..... explain to everyone out there why this 'under construction' site has a problem when Alex owns Spectrum Dreams and other technology companies that create and support the sites? AND why does this company think it is okay to continue to tell potential and enrolled talent that they are getting this service now when it is not up and running? (and has not ever been) Aside from that Danny? Do you get charged back your commision when a talent de-enrolls? Did not think so! AND why is this company only worth 6 cents on the stock market if it makes soooo much money? Of course you probably can not answer this question because you have been comfortable being a part of a rip off! OR do you and so many others simply still believe in what you are doing? I actually feel bad that I ever convinced anyone to enroll with this company. What are they going to do with all the people who have paid their non-refundable fees when they are out of business? One last question Danny. Why has the site changed titles from Options Talent to Options? Why is there a new copywritten name of Options models? Or are you like the rest? Not realizing the fine details which subtly take over without question! I believe that would be enough to keep you seeking for a little while. I am sure that they have a good 'reason' that they will be prepared to tell any who ask.(and why should employees have to ask after the facts anyway?) Of course the most obvious reason may be that they sold the sports franchise to Tom Weinerd (or however you spell his last name)(or did anyone realize that either?) and with this they must change from talent to models due to this split. Good luck to you Danny Boy.
Danny
Orlando,#4UPDATE Employee
Sun, September 01, 2002
The represented side of the site is not for models signing through Options that have gotten representation. Options is allowing any legitimate modeling agency to post their models on that part of the site. As part of tyhe service Options builds a website for the agencies posting their models. It is all part of Options' mission to help the industry go digital. The reason the section is taking a whle is it is being launched with over 100 agencies and each of those sites must be built before it launches. Once it is launched any model that is sighned by one of those agencies will have their composite posted on that models site as well as on the Options site. So a model could then be represented by several agencies and have multiple digital composites (each with different pictures) for just $20 per month (after the initial $595)
james edward
philadelphia,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, August 23, 2002
You metioned that when you do click on a models name that you would only get there first name and there last initial. I would hope that is correct because I believe that is the agency trying to protect the models interest. How would you like it if you were a model and ever one in the nation had your First and Last name and area that you lived! I dont think so. I am willing to bet that if you were a lisenced agency that you would be able to get access, if you and formed a partnership(free) with Options Talent.
From being in the industry for several years I have come to realize that ALL forms of getting your name and photo's out there in the world cost money. Options to my understanding just cost way less. You said it yourself that they told you that it was a very difficult buisness and that they warned you of that. Seems like to me that they are honest, because it is a difficult buisness. Another point is that you said they called you the next day before asking for the money right? It seems to me that they were giving you a chance to think it over.
Some places would try to make the sale that night, not the next day when you have had time to think. Last but not least they were honest with you and said that it was a very difficult job, and then ultimatley did not call you back. Sound like you did not have the talent required. I do want to say if your story is true about them laughing at you on the phone, that is obviously rude and uncalled for and they should say that they are sorry. But other then that if you have any knowledge of the industry at all, then they sound pretty d**n reputable.
#60
Thu, August 22, 2002
Options Talent:
I have checked this site regularily and have noticed no rebuttals or responses to my report. Does this mean it's OK for your telemarketers to continue trying to swindle somebody over the phone who may obviously be having a medical emergency? Is it also OK for your "executives" to request credit card information to collect payment for your "service" even though they may not be authorized to do so? Is it OK for your executives to falsely state that somebody could be getting a modelling job with a certain company due to option's services. What's next? Will options be assisting NASA in getting pictures of our solar system? Maybe they'll have a "pay us $50,000.95 and get a chance to BE ONE OF THE FEW BIG STARS" contest.
Once and for all - When you have your open calls do you take any and everybody that is willing to shell out $595+, or is it actually a process that involves sellecting certain people based on traits like an audition?
Just out of curiousity - how many people are actually in your "Represented" section? Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that "represented" means that they are signed with at least one agency due to option's service - and so HAVE A JOB WITH A CREDIBLE AGENCY. unrepresented models are the ones that are not signed with an agency aren't they? So if I'm right - then your website is a fraud in itself in that it doesn't provide the services it supposably provides. When you go to click on "view models" and then when you get to the models page when you click on the "Represented" section you get the following error message: "This section of the site is currently undergoing major performance upgrades...".
According to the reps at the open call -agencies access the composite cards and pictures via your website with a username and password. The New Faces, Featured, and Unrepresented links all ask for a username and password. So anybody who is in your so called "Represented" section hasn't been getting seen by any of those big agencies that you claim would be accessing your site. Well..... I guess you could always go to the "Model News" section. I see quite a few new faces and vague info popping up on there. 10 to be exact, but they all have only first name and last initials -I'm guessing that they are phony.
It's kinda funny how your BS news section gets more "performance upgrades" than the part of your site that is supposed to provide actual service to your models... if there are any represented models on your site. Are there?
Seriously though - If anybody from Options Talent feels my information is false in any way - I welcome them to discuss these things with me so that any false pretenses on my part that may exist be corrected. If anybody from Options Talent sees this and feels they may be able to answer any of my questions - please answer any and all that may apply to you. Only answer though if you can give details and facts - NOT BS.
John
Peru,#7Author of original report
Mon, August 12, 2002
This forum has a lot of information in it that includeds how their scouts were paid per each enrollment and other interesting discussions. When searching for "options talent" in yahoo or google a thread titled Warning: Options Talent would be the #7 search result. The forum was mysteriously taken down a couple weeks ago.
Really though, out of curiousity I would like for one of Option's reps to answer at least one question that I have. I can care less how much a regular model has to pay to get in the business. If Options Talent isn't an agency and only provides an online database for pictures - why in the HELL does it cost $595 + $30 per month + $15 per additional picture to have a picture posted on a website? 50,000 or so members (according to one of their reps that posted on the above forum by the name of Scout) and a few ridiculously cheap and vague success stories - how can Options Talent justify these costs?
One last thing for now - When are you guys going to fix the Represented section of your View Models page to where it doesn't say it's "currently undergoing major performance upgrades." It's been like this since I first checked over a month ago.
This is where the real truth is concerning the BS success stories are isn't it?