Page Parkes Agency Houston
Went for an Open Call, Was Sold a Model Camp for $1250 RIPOFF

My daughter asked me to take her to a Proscout open call. I did, and she was "selected" to go on to Dallas later this month. After looking them up, I found it is a rip off... So, like any other good mother, I decided to call the company that is the industry ideal in Houston - Page Parkes! For an evaluation to see if she should pursue anything further.

I called the only number for Page Parkes (not separate numbers for the Agency and the "School"), explained the Proscout situation, and was told to bring in my daughter on a Saturday at either 12 or 2:30... We went at 2:30, and were in a room with probably 30 other aspiring models/actors. I realized then that these other kids had been pre-screened. We had not been, so I really thought it was an open call.

We filled out forms, listened for about 30 minutes to a speaker who told us all the people they have had in their agency (Alexis Bledel, etc.) HER expertise (was a computer programmer, then worked taking pictures of babies, then worked at Glamour Shots, who by the way, was owned by Page Parkes husband—ding! Ding! Ding! - but I didn't know this until I stumbled across it on the internet!) watched a video where on two separate newscasts, Page herself was warning parents of internet modeling scams. She really is the "industry standard" in Houston. So I really felt my daughter was in good hands.

The speaker told all of us that the kids would be evaluated briefly and individually, and to not take offense if the child wasn't ready or didn't fit the standard. 5'7" tall and 36" or less hips, no braces, no tattoos, only ears pierced. Must have excellent grades.

At no point in time were we ever told this was anything other than an evaluation. Never was there a mention of the modeling school.

They took the little kids first. As we waited, I looked around the room and saw about 5 other beautiful young women, most were tall, etc.

And I am still thinking "we are here for my daughter to be evaluated for her potential for modeling."

The teen girls then stood in line and waited to do their cold reading in front of the woman who was the main speaker. As we were waiting, another woman was pre-interviewing each kid. She asked how tall my daughter was, how her grades are, what her diet is. Then she told her "wow, beautiful girl" and took her aside and measured her hips, right at 36" so we thought GREAT!

My daughter and I go into the office to be looked at, and immediately, the main speaker says "Oh I can use you in my fashion division." So I am still thinking GREAT! She asks her a few questions and she asked if we were available the next day. We said yes. Then I said that my daughter would like to read as she is interested in acting. That was brushed aside. No, not necessary, the models get acting anyway. She hands us a piece of paper and we leave.

So, we walk out of there thinking Oh My Gosh! Is the agency wanting to discuss the possibility of representing my daughter? We look at the paper and it is info on a Modeling Camp for $1250.

So we get a phone call that evening. "We are very interested in working with your daughter. Can you come in tomorrow??? We'll fill out her paperwork". I can't get a question in sideways but no mention was made of the modeling camp.

So we go the next day, and the speaker whips out a contract for the modeling school and is talking all through us signing papers. My daughter doesn't know what's going on. So I'm not gonna let on, so like a stupid parent that I am, I write a check.

So I ask "Does this mean that when she is finished with Model Camp that you will say goodbye and good luck finding your own agent?" "OH NO! We are only going to be making maybe $20 on this. This is to develop girls with real potential!" She will be reviewed by a board after camp to see if she is "client ready."

She will get a real portfolio of 8 different pictures (their photographer - I'll bet anything it is with One-to-One, PP's hubby's newest venture). A haircut we will have to pay an extra $40 for (their stylist), bring HER OWN MAKEUP and brushes (why would a makeup artist not use her own stuff? Why would she want to use my daughter's Clinique, Cover Girl, etc? What if my daughter is not using the right colors? And you have to pay. 90 to $1.25 each for the required 100 compcards. Also, you have to bring your own Polaroid film!

I will definitely write an update after my daughter does this "Camp."

Unfortunately, I didn't research this until it was too late. But in a nutshell, here are all the warning signs of "ripoffs" that I learned from researching this:
1. No good agency also has a "school"—they do this when they aren't making enough money from bookings to sustain the business.
2. No good agency makes you pay for your own stuff before they sign you.
3. Using THEIR stylist? THEIR Photographer?
4. Must buy the compcards? Why? My kid isn't represented yet. Wouldn't an agency, even them, want NEW cards?
5. BRING YOUR OWN FILM??? Are you joking?
6. They encourage their signed models to "continue training." I guess 20% of the fees for jobs they get them isn't nearly as lucrative as keeping them coming back for classes. I read an interview of one of their models—she was so excited because Paige was telling her how to spend the money she just made&"save some, spend some, and put some toward your tuition for continued training". WHAT? One of their own models?
7. If they ask you to come in OTHER than regular office hours.

So, shame on me. But I'm here to tell you that Page Parkes is not what it is cracked up to be—it's just that they are the only game in town—in Houston.

All I wanted to do was to get someone to take a look at my kid like all the "professional" agencies say to do. It costs nothing. You walk in, they look at your kid, say yes or no, take a Polaroid, that's it. End of story.

We are being totally misled by Page Parkes. Why couldn't they have just looked at her and said yes or no? I think because everyone there had a checkbook—and no one was told that this was to recruit people for all their camps. I think every single person there was put into a category - model camp, acting camp, etc., etc. I truly doubt that anyone was turned away.

Why were they so afraid to say "This meeting is to see if you are interested in our modeling/acting school"?

So, where in Houston can I go for just a brief evaluation for my 14 year old who is nearly 5'8" and obviously still growing?

I'll keep you posted.

Company: Page Parkes Agency Houston
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: Houston
Address: 2727 Kirby

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