Barbizon Memphis is a fraud from the start. They buy student information from marketing companies and mail off flyers saying they have an important message for the addressee. These postcards tell the individual to call as soon as possible and a Lindsey signs the card. There isn't a Lindsey. She's imaginary.
When people call in they are read a script telling them a friend or family member recommend them and everything is free, they will never have to pay any money.
They also say an agent from New York is coming to interview them and this is a "once in a lifetime opportunity and he will be in town only this once."
The caller is given 2 times to choose from and they usually meet in a hotel.
These people come in thinking they are meeting a real agent. But his name is James Buchanan and he is just a sells person that use to own that Barbizon and is a major crook himself. He has no real connections and is a freelance photographer hoping to rip people off with his horrible photo shoot work.
At this "interview" they get you excited, tell you that you have potential and they definitely want you. Then they hand you a packet that has fictional success stories on the front page and the last page ask for 1600.00 to attend classes.
They tell you to call in to get results and for those that do call in they tell them you are part of the 15% that made it. However, no one ever seems to notice everyone that attended the interview that could cough up 395.00 within the next 3 days is in attendance. No one is turned away. Not a signal soul. Why would you tell a 18 yr old girl that is 5'4 with scoliosis she will be a runway supermodel. Why do you tell them that they must have an A/B' average in high school to attend. But you accept an F' student that is disrespecting and cursing their mother right in front of your face and you tell them they have a great personality. What is worse is when they smile in people faces and as soon as they walk out the door they are laughing at them.
The following should be included in the students tuition: a Barbizon tote bag, a Barbizon makeup kit and a Barbizon handbook and a free 8 x 10 from their "free" photo shoot. (Which they have already paid for in their tuition.) This is even listed in the student's handbook. But even when students ask where is the items they are supposed to receive.instructors have to tell them buy it then you will get it, it is not in your tuition. They use every tactic to make the sell. They have you max out your credit cards, postdating checks, chopping of your limbs, selling your soul to the devil, anything to get your money and get you in debt. They will promise you free makeup and lots of paying jobs.
The instructors are not real industry professionals. They are former student that couldn't make the cut in modeling. They are will work for little pay and baby-sit. The teachers don't have a clue what they are doing. They will tell you I don't know what I am doing and they will even tell the students you are wasting your money because nothing will come out of this. All classes have had at least 4 different instructors.
Paychecks are never correct and are never received on time. You find yourself rushing to the bank just to make sure your check clears. There are students that haven't been paid for jobs that they have worked months ago. Many students have not received jobs like they were promised.
Don't waste your time calling the accounting department regarding a refund. You might as well kiss those funds goodbye because they will make up fake class dates and give you all kinds of excuses. They will even say they have had a system break down and don't have any record of your information so they cant issue a refund. Whenever you call and leave messages for the imaginary accounting department you will never receive a call back. The same is with the so-called agency part Zoom. No one will ever call you back because if it involves you receiving money... They don't want any parts of you.
There are girls that have paid for Comp Cards and have never received them and never will. You will only hear from them when they want your money.
They have a fake competition call Zoom Competition, which takes place at a casino, is Tunica MS. Which cost 650.00. They tell you the cost covers flying in agents from all over the world. The sad thing is that they don't know any real agents. The so call agents are their friends and family. At this competition the models are given fake callbacks. The fake agents get the models hopes telling them they really have potential and the tell them to compete in IMTA. Another rip-off competition convention. You pay 4000.00 plus dollars just to be let down. What Zoom agency doesn't tell you is that they get to pocket most of that money and have no intention on helping you sign with a major agency. They receive a kickback on the number of people that go and they don't care if you go to IMTA or not. If you cant come up with the entire 4000.00 they get to keep whatever you have paid because they have forced you to sign a fraudulent contract saying you cant get your money back. And if they decide not to go you cant get your money back. They just force all the money they can out of you to fill their bank account.
They never tell you that out of the 1000's of models and actors at this convention only 3 will actually get signed. Most major agencies will tell you, they gave you a callback felt sorry for you and you spent money to come.
I could go on and on about this so called Modeling School/Agency. But I will leave you with a warning. Watch out. If you ever hear one of these names Barbizon Memphis / Zoom Agency/Peter Neck / Lana Neck... Run Like Hell and don't look back.
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