My name is Whitney and I'm an ex employee of A New Concept and West Coast Casting. I just finished being interviewed by one of the investigators from the San Diego City attorneys office. My hope is to help every one who has been taken advantage of by this company. I deeply regret ever working for these people and want to apologize to every hopeful that walked through that door because in some ways I helped to get you there. I've also been taken advantage of by that company but I figured it was just karma biting me in the butt. I wasnt there very long but I knew it was fake the moment I got there. AS I child I was in the entertainment industry and I modeled in my teen years and had a lot of friends who modeled also so I knew a scam when I saw one. I began working there as a intern for a lady named Kathleen who was a twisted character. She was lying to the owner Lisa and stealing money and clients left and right. I felt bad for Lisa at the time and told her about what Kathleen was up to. Kathleen fired me and Lisa then took me under her wing and told me she would start paying me $250 a week for working around the office and pretty much continue doing what I had been doing. The first check for 250 that I received bounced. When I complained about it I was told I would just get double in my next check but when it came time for me to get my 500 after two weeks Lisa was in the hospital getting lipo. I waited around for another two weeks and never got my money. My phone calls where never returned and I wasn't getting called in for work or being told where any events where being held so I could scout. I left it alone because I knew that working there was wrong any way. A year later I answered a different and looking for appointment setters. When I called I realized it was A New Concept and I basically told them "Hey you own 1000 bucks" which isn't a lot for a whole months worth of work people at McDonalds get paid more then that. That averages out to about $6 an hour full time and that's below minimum wage. So I'm told that it was all Kathleen's fault and that Lisa felt horrible about what happened to me and that if I came in they'd cut me a check for what I was owed. I go for it like an idiot and get dooped once again. Not only did I not get my check I never even saw Lisa the whole time I was there. I was told that an instructor position was going to be opening up soon that I would fill but in the meantime I'd set appointments and train with one of the directors. Now the way you get paid with appointment setting is that you get paid depending on how many people you get to show up and pay their dues so it's basically commission. Needless to say I never got paid for any of it and I know I made them money because I was there during every appointment and watch these people pay. Which was a horrible experience I might add. The guy that I trained with Tony I believe his name was (Maybe not he changed his name a lot) was very calculated. He'd tell people that the services where totally free and then in the same breath ask them for $60 for pictures. He'd rate them all the same and them ask them for more money in their next appointment but I'm sure you all know how that works. Look I'm not worried about getting my money back because honestly I don't deserve it. I'm writing this report to help all you aspiring models and actors. If you're trying to get into the biz do not sign a contract with an agency that you've never heard of before, SERIOUSLY! Be confident and use your common sense you may not be Tyra Banks but you can still get signed by Wilamina, Ford, Clicks, L. A all the big names if you do the work. Think about All the super models in there world where no bodies when they started out don't think that you can't go into a big name agency they're the only ones that you can trust. And yes you will have to pay for your own photos no matter where you go that's an investment that you'll have to make for yourself unless you get discovered in very rare occasions and headshot are not 60 bucks they're very expensive and so is the up keep it can cost you hundreds of dollars. You have to update your zed cards and your headshots regularly which isn't cheap. Remember that talent is natural you don't ever have to take classes that doesn't even make since you can't take classes on being attractive in photos you either are or you aren't it's that simple. If you need to take classes then you're in the wrong profession and a lot of people don't like to hear that and that's when they end up getting screwed by modeling agencies like A New Concept. They feed on the desperate and the insecure. People who have been turned down or don't think they're good enough to audition for big name agencies are way too excited when the directors and agents of rip off companies are telling them how pretty they are and how good they'll do in this industry. Also look out for the jobs they have. If they're talking about casting you on MTV, TOP CHEF, PLAY BOY, INDIE FILMS, EXTRAS, remember that these are all jobs that you can get yourself. Just go online and you can get the casting information yourself. Beware of casting schemes. Casting directors have direct contracts with whatever project needs casting if the casting director that you working with doesn't have the authority to say who gets the part then they're a casting broker and not a casting director and casting brokers are a waist of time and money. They just find people to send to the actual casting director and they don't even have a relationship with the casting director they just heard about the audition online just as easily as you could have. Just be careful. You've already been mislead don't let it happen again. Especially not to your children.
0 comments