I am not NEW to the rip offs of talent agencies since I participated in one unbeknownst to me as a young adult. I have a daughter who had great personality and is beautiful. She is quite young and people constantly tell me to get her in print ads or on tv commercials. I contacted several agencies and Donna Groff contacted me back telling me to attend her open call. They would interview her and determine if they wouldlike to represent my daughter. I already advised Ms. Groff via email that I was NOT looking to be asked for money up front and that I'm strictly looking for representation and if my daughter gets work they can take their fees out of her check. Well, her email avoided all of that of which I thought meant that they do not do that. Well, I called the day of my interview to ask more questions before attending and was cut off by the lady who answered the phone citing 'I just make appointments. You will have to ask the director the details of fees when you come in for your interview'. I should have known then. I didn't want to waste mine or my daughter's time but I decided to go and just see what they were about. Who knows? I keep hope alive that there are good agencies out there and she touted that they were a 'christian agency'. I beware when I hear that because those who tout Christianity can have the worst intentions and use their beliefs as an umbrella to operate under the radar. Well, I'm a Christian too. But I KNOW Christians. So I researched online and couldn't find a lot of complaints about the agency and went to better business bureau and there were no complaints. Hmmm. I did find out that they will try to send you to FL for some convention of which you will have to pay. Well, I went to the appointment at the Germantown Great Hall. I guess other's heard about her too b/c she had lots of chairs out for a vast audience but less than half showed up. Then she began her spiel. I listened cautiously. She did confirm they go to Orlando twice a year where they display their talent in front of hundreds of agents for the talent to be discovered. You pay for your fees and trip. Then she said we must use the photographer that they use for a professional portfolio. Red lights were already flashing loudly. I posed a question of which she narrowed her eyes b/c she knew I wasn't the NORMAL dummy client while others were excited and hoping their child would be chosen for Orlando. She answered me and confirmed my suspicion that there is no true representation and they want 5% of your earnings AFTER you get work IF you're chosen for work but you must FIRST invest money in that trip to Orlando, then invest in their photographer. She mentioned classes too to groom you but I didn't even ask about the fees for that. Once she finished she asked us all to stand to do an exercise before the interview process began. I stood up and grabbed my kid and told her to head to the nearest exit. What a waste of time! She might have people working of which she's getting work for, but the odds of her getting my child work aren't guaranteed and investing first is nothing but pouring money down a sewer hole with that agency.in the future, she needs to give folks the head up of what her agency about before hand. She obviously does this once a month since she mentioned she goes to teh Peabody to scout too and she brings in crowds every month. Well they say a sucker is born every minute... But that sucker wasn't me! The Donna Scam Agency should be avoided at all cost!
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