This company claims that they connect you with big name people in the entertainment industry. Basically saying that at the events they hold every few months, you will get one-on-one time. They also claim that emails from you will be looked at by casting directors etc. As they will recognize the name "VIP Talent Connect".
I received a call from them after I supposedly submitted my information. While that's possible, it would have been in March / April and they didn't call until October. We set-up an "interview". I was given an address and told to bring a few photos so they could see how I photographed. I spoke with Blair, and later got an email from Penny (saying we had talked) confirming the appointment. The email confirmation said I would meet with one person, when I showed up, I met with another. Now, that's not deceptive, but in retrospect it does make me wonder why they couldn't get any of their own names right.
The purpose of the interview is to see if they want to work with you. It was explained to me that they set-up these events periodically through the year, and a few specific names were mentioned. At the start, they evidenced concern that my husband was not there with me.initially, I couldn't figure out why that would matter. And, nothing was said when we set-up the interview that anyone other than the person interested in the entertainment industry should show up. Most of the conversation was about my "interviewers" interest in being a musician and the strong connection they have with their talent. It was repeatedly mentioned how there was an event the following weekend, and they were in rush mode to fill "literally two more seats". At the tale end, they mention there is a fee. I was told the fee was $995, but since they really liked me, and wanted me to be at the event coming up the following weekend, they would try to work with me.
On the face of it, $995 seemed reasonable to me for two years of events and one-on-one contact. I understand life is often about who you know, not what you know. And if I could separate myself from others trying to get into the industry, it seemed worth it. Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. They mentioned how others had arranged payment plans, and that seemed doable to me.
However, when I decided on this route, they informed me that I could not attend any events until the full amount was paid. They then asked if loweing the price to $895 would make a difference. I said it would help, but would still need to make some payments, and hesitated on paying the full amount. At this point, I still wanted to go to the event coming up. They then offered to let me pay $795, but cautioned that they may only allow me to go to the upcoming event, and not to any future events. It was checked with the boss (Allie), and was agreed that I could pay the $795 and still get the two years access.
I wrote a check, and we started to fill out paperwork. At this point it was revealed that the $795 was not the only fee. That would allow me to go to the upcoming event, but each future even would cost an additional $395. They also came back and wanted me to use a debit card instead of giving them a check. Which didn't make sense to me, as the money is coming from the same account...
I started to think about the total of the fees, and how they kept popping up. I began to wonder what else they weren't telling me. I decided that this wasn't for me and told them so. At this point, they brought in the boss. She began to berate me, told me that the professional shots I had brought were crap, and because I mentioned that it was a joint decision between my husband and I, she told me I was subserviant to him. At this point I stopped discussing things with her, let her have her say, and asked for my check back.
Again, I realize that networking can be beneficial, and that this is not a agency. But it seems this company is not upfront in their fee structure. Its also questionable to me when you say "no thanks", that they start to attack with a hard sale.
And while some will say "do your research, check out the website", that is misleading as well. The website has zero information on their fee structure, or information about getting photos done.
The other thing I find interesting is that at the "interview", they mention they only recently (past year) got into areas other than music. Which would lead me to question how rebuttals can point to great success stories.
So, the bottom line - perhaps the networking can be helpful to you, and event speakers may provide good information. But it is important to understand how they will charge you for this service, and to be prepared to resist the hard sale if you decide it is not for you. I ultimately decided it wasn't. Fortunately, I only lost gas money.
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