If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's a duck, baby. So I get this unsolicited email from some company. Apparently they found my resume on an online job search, probably Monster or HotJobs.
They ask if I'm still looking for work, yadda, yadda, go to our site. They tell me that I can be a talent scout based on my resume and to fill out an application.
Right away it was d-ja-vue all over again, four years ago back in post 9/11, either I got an email or a job alert from either Monster or HotJobs say that based on my resume I could be a model scout. Go to our site and fill out an application.
A few days later I got an email with a time and location for an "interview." The same thing happened a couple of weeks ago. Back then the office was on 23rd St., just off 7th Ave. The recent "interview" location is on 8th Ave, between 35th & 36th (not too far away).
So today, 8/17/05, I called the place One Source because I missed my interview last week. Didn't actually miss it, but called to see if it was the same scammers. Some obviously uninformed dude answered the phone and promptly told me I could come in again tomorrow, Thursday.interviews are given every Thursday starting at 10:30 am, like I have time for that.
Then I asked him about the position and the company. He proceeded to tell me, stumbling and stuttering, telling about the interview process, how grueling it is, and how I would have to "prove" myself for 30 days - READ: work for 30 days without pay.
I told him that I was involved with a company that sounded just like this and that I wasn't interested.
History:
Back in due to the internet and music industry bubble burst, I found myself unemployed and desperate. Followed the email instructions as described above and found myself sitting in a room with about a dozen others being told about this exciting opportunity. It smelled like a scam the moment I went to their site, but like I said desperate.
This "fancy boy" (and that description is in no way, shape, or form a comment to the gay and lesbian communities, but the dude pissed me off so that comment is directed only at him) went on and on, and on about how prestigious this job was and how their business card will get us into clubs and exclusive parties, etc. All of this was laughable since I was fresh out of the business and was experienced in running model searches for video shoots, photo shoots, etc. Also, an office on the same floor as ours ran a "modeling company, " people went in and was out in about 2 minutes, especially after they were told they would need to get professional shots from the company's photographer, at their own expense.
After an extra long presentation and video, it was time for us to hit the streets. It was the worst, I felt totally humiliated. After returning to the office we were told we needed to be at the "open call" to greet the people we swindled into wasting their Saturday morning.
All-in-all I went there one more time and once I figured I wasn't going to see a pay check anytime soon, I never looked back. While I think the idea of people having an online portfolio is a very good idea; using people's natural vanity to scam them into thinking that they could be a model is very grimey. They were not only scamming "potential models" but those working for them as "model scouts."
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED
I didn't loose any money then (just wasted some time) and I won't now, but I'm sure many people are loosing a little, if not more, of both. Basically, in the year 2005 if you get an email from One Source telling saying that you can be a successful talent scout, run. This is Emodels all over again. Same format, slightly different product, very slightly.
Chain emails needs to be sent around to people telling them about these alleged con artists, not chain emails about rats and soda cans.
Look what I found online http://www.modelingscams.com/letters. One. Source. Talent.html
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