As you can see, other individuals have also submitted reports on this ridiculous "company." I cannot wait to read the barrage of reports that follow mine. It'll be a good laugh!
I responded to a rather dubious looking ad for a "dream job" on Hotjobs. It was for a talent scout at a modeling agency... Not expecting to hear back and two days later, I heard from the enigmatic Estella Summers, who claimed that "she" was interested in speaking to me about the talent scout position.
AS of late, I have been working temp. Jobs and I think getting out of the factory I have been sweating at for a day... To be at a job interview was a refreshing change... And I was curious about the legitimacy of such endeavors and how they operate.
I answered back... Saying I'd be happy to talk to her..
And the next thing I knew, she sent me an e-mail stating that Edward in the office needed me to come in on Thursday morning at 10 for a 4-hour interview... Not asking what would be a good time for me, whether I have a job or not... Etc.
I have been looking for a break from the blue-collar drudgery of my warehouse job, so I acquiesced, called my temp. Agency, requesting Thursday off... Apologizing for the short notice, etc. They were nice about it and found a replacement for me without a hitch.
A number of things struck me about the whole operation that seemed seedy. Firstly, for a company that claimed to be one of the most elite model management companies in the world, it was housed in a pretty run-down 1950's small office building which was located between gas stations and used car dealerships.
On the walls of the reception area, there were phtos of high-fashion models that I knew were not Marvel Models, but famous faces who I happen to know are Ford and Elite Models... A false representaion, putting another company's models on their walls.
Then, the number of us that were gathered, therein, were, after filling out a form or two, escorted to a small room with metals chairs facing a tv., stereo and computer. Music was blasting... Too loud... Cheesy, commercial, disco f$%#K me music... Seemed to me to both be un-professional and to almost prevent us from talking amongst ourselves..
Soon, a big guy squeezed into a suit & tie three sizes too small got up to give us the presentation of what the company was all about. This turned out to be Edward. He did not strike me as being anyone who would be in the industry. No Estella, either.
We proceeded to introduce ourselves, ask questions, do some role-playing and scout-practicing... We had gone over the main procedure of scouting for models... Going to a public place, go up to those attractive candidates that fit the model criteria... And give them a business card that told them of the "open call" day and time. They are on Monday evenings at 7pm, Wednesday evenings at 7pm... And Saturdays at 1pm..
We were told that half of the number of people scouted would typically show up to the open call... And subsequently, half of the people who showed would sign on to be a Marvel Model.
So, for example, if 8 of us scouted 10 individuals, forty would show up, and twenty would sign on.
Then, we were interviewed, one by one... I was offered the job and told to come right back the next day... But, i said... I have my other job, it's only fair to give proper notice... Etc. Etc. He urged that it was IMPERATIVE that I come in, the very next day, if I wanted the job. There it struck me that he had no regard for the responsibility of my other position, that it was almost a desperate need on his part for us to come ASAP, OR ELSE!
I had already filled out a form, earlier, stating that I wasn't available until after a June date, 10 ten days hence... (one wonders why they even bothered to ask if the answer wasn't to make difference!)
With all that in the back of my mind, I headed out, agreeing to return the next day... I called my temp. Agency, and they were kind enough to cover for me at my other job for Friday. I knew something just wasn't right, but this whole affair, to me, brought out the investigative detective in me.
Friday, 8 of us showed back up. This time, we were lectured by Kevin, the other fellow who appeared to work there... Looked young, seemed dubious... Did not strike me as well educated or well versed in any sort of business.
When we were told how to scout, we were implicitly instructed to tell the potential talent that it was IMPERATIVE that we only tell them of the soonest upcoming open call.
If it was Friday, for example, we were ONLY supposed to offer the Saturday time. As in the NEXT DAY.
"Do NOT offer other days and times!" was stressed.
I wondered why. Think about it... Why not try to accomodate those you try to recruit? Especially since we would be asking them for $595.00 to sign on!
Also, all I could think was that most people have plans the very next day... And should, in all common courtesy, be given fair notice. We were instructed to respond to anyone who said they had plans that they SHOULD CHANGE THEIR PLANS!!! Then give them a stern warning that if they want to make in this business, them they've got to strike while the iron is hot!
That this might be their only opportunity!
Well... If the potential talent had such good looks and promise as we think, then they shouldn't have a problem with a different company or agent!)
To me, the whole procedure was an insult to the people they scout. It sounded to me, like they were basically saying "Whoever you are and whatever you are doing is not as important as we are."
Kevin also contradicted himself in saying how many scouts were employed. He looked rather panicked when someone called him on it... Backtracked and weasled his way out of it by changing the subject. He didn't fool me.
We were sent out "into the field" so to speak in groups... To try and scout talent at local area malls... I headed out with two other young prospective scouts... We came up short when we spent 2 hours combing a mall... Between the three of us, we had perhaps scouted 5 people... (my gut-feeling told me not to scout anyone!)
We were to return to the office at 4:30. The others had had even worse luck, as two of them were male and had aroused the suspicions of the mall security in their fruitless pursuit!
Kevin was rather upset and disappointed that we hadn't nabbed 5-10 talents a piece. We were to return to the office the next day to see how the call would go, see if any of our prospects would come, etc.
I was ready to forget the whole affair, but I was very curious to see what would actually happen at the upcoming open call.
Kevin strongly suggested that we try our hardest to scout people as soon as we leave the office, to spend Friday night nabbing at least TEN people per scout.in bars, nightclubs, stores, restaurants, on the street. And that we were tell them to show up 1pm tomorrow! And don't be late!
Driving home, I thought for a moment... 8 scouts try to get 10 models, each... All to come in within 24 hours. To squeeze into that little dinky office... Obviously, not all eighty would show, but, according to their stats, forty would, still a tight fit for that small office room... Not to mention that there was only a handful of parking spaces on the building's poorly paved lot... Just didn't add up...
We all showed up the next day... We were told to dress in all black to look 'PROFESSIONAL"... We were to be there an hour and a half prior to the Open Call.
Kevin interrogated us on last night's numbers. None of us had filled his quota.
He then launched into a long and cruel sounding lecture on EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES... The nerve of him!
Then, before we waited for the throng of talent to bust down the doors, Kevin told us that 'all the other scouts" they have were told not to scout for this day... To see how well we do, (yeah, right!)... And then in a strange footnote... TOLD US NOT TO TALK TO THE TALENT WHEN THEY ARRIVE!..
"Just say what you have to say... No small talk! Do you understand? THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE! If they try to chat with you, just give one word answers and if they ask any questions, let ME answer them! They are not to be our friends!"
Hmmmmm... How stupid do they think we are? Shouldn't we, as grown-up professionals that they have chosen to hire, have enough sense to know how to conduct ourselves in such a setting?
As we waited for the crowd, a movie was put on the DVD player at the front of the office... A nauseatingly stupid "chick flick" came on... Demonstrating the mentality of the business, UGH!
The time came. THREE people showed. A whopping three... And with us were also two talent scouts who had started before we did... One of the "models" who came was one she had scouted... (Kevin told us it would only be ours)
It was utterly pathetic... Almost laughable. After the "talent" left, we were lectured to finish the day scouting 20 more for Monday night's call... And on Sunday... To scout 30 each!
Let's do the math... 8 scouts, 50 prospects each. That's 400, half would be 200... All trying to park into a lot with 20 spaces... And then into a room that sits perhaps 30...
I left there shaking my head. Why were they so adamant that we scout for the next call ONLY? Why did they warn us about chatting with the talent? Where was this Estella character? Does she even exist? If they have that many people scouting, why isn't the office busier?
One thing I did do was check their Website. I investigated a few things that they had on it. I called Directory Assistance and went on Google.
First, there is no Marvel Models listed anywhere in New York City. There is no Marvel Models listed on the 800 directory, though they present an 800 number under both the New York and Chicago locations. Upon calling the 800 number, the overly cheery girlish voice that comes onto the answering machine says "Welcome to Marvel Models New York!"... Even though that is listed as the Chicago number as well.
I tried a search on reverse directory.com and found that the Oak Park, Illinois address is a complete fabrication. There are no three-digit street numbers for that street in that city, as it is listed on their false website. No such address exists.
The funny thing was when I went to Google to find Marvel Models.com, once again, I got the consumer complaints website! All of my initial suspicions were confirmed.
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