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Re: Are modeling schools obsolete? -- Anonymous, 12:08:44 01/04/16 Mon [1]
Barbizon has a bad reputation, and it is arguably one of the worst. On one model scam watch website, it seems to have the most complaints.
Barbizon is a modeling school, but modeling schools are not necessary to become models and get contracts. Just ask leading agencies if they require modeling schools.
One person who paid and attended the modeling classes at Barbizon said: "I learned nothing my older sister couldn't have taught me."
Another aspiring model who paid hundreds of dollars to Barbizon said essentially the same thing about what she was taught: "I could've learned all of that from my mom."
This was another complaint: "I spent $1,600 learning how to pluck my eyebrows and set a table."
Although Modeling Scams has received no complaints about Barbizon yet, another modeling site posted several Barbizon complaint letters from parents of aspiring models and aspiring models themselves.
Regarding the IMTA modeling convention, a recent letter explained how they operate and how the scam works.
Modeling schools are considered modeling scams because they offer what is not required, charge extreme prices, yet offer no money-back guarantee.
One of the things they offer is teaching on makeup. From the Barbizon website: "Barbizon offers training in the skillful application of makeup."
A mother who made an online inquiry about Barbizon on behalf of her daughter received a forum response with the following observation: "As for makeup classes, the technique varies from each photographer, and each type of shoot. Modeling schools inevitably only teach two styles of makeup."
But, more importantly, don't professional makeup artists do the makeup for professional photoshoots, not the model?
Another thing they offer is teaching on how to walk. But modeling agencies can teach models how to walk if they are doing local or major fashion shows. It is not complicated, and it doesn't take long to learn. Besides, catwalk modeling is the least common type of modeling. Most models are going to appear in print, not on video or at catwalk shows.
One parent said her daughter was chosen to attend a modeling convention in New York. Barbizon said her daughter was one of the 32 students chosen out of 120 to attend because she had a good chance of getting a contract.
But after being at the convention for several days they found out everyone in the class had been asked to go, and they were even more shocked to discover: "Barbizon students paid twice as much as other schools to go."
This is a very common modeling scam technique: modeling companies pretending to be selective, claiming those who are chosen are a small or very small percentage, when in fact just about everyone is chosen.
"Needless to say it was a very, very expensive lesson."
She added: "The convention was also a waste of time. Out of the 2,000 contestants that attended, only a small handful received callbacks, and only a few were asked to sign contracts."
The bottom line is contracts. You always want to know how many and what percentage of modeling companies get contracts. Many of them will have at least a few success stories, but those are not really the main issues.
The main issues are:
What percentage get work?
Can they prove it?
Is it cheaper to contact agencies directly?
Are the chances of getting work higher going directly to the agencies?
Modeling conventions, like modeling schools, are also considered scams, because they offer what is not required, charge hundreds or thousands or dollars, and come with no money-back guarantee.
It would probably come as no surprise to see modeling schools forming partnerships with modeling conventions. Apparently this is indeed exactly what happens with Barbizon and IMTA.
They have different names, but they could just as easily be the same company. They work together. In fact, it has been reported aspiring models cannot attend an IMTA convention unless they have attended a modeling school like Barbizon: it is a prerequisite.
Interestingly, however, top modeling agencies do not require modeling school attendance, graduation, etc., to sign a model. It is not a prerequisite.
Scam modeling agencies and scam modeling photographers operate in a similar way to modeling schools and modeling conventions. The agency requires the aspiring model to use a particular photographer. But they don't say the agency splits the fees with the photographer. It is a hidden or concealed partnership.
You said you are in Boston. Boston is a large city with its own modeling agencies. Your best bet, since the information you provided suggests your daughter fits the modeling industry standards, is to visit the local modeling agencies. This could actually cost you nothing, but it would give you a clearer idea about your daughter's potential, and if she gets work through them, it would be near home, and she may not have to travel to work in another city.
At the same time you can bypass the Barbizons and IMTAs out there, and contact the big New York modeling agencies directly. Cut out the expensive middlemen who offer no money-back guarantee.
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Re: Are modeling schools obsolete? -- Anonymous, 13:49:15 01/04/16 Mon [1]
Hardly anyone gets discovered at a modeling convention.
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