I see these guys post on Craigslist and on google ads. All you had to do was answer a couple questions and submit a photo (optional), and someone would call you within the next couple of days. The "optional" to submit a photo should have raised a red flag right there, but I just submitted my stuff to see what would happen and went on my merry way.

A couple days later, I got a call from One Source Talent, saying they wanted to meet me. I decided, "why not?" I can always say no. First of all, I had NO idea that when I would get there there would already be 30 or so people waiting in a big room to see someone from One Source Talent. I had nothing else to do Saturday, so I waited in the room... for a rather long time. In the room there were comp cards of One Source's success stories. These Success stories were of people who had the "Ideal Next Top Model Look" and probably would have gotten successful without One Source. Eventually, after probably an hour or so of waiting, they randomly called out people for individual "interviews" and when I went they asked me to come back on Monday with some snapshots. I said "ok. So, I went back on Monday. My appointment was actually for 11 AM, but they said to get there early. I did. Didn't really matter though, as I waited for 30 mins to an hour to even see anyone. While I was waiting, a client was waiting for his month follow up interview. I asked him if they booked him for any major work during his first month. He said nothing and that it was mainly his fault because he was not submitting himself, when OneSource is supposed to submit you. I asked what kind of work did he see on his Onesource site. He mentioned a lot of reality shows and extra work that you can find for free on Craigslist. Finally, this woman asked me into an office, and then asked me a few questions before taking my photo portfolio.

She took my portfolio, walked out, and came back 10 or so minutes later and said "We think you're marketable, and we want to work with you. We even have a casting for you for an independent film on Wednesday." (Funny how I might get a casting right away for an independent film since earlier when they were "interviewing" me I had said I thought it would be interesting to work on an independent film.) Before telling me anything about the supposed casting, other than it was at 4 pm on Wed at their office (also funny), she whips out this sheet of paper that she wants me to sign.

In hindsight, it looked quite unprofessional for a contract, but the most important thing was that in the second or third bullet point down there was a clause stating that I was to pay $395 for a "digital comp card" along with the $29.95 they requested for monthly fees. When I said that they had made no reference to a $395 fee at the Saturday interview, she told me they had, almost in a sort of "yes, they did and you are insane" tone of voice.

When I asked which specific agencies and casting directors does OneSource work with, she was stumped and said, "we work with many, many, many agencies and casting directors." I also asked if there were any success stories of average looking people like myself because all of the success stories on the site and the wall were people who were the ideal model look or a really cute kid. She failed to answer the question and provide examples of average looking people finding success through onesource.

I left with an unsigned contract.

There were several things about this place that bothered me:

1) They asked me to pay this money up front. They said it was for a "digital comp card," which is basically a space on their webpage with a few pictures on it. I could make one myself if I wanted to in perhaps 10 minutes and for far cheaper than $395. That bit doesn't really matter, the part that worried me is that they were asking me to shell out a big sum of money without any guarantees that it would lead to a job. I have yet to hear of a legit company that's in the business of finding clients modeling or acting jobs that doesn't work on commission. Real agencies only get paid when they find you work. One Source Talent said that they're not "a modeling agency," and that "don't work on commission," but if they don't, what motive or ability do they have to find me work?

2) They were saying that they were going to set up this "digital comp card" without me getting professional photos. They also highly recommended that I use their photographer.

3) Everyone who came in for an interview that I saw walk out the door walked out with a folder that seemed to signify they'd been signed with One Source Talent. No matter what they looked like.

4) The place came across as being entirely unprofessional. No one should have to wait for close to an hour for a scheduled appointment. Even the worst doctor I've been to wasn't that bad. And there was no one telling the people waiting that things were going to take longer than we'd initially planned. It's just odd that on this sheet I got for my second "interview" they were saying how important punctuality is, and how you should arrive at least 15 mins prior to your appointment, when they were making us wait an hour to even see someone! It also didn't look like there was a single person working there over 30. There is nothing wrong with workers who are in their 20s, but it's a little strange when you go into a business and it doesn't appear that a single person there has been working for more than a couple years.

I went home and looked on the internet to see if I could find out anything about this company. I found report after report of people spending money for services they didn't get or employees not getting paid for work they did.

My conclusion: there are better (and more effective) ways to get into modeling or acting than through this "agency." I feel lucky that I didn't sign anything and give it to them. I get the idea that many people have, only to find out later that they were ripped off.

Yes, they are a HUGE scam. I went to this same meeting a few years back, and the girl who interviewed me told me all about how becoming successful through One Source Talent put her through NYU blah, blah, blah.

The second I saw the fee I was like "Uh, what exactly is this for?" And she said something like "Its to keep you in our system with the proper marketing tools."

I was like, are you kidding me? Four hundred bucks just for you to upload my picture and stats into your "system?" Peace out.

http://www.easybackgroundcheck.com/onesourcetalent.html

I was cleaning out my room and found some paperwork from One Source. In addition to charging over $400 and a monthly $30 fee, they charge ridiculous prices to use their photographer.

$395-2 Looks
$595 4 Looks
$895 6 Looks

I got 6 looks for just $375 from a VERY legit photographer that was mentioned in Judy Kerr's Acting is Everything and featured in the Reproductions book.

SCAM O' RAMA!

The funny thing now EL is your going to see a lot more of them scammers pop up now. It's a desperation now to get money. They've sent me emails once or twice. I try to unscribe and they still manage to get to me. lol !!! I say don't waste that energy on them.

Just to add to the table - before I knew ANYTHING about acting and modeling, I filled something out for OneSource just cause it seemed interesting... I got called in (2 days as well), but luckily I had enough common sense to realize it's a scam. Now that I looked into acting and know quite a bit about it, this seems like a scam in even more ways...

One Source Talent is soooooo fake!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who posted this. I found the same add on craigslist.. but since I apply to so many thing throughout the week I really didn't know who I was talking. I was suppose to go in for an appointment tonight at 7pm which is odd... but what got me was that the girl who called to confirm said that I would be getting a poloroid picture taken for their data base, I have had a real agent before, all though he was crap he was still real, and you don't go in any kind of data base, that is what you need your headshots and zed cards for... so I got online and did some fishing and surpise surpise I found a page full of scams, but check it out.. to all my fellow actors and models, I know a super great photographer who has great rates, he charges $150 for two or three looks, don't know how much for actual headshots to be made, but if you would like his info just email me let me know you are looking for a photographer and I will forward his information, best shoot I ever had... lifeofavirgo@hotmail.com thx!

LOL Too funny, the lady that called me sounded real ghetto and unprofessional. She was super fast to ram an appointment down my throat. I'm so glad I google'd the company and found this page. Thanks everyone!!!

Yay message board! Yay google!!
Love to see it helping people...

Oh my Goodness they just called me today and I asked them if they will charge me money. They said Absolutely not. I had a feeling they seemed like a scam over the phone when they didn't even know my name, which I thought it was strange since they contacted me.