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.

I don't remember how I became aware of them, but about a year ago I was contacted in some way by them and I thought from the start that it was a scam. I'd planed to go through their process with a fake name and no experience to see what they were all about (as I sometimes do as a public service), but then I suddenly got very busy and never did it.

Nice to hear that you did, and they are every bit as crooked as I suspected.

Though I'm glad that I didn't sign with them, I do regret not hitting on the hot chicks that worked there.

You dodged a bullet, so count your blessings, right? :-)
Thank you for posting this..it is the third place I've seen One Source come up this week, so they must be out in force these days.

Here's a little backstory:
Google "One Source Talent scam" and you will get 267,000 results.

One Source used to be Wilhelmina Scouting Network, aka Transcontinental aka Lou Pearlman and company. WSN was one of the biggest talent scams in history. There are entire books about it including this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Under-Investigation-Attorney-Gene...g_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in

and this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Hit-Charade-Pearlman-Biggest-Hist...id=1227972923&sr=8-1

One Source is just the current incarnation.

For a little about Lou Pearlman (he is in prison now,but his co-horts are not), and his scam try reading this article from Vanity Fair. He not only bilked investors out of millions, and actors out of thousands with his online "digital compcard" schem, but he was a pedophile that abused the boy bands he worked with:
http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2007/11/pearlman200711

Enough for you? No? There's more...
The pretty girls are usually part of the deal as well. They have no ability to judge talent, and probably got their jobs via craigslist, just like you did. In these kinds of businesses, they work on commission and often dont' get paid the commission...so they come and go within weeks.

Can I add one thought to your "conclusions" though? I have found that craiglist is not a reputable source for anything showbiz. If people advertise there, it is for one of three reasons:

1. They are eiher too ignorant of the real biz to know how casting is actually done in the professional world, or

2. They have been screened out of the legit sites, and aren't allowed to post their ads there, or

3. They are specifically targeting newbies who don't know any better for some nefarious reason. Bait and switch scams like this. Or, another example: there was a pretty big case recently where craigslist changed their policies regarding "modeling jobs" that turned out to be prostitution ads.

In the case of One Source, all three are probably true. The previous incarnations of the business have been banned from Monster and other similar places--long story, but it was part of their scheme--you'd have to read the book. They never really tread into the legitimate online casting world, such as Breakdown Services. So now all they have is craigslist.

Lesson: stick to the legit, entertainment casting sites for safety. Think Actors Access, LA Casting (ie. Casting Networks depending on where you live), Casting Workbook.

These articles were directed at child actors, but the basic principles are the same. Maybe it will interest those reading this thread:
Online Casting
http://www.bizparentz.org/thebizness/onlinecasting.html
Avoiding Scams
http://www.bizparentz.org/gettingstarted/avoidingscams.html

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Woah, woah, woah. Woah. I didn't realize pretty girls were part of the deal. I should TOTALLY give them a look! If they have pretty girls in the office the have to be legit! A pretty girl would never lead you astray.

quote:

The previous incarnations of the business have been banned from Monster and other similar places--long story,

They were only banned after Monster was being described as a co-conspirator

Iceman--
You KNOW those pretty girls are really successful actresses/models right? Because One Source did so much for them. If they can make it, you can too! *wink*
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