Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was walking around Rosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, NY and was stopped by someone in front a Phaze 2 Photobooth saying that my child has "the look." They took down our info and put us in a booth which took pictures. Today we received a phone call saying that they wanted us to come in tomorrow to meet with a talent agent. I am not sure whether it sounds legit to me. Has anyone come across these people?

Btw, they have a website if you google the 2 words together with a z not s

Noooooooo not legit!!! Anyone with a booth set up in a mall calling themselves a model agent is a scam. Please don't go to the meeting with that "agent". I frequent that mall and see them all the time. You will be broke and still without representation after you go to their offices.

If your child wants to model, you can do it the free and legit way by submitting to a respected agency in ny. Some are ford, wilhelmina, product, fft, generation.

Ok, thanks. That's what I thought. I just never had any luck with my older son so I kind of never even tried with my younger one...

Hi guys,

New to the board, but not the business, so I figured I could offer up my two cents. I think people should have the option to get help if they really want to break into the industry. This industry has evolved, and the elite “big wigs” of the past are not around anymore to keep the same five models getting all of the gigs. Now, anyone can get involved (and get work) with some assistance.

Many of the models and actors that we see every day in print, TV, and stage and screen have paid fees to get started in the industry. Coaches and trainers in professional sports prepare their athletes and are compensated, as well. I'm not really sure why people have this notion that modeling or acting or singing is any different.

Hundreds of thousands of models and actors have been scouted at beaches, concerts, parks and cities by people not employed by the agencies that were posted above. How is that possible? Where do they come from? Going to a gym, traveling across the country, getting head shots, new hair styles or anything else are real expenses to make it in this business, whether you do it or you pay someone to help you.

There is nothing illegitimate about what you've described to me, and I've written about this industry and this type of business for a while. If someone is willing to pay someone else to do their footwork, the option should be available, no? If you're interested in your kid being in this business, there's really no harm in going there to check them (or anyone else) out for yourself.

Your gut should tell you what to do, not a message board.

I cant tell you what to do, but in my opinion it is a scam. I know a little girl who signed up with them and I warned her mom not to. She didn't listen and now they are out $1400. She signed up with them back in October and has never been on a casting call or ANYTHING! Her mom now realizes she was had, I tried to warn her but I guess people have to learn on their own.

KV-- why should one have to pay anyone when it is as easy as submitting a few pics online or mailing pics to some of the top agencies listed on this message board. It shouldn't cost more than a stamp. Once accepted or signed by an agency then there may be some costs to market yourself in which your agent would provide that info for free. There is no training necessary for children to model.

Hey momto2kids obviously KV is in the so called "industry."

I went to one of these places when my 1st child was born. The talent director was nothing more then a car salesman trying to sell me pictures. He started at a $1000 and went down to $300 by the end of the meeting, how is that legitimate.

These companies are set up all across malls on new york with kids (scouts) who have no training in the fashion world. If your really interested in having your children model or act just sent good pictures to the top modeling agencies and see if you get a call, if not it isn't meant to be. Your odds are the same without having to pay thousands of dollars for pictures that cost hardly anything.

I would definitely think that Phaze2 Phaze2 is another scam out there.

quote:

Originally posted by momto2kids:
KV-- why should one have to pay anyone when it is as easy as submitting a few pics online or mailing pics to some of the top agencies listed on this message board. It shouldn't cost more than a stamp. Once accepted or signed by an agency then there may be some costs to market yourself in which your agent would provide that info for free. There is no training necessary for children to model.

Hey there, I'm just saying this is the industry we are in today. 10 years ago, if someone said, "submit your pictures online" people thought they were a scam, or stealing your kids pictures. Now every agency accepts pictures through the web.

There are costs associated with being in a modeling agency. Travel, photos, and other costs that are put on models after they are "signed".

Have you ever read this: http://dismagazine.com/discuss...loitation-of-models/

I just think people are really misinformed about how to break into the industry and what it's really like.

quote:

Originally posted by HappyMomof3:
Hey momto2kids obviously KV is in the so called "industry."

I went to one of these places when my 1st child was born. The talent director was nothing more then a car salesman trying to sell me pictures. He started at a $1000 and went down to $300 by the end of the meeting, how is that legitimate.

These companies are set up all across malls on new york with kids (scouts) who have no training in the fashion world. If your really interested in having your children model or act just sent good pictures to the top modeling agencies and see if you get a call, if not it isn't meant to be. Your odds are the same without having to pay thousands of dollars for pictures that cost hardly anything.

I would definitely think that Phaze2 Phaze2 is another scam out there.

Actually, I am in the industry. Ever been to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week? I have.

Do you have Nole Marin's number in your phonebook? Aw shucks... I do.

Scams are something that does not give you what you pay for. Scams steal your money. These schools, development centers, and competitions are nothing but people providing you with the tools you need to give you a leg up over all the people who think Polaroids in their apartment are going to get them a contract with Wilhelmina.

The old lady in the Bayer commercial? She wasn't scouted by Elite or Ford, and she probably isn't repped by CAA either. But she's working. That's a lot more success than anyone on this board can say they're having.

Nothing is free folks. Stop living in a dream world.

@ KV - Newbie

I have a baby talent so i have to know who is
Nole Martin... who? So let me google it http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...n-howe_n_781119.html

quote:

Actually, I am in the industry. Ever been to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week? I have.

Do you have Nole Marin's number in your phonebook? Aw shucks... I do.

KV, It is so obvious from your posts that you know nothing about the children's model industry. If you did, you would never throw out the name of a suspected molester like Nole to a message board that caters to kids. All of the top NY modeling agencies for kids accept email submissions on their websites. It is free. If your child has the look that the agency wants, they will call you. I think what happens is that some kids are not chosen by the legitimate agencies and parents are so desperate to get their kid in the business that they fall for these mall scams. I have seen agents receive the "packages" of Interface kids in the mail and toss it in the trash without even opening it. Agents do not need people to "scout" for them, they get plenty of real submissions all on their own.

Parents, PLEASE, PLEASE do no believe this person. It is a waste of money and your kid will never get anywhere.

Please parents out there be careful with your kids..Please!
also please read:

Here is how the scam works…
You answer a casting notice, get approached in a mall, or even get a phone call after filling something out online. The sales person pretending to be in the industry and posing as a casting director, agent or some other title tells you your child is “perfect” and would like you to audition for some part.
Excited you go to the audition with your kid in tow. Your child is also excited at this point. Once there you realize that there are 100′s of others there and that it is not a “real” audition. There is no part to fill, script to memorize or production company there. It is a sales meeting and you are in the audience. Someone goes up and reads a pitch to all the excited kids and parents. They tell you your kids were chosen to be a part of the showbiz industry. They go into how much fame and fortune the kids will achieve. Every word spoken is meant to excite your child to a point where it would break their heart if you said “no” at the end.
Now comes the end… What do you need to do to make your child’s dreams come true? Pay up. What else. This entire sales session was meant to pump you guys up to pay for expensive, inferior classes, worthless acting workshops and poor quality portfolios. They have now convinced your child that “if only” their parents would cough up the 1000′s, they would be stars. They tell you that there are tons of companies who need “new faces”… and miraculously, can’t find them in the sea of over population outside. “New faces” and cute kids are hard to come by and companies will pay fortunes, they stop short of trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. You and your child MUST buy their services or their dreams of stardom can never be.
At this point, the scammers expect proud parents to fold into the pressures of “mom, please” and pay the cash. And, luckily for them, many do.
How to protect yourself and your child
Do not believe anyone who approaches you out of the blue. The scammers pay people to hang out at malls and shopping centers to sign up kids for these things… It’s all fake.

Parents... please do your homework and be smart! Don't trust anyone. Especially people in malls and online that you don't know.....Stay safe.

Isn't it obvious that KV is someone who works at Phaze 2?

I have found complaints on many other sites about this company.

There might be a 1 in 100 chance they'll find you work if you are the "perfect model type". Basically they'll take ANYONE just to try and get money.

The head of the company that my daughter spoke with (Gia Sturiale) told us to google her, and when we did, some very inappropriate images came up of what looked like she was trying to solicit herself for sex that she loaded herself on Google! I have tried to attach the pic with this comment. I don't want my daughter being represented by someone like that, would you?