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From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Kids & Modeling (Mags, TV etc)
Message-ID: <1226@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-May-85 08:45:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.1226
Posted: Fri May 10 08:45:01 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 14-May-85 08:00:33 EDT
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Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
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Mike, run, do not walk, as far away from any company of this
type that you come across.  I have NEVER heard of any child
EVER getting a modeling job through one of these companys.
The main purpose of the company is to get you to buy things
from them.  Their supposed contacts with model agencies is
tenuous at best, and non existent per normal.  Why should
anyone need a go-between to contact another go-between?

In our local area (NY, NJ, Conn) there are lots of kids in
the modeling business.  However, 99.99% of them have
connections.  That is, they are related to someone in the
business, they live next door to someone in the business,
or their folks are in the business.  The number of kids
who get into modeling through one of these so-called
talent search companies is almost nil.  Your best bet is
to do it yourself.  And, it is cheaper.  Do your own
research on who to contact, do your own agency-to-agency
door knocking.  It is not an easy task as the competiotion
is staggering.

What I am trying to say is, even though your little one
is most likely the most beautiful child in 40 states,
going through one of these blood suckers will not
land that modeling job.  Keep your money and your
sanity.  Do it yourself, if you really believe your
child can make the grade.  Remember, these companie
(that's companies) all get their mailing lists out
of the newspapers and from birth announcements.  
Every new parent gets the same come-on.  We have
three kids and we got three come-ons.  The kid who
posed for the Ivory Soap box 15 years ago still
lives in the area.  Her mother worked for the Power's
agency (connections).   There are at least four other
kids in our local school who have modeled.  They all
had connections.  So you see, the best and easiest
way to get in is connections.  Those few who make it
otherwise have parents who are persistent.  

The $395 dollars is just the tip of the iceberg.  There are
also other hidden costs such as an album for the photos,
processing fees, and on and on.  If a child is selected to be
a model, the agency pays you, not the other way around.

Sorry to deflate the elation I'm sure you feel at having
been selected, but I just hate to see people taken by
these jokers who prey on families at a time of great joy.
T. C. Wheeler