Exclusive Talent Management ETM review: SCAM 3

A talent agency on the Gold Coast, "EXCLUSIVE TALENT MANAGEMENT (ETM)” - CEO Tim Reedy, is not only scamming copious hopeful models and actors, but is also breaking the law.

According to various people who've enquired and/or had experience with ETM, the first thing you are required to do when joining ETM is pay a $300 fee upfront, followed by possible extra fees for photos by their "in house" photographer and also extra fees for a showreel. The ETM Facebook page states that they currently have 2800 on their agency books. If this is true, that would mean 2800 people have been charged $300, so ETM has already made $840 000 just in joining fees.

IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANY TALENT AGENCY IN QLD TO CHARGE ANYONE JOINING / REGISTRATION FEES. A legitimate talent agency makes their money by taking commission on the work they get their clients - not by taking joining fees.

Taken from MEAA (Media, Entertaiment & Arts Alliance) - http://www.alliance.org.au/agents-lists
* Scroll down to "QLD agent contacts" and open PDF file to view.

- All agents in Queensland must adhere to the Private Employment Agents Act
- You should not pay any upfront fees to an agent as a condition for the agent to represent you – it is illegal;
- Agents are not allowed by law to charge you more than ten percent (10%) commission on your gross wages for a job – whether it’s a live music gig, modelling, film and television work, television commercials or live theatre;
- The ten percent (10%) commission is the total fee payable by you. You should not pay your agent for postage, phone calls or similar costs.

ETM is listed as a registered QLD agent with MEAA so they would be well aware of the illegal fees they are charging.

EXCLUSIVE TALENT MANAGEMENT first opened in early 2012, but at that time was known as "GLOBAL TALENT MANAGEMENT (GTM)". They later changed their name to "UNIQUE 1 MANAGEMENT", then changed the name again to "TIMKAREN MANAGEMENT", and are now currently running under "EXCLUSIVE TALENT MANAGEMENT (ETM)"

Why so many name changes in such a short time? I decided to do some research online about Global Talent Management and Exclusive Talent Management to gather some information on whether they were a legitimate agency.

Please see the links below with opinions by various people across Australia regarding GTM and ETM (both Tim Reedy). (Also scroll down on the pages to see additional comments.)

Is Exclusive Talent Management a scam?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130117203102AA4CjFW

Please help take down these scamming SOB's
http://anonnews.org/forum/post/22709

Is ETM a scam?
http://www.ask.com/answers/310582981/is-etm-exclusive-talent-management-a-scam

Is $300 an acceptable membership fee?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmpMxPNk4xRy7zpI649hKWgjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20121212201652AAM5oEo

Is GTM a legit company? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkIq1B53EnUgZaWMZTRWIncjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20111208223419AAmfeOq

Am I being scammed?
http://answermoz.com/open-question-is-global-talent-management-gtm-australia-a-legit-company-or-am-i-being-scammed/

Is this company a scam?
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111214063113AAF5WNI

Has anybody done work with GTM? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj41_mE3a3oWdjBtOdp48VYjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20120313190014AAJEYQe

Email regarding fees from GTM
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=794734

If you wish to find out information on Tim Reedy from his website (www.e-t-m.com.au), the only info you get is, "I could give you a giant bio and artist statement but who really cares? The short version is this: I am a talent jedi with 20 years industry experience." Established industry professionals have stated that they have never heard of this company and that ETM’s practices are unethical and irregular. No one seems to know who 'Tim Reedy' is. Does he have any credibility? Does he have any experience in the industry? qld casting compaines have never worked or heard of ETM so how is ETM getting their clients work?

ETM have quite an impressive Facebook page. They used to frequently post casting jobs on their own page which were put out by other companies such as showcast.com.au, AT2casting.com and StarNow.com.au. Doing this is not only unethical but also confusing to the public as to who is casting the job. Is ETM / GTM casting the TV commercial or is a different company on AT2? Continuously posting other company’s jobs on their own page would give out the impression that work at ETM is booming and that they're the agency to be with, which would explain the number of Facebook fans.

Throughout my research, I have not been able to find anyone who has ever gotten any creditable or professional work from Exclusive Talent Management. ETM only seems to be constantly trying to recruit new people to the agency, usually by holding competitions and offering free giveaways etc. "Who wants to be the face of ETM? Like & Share this post to win a free trip to Melbourne for a photo shoot! Send in your photos for a chance to win! Like & Share to win!" Is this another way to suck in MORE aspiring models to charge more illegal fees?

Exclusive Talent Management / Tim Reedy is breaking the law by charging people illegal fees and has been doing so for over a year under various company names. I find it disgusting that this company advertises all over Australia, and is now starting another office in Melbourne. How many people is this company going to take money from? He needs to be exposed and his actions need to be stopped.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY. TIM REEDY AND HIS SISTER LYDIA REEDY - AKA LYDIA LAWRENCE WILL FEED YOU LIES, TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN! THEY ARE ILLEGALLY TAKING MONEY FROM THEIR CLIENTS AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT! DON'T FALL FOR THEIR LIES! BEWARE!