The American Mall Model Search review: SCAM! 108

NOT A SCAM I NEVER WORKED FOR THEM OR ANYTHING MY DAUGHTER WON THE CONTRACT AND WE ARE WAITING TO WORK SOON SO EVERYBODY THAT ARE MAKING DUMB COMMENTS GET A LIFE AND STOP FALSE COMMENTING ABOUT AMMS THEY ARE A LEGIT COMPANY!

NOT A SCAM NEVER WORKED FOR THEM BUT YES MY LITTLE GIRL WON THE CONTRACT AND WERE EXPECTING TO WORK REAL SOON SO ALL THAT IS SAYING ITS A SCAM GET A LIFE AND STOP MAKING FALSE COMMENTS PLEASE!

Most ppl fail to realize that a real agency or casting can look at snap shots of their children and can tell if they can market them or not. There's nothing wrong with learning. We should learn everyday, but I think ppl are wasting their time and their children's time going through all of this stuff when they, themselves, can submit their children to agencies right now...and from the comfort of their own homes. In fact, I believe portfolios are made AFTER one is signed to an agency unless they are freelance models. The agency sets up test shoots with approved photographers to get pictures for the portfolio...and tearsheets from the jobs the agency gets them also go in the portfolio. This model search sounds like it may give a sense of temporary fun to attendees, but in the end...?

A modeling agency never asks you for money once you have a contract ...NOT concerning your portfolio! Pay attention to detail people ...know what your talking about NOT regurgitate what people in general say ...that's not wisdom; just like actors doing some elses bit ...thats not TALENT!

The AMMS is featured on Oprah Winfrey as the #1 pick for scouting agencies ...so it's obviously not a scam.
They find you, groom you, prepare you for the stage. If you have true talent, sometimes they make you a Intern ... NOT A SCAM!

i signed my child up for this. it was very exciting anything is exciting once they tell u your child has made it. i paid the first 50$ like a fool. but i guarrantee they want get the other 100$. do your research people do your research please.don't be a fool. if u are not fore sure donn't do it

Hmm. I'm really sorry to hear that, dude. I wanted to try it out but I don't have enough money for them to scam me anyway... I wouldn't be able or willing to pay a hundred and fifty dollars for photos I already have had taken (for free, might I add).

I did it and now I have a contract but after reading all this I dnt knw what to believe :/

OMG...A man's daughter took your professional pictures and they are "ok" but it's not a scam? Good luck with that.! After all my research and running far far away from the mall when the girl came over to my daughter and I to say how well she did and that I really should get in line to buy a package. If you want to be in the business, then go to a modeling agency who will teach you how to talk to producers and talent managers. For the price of the model agency, they give you your first prints. They also have major connections in the field. My friends brother had jobs up into high school for all kinds of ads and his mom said that it all depends on what the talent scouts want for that particular project. They will call you at anytime and tell you to be at a certain place wearing this or that so you can audition. It's that hectic and she said you have to be on your toes to get those jobs. Again...Set up by major modeling agencies like John Robert Powers etc. AAMS gave every child a contract that day but luckily I was smart enough to call my friend who used to be a model and ask for her advice which was "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE"! Yes, eventually you will have to pay for pictures from a professional photographer who is referred to you by the model agency and has a ton of experience. A guys daughter using a point and shoot and some cards to go by, um ya...That is truly a scam. Also, go ahead and GOOGLE AMMS REVIEWS and see what you come up with besides their pretty website. Sorry you lost out on a whole lotta money before reading all the reviews above. I believe the positive ones are from the people who work for AMMS!

COMING FROM A CONTRACT WINNER: I entered in the contest, i won the contract, and i paid for the comp cards etc etc. But I never paid for anything unless i consulted with other people in the industry as well. the comp and business cards ARE NECESSARY to book jobs. and professional pictures ARE NECESSARY as well because nobody is going to look at pictures you took in your kitchen or have a shower curtain in the background, like really? so AMMS charges pictures...so what?! who doesn't. The only way your going to get a FREE PORTFOLIO WITH FREE PICTURES is if you entered in AMERICAS NEXT TOP MODEL or one of those shows, other than that get over it. I live in philadelphia, not rich, not glamorous and yes my SINGLE MOTHER paid for my pictures. Nobody is really going to start out being tom cruises's co-star or dancing with j-lo in a commercial. YOU ALWAYS start out small. booking acting and modeling jobs in my city, some pay some don't either way it builds my resume so when i audition for the big parts in LA, i can say i have credit. Nobody wants to be scammed so its good to take precautions. The only negative thing i can say about AMMS is...the pictures weren't as professional as i expected. I don't believe that man's daughter is a professional photographer, but they must have been good enough because i got the contract. Those people aren't scam artist, they are just getting their cut from the pictures which is reasonable, ain't nobody in this money hungry country is gonna walk away with NOTHING. and whomever is ### about 20% should really stop making $7.50 an hour because if i book a job that pays $100 a day, then i can slide them a 20 and keep my 80. ITS NOT A SCAM. and mothers who are concerned for their kids, if your kid is cute enough and has a great personality then let them do it. I'm just giving you a fair response to the confusion. Those who think its a scam obviously gave up too early because they were paying too much attention to how much things cost.

SCAM! They are in Willow Grove Mall in PA. right now scamming people. I took my son who already has an up-to-date portfolio, business cards and comp cards, so tell me why he wanted me to pay $75 for more photos..It's a scam..just like the earlier post states; you have to get signed by an agency and it doesnt cost you anything. If the agency sees talent in you they will send you out on casting calls, then its up to you to get booked for the job. If you are booked for the job then the agancy will take 10% of what you are paid for the job. AMMS is a scam so please don't go there getting you or your poor childs hopes up because that is not the way to go!

The American Mall Model Search isnt a modeling agency...they just search for people. I work for them as an intern. I'm 16. But after seeing all of this, I'm going to have a serious talk with them tomorrow and if I find out this is all true, they're going to find themselves on the news and in many places they don't want to be. I promise. I apologize to everyone who has had bad experiences with this company. I will try to uncover them if they need to be uncovered because it is ridiculous to do this to people! Once again, I apologize and hopefully it will never happen again.

It's a SCAM PEOPLE! No one in the model world is going to make you pay them money for you to take photos and have them promote you! Think about it...If they want you, then they will pay you and if you are wanted, you then get a agency to represent you to get you jobs, . You only pay your agent when you get jobs and when you are paid for those jobs. That my friends, is what agent and talent managers do. So if anyone in a mall asks you to pay them, so you can come back and take pictures and then get some sort of bogus contract, then you have been scammed! It's not rocket science and all they had to do is pay the mall for the space and unfortunately, the mall doesn't care if they are scammers because the mall only cares about the money for the space. The vendor can do whatever they want...That is why sites like these are great and help warn the next person who may be scammed. I'm surprised these people are still operating!

It is definitely a scam. My 3 grandchildren and my niece all went through the whole process. My son a photographer took their pictures and they still had to do more photos. The photographer did't have a clue. She cut off the tops of the heads of the kids in 3 of the 4 photos and the lighting was terrible. When it came to the talent part it was a big joke. What's worse they sent 1 yr. contracts to all the kids and that is the last we heard of them. I agree there is a good amount of money that will be spent when getting into this type of career but most reputable companies will give you a guaranty of some sort and work with the person on how to put their self out there to get jobs. AMMS is just out to get as much money as they can and if they come across some super talented child like a, Shirley Temple, They might try to promote them. Everyone else is just lining their pockets.

my daughter did her auditions made to the finalist. She did the catwalk and her 45 sec talent. Paid $ 300 fo pics and this was in july. we still have not gotten our hard copy portfolio we were promised. I'm too beginning to think i was taken.

my daughter auditions and went to the finalist and did her catwalk and her 45 sec. talent . spent $300 on pics that i have not seen the hard copy portfolio book they promised.

Ok, So I read a lot of bad reviews about this company as well, when I didn't show up for the photo shoot with my daughter they called, I told them the only way I was coming back was to get my money. I told them all the bad stuff I had read, and that I was gonna get my money back even if I had to come down there and raise H*ll until I got it, we argued back and forth for about 15 moinutes, until he said that he would give me my money back and let my daughter still get her photos taken and go through the whole contest. He said that if I wasn't pleased still then I could bad mouth them all I wanted to, but if I was happy with the experience then I would leave some positive feedback about them...so we go in a few days for the photo shoot...I will leave more info soon...we will see what happens.

After many hours of research I do believe this is a money scam. My daughter (along with every other child) received a 1 year NON-EXCLUSIVE contract. There are plenty of websites out there that do say that you should NOT have to pay any upfront fees. Now I have the wonderful job of breaking the news to my 11 year old daughter that these "dreams" are not coming true. Thank alot for that AMMS!

I went to an AMMS two to three weeks ago, and now they send me a contract saying that I am a contract winner. I am so excited, but after reading most of the information that people post here I don't know if I should stop or continue on with the AMMS because I don't want to pay anymore money for the ID cards and all those if this is not going to go anywhere. Please let me know if I should continue on. My email is alwayssvang@yahoo.com

THIS IS NOT A SCAM. I HAVE LANDED AUDITIONS AND JOBS THROUGH THEM!
I was an intern for four months after auditioning. Of course you have to pay to get somewhere if they want you they will not pay you until you have legit business cards and comp cards to get yourself out there! This company is providing a cheap alternative to become JUST as famous as others! I worked behind the scenes I know all the background information! YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY! spending 300 dollars tops on getting PROFESSIONAL PICTURES (usual cost anywhere from 2000 to 15000 dollars avg) as well as comp cards and internet publicity is CHEAP! and DEFINITELY WORTH IT! You guys have unrealistic expectations that becoming famous is free and hassle free and it is not! me along with 4 of my closest friends who did not intern but simply went through the competition as everyone else did have all landed jobs and are on the road to success!

Not a scam. I went through this competition and interned for them for 4 months which means I worked behind the scenes. I went all the way through with the competition and now have a one year contract and have already landed auditions. Of course you have to pay money. The whole 'if they really want you then theyll pay you' is crap. Every model starts off having to buy business cards and comp cards to get themselves out there! If you havnt realized most companies charge you THOUSANDS of dollars for these quality pictures and this kind of publicity if you find it for under 200 dollars like with the AMMS then you should feel lucky and run with it! I did. There is a castin board once you send back your contract with hundreds of audition opportunities! NOT. A. SCAM.

wow, wow, wow, I have the photoshop tomorrow for my 4 year old, they asked me for a 50 dollars deposit but I didnt have my cc with me so they said that I could leave a check and they will return it when I give them my cc #, I will go tomorrow just to pick up my ck,

I took my daughter to the mall yesterday and had a gut feeling this wasn't right. When you have 15 people ther and 14 make it, I think their could be a problem. I asked the man about how many kids get picked and he said 80% of them. That means almost everyone gets picked! I told the guy I would have to research this before I paid this money. The way I looked at it was if 14 people paid them yesterday that is alot of money people. Plus they are scheduling these events nightly. They also told me that my daughter would definitely have a comtract! but you know what they are giving 80% of the kids in Pensacola a contract right now. If all these kids are getting it around the world, it would be really hard to get any work. Think about it they are just trying to make the money on these photos from all these people. I wouldn't have had a problem buying pictures if they did a search in Pensacola and only came up with a few, but not 80%.

not a scam

If you people weren't so stupid and REALLY knew the requirements of Show Business, and had the DESIRE and TALENT and LOOKS, you would know, especially you Moms who either didn't have the courage to follow your dream and trying to live it through your kids, what it take to have a career in Show Business. Get real, MOMS, and face the facts that it's not the AMMS who is crushing your kids dreams, BUT YOU!

Okay so I just did the audition part last night. I made it but so did nine other people, half of whom should not have. Which made me feel iffy. But some of the people deserved it. We all lined up and had to pay various amounts of money but i was raised to know that it takes money to make money. Even if it is a scam youll get nice pictures (which arent cheap anyway) and its a good experience. AMMS opened my eyes to what i want to do in life. And if i dont make it im still going to find me an agent and hope for a job somewhere. If you think its a scam oh well. If you dont and youre going on with it good for you. Either way wish me luck.

JUST BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES TO COME OUT THE POCKET DOESN'T MEAN ITS A SCAM. WHEN TRYING TO PURSUE ANY CAREER ITS GOING TO TAKE JUST THAT. IT DOESN'T COME EASY AND ALSO IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY IM A CONTRACT WINNER AND IVE DONE PHOTOSHOOTS FOR DIFFERENT MAGAZINE AND IM FULL TIME MODELING MAKING OVER 5 GRAND EACH PHOTOSHOOT. ALL TOGETHER I PAID ABOUT 375 TRYING TO PURSUE THIS CAREER AND I NOW IM MAKING 5 GRAND A PHOTOSHOOT, IF YOU ASK ME I THINK ITS ALL WORTH IT. IF YOU KEEP ON PONDERING ON MAN WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY AND YOUR AFRAID TO TAKE RISK YOUR ALWAYS GONNA RIGHT WHERE YOU STARTED MAKING NO PROGRESS IN LIFE AND YOULL BE LIVING TO WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT FOR YOUR SELF TRUST ME!

If you weren't such a stupid dumb ###, you would know that comp cards ARE necessary in this business. GET YOU FACTS AND INFORMATION STRAIGHT!

My daughter wanted to do the runway walk and get as far as she could. They were desperate to get some money that the lady even asked for just $5.00 to get her registered. Of course I said, "NO". But I offered to to meet up at the next show - knowing it was a scam. She told me that they were going to another city close by on a certain date but when I went to reconfirm about this city and date with a gentleman coworker of hers - he said, "No we will not be going to this city on that date - that city is not even on our schedule". My daughter was happy just walking the runway. We took our business to GapKids and paid nothing and my daughter is making her way happily.

i tried out for the american mall model search, and made it to the next round where you do the photoshoot etc. well anyways, i paid the first payment there at the mall not really thinking about it (my bad) 99$ for the 3 outfits and 15 poses each. i never went to the photoshoot cuz i looked them up after and found out they arent really that great of a company to go with. so i called the corprate office to see how i could get my money back since i CLEARLY DID NOT WANT THE PICTURES DONE! the lady i was talking to i told her how i didnt wanna do it and i needed the money back, and the only reply she had to that was "well it holds your place in the competition so you can call them back and reschedule"... ok well, i didnt want to take the pictures i just simply want my money back (any real, good, experienced company wouldve gave me the money back no problem!) but of course she went on and on about how if you spend more than 50$ you dont get the refund. also, i forgot to mention, while i was there trying out the scout and the director i guess were dating or something and they had there little kids there running around screaming and what not. well, the little boy fell split his eye open and the director and scout were behind the stage literally screaming at each other! im not exaggerating! me and the other two people that passed were just looking at each other like... what the heck?! they are very unproffessional. that shouldve been my sign to not go through with them! well, obviously this is a good lesson for me! look into something before you ever spend money on it! hopefully, this will help someone not to get ###ed over...

I've done The American Mall Model Search at the Concord mall in New Hampshire. The guy Nick seems to be a nice guy but his photographer Peter alittle creepy. Honestly i've done so many different things to perform to figure out that this place is a scam. I've never once had to pay 1 cent to perform or try out for other competitions until after i won. I dont think that it right that u need to pay 150 dollars with no clue if your going to win at the end or not.

My 9 year old daughter was in AMMS last year. I paid for the photos, 2 poses. I received 1 of the poses but had to call several times over several weeks to get the other photos. My daughter did receive a 1yr model contract. I just want every one to know what their 1 yr contract is. They want you to first pay more money for photo cards. Then they want you to go to their web site to see what jobs are available on their listings. They are not an agency...they do not find you jobs. It is only an on-line listing that you look up yourself. My daughter has had contracts with 2 miami model agencies in the past. Real model agencies will call you when they have a job that fits your description. There are plenty of on-line model listings, you dont have to waste your poor single moms hard earned money on AMMS. I did finally get all the pics, and they were pretty good pics..and my daughter did have fun..but I will not be signing the contract.

at least it is not as bad as John Robert Powers modeling and acting.
these so called business cards are called "Comp Cards"
I am a professional model From Monterey California
and Models are Paid to take pictures. Any and every model should know
that you need to have a Zed (comp) Card and headshot with resume for any actual casting.
beware of Fraud. I my self signed up for this at my mall in Salinas County and of course they called me
the lady on the phone seamed disturbed to know i was already a model. maybe because i know whats up!
so what im thinking is going down their to the runway do my thing and tell them
"thank you for the opportunity this was fun, but time to get back to my real modeling life"
honestly people its not easy becoming famous!

I got an audition with the amms, i am a twin which they said they needed. Me and my sister forced my mom (she is a single parent) to pay all of this money which she was very upset about. we made it all they way threw the fanally but they never called us back. they would always call us back but this was before we started this whole thing. Now they never answer and when ever i leave them a voice mail they never call me back... my recomendations are that if you truly want to be a model dont go here.

My 14YO daughter desperately wanted to enter, so I allowed her to do so. First off, the staff at our local mall were VERY professional and efficient. Second, not everybody who auditioned was selected. Third, they suggested that we purchase a photo package but did not require it (we ended up taking the three-outfit package). Fourth, their website is STILL active. Fifth, they have kept in communication with us during the entire time since the competition. Sixth, we did get the photo DVD as well as the hardcover book, and it is very professional-looking. Seventh, my daughter has been selected to receive a contract, which we will go over once it arrives and will decide then if it is worth pursuing. I saw absolutely NOTHING that screamed "Hey, this is a scam!" to me, and was quite comfortable with the entire process.

From what I understand, AMMS is located in Ft. Lauderdale FL and currently has a B- rating with the Better Business Bureau. Considering the volume of business they must be doing, a B- is really pretty darn good. It seems to me that a lot of the complaints on here (as well as those filed with the BBB) are from disgruntled wanna-be's who really have no clue what the industry is like. I'm sorry, I do understand that you should never PAY an agency in order for them to market you; however, you DO need to put some time, money and effort into it if you want to get anywhere. You will need professional photos, and not everybody knows a professional photographer that can put a good portfolio together for you on the cheap. You will need casting cards/business cards, and not all of us want to go to VistaPrint and have something that looks like we cobbled it together at home. You need to invest in YOURSELF in order to market yourself effectively. Also, just because you have won a contract does not mean you have to sign that contract! The first thing we will be doing is having our attorney review it for us; after that, we will decide if it is to my daughter's benefit to sign it. There are literally THOUSANDS of agencies across the country; in my opinion, doing the mall talent competition is simply one good indicator of whether or not my daughter can handle herself in public. She's not locked into the contract until and unless we sign it; we can always go elsewhere if we think she would be better off.

well [censor] i got my pics and my contract so far im good...

well [censor] somebody tell me whats up cuz i got the contract and i paid my money so is this gonna be real cuz i aint printing no casting cards if it aint legit.

i dont know if this was a scam or not. sucks if it is. but what can you do. [censor] happens. and you people are GROWN ADULTS. you are the PARENTS of children. please, someone explain, how can a child lead a child in life? you "grown mothers" are pathetic. and ridiculous. grow the [censor] up. you're so immature you're arguing with someone over the internet and talking [censor] to eachother. im 17. i stopped doing that when i graduated from middle school. get some class.

SCAM! Please don't trust in that company.. I'm a mother of 2.. I pay them 150.00dls that suppose to include pictures.. That agree to send them to my email.. GUESS WHAT?! I'm still waiting for the pic and it's been like 3 months.. Now they(AMMS) send me a package, of course they ask for more $$$$$ something about printing pic with different sizes .. DON'T TRUST THEM!

FOR EVERYBODY ON HERE THAT DOESNT BELIEVE IT IS A SCAM...I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU...DID YOU EVER RECIEVE THE HARD COPY OF YOURS OR YOUR CHILDS PORTFOLIO? AND IF YOU PAID FOR A COPY OF THE SHOW DID YOU EVER RECIEVE THAT? ANNNNNNNNND HAVE YOU GONE TO THE WEBPAGE LATELY? ITS NO LONGER THERE...SO YEA I'VE BEEN EMAILING THE PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR MONTHS AND STILL HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANYTHING I PAID FOR.