The American Mall Model Search review: SCAM! 108

Dear Rearest Red,

You need to shut ur trap because you dont know what you are talking about. Are you a single parent? Do you have any freaking kids? I will be damn if i pay $150 for a freaking freelance photographer to take pics of my child when i can go to Olan Mills and pay $150 for those simple pics plus more. You need a life. Lets be realistic here. Would you really waste your time if you had kids to pay for pics and crap your kid and tons of other kids would get? You need to go back to bed and wake up. Then start talking after brushing your teeth.

Emily are you dumb or are you dumb. Are you really reading these posts? I'm not even going to waste my daughter freaking time.

I would like to know how one can get a refund for the deposit made to 'reserving our spot' for the photo shoot - we have not taken the photos yet, can we still get a refund ?

I just attended and BROUGHT my portfolio. The person in charge did not seem to know what a portfolio actually looked like. I opened it to the beginning. He didn't even look at it. Instead he asked for 5 different photos and a signed waiver from the photographer, which he would like in less than 24 hours. An actual portfolio (such as mine) will have many looks and many photographers. Perhaps getting a waiver is a custom I wasn't made aware of - but in the business of acting, no waivers are required from photographers who take your headshots. However, headshots are mainly used for internal business. In the business of modeling, this is the first time I was ever asked to get a waiver from my photographers - and I have been in business since 1999. The American Model Search is currently in Indianapolis as of July 2010. I've read about how people post they will get people in the movies - and I've been on that side - no one gets there without an agent to talk to the casting director who requests them for the audition. I say bravo for the mom who did the right thing by listening to her kid, doing her research, getting involved with professionals and working the proper steps to getting her kid in a gap ad. Indiana has an agent already who deals with models and actors. I can tell you I've dealt with her and in 18 months got one modeling job for about $150 or less and no acting auditions or modeling auditions. I paid a private photographer to do my headshots and I got a reprinter to give me about 100 copies for about $100 or less. Business cards you can get now for about $5 - depends on quality. For people just starting out you should never get professional services with professional prices until you are a professional. Start smart, work up professionally.
Also- the literature from the search says to consider modeling as a hobby. How much money do you waste on hobbies and uncompleted projects of nonprofit? They also did not leave a message on my machine - I had to call them back as a missed call to know when and where they were having auditions. If they were professionals, they would have left a message. People who don't leave messages don't care. I also find it interesting that the fees for the photos seem to keep going down. Right now they ask $50 upfront and provide a waiver box for those of us who are already union with portfolios and don't need to pay for their photo session.

its reaaly fishy, my son did one win the first audition, but I hada funny feeling. They were taking credit for something that opra did for a model, when it had nothing to do with them ... I offered my potifolio and they said that they wanted thier photographers.. Duh.. They tring to make money...

It seems to me there's alot of sour grapes in this forum. I just got a contract as well, and I'll be paying the $150. NO AGENCY will pay for your portfolio. I don't care if you're Megan fox, it's your obligation to cover small expenses like that. I'm sorry but they gave you the 80% / 20% contract as it is. Every comment mentions "not having the money" and "single mothers". Maybe that's the real problem here- the fact that you people think you're going to take a free ride to fame.

Oh boy, I feel like an idiot. I just paid them $70 today for the portfolio shots of my 9 year old daughter. We're supposed to go back tomorrow for her shoot. I thought since they only chose a few people as winner that is was legit. But I should have known better when they chose a kid who looked like an idiot on the runway in an older age category. So, now what? How do I get my money back?

I'm a mother of an 8 n 6 years old. On May2010 spoted the AMMS at the mall and as everyone here had said, I went through the same process and instead of paying $150 for each child they gave me a discount and paid $100 for each child for the photo. They gave me the CD the same day the photo were taken and it was notthing even close to professional! Even my youngest child can take a better picture than that.
After the final was told would receive result in the mail within 2 weeks and now is July2010, I just received the result and both my child was choosen to be the modeling winning contract. State will have 60 days to complete the short form which is the contract, also provided a printing casting card company with it for me to do my child printing. If I decide to continue with this it will probably cost me more then another $200 to print the casting card that require with the contract.
So I came in here to do a research and after all these review of the company it had help me made the decision final!
Thank you for all the advise I find in here and wish I would have did the research before I even paid a penny.
PS IS UP TO U TO DECIDE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT

They are awful ! To make you think you kid has a shot, how disappointing! My daughter was crushed, and thought I should pay, and was mad at me! It made me so mad that they could crush their dreams! Shame on them and it pisses me off! What an outrageous scam!

how do i sighn up? for amms? i realy want to do it?

If you see AMMS in your local mall...Run for you life! I took my 2, almost 3 year old daughter to try out. I filled out the peice of paper and they did call...actually several times to setup a so called "audition". So I took her there 7:30p and it looks very legit. The stage with the lights, the music and the tv's. So I get there and wait with all the many other people in line to get a number and a brochure. Once we get through that line, we wait in another line to talk to the girl in charge. The brochure states that you must pay $150 for 1 style, $240 for 2 styles and $300 for 3 styles. I was told by several people in the model world that if your child or you is good enough to be in pictures, then you should NEVER HAVE TO PAY A DIME...EVER! So I let her do the free audition, walk the platform and then we waited. After everyone walks the catwalk, you wait a few minutes and if your number is called, they want you to go up in front of the audience. They called my daughter and guess what, all the other kids that auditioned. Of course they did, because they want the parents to feel special and they say, your daughter is so cute and beautiful, she did so good! Then want you to wait in line again to give them a deposit of the package you pick, come back the next day to do a photo shoot and then come back again to do a talent show! My almost 3 year old is going to do a talent show for 45 seconds? So after I sit there, all the red flags start to go off. The girl even approached me afterwards and said she did so good because she saw me on the phone being hesitant about signing up my daughter. I then contacted my friend who said do not sign up, it's a scam. Noone should ever make you pay for photos period! So I left with my daughter, got online and saw the many, many scam posts. BTW, Im in Nor Cal and this company is big in Atlanta and Florida! JUST DON'T DO IT!

I was a contract winner and now i have to pay more money for business cards no way. Plus i didn't evn get my pictures i called about a thousand times and no answer they just packed up and left. Moy mother gave them money she didnt have and they just leave! OMG! dude complete rip off...they make you fell pretty but let me tell you all something you dont need them to tell you ur beautiful.
Another thing i saw them at my hometown in Holtville its a lil town and they totally were FUGLY dude. no make up hair gross and to top it off there car was crap! dude never again will i try out!

My daughter made it through the 1st day, paid the &150.00, had the photo shoot, but there are no pics and now there phone suddenly doesn't work. Sounds like a scam to me. If I do not hear from support soon, something will be done. I have 15 people from the contest on my phone, if this is a scam we're going for a class action suit, any else interested let me know!

I just got done with the first audition, and I passed! Ashley and Jammel were really nice about everything, and everyone that was there tonight. I am not sure is this is a scam (really hope IT IS NOT) but, They are in this business since 1982, that's even before I was born. My point is that if all this was really fake then I don't see why they haven't been stopped, you know what I mean? By the way, they DO tell you at front how this works, even before you even ask. I have 2 days to think about it, and if I go foward with them I hope for the best. If not there are more ways to do this modeling thing. Whatever you decide to do have fun doing it, I did!

i am sooo nervous i just got a contract and i CAN NOT understand any of the stupid business words in there and i asked my mom for help she couldn't understand any of it either how PATHETIC is that. THAT STUPID AMMS COMPANIES ARE TOTAL [censored]ES!

you guys, im nervous im only 13 i got a contract and i really honestly cant understand all those stupid business words they use in there and i had my mom help and OMG! she couldnt understand it either check that out.

what do you once you win the modeling contract?

i had to pay 150$ but eveything came out very perfect you peeps are crazy iam going to make a movie with miley and thta true they gave me the stuff to get ready your stupid

You notice that all the people that are posting in favor all work FOR the company (interns, scam artists, etc), none of them ever claim to have gotten a MODELLING job with them.

I am totally going to have to disagree with you. Just because you have to pay for certain things does not mean that its a scam. They are telling you what you are paying for and its for your own benefit. They have been doing this for 25 years. If it was a scam, they would have been caught by now trying to rip people off. They have 19 stages around the US, they have been publicized in malls and by Oprah.
At first I was iffy about the whole thing too, but I got to intern for them and I learned a lot. They work so hard to make this happen.
Just because you won a contract doesn't mean that you are automatically gonna get a role in a movie or whatever. You have to work for it.
Those business cards will help you get jobs. Thats how it is in the business world. You have to advertise yourself so you can be successful.
I am only 17 and I may not know everything, but I do know that AMMS is not Fake. They want to work with you and help you reach those goals of being discovered and becoming huge.
BUT there are some consequences like paying for photos, business cards, etc. and having to go to auditions.

I've been very impressed with the professionalism of the young woman that ran the contest here in Roanoke, VA. Lauryn...known as LA. $150 is cheaper than what you pay at Sears for your babies portraits...not a bad deal if you ask me.
My daughter won an exclusive contract with the company and they have now asked her to come and work for the company. They have been in business since 1982. Last year they had 16 complaints to the BBB. They had over 4000 contestants in Roanoke alone. DO the math.
The complaints usually come from people who are mad they didn't get picked for a contract. I will admit it is not the usual way one would think you get a modeling job, but it is sure working for my daughter!
Good luck to everyone!

You must work for them, because it is a SCAM

NON OF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT. GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. I DIDNT HAVE TO PAY ONE PENNY TO THEM AND FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THE OPERATORS ROBIN AND BRYAN ARE PAYING FOR ALL 75 OF THE INTERNS (ME AND THE OTHER INTERNS) COMP CARDS (BUSINESS CARDS). I HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE AND IM ONLY 17 YEARS OLD! I GOT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND I GOT INFORMED BY PHONE SO THEY COULD MAKE SURE MY ADDRESS DIDNT CHANGE AND NOW IM WAITING FOR THE ENVELOPE TO COME IN THE MAIL! I AM SO EXCITED THAT I GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY! THANK YOU BRYAN AND ROBIN FOR OPENING DO MANY DOORS IN MY LIFE! :)

Complete SCAMMM! why don't anyone sue this company! I am sooo happy i followed my gut feeling and ended up leaving once they were going to ask for the first down payment. If they really want you to be a model no down payment is needed. I went home did some research on this company and bamm! all these letter of people being scammed. I hpe they get what they deserve for all these poor people who have been taken advantaged of. I took my son and told him a lie of us needing a portfolio and whisk him away from that place. He came out with a happy smile regardless just knowing that he did the run way. I did get his picture taken at a lagit photographer place and sent it to gap kids directly during their annual casting call and he made it. No fee required, very proffesional, and no money came out of our pocket not even a penny...beware of this model search Mall crap!

I am so glad i didnt pay that cash down..i had told my boy that we will take our own pix which i did. Took him to a nice affordable photographer and sent out his portfolio with bigger names such as gap kids. I had a gut feeling about this mall model and thank god i followed it! I can't believe that this actually is still on going. Why is this not against the law!

yeah i had to go back friday...thanks to ya'll I dont have to go through the same mistake how can they do this to people and get away with it?

wow...i just paid them $70.oo and i to have been called back to do the photo shoot...but now i wont, thank you so much!

awww man :( freakin jerks i guess they got me to ... i have to go back for the talent part ... well thank you