Answering a Reader Question #67

Sojah Wrote:

I was browsing the Fashion Job Board of Elegantjobs.com and came across this listing of an agency seeking non-experienced size 12 models for a national sportswear ad. They will be paying $1900 to the selected model and travel and lodging expenses will be paid for. The name of this agency is The Talent Department. It is located in Philadelphia, PA, its website is http://talentdept.net. I searched for this agency using The Better Business Bureau. The agency is not listed. Do you know if this is a legitimate agency and if so, why isn't it listed with the BBB?

Hey, Sojah!

I went to the site and wasn't very impressed. I would be cautious of dealing with this particular company. First, they do not actually state on their website that they are an agency, which I don't like. From what I read on their "About" page, they simply keep a database of models and match them with open projects. This reads more like a casting company to me and not an actual modeling agency. They say they do not take commission from the work their models book, which in theory is good (and also furthers my belief that they are not a modeling agency), but that more than likely means they may charge some sort of membership fee in order for you to be on their online database and receive info about castings.

In essence, the post they are talking about sounds too good to be true--and it probably is. If you are looking for legit, real agencies in the PA area, check these out:

Expressions Model & Talent Agency (Philadelphia)
Reinhard Model & Talent Agency (Philadelphia)
Docherty Moded & Talent Agency (Pittsburgh)
The Talent Group (Pittsburgh)
Click Models (West Chester)

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