Answering a Reader Question #251

Anonymous Wrote:

hello! I would just love to say that i love your blog! it's everything i need! and the scam article's great. I just wanted to know what's the hype about John Casablancas? I used to go there and people say they're a scam but I'm not so sure... I did pay over a thousand just to be with them but I don't know why people are calling it a scam!

Hi, Anonymous! Awwww, thank you for such wonderful compliments, you're a sweetie!!! :-)

I think what people don't understand is what the actual definition of a "Scam" is and are wrongly labeling modeling schools like John Casablancas because of that. The definition of a scam is a "dishonest scheme or fraud." While I do not personally care for modeling schools like John Casablances, Barbizon, John Robert Powers, etc. these businesses are NOT scams by definition. Why? Because they do not claim to guarantee success in the modeling industry. They state upfront that they are a school and charge fees for training. This is not something they hide or that you find out about until you're way in too deep--they're being totally upfront and honest, which is the opposite of the definition of a scam.

It is because they are not making false claims about the money or a person's chances about making it in modeling/acting that they are not a scam. They offer services and those services cost money. Plain and simple. If they were a true scam, the feds would have shut them down long ago. There have been many shady organizations put out of business because they were in fact running "schemes" that were dishonest and did not deliver what they promised customers. If John Casablancas charged people thousands of dollars for modeling classes but then never provided that training to the models, THAT would be your scam.

Modeling schools are very clear that they charge a lot of money for the knowledge and training they offer but cannot promise that anyone who pays their fees will get an agent or end up becoming a supermodel. Calling something a "scam" is just easy for people to say but the reality is that JC isn't a scam...it's simply a money making business that charges people for its services. Anyone that pays for modeling schools does so at their own risk.

Comments

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who ...

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It...

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks ...

Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

Search This Blog