Answering a Reader Question #257

Jennifer Wrote:

Hey Dania, it's Jennifer. JD power Associates seems more like a scam. My friend basilia signed up. She went to audition and when she went back to the mall they noticed 2 different things. On the (idk what you call it) boutique cart it said Agency, but they offered classes and said they werent an agency (something close to that)then when they asks the ladies they said they were an agency. My suggestion was DO NOT go with them because I remember them and it clicked to me about stories of them being fraud's. they almost paid those people to. SO my question is, what are someways to know to stay away from those companies? Also for kids like me in the bay area, what would be another agency?

Hi, Jennifer! Great to hear from ya! Are you sure it's JD Power & Associates you're talking about or is it another company with a similar name? That is a global marketing company that conducts surveys for consumer use when it comes to certain products and services. They aren't affiliated at all with anything dealing with modeling. If there's someone else using their name or something close to it, it's more than likely something to stay away from. Based on your description, it sounds like your friend was signing up for a modeling school like John Robert Powers, John Casablancas and Barbizon.

As far as how to stay away from such fraudulent companies, below is a link to a blog post I did about how real agencies operate so you know what to expect:

What a Real Agency Does

Here are links to legit agencies in the Bay Area that represent kid/teen models:

Boom Models & Talent
http://www.boomagency.com

JE Models SF
http://jemodel.com/

Look Model Agency
http://www.lookmodelagency.com

Marla Dell Talent
http://www.marladell.com

Stars Model Management
http://www.starsmodelmgmt.com/

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