UPDATE.. Baby modelling..

[aliss]

I think it's a great way to prey on a new mother's pride.

EVEN IF the agency was "legitimate", how likely are you going to get your money back? Or get struck by lightening, more likely. A few kids get all the work, nobody's going to bother with some random cute kid if they know there is another one that can already do the job.

 

[aliss]

My mom blew $2000 on this once with my baby sister. I remember saying to her (because I am much older than my sister), "you know she's not that cute right?"

 

[RoxieHart]

Thanks for your replies ladies, I've changed my mind! Not interested! Lol xx

 

[bumpy_j]

Scallywags is totally legit and a great agency, one of the best. They charge about £200 a year which is the same as Elisabeth Smith (also one of the best agencies). It's to do with different legal mumbo jumbo because it's regarding children. If I remember right, you normally have to pay for children to be on acting books too.

How is it legit to charge a representation fee and why would the law make them do that? Their website says they have 1000 kids on their books. So they're making 200k a year from fees alone? Sounds dodgy to me. Any kid on their books is obviously competing with at least a hundred others in the same age group from just that agency...

https://www.reputablemodelagencies.com/page6/page6.html

Don't get me wrong, I find it outrageous that they do charge this - they both use legal loopholes to do so (calling it 'admin' etc). However they both make the Alba list and are constantly regarded as two of the best child agencies in the country.

 

[Larkspur]

Scallywags is totally legit and a great agency, one of the best. They charge about £200 a year which is the same as Elisabeth Smith (also one of the best agencies). It's to do with different legal mumbo jumbo because it's regarding children. If I remember right, you normally have to pay for children to be on acting books too.

How is it legit to charge a representation fee and why would the law make them do that? Their website says they have 1000 kids on their books. So they're making 200k a year from fees alone? Sounds dodgy to me. Any kid on their books is obviously competing with at least a hundred others in the same age group from just that agency...

https://www.reputablemodelagencies.com/page6/page6.html

Don't get me wrong, I find it outrageous that they do charge this - they both use legal loopholes to do so (calling it 'admin' etc). However they both make the Alba list and are constantly regarded as two of the best child agencies in the country.

I just got around to reading through that site and frankly, it seems pretty dubious itself. Right from the first page it claims that EVERY agency charges to put models on their books. This is a flat-out lie.

It then starts going on about how it's a gamble for an agency to put a model on their books (and expensive for the agency if the model doesn't work), which is why it's fair to charge a fee. Well, YES, it's a gamble - but the agents are meant to know their business, and the risk factor means they offer represention only models they really believe in. That's the basis for 'reputable' vs 'dodgy'.

It also says that top agencies never street-scout and only scout at 'shows' - total, total rubbish ('shows' are the dodgy places in my experience). More than 80 percent of our best models were street-scouted at the agency I worked at. Every top agency scouts EVERYWHERE. I would hand out cards to people anywhere and everywhere. Honestly, most of the time we didn't bother to meet girls over the age of 16 applying to be models because if they hadn't been scouted by a big agency before then, they probably didn't have what it takes.

Finally, nowhere on that website does it say who is actually behind the site, which is dodgy in itself. Soooo... believe that site at your own risk, I reckon.

 

[AnneD]

Larkspur, can I just say, I love you.

 

[bumpy_j]

Scallywags is a genuine agency. I was looking at agencies a while ago and Elisabeth Smith, Scallywags and Norrie Carr were always the ones that were highly recommended, like the 'household names' of the industry - and all charge around the same. I've know someone who used Elisabeth Smith years ago and got plenty of work. However, a lot people cannot justify parting with that money which personally I couldn't - all I'm saying is that the 'no fees' rule of weeding out scams doesn't really apply with child agencies in the UK.

If you look on Scallywags facebook page, they have lots of positive reviews and recommendations.

I mean, this is all the way from 2000 but it mentions Scallywags in one of the biggest newspapers in the country: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4469933/Youre-never-too-young-to-earn.html

Urban Angels is another one that's established but has a slightly lower fee (it only opens up it's books twice a year though). There are other free ones out there but likewise, books are hardly ever open. Bruce & Brown are free if I remember right.

 

[Leids]

Personally I only know of agencies in NYC, like Generation, Product, Wilhelmina, Abrams etc. but none of them require money up-front. I'm pretty sure with most (like Generation and Wilhelmina) you just send pictures to them via e-mail or snail mail and that's that. If they're interested they call you, if they aren't they don't. You don't even need professional photos, you can take photos on your phone and send it.

I've been asked to send things in to Product and Wilhelmina so I've done research. A relative of William's works at Wilhelmina, though I personally don't know them and have never spoken to them (my MIL has). Although William has an amazing personality for it and I live very close to NYC, it can come at a hefty price. I wouldn't want William becoming stressed or overwhelmed at such a young age. On the off-chance that he did become successful, what kind of childhood would he have?

I know it's far-fetched, but there are a lot of different factors to consider. Some of which could adversely affect the baby in the long-run, and it's not just confidence killers like 'you're not cute enough' - even being successful with it would have its drawbacks.

 

[mommytobe11]

Personally I only know of agencies in NYC, like Generation, Product, Wilhelmina, Abrams etc. but none of them require money up-front. I'm pretty sure with most (like Generation and Wilhelmina) you just send pictures to them via e-mail or snail mail and that's that. If they're interested they call you, if they aren't they don't. You don't even need professional photos, you can take photos on your phone and send it.

I've been asked to send things in to Product and Wilhelmina so I've done research. A relative of William's works at Wilhelmina, though I personally don't know them and have never spoken to them (my MIL has). Although William has an amazing personality for it and I live very close to NYC, it can come at a hefty price. I wouldn't want William becoming stressed or overwhelmed at such a young age. On the off-chance that he did become successful, what kind of childhood would he have?

I know it's far-fetched, but there are a lot of different factors to consider. Some of which could adversely affect the baby in the long-run, and it's not just confidence killers like 'you're not cute enough' - even being successful with it would have its drawbacks.

Couldn't agree more with all of this! It's so much to consider, other than "hey my kid is cute, let's let everyone see it"
There was a boy in my elementary school that modeled, along with his 3 sisters and he was always getting pulled out of school to go on jobs or auditions.

I live close to Miami and Wilhemina is a big agency down here, too!

 

[lhancock90]

My sisters registered at Scallywaggs. My Moms out on her money and my sisters had no work. I totally agree with Larkspur.

 

[little_cookie]

I just want to make a point here.

I think some of you, in a roundabout way, are trying to be judgemental. Maybe i'm reading things wrong but the OP simply came on here to ask if the company was reputable- not to have a lesson on the ethics of child modelling. None of us are perfect parents and we do want we think we want for our children until they are old enough to stand on their own two feet.

If you think that means making them skydive from a plane age 3, or be a champion horse rider- I couldn't give a monkeys. It's your choice and your child.

But maybe that is just my opinion and sorry if I offend anyone

 

[flamingpanda]

little_cookie - I think people are just trying to urge caution. No one wants to see a new mum down on money because of scams and false promises.

 

[RoxieHart]

Thanks ladies, also I'm aware a lot of people are against it? But each to their own.

I'm not too bothered about the replies on people's opinions of it, I already get negative comments for things I do with my LO, like taking pride in her things, and sometimes being guilty of spending a lot on the things she has, but I don't really care.

However I am very great full for the info on how modelling agencies should work and being warned about when things are a scam and when they aren't.

So thanks ladies appreciate it ! Xx

 

[RoxieHart]

Ps I would never want to place my daughter into dodgy situations, Hense why I'm asking for info about baby modelling xx

 

[_jellybean_]

My mom blew $2000 on this once with my baby sister. I remember saying to her (because I am much older than my sister), "you know she's not that cute right?"

Lol. Alissa are you expecting hon? Baking a pumpkin?

 

[_jellybean_]

Wouldn't do it with my Los bc I'm pretty private. I worry about posting their pictures on Facebook, but everyone is different.

 

[Larkspur]

I just want to make a point here.

I think some of you, in a roundabout way, are trying to be judgemental. Maybe i'm reading things wrong but the OP simply came on here to ask if the company was reputable- not to have a lesson on the ethics of child modelling. None of us are perfect parents and we do want we think we want for our children until they are old enough to stand on their own two feet.

If you think that means making them skydive from a plane age 3, or be a champion horse rider- I couldn't give a monkeys. It's your choice and your child.

But maybe that is just my opinion and sorry if I offend anyone

I'm not making a judgement about the ethics of modelling (obviously I don't have a problem with it, I worked as an agent ), I'm offering an educated opinion on the value of baby modelling.

My experience tells me that the majority of people have an extremely distorted view of the realities of the industry (I mean that in terms of the requirements, pay, that if your child is booked on a job even if they are feeling unwell, unless they are on death's door they will be expected to be dosed up on Calpol and turn up etc, not just hazards like dodgy men and eating disorders) vs the payoffs. I'm just trying to give a realistic picture. Quite a few people know *someone* who has done well in modelling but that doesn't mean that the industry is for everyone. I know Miranda Kerr... does that mean I think the average 14-year-old should give modelling a bash because she might become a multimillionaire supermodel? No.

I mean, if someone is a SAHM living in central London, and the $100-200 'registration fee' is purely discretionary money - it's not going to be otherwise spent on books or toys for LO - and their child is very sociable, confident and not easily bored, I would say, okay, give it a try. Otherwise I think people are mostly likely just going to waste their time and money and possibly end up feeling bad for their child if they don't get any work.