Is the AMMS (American mall model search) a scam?

What is American Mall Model Search?? AMMS?

• So I want my girls to be on tv or model- they both actually want to do this. 15yr old girl and 5 yr old girl. We showed up, the 15yr old read a script and walked the runway- the 5yr old had no script- and walked the runway. They are now finalists. Now, they want to schedule them both for photo shoot. 15pics, each girl is 150 a pop. yikes. they want 100 upfront. im like " no, i dont have the money up front" so i pay 50 up front. and after all the questions i had, i just paid it but then they want 100 in two days and the other 100 on fashion show day. I am freaking out about paying that kind of money for headshots that I get digitally!!!!!!!!!!!! what ever happened to old fashion 8x10 pics. I had their headshots done when they were younger by my friend who was a professional photographer. They need new headshots, big deal BUT my problem is still paying some random mall talent search people to put my girls out there and try and get them out there. I read all the reveiws and it's really not looking good for AMMS. Does anyone have some real input on this company???? Taking chances is not my kind of thing when Im losing a few hundred bucks in the process. I've read reviews that the pics aren't any good, and that this all a scam anyway. I dont know what to believe. - Spokane, WA

• Answer:

  I don't have any personal experience with that company but I worked for a top agency that held a national model search every year and contestants whould never need professsional pictures for a model search. Any agent or judge can tell your potential from snapshot or digital picture, not professional photos. A portfolio shoot should be part of the winning prize - not something that contestants ever have to pay for Also find out from them exactly WHICH agency the winner gets a contract with - that should be something you knew before you signed up. They should have information that tells you exactly what the winner gets, i.e. - two year contract with Ford Models [or whichever agency the winner gets a contract with] - portfolio shoot by [photographer's name] - $xx in casn - $xx worth of clothes from [clothing sponsor] - $xx worth of haircare/makeup from [hair/makeup sponsor] - # plane tickets sponsored by [airline sponsor] - a year's supply of products by [sponsor] - etc, etc, etc Also ask for the names of the winners in each of your daughters' categories for the past 5 years and google those winners' names to see if they have gotten any work. If they are a legitimate model search this would be public information and listed on their website and you could google the winner's name to see if they have any credits Just look at something like Ford Supermodel of the World model search. The winner in 2010 was named Karlina Caune -- not a household name but if you google her name there are 29,000 results http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22karlina+caune%22&aq=f&aqi=g1g-v2&aql=&oq= Look up the winner of Elite Model Look 2009 - her name was Julia Saner, again not a household name but a google search brings up 300,000 hits http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22julia+saner%22&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq= Look at the Miss Hawaiian Tropic winner of 2006 Kristen Achee and she has over 3000 hits on a google search If it's a legitimate search that is actually "discovering" models then a google search should bring up at least a few hundred hits for each of the winners But if you really want your kids to be models, then go directly to an agency. If they can't get signed by an agency they are not going to be discovered at any model search. The two main agencies in the Seattle area are Heffner Management and Seattle Models Guild. I don't know if either have a "kids" division for your 5 year old but they might be able to recommend a good agency that does. Because honestly if they are not interested in representing your kids it's not worth paying a penny for any model search