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Posted by: AG (64.157.73.248) on March 24, 2002 at 21:28:23

Location: NJ

I started my scout training this past Friday (3/21/02) with the new office located in Mt. Holly, NJ. Initially, I felt this was a great opportunity for models to gain exposure with agencies, clients, etc., and in theory it is a good idea. However, after doing some research about the company and eModel, I am now not so sure. By the way, I am not a disgruntled ex-employee. As a matter of fact, I got my first enrollment on Saturday (yesterday). My advice to you is to steer clear of them.

The claim of benefits are just to lure you into the interview. In order to qualify, you have to enroll 25 people during your initial 30 day training period, during your first week work (unpaid) five open call sessions, attend a conference call for new scouts and scout talent. Also. a scout report detailing the names of the people you scouted and the dates they are coming to the open call must be submitted online before 9:00 AM daily. The bottom line is if you don't enroll 25 people in 30 days you do not advance. One does not become a full-time scout until after 120 days (90 probationary period requires that you register at least 7 to 10 models before you receive commission on enrollments at $25/enrollment or $50 for more than 10 + they promise a salary of $600/week). The compensation breakdown (straight commission for 30 days) for model enrollments per week is as follows:

1 to 3 - $20/enrollment
4 to 6 - $50/enrollment
7 to 9 - $75/enrollment
10 or more - $100/enrollment

The benefits breakdown as follows:

Cell phone allowance (includes telephone and basic plan) 90 days
Insurance - 90 days
Transportation allowance (up to $250/month) - 180 days
Travel expenses (approved by Options) - 180 days
Stock options - 1 year (OPTG.OB is currently trading at 0.145 as of 3/22/02)

On the first day of training (which starts about 10:00 AM) scouts are given a script of the sales pitch, participate in a motivational conference call, given about 30 minutes to practice the script on each other, and then are sent out in the community to scout people. That 30 minutes constitutes the scout training. The scouts are instructed to return to the office by 4:00-4:30 PM, where they are then "trained" on how to conduct an open call session. In actuality, the scouts are providing free labor for appointments that had been scheduled prior to the new scouts becomming employed. Depending on the office, open calls can be scheduled anywhere from 3 times a week to 12 times, 6 days a week. The office I was hired in requires their scouts to attend two open calls a day, M-F, 6:30 and 7:30, and Saturday 1:00 and 2:00 PM during their training week. The scout is not paid for their time during the initial 30 day period unless they have enrolled models. My first day I "worked" 12 hours and had to be back the next day at 11:00 AM.

Everyone who shows up for the interview gets hired. The turnover is about 90%. While you think it's a one on one interview, there will probably be 20-30 other people there thinking the same thing. You'll see a presentation, participate in a "model project" where you are broken up into groups, given a stack of laminated comp cards and are instructed to select three models that you would use to open an agency with. There is no wrong answer. Everyone breaks for lunch, a second "model project" is conducted where you are given the same photos and conduct the same selection process, but this time your selections are evaluated. There is no wrong answer. Exit interviews are conducted, and the applicant is offered the job. Everyone gets hired, unbeknownst to the applicant. However, before leaving the room the scout is instructed not to say whether or not they have been hired because not everone gets hired. In actuality, not everyone comes back.

As a scout, we are appealing to a person's vanity, and when we tell then they have "the look," they are obviously flattered. They think they are going to have a one-on-one meeting with a Talent Director and that are special. I had three shows (three people actually showed up) my first day out as a scout, and the dissolutionment on the faces of two of the people I personally scouted when they arrived to the open call did not make me feel good. These people trusted me when I told them they had the potential to be a model. Don't get me wrong - they definitely do - but after their presentation they realized that what they thought they were getting was not what they were offered.

As scouts, were are instructed to give as little information as possible, to leave them guessing and wanting more information. If they ask questions, we tell them the Talent Director will answer them. How can you be effective as a scout when you can't tell them anything about the company and the product they offer? Also, it's a conflict of interest when Options is advertising on the radio and television and scouts are out telling people they are special and have what it takes.

What Options does not tell perspective models is that once they pay the $495 enrollment fee, they still have to pay additional money to have photographs taken, whether on their own or by purchasing photography packages from Options Talent Group. The $495 only secures them a spot on the network, and $19.95/month keeps them on the network.

Also, why does the model have to pay the $495 fee during the phone call from the Corporate office right then or be forced to to wait one year to reapply? High pressure sales tactics. You would think that if these models are really the next new face Options Talent Group would work with them to get them on the network. It's not about talent - it's all about the Benjamins.

While Options Talent Group may say that the contact rate for models is 83% (meaning 83% of the models are contacted by an agency or client), they do not say of that 83% how much has actually resulted in work. I would think that information is more of a marketing tool than the contact rate. That is tangible information, something that would increase market share.

I am not here to bash Options. I know they are going to do well. It is the models I am concerned for. If two or three models from Options can just share the work they have recived from being on their network, my concerns would be alleviated somewhat, but them could I really believe the information presented?

I believe Options exploits the naivete of the hopeful by exagerating the amount of money models have to pay for their comp cards. Granted, it can be expensive, but a smart shopper does not have to spend an arm and a leg either.

Options leaves out just enough information to set my alarms off, and I don't want to be the one who leads someone to get taken advantage of. I have no intention of returning to work for this company.