Heard An Ad For Models On The Radio? Were You Scouted At The Mall?

Were you handed a card at the mall by a “Scout” who thinks your child is perfect for the Baby Gap campaign? Heard a radio ad that “advertisers are looking for talent in your area for tv commercials”? 

You probably wondered if it’s too good to be true, and I hate to break your reality bubble but yes, you’re probably about to get scammed.

Do you know the difference between a Casting Agent and a Model Scout? If the answer is “No” then you’re putting your child’s safety (and your wallet) at risk. 

Talent Scouts are nothing more than middle men who, in turn, pitch the talent they find to Casting Directors. Talent Scouts are recruiters; they need to move volume in order to bank commissions.

Casting Agents work on behalf of real clients to find appropriate talent options for a specific job. They may “cast” 500 kids to find the perfect one, but all 500 of those kids did, in fact, have a chance at an actual job.

This isn’t to say that Talent Scouts don’t occasionally place a model with a top agency… But the odds are not in your favor.

So I pose this question:

If you were looking for a job would you apply directly to a company’s Human Resource Department or would you go to a Job Fair, pay a Recruiter to post your resume on their website and nervously await feedback?

You probably just answered your own question. Business is business, even when it’s the business of modeling. You’re applying for a job. It should feel professional and be free of charge.

And by the way, I posted the Fall 2013 Baby GAP casting in my Facebook feed and a FB friend’s son booked the ENTIRE campaign. Casting directors use their trusted social network to find new talent. So, don’t be shy… Connect with me on FB!

Are you sure you want to model for a living? Read my article on the changing fashion industry and how it’s affecting model work.

Other discussions coming soon:
Casting Director vs Casting Agent
Submitting Directly To Agencies
Online Agencies And Casting Websites