Comments on the IMTA (INTERNATIONAL MODEL & TALENT AGENCY) AND KARON SHEA

I HAVE FOUND SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS REGARDING THE IMTA. (INTERNATIONAL MODEL AND TALENT AGENCY) ON THE WEB IRONICALLY KARON SHEA AND JOHN WOOD PROMOTE THIS HEAVILY IN THEIR OFFICE LOCATED AT 65 WATER STREET WORCESTER MA.

I have been in the modeling business for over 15 years, and I can tell you that you SHOULD NOT use a modeling school, nor should you pay all that money for IMTA. Bottom line is that if someone has it to be a model, all they need to is walk into an agency on their open calls, and they will tell you if you are model material, or not. If you are, they will sign you and, if you're really amazing, they will advance the money for your photos. Modeling schools are nothing but ripoffs, taking the money from people by making them all pie-eyed and telling them that they will be made into a star. IMTA is another money-making concept for the organizers. They are bascially cattle calls, where those who paid thousands of dollars parade in front of agent. If there is that "rare jewel", the agent will approach the person; otherwise, you will get nothing out of it, but lost money and false hopes. If you want to be a model, go see an agency. They will tell you whether you need to "quit your day job", or not.

Beware of this big Scam. It's the International Modeling & Talent Association also known as IMTA. They hold so called modeling conventions in LA & NY. The IMTA charges each person $5000. and up to attend their events. They give gifts and money to small time agents to attend their IMTA model and talent showcase. Almost nobody ever gets discovered or receives any work through these IMTA events. In the past the IMTA directors have invited known pornographers to attend their conventions and judge and interview the models. At the IMTA convention in the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan, one prolific adult film pornographer by the name of Stuart Young owner of Shadowplay Studios was allowed by IMTA directors and staff to interview young children ages 5 to 19. A well known NYC attorney by the name of William Unroch had to threaten oneof the IMTA executive directors who is Ms. Seale with legal action before she agreed to eject the pornographer and his staff. Protect yourself and your children, stay away from anyone connected to the IMTA.

Parents of models in the past have been led to believe IMTA was separate from the modeling school, and that their children were specially "selected" to attend the IMTA convention.
Industry critics and consumer protection organizations including the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission in the past have warned about modeling agencies and modeling photographers who split fees or make financially biased recommendations.
It is, however, no different with certain modeling schools and modeling conventions. There are backroom meetings. There are secret business partnerships. Fees are being split.
Modeling schools and modeling conventions have been closely associated in the past. Not only John Robert Powers and IMTA, but also Barbizon has worked closely with, and sent aspiring models to, IMTA.

When there are such clear conflicts of interest, corresponding consumer complaints, secret financial agreements, such high prices, and such large amounts of money to be made by the organizers of conventions, despite such low success rates, in an industry with very few laws to protect consumers, consumers need to think carefully before paying for modeling schools and modeling conventions.

It is not surprising modeling conventions are "in bed with" modeling schools. Students at modeling schools are, to use the sales term, hot leads. They want to become models, they have already shown they are prepared to pay to become models, and they have already been scouted, and there is a large group of them.

Furthermore, there will continue to be more models or more hot leads at the schools in the future. Therefore modeling schools represent the primary sales target of modeling conventions, who are seeking large groups of aspiring models who have money, and can quickly part with it. Model school students are basically ripe fruit ready to be picked, er, "selected."

John Robert Powers and Barbizon, the two franchised and most expensive modeling schools, both work with IMTA, the most expensive modeling convention. Is that a natural fit? Are their mindsets a perfect match?
IMTA has evidently courted them (their advertising and consumer reports say the schools promoted the convention) and paid them (insider stories, BBB).
IMTA gets it easy. They don't have to do the dirty work of scouting for models; the schools do all the work.
IMTA obviously wants a large number and reliable flow of aspiring models to attend each of their conventions.
Where else can they find so many well-heeled prospective models?
With a business arrangement with modeling schools, they can get exactly what they want. Indeed, the schools represent the most large and most reliable source of revenue for their business.

There are success stories, and the idea of them is not a scam. Models and actors need an agent to get work. That is a fact. Agencies are always looking for talent. That is a fact. It is hard to meet agents. That is a fact.
And you can't blame these agencies. Of course they support the concept. They support and attend all of these searches. Why not? They HAVE discovered people. They get PAID. It's a party weekend for them!
Those are not the issues. The problem is not in the idea, but how the idea is sold. At the cost of your dreams. Hey -- these companies have bills to pay. And we have great salaries -- about $80,000 per year -- not bad. There is nothing wrong with making money, but not by capitalizing on people's dreams, and misleading them.