Anyone been approached at the mall to be a model?

[MUFFYCAT]

My daughter was at the mall over the weekend with 5 of her friends. Someone from a modeling agency approached them for their names and phone numbers. They called and left a message for them. My friend is calling to see what it's about. I think it's a hoax and wouldn't bother.
They approached us once at a county fair, but I blew them off.
Would do you think of it?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Yes, when I was a teenager. I blew them off.

 

[Missy1961]

I'm with you, it's a hoax, or even worse, a scam. Few (or no) legit agents would approach someone in a mall.

 

[monkeyboy]

Not at the mall but in the men's room of a bus stop once

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

No, but many years ago my friend and were approached to work at Hot Dog on a Stick. You know the one, where they wear those big ol' chef hats!

 

[Maleficent13]

Not to be an alarmist, but this is something that predators also do to lure teens. Profess to be from some modeling agency and get the teen off somewhere.

 

[wvjules]

Not to be an alarmist, but this is something that predators also do to lure teens. Profess to be from some modeling agency and get the teen off somewhere.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

[grlpwrd]

My daughter was at the mall over the weekend with 5 of her friends. Someone from a modeling agency approached them for their names and phone numbers. They called and left a message for them. My friend is calling to see what it's about. I think it's a hoax and wouldn't bother.
They approached us once at a county fair, but I blew them off.
Would do you think of it?

Yes, I have, but I didn't give out my number. The person gave me a business card and they were legit.

Yes, I think there are perverts out there and the girls should not have given out their numbers (if they did).

You should never have to pay them to represent you. If they ask for money then they are a scam.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

They should not have given out their numbers. If they were legit they should have given the girls a business card to contact them.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

My brother worked very briefly for one of those agencies. He was a "scout" and had to approach people in malls etc.

DO NOT DO IT.

It's a total scam. My brother was actually sickened by how sleazy these places are and he quit after only a few weeks.

 

[Rowena]

I echo what others have said. They should have received a business card not given out any information. Please advise them to be careful, as I do recall a serial killer in FL using this to lure victims. (Story made into a t.v. movie, I think it starred Gerald McRaney.)

 

[charlie,nj]

I think this is how one of the scam’s work. Someone approaches you and says you should be in advertising on TV or in magazine ads. They get in touch with you and tell you that they need a person for say a new Pepsi ad. They tell you to come in to take headshots..etc.

The scam is they tell you the headshots, etc. will cost you $$$..and you must pay before they send your pictures out. You pay and then the “agency” tells you that someone else got the spot. It didn’t happen to me I am far to ugly but it happened to someone I once worked with.

Dido on telling your kids NOT to give out their telephone numbers.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yes, when I was about 8.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yep, my DD has been approached quite a few times, as I was back when I was in HS.

Best case scenario, definitely do not give out your number. In the extremely remote event that a *real* talent scout has noticed you, they will give you their card and ask YOU to call them. You can then check their legitimacy on your own. They also will not ask for any money/fees.

Worst case scenario, they are predators looking for something much more insidious.

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

Out here they try to sell your kids acting lessons after they have been discovered at the mall. They then say they are having a casting call at Chuck E Cheese or something...well what do you know...your kid has been discovered and you need to meet at their office with both parents. They then sell you the acting lessons or an acting book or have you pay big$$$$ for pictures.. It's a big scam. Check they BBB website and you'll probably see that they have been reported multiple times. It's sad because they get the kids excited and think they are going to be the next Hilary Duff or something.

 

[coinkc]

Legit modeling agencies do not solicit at the mall! Most of them get plenty of new talent just from people submitting their pictures to them that they don't need to go recruit new faces. Many acting schools will set up tables at the mall or chidren's shows (such as Sesame Street Live, etc.) They are looking to make money and will pretty much "discover" anyone who is willing to pay $$$.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

There are people who get discovered but they don't discovery groups of girls. My sister in law works for Barbizon and scouts at the malls all the time. Where did the card come from.

 

[Brisully]

Has anyone heard of Claudia Schiffer??? Check out this page here:link

The native German began her modeling career in 1987 when she was discovered in a German discotheque. Still a student, it was not long before she landed the coveted Guess? campaigns, which made her the most sought after model in the world.

How about Cindy Crawford?? Link

Crawford is a native of De Kalb, IL, and was discovered as a teenager when a local news photographer took a picture of her while she was detasselling corn.

Elle Macpherson??? Link

She was "discovered" at the age of eighteen while vacationing in Aspen, Colorado and was promptly signed to the Click modeling agency.

I guess what I am saying is that while some or most people that come up to you could be sleazeballs, not all are. Use your head, and be very skeptical, but there are times when good things have happened.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I've heard, too, about a few stars being "discovered" while shopping or at a bar or whatever, but what makes me think this is INCREDIBLY unlikely in the OP's case is that it was a whole group of girls who were approached at the mall. Even if all the girls are beautiful, I doubt a legitimate modeling scout would have seen that special spark in all 5 of them!

Be very afraid! Money is quite certainly at stake here, and much more could be at stake too.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Not at the mall but in the men's room of a bus stop once

Hey, that was you?!