emodel.com / Options Talent Group Model Scouts

I attended a scout orientation for emodel. I had heard of them before, because I had been approached by a handful of scouts through my model page. I have my business administration resume online, and I was approached by the emodel Houston office to attend their orientation.

I hate to admit it, but I didn’t have anything better to do that day, so I attended.

A group of about 25 people showed up. The franchise owner had us all stand up and give some background about the jobs we had held in the past.

There was a handful of recent marketing grads, an executive assistant, a housewife, ex-military, blue-collar workers, and some hick that raised his hand when asked where to scout models. He said, “Wal-Mart.”

Emodel extensive training consisted of training these people the modeling industry in five days!

Several times I found myself raising my hand and found things to be misleading.

For example, location was not an issue; clients with big budgets will pay to fly a model anywhere.

I asked, “What about go-sees or auditions? Who would hire someone unseen?”

This is where it gets tricky. See, through their innovative scouting and database, they believe the need for printed comps, going through agencies... will be an old-fashioned way of the past. Eventually, they expect clients to book directly through them.

Yet, when asked who their clients are, they will say the agents.

They claimed to have 4,500 models registered, at $395+ set-up fee and $19.95/month. They also charge photographers, stylists, and personal trainers to be in the database.

The national office markets heavily to agents and clients, and claims to have 6,000 signed up. Access to the database is free to them.

I raised my hand again to ask again, “If the model is the one paying, that is your client?”

No answer, just a “We’ll get into that later,” but later never came.

Scout compensation schedule:

Training Period (30 days)
Model enrollments per week
1-3 pays $20 per enrollment
4-6 pays $50 per enrollment
7-9 pays $75 per enrollment
10+ pay $100 per enrollment
(With conditions)

Probationary Period (90 days)
Base pay $600 per week plus commission
Model enrollments per week
1-5 pays $15 per enrollment
6-9 pays $25 per enrollment
10+ pay $50 per enrollment
(With conditions)

Full time Scout Compensation
Base pay of $750 per week plus commission
Model enrollments per week
1-5 pays $15 per enrollment
6-9 pays $25 per enrollment
10+ pay $50 per enrollment

They pay residuals to full-time active scouts with a minimum of five enrollments per week, and also earn residuals on the $19.95 monthly maintenance fee.

Once they enroll 250 models, they become fully vested.

They offer benefits after 90 days, 180 days, and 1 year to include Group Insurance Rates, Allowances, Expenses, AND stock Options. (With conditions)

What about the talent? They pay a minimum $634.88/year, and if they are not satisfied, get two more years of unsatisfying service.

P.