emodel.com, Options Talent Group

Dear Modeling Scams,

I am interested in finding out about an agency called Options Talent that I know has several offices in the country, one of which is in St. Louis, MO.

I would like to know if it is a legitimate company, if there have been any complaints about scams, and what kinds of business their models receive, and for what companies. Are we talking Vogue, Sears, or are we talking about less legitimate companies?

The sooner I could get this information, the better.

Thank you.

E.N.

E.,

First off, just to make a quick correction, Options Talent is not an agency. I thought I should make that clear, even if they do not, since you may have been led to believe or under the impression they are a talent/model agency.

I don't know what their scouts say, but their website said: "Options is not an agency so we will not book you directly. We do not form any “special” relationships with agencies, nor do we have legal affiliation with any agencies."

Options Talent used to operate under the name emodel, according to the Better Business Bureau.

emodel was in the St. Louis news (Jill Farmer of Fox 2 News, KTVI, St. Louis) last year. The summary of the report which first aired November 26, 2001, is here:

The report includes typical complaints, but there have been many more.

It doesn't look like a legitimate company if you go by previous news stories and the conclusion of Bill Mitchell, President of the Better Business Bureau in Greater Los Angeles:

"The whole thing, fundamentally, from beginning to end, is a scam."

The kind of business their models get seems to be low-end for minor companies. For example, handing out footballs.

Adam Luck of Atlanta said he's gotten modeling work on his own, but not a single job through eModel that was worth anything.

"Want to hear about the one I got? I stood outside a stadium in the rain for two hours handing out little plastic footballs. I don't know what I was thinking when I signed on.''

Crystal Quantock, of Ypsilianti, Michigan, said: "I'm considering stopping my monthly payments to eModel. A monkey could have done the jobs I've gotten.''

Chris Pace, of Ahead of the Pace agency in New York, has said he has hired eModels for promotional work at conventions, fairs, and stadiums around the country.

Promotional work at conventions, fairs, and stadiums does not pay like print work in magazines (Vogue) or major catalogs (Sears).

emodel and Options Talent are so new, you would be surprised if they got members work which was anything other than minimal quality and minimal quantity.

Victoria Hornbeck, 30, an emodel member from Montgomery, Ill., said a Chicago production company cast her for a small role in an independent film. She did not get paid.

There has been false or misleading advertising or claims about work which have not been substantiated. So don't believe anything they cannot prove.

A reporter last year asked emodel how much work they were getting members, and the guy could not answer the question.

Brian Davis, who was the general manager of eModel operations in 2001, said the business had no statistics showing how many models showcased on its site have actually procured work.

If you are serious about getting decent work from a reputable company in St. Louis, contact Sharon Tucci, the owner of St. Louis' most prestigious modeling firm, Talent Plus.

Good luck!

Editor, Modeling Scams.com