Caryn International SCAM!!
Complaint
Julie
Country: United States
Caryn International Just a Hoax
Lily White
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Skynyrd
Date Created 6/18/2006 1:38:03 AM
Message Stay away from Caryns. It's a joke. I spent money there and didn't learn anything. You can market yourself better if you do it on your own. You don't have to spend big amounts of hard earned dollars!!! Research what you are interested in. Just do the right thing!!!
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Pascha Derkevics
Date Created 2/25/2008 2:17:13 PM
Message Here is how my meeting went.
Them "Oh you have a great look"
Me "Thanks"
Them "We want to train you to learn walking and make-up and hair"
Me "Great"
Them "It's about $1800 but we take payments of $300. How would you like to pay today?"
If an agency thinks you have potential they WILL train you because in the end they will make money off you.
Bottom line>>>>>>>>>>>SCAM!
FlagPost a comment
I have been searching for representation in the modeling industry for the last few weeks. I'd narrowed it down to the top three in the state of Minnesota. Meredith Model & Talent, Wehmann Model & Talent, and Caryn International Model & Talent.
Well Caryn International was the first one to call me back, same day as they got my email and wanted to set up an "audition" as soon as possible. After picking a few days out, I finally decided on one for the upcoming week. I was pretty excited. In the meantime, I'd done many different test shoots and gotten experience in the field
When I got to the audition, it turns out they also scheduled 30 other people at the same time, more so like an orientation. We sat and listened as "Caryn" attempted to convince us that to be a real model and go really far, it was going to cost you. A lot. The programs range from $700 to $3600 (depending on how good of a model you wanted to be) and that money was going to be put into doing classes to make you a super star.
Now, I don't have any hard feelings against the classes, I just don't think they're as necessary as they're making them out to be. I know you can get street experience, you can read books, you can do shoots and get the same experience. Not only that, but if this is an agency, it's not like they're not making money off representing you. A lot of agencies actually do some coaching to prepare you for what you need to know, and in return they get you the jobs that you need. The more coaching you get from them, the more jobs I'm sure.
However, when I got their "Call-back" the next day, she just pushed these classes far too hard and said I could not be in the agency without them. I told her how that could be true because I've had a lot of experience and I've done a lot of jobs already, I don't see what else they could do for me. I know that I'm not perfect, but I do know that I'm past what those classes would teach a beginner or amateur model.
It wasn't hard to see, after researching the same company online, that this was the case for a lot of their customers. The more that I researched, the more it became clear that this agency was out to basically sell it's school and make money off of telling beginner models they can only model if they take these classes, and in return when all the classes are completed, the jobs are far and few between and you basically wasted your money.
I'd advise you to be wise when considering these types of agencies. The agencies with schools attached often leads to the push of the schools and less of the actual modeling. They make their money on the classes that you'll never use, because you'll never get a job. Be wise, do test shoots, get a mentor, read some books, and educate yourself in the field. Knowledge is power, and with that you can accomplish whatever you want to.
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Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Mallory T
Date Created 5/12/2006 10:29:52 AM
Message In my experience it is very expensive. It seems that they tell pretty much everyone that they tell most the people they see that they have potential and they should enroll in classes as soon as possible. And you can't take just one class, you have to sign up for a package of classes, none of which are less than $1500. So I guess it depends on the person if it is expensive to them or not. Hope this helps! **But I do have to add, they do have good classes.. at least the ones I have experience with.
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Shannon McDonough
Date Created 5/18/2006 3:32:38 PM
Message Don't do it. It's a rip off. If you need classes, there's plenty of cheaper options out there, and most things you can learn from experience and utilize your fellow actors and models. You can ask them any questions you have (for FREE) and they'll help you out. Caryn's will tell you how much potential you have and then empty your pocket book. I agree with Mallory T that if you take the classes, they'll be helpful. But there are other ways of getting that information. My general rule: you shouldn't have to pay an agency to represent you. They're going to be making a percent of your pay already, so why should you have to give them more then that. If you're talented, apply to a real agency.
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SCAM. About 7 years ago they called me in for an interview (after I'd submitted head shots naively to them) and then quickly escorted me off to a room where they had me do a cold read in front of a camera. The lighting in the room was the worst kind - the kind that makes you look half-dead no matter how good you actually look. Well then they show you the footage and you look awful and then feel low about yourself so as to put further trust in their abilities to make you shine. Then they took me to a catwalk and had me walk down and back - that needed work too. So then we went back to the office where she told me in order for me to get work with any reputable agencies in town I would pretty much (implied here) need these classes. The cost? 895.00 for a 3 day acting in front of the camera class. I said I could get acting classes with 9-10 weeks of training for a 3rd of that price by people known in the business and she abruptly concluded the interview there. I would counsel people to stay away from Caryn's.
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Lily White
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Skynyrd
Date Created 6/18/2006 1:38:03 AM
Message Stay away from Caryns. It's a joke. I spent money there and didn't learn anything. You can market yourself better if you do it on your own. You don't have to spend big amounts of hard earned dollars!!! Research what you are interested in. Just do the right thing!!!
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Pascha Derkevics
Date Created 2/25/2008 2:17:13 PM
Message Here is how my meeting went.
Them "Oh you have a great look"
Me "Thanks"
Them "We want to train you to learn walking and make-up and hair"
Me "Great"
Them "It's about $1800 but we take payments of $300. How would you like to pay today?"
If an agency thinks you have potential they WILL train you because in the end they will make money off you.
Bottom line>>>>>>>>>>>SCAM!
FlagPost a comment
I have been searching for representation in the modeling industry for the last few weeks. I'd narrowed it down to the top three in the state of Minnesota. Meredith Model & Talent, Wehmann Model & Talent, and Caryn International Model & Talent.
Well Caryn International was the first one to call me back, same day as they got my email and wanted to set up an "audition" as soon as possible. After picking a few days out, I finally decided on one for the upcoming week. I was pretty excited. In the meantime, I'd done many different test shoots and gotten experience in the field
When I got to the audition, it turns out they also scheduled 30 other people at the same time, more so like an orientation. We sat and listened as "Caryn" attempted to convince us that to be a real model and go really far, it was going to cost you. A lot. The programs range from $700 to $3600 (depending on how good of a model you wanted to be) and that money was going to be put into doing classes to make you a super star.
Now, I don't have any hard feelings against the classes, I just don't think they're as necessary as they're making them out to be. I know you can get street experience, you can read books, you can do shoots and get the same experience. Not only that, but if this is an agency, it's not like they're not making money off representing you. A lot of agencies actually do some coaching to prepare you for what you need to know, and in return they get you the jobs that you need. The more coaching you get from them, the more jobs I'm sure.
However, when I got their "Call-back" the next day, she just pushed these classes far too hard and said I could not be in the agency without them. I told her how that could be true because I've had a lot of experience and I've done a lot of jobs already, I don't see what else they could do for me. I know that I'm not perfect, but I do know that I'm past what those classes would teach a beginner or amateur model.
It wasn't hard to see, after researching the same company online, that this was the case for a lot of their customers. The more that I researched, the more it became clear that this agency was out to basically sell it's school and make money off of telling beginner models they can only model if they take these classes, and in return when all the classes are completed, the jobs are far and few between and you basically wasted your money.
I'd advise you to be wise when considering these types of agencies. The agencies with schools attached often leads to the push of the schools and less of the actual modeling. They make their money on the classes that you'll never use, because you'll never get a job. Be wise, do test shoots, get a mentor, read some books, and educate yourself in the field. Knowledge is power, and with that you can accomplish whatever you want to.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Mallory T
Date Created 5/12/2006 10:29:52 AM
Message In my experience it is very expensive. It seems that they tell pretty much everyone that they tell most the people they see that they have potential and they should enroll in classes as soon as possible. And you can't take just one class, you have to sign up for a package of classes, none of which are less than $1500. So I guess it depends on the person if it is expensive to them or not. Hope this helps! **But I do have to add, they do have good classes.. at least the ones I have experience with.
Topic Re: Caryn International
Author Shannon McDonough
Date Created 5/18/2006 3:32:38 PM
Message Don't do it. It's a rip off. If you need classes, there's plenty of cheaper options out there, and most things you can learn from experience and utilize your fellow actors and models. You can ask them any questions you have (for FREE) and they'll help you out. Caryn's will tell you how much potential you have and then empty your pocket book. I agree with Mallory T that if you take the classes, they'll be helpful. But there are other ways of getting that information. My general rule: you shouldn't have to pay an agency to represent you. They're going to be making a percent of your pay already, so why should you have to give them more then that. If you're talented, apply to a real agency.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCAM. About 7 years ago they called me in for an interview (after I'd submitted head shots naively to them) and then quickly escorted me off to a room where they had me do a cold read in front of a camera. The lighting in the room was the worst kind - the kind that makes you look half-dead no matter how good you actually look. Well then they show you the footage and you look awful and then feel low about yourself so as to put further trust in their abilities to make you shine. Then they took me to a catwalk and had me walk down and back - that needed work too. So then we went back to the office where she told me in order for me to get work with any reputable agencies in town I would pretty much (implied here) need these classes. The cost? 895.00 for a 3 day acting in front of the camera class. I said I could get acting classes with 9-10 weeks of training for a 3rd of that price by people known in the business and she abruptly concluded the interview there. I would counsel people to stay away from Caryn's.
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Comments
I take full responsibility for my actions and agreeing to pay the amounts the school charged. I just want others to know that it is definitely not worth it and certainly not the only option if you're interested in learning. Again: knowledge is power, do your research, branch out, be highly suspicious if they're asking for money, and always ask questions.
They seem to have separated from the classes to pursue more talent managing. They still have castings in which they push you to take the classes. I went to one of those last year and the call-backs are just a sales pitch to sell you $700 classes for a month. Although it is not on the extremely expensive side, and I understand why acting classes are good, I do not think modeling classes are necessary.
I also have a friend that went to a meeting and they wanted to sign her right away, no classes. So it makes me think that all of their "castings" are just a scam to sell classes.
My friend was also asked to give her social security number, and pay like $300 to sign with them on her 20 minute meeting. They told her that it was to cover the cost of her being on the website, and for her headshots. If an agency truly believes in you then they shouldn't be asking you for money since they believe your work will cover it anyway.
They all seemed like nice people, but their business seems to be aimed more at taking money from their models than from sending them to jobs, and that doesn't sit well with me.
They also seem to represent some sketchy people, or so I've heard.
All in all, I have not heard anything good about them. I wouldn't recommend anyone sign with them.