Random Recruitment

Last night I attended a model/actor search in downtown Toledo. It was the type of thing you always hear advertised on the radio, and it’s always held in a local hotel… Ironically, it was at the Wyndham, the hotel where my friends were just married.

I’ll not yet share the company’s name, as I have a call back of sorts tomorrow and I haven’t yet determined how big of a scam it is. They did berate other companies who merely sell classes or expensive weekend trips to cattle-call castings*, but they too ultimately want you to purchase their online comp card* services.

As Loren and I exited this hotel, which I never knew exited, but can now navigate like the back of my hand, a woman asked how long I’d been in the business… and if I was rich?! She wasn’t joking, but I laughed, “No.” She and her seventeen year old daughter had just come from the same modeling “opportunity.”

In a quick exchange the mother rattled off a few other companies they had paid for modeling classes. I immediately explained that my training had been in six years of pageants, through which I learned the same poise, etiquette and personal development while earning over twelve grand to finance my education. “Of course you have to put together your wardrobe and there are other miscellaneous expenses, but there’s no entry fee and the prizes are scholarship dollars,” I told her as I handed her my card, pointing out the Miss Maumee Valley website, having asked her age and if she performed any sort of talent.

I was surprised to see their surprise that a “free” opportunity existed in their community. As we walked to the car (a manual which I spent the rest of the night relearning to drive… ha! There’s another story!) Loren told me that’s what I should be doing [promoting pageants and helping other young women.]

I’m sure I gave him my typical smirk that said “duh” as I answered, “I already do… I just did.”


*A cattle-call audition or casting is basically when a ridiculous amount of people are allowed to show up to be seen for a very small amount of positions, like American Idol. A comp card is the equivalent of a model’s resume; one side has a single great shot and the other side featured four or five different looks. The only text is your name, measurements and hair and eye color. The photo above is Ben Stiller, from the modeling spoof film, Zoolander.