High School Decisions About A Child's Future

By: Karen McFarland, PHD

When balancing considerations that will affect your child’s future put high school decisions in true perspective. These schools never charged $3000 in the past for your daughter to become a cheerleader. They paid their staff to train the cheerleaders and no uniform ever cost more than $100.00.  Today, with funding cuts and lots of competition to be popular, families are willing to pay big bucks to get their daughter into the cheer squad.  She gets to dance around, show off, support her school, travel with the team, be more popular, and feel important. The down side may be a husband that was a football team captain and weighs 300 pounds by age 26. And 10 times the number of people hitting on her and  pressuring her for sex will surely be another result. Her life will probably be dramatically altered by this rush to popularity, and it will help her self confidence but her sexual discoveries will probably begin too soon.

Those who were not picked may be lucky. They will develop at their natural pace. High school popularity winds up in several risky categories and it only lasts 4 years.

Dumping $3000 into making your daughter into a cheerleader may be a mistake.

Or you may just do it because you always wished you had made the cheer squad.

I suggest that if you can find a good Finishing School for your daughter for the same prices or less than cheer leader fees, it would be far wiser. Here’s why. Finishing schools with a bit of acting training and modeling training will guarantee your child’s increased self confidence.  She may even learn how to protect herself in an aggressive society.

Finishing school training will last a life time and be of far less risk to your daughter. Look up the number of cheer leaders injured in just the United States. Look up teen pregnancies. A good finishing school will help get your daughter serious about studying correctly and listening to parents again; but you will learn how to listen to her again as well. Sometimes we miss the message and only hear the words.

The modeling side of such a school will correct her posture and add grace, poise as well a charm. Thus she may be wiser when selecting a college and the spouse and her career.

When a child has no such training they are apt to scream at parents, lie about homework being completed, not feel trusted and thus sneak out, experiment sexually to gain peer acceptance and many other unfortunate options that would be skillfully addressed by paid professionals with adolescent experience.

I suggest that you not send her to a ‘chain school’ like those you will find all over the country. The big chain modeling schools sell you the dream without reflecting on reality. Some modeling agents do the same. The minute they tell you about how to meet the ‘big shots’ from MGM or Disney, it is a lie. Be practical. Go one step at a time.

If your child wants to model it is up to you not to squash their dreams but to accompany them to fact finding interviews. Don’t make mom do all the work when both parents should accompany them.

Remember, you are the parent, you help make good decisions. Don’t let teen social pressures hurt them or your family. Take charge of popularity decisions.

Whatever the cost of cheer leading, her mistakes will cost even more and the money is thrown away at high school, that will not make her more successful in her future career. 

What Were You Thinking?

By: Justin Gold

So you want to be a professional model? What does that mean? A girl with good looks? No. A girl with a body? No. A person that attended one of the chain schools but dropped out? No. What about the word ‘professional’, what does that mean?  Did you think that just going into a modeling agency was the first step or was it the only step you took?  No agency can make a model out of you, only you can do that.

Have you ever made a modeling appointment but then some well wisher warned you that it might be a scam so you didn’t go.  You actually stood them up over ‘hearsay’ or less. Stay out of modeling if you ever did that to another human being that set time aside to talk with you. You are no more than a disrespectful coward at this point.

Did you ever join an agency but then you met a second agent or an ‘expert on the matter’ who said you should not trust your agent?  That is the worst part of human nature. Everyone seems to want to  advise people about modeling – you should take all their comments in stride but investigate for yourself, in person. If anyone in the modeling business says anyone else in the same business is less than wonderful, go check it out.  Agents often tell you to avoid proper training so you can afford comp cards.  You probably need comp cards plus training of some form.

Did you believe Tyra’s TV script where she warns people not to do all the things she did that got her on TV? Wake up – those are lies written in her script to hold an audience that wants to believe they will get discovered and wake up as millionaires in Paris. She plays to the naiveté of young women who want fame with no effort. Their mothers all quote Tyra to keep the expense of properly promoting or training their daughters down to zero.

When a parent really loves you they will invest in skill sets that can get you there, not make excuses quoting Tyra. Tyra went to Barbizon, got excellent training, portfolios, comp cards and an agent and guess what? It worked. Don’t be so naïve as to believe what she says on a scripted TV show .

IT IS NOT UP TO YOUR AGENT TO MAKE YOU FAMOUS. You need to take about a dozen steps in the same direction. Here they are.

1.      Get an agent.  Only agents hear about gigs before they go public.

a.      Agents know where the gigs are.

b.      Agents negotiate rates better than you can because you are directly affected.

c.       Agents keep you and your identity safe.

d.      Agents understand contracts and releases better than you so you don’t sign a ‘buy out’ without proper pay.

e.      Agents know a fashion photographer from some TFCD person with a camera.

f.        Agents provide gig vouchers to insure that you get paid.

g.      Agents teach you the basics of auditioning at no charge.

2.      Follow your agent’s direction about which kinds of photos will actually help get you hired.

3.      Avoid nude and adult work at all costs because when you have a 14 year old of your own they will know how to find what you did.

4.      Get basic training in the form of a finishing/modeling/acting course.

5.      Get a digital disc of your photos in full resolution to use to get work.

6.      Find or create a ‘go see’ list of where to find modeling gigs.

7.      Obtain branded composite cards with your agent’s address and phone number but never print your own comp cards because that gives away your face, name, address and thus YOUR IDENTITY.

8.      If you can not afford the tools you require negotiate with your agent or school to do some labor in exchange – with them.

9.      NEVER BAD MOUTH YOUR AGENT. If you ever make this mistake then no listener can ever trust you not to do the same to them – silly!

10.  Keep showing up at your agency, by appointment, for updates, new applications, new photography, go see lists, look changes, phone number or email changes and most of all RESPOND AT ONCE WHEN THEY EMAIL OR CALL or don’t be surprised if they leave you out because they are afraid you will stand up a client.

11.  Take free acting gigs just to gain experience.

12.  NEVER DROP OUT. Be reachable. (Start your email address with your first name)

I hope I have been of help to you. Those of you who are filled with self doubt about your abilities can only get over that with a training course or else your entire life will be a failure in many areas.  You need your self confidence.

Parents are ill advised when they hold out on teen agers who want to be models. For every    $100 that a parent puts into a finishing school that teaches life skills, they will save $500 in mistakes their child would have learned to avoid. 36% of girls are pregnant by age 17; a percent commit suicide, some go to jail, some get killed. These children will not accept all the life skills training they require from parents at home; they need outside help. Enroll them somewhere in a training program that guarantees higher self esteem and self confidence and they will go to better colleges (probably on a scholarship), be more certain about their future, marry better, and enjoy a better life and they may become models or actors. Luck is when the road of opportunity collides with the road of preparation.

Portland, Oregon Modeling/Acting Scene

By: David St.John

The picture for models in Portland is complicated to an extent by the people who say they are or want to be models themselves.  In general they seem confused and ready to make any excuse not to invest in their career in the field.  Most grew up being told common fables like ‘go to college and get a degree and that will guarantee you a good job’.  But  too few researched the fields of their degrees and even fewer get real serious about taking the most important and often difficult courses which might have guaranteed a good job.  Many are skating along on dad’s dime busily partying and barely staying in school.  Many don’t bother to work so the common theme becomes “I’m just a poor, struggling, student and I can’t afford modeling or acting classes, comp cards or portfolios – the things it takes to be considered a serious model.

Tyra Banks tells them on TV’s Americas Next Top Model, ‘never pay any money to an agent because…bla…bla…bla’  Viewers think that is her opinion and must be based upon fact until they realize two things; (1) she was just quoting her provided TV script; and (2) she wasn’t talking about Portland.  Parents that have been dragged through financial turmoil by needy daughters declare Tyra’s edict that agents should pay you not the other way around.  The truth is that in a real big city you can’t get into an agency unless you already have magazine tear sheets proving you are viable. No one discovers you and pays your way just because you have a figure, a face, long legs.  No one is sure how professionally you will behave so they aren’t about to throw money at you for any ethical reasons.

Portland’s ‘chain’ modeling schools are not to be confused with private modeling schools.  But the chain schools use a herding technique, called talent scouting. They get all the potential sales targets into a waiting room and do private interviews in which each is told ‘you’re the only one we want’. Then, unless they sign immediately they are sent home to sweat and await a 4PM phone call. They have already been lied to about their dream coming true and will be given one more chance to sign up on the phone. Dad will have to give his credit card up over the phone or her fame and hope wanes.

In Portland two of the already closed chain schools had fake agents step into the interviews to promise the candidates that they would surely be busy models. Unfortunately both fake agents now operate modeling agencies that charge either $180 to get to be on their web site or $450 for a required photo shoot. Neither of which guarantees you a single paid gig.

There are several modeling agencies in Portland. Most have been there for 14 years or more and are going to ask you for $500 to $1200 for photo fees for pictures that are supposed to make you famous. The worst agents lie to you telling you that Nike, Adidas, Macys, Nordstrom, MGM, Disney and Santa are all planning to meet with you in two weeks – so you better shape up and buy their comp cards by then.

If you go in to an old established agency you still have little guarantee of placement. They are still going to need to get to know how promising and reliable you are. Some agencies reputedly fail to pay, other do pay, some pay very late. People know who these are. Some big agencies get over 500 applicants a year and some have a data base of over 1000 models. That may not be where you belong.

One big agent sells an acting course, some sell modeling training. You probably  require both so you should be prepared to invest in your future if the pricing seems fair.

What is a comp or composite card and who needs them? Comp cards are just that, a composite of 4 or so pictures of you looking your best. If you print them yourself to beat the agency price, you have just offered up your own identity. Agents make a small profit on the cards because their branding, name, logo and address are on the cards to save you from having to give out your own, thus protecting your identity.  That way you do not get any 2AM calls from strangers. Comp cards must be carefully proofed for accuracy and color accuracy. If the agency puts out bad cards it hurts everyone. Those are your business calling cards. 100 is standard.

How To Decide Which Type Of Agency To Join

By: David St.John

There are purely just modeling agencies that only accept existing valuable models with tear sheets from the print work they have accomplished and there are those that a thousand wanna-bees a year flock to because their name is well known. Some can help you but most can not because they may already have too many qualified 5’8” size 00s with long necks and posing skills and runway skills. And no, you probably will not develop these skills by joining the agency. It takes either intense training or years of work by which time you may be too old for most gigs.

In Portland there are two types of web sites that you can be on for exposure;  (A) the one which will accept your existing head shot regardless of its quality; and (B) The site that requires uniformity of quality. Which one would you prefer to be on? Most agencies send you to their photographer or to a short list of referral photographers and you will never know whether they received a kick back or not. The minimal cost of such a photo shoot is usually $450 and can be $1200 just as easily.

Ask me if I know of a less expensive way to obtain high resolution photo shoots at less than $100. DSRegis001@gmail.com  It is my opinion that, while a good photographer is well worth his/her fee, you are being robbed much of the time when that fee is high and you don’t even really know how to pose yet.

There are also Model Management companies and these charge fees to be on their web site. These fees range from $180 to $300 and are not fees you should be paying. Web exposure benefits the agent as well and should be paid for by the agent in their efforts to advertise you.

There are also Talent/Modeling Agencies that book models, actors and model/actors in film, commercials, print and more.  This type of agency receives the inside scoop when they receive daily or weekly ‘breakdowns’ of paid gigs that the public never sees on craigslist. That list only gets the gig when there was too little time for the real agents to provide talent for the gig or the gig needed something rare like a 400 pound person or Italian speaking individual. Models that watch  craigslist will never get the best gigs or big money.

A smaller model/talent agency may be best in Portland. Find an owner/operated agency that is recognized by Casting Frontier and Now Casting databases as well as the casting community.

Independent models making great money do not exist in Portland. There are those that get work but it is not the big jobs. Too often the independent does not understand how to negotiate fees and sells out too low or stupidly signs a ‘buy out’.  All apparel companies work only with agencies and absolutely require agency branded composite cards and portfolios and most insist on professional training.

FREE PHOTO SHOOTS OR TFCD OR TFP. Remember Rule #1. The photographer owns the copyright. Know that rule.  Everyone in Portland owns a camera and many of them want to meet a cutie to have pose for their portfolio, not yours, theirs. That means leotards, semi nudes, angel wings, body paint, erotic shots and a whole myriad of crap not designed to yield a quality modeling book or portfolio.  Then, if you are lucky the photographer isn’t shooting with just the camera’s flash as his lighting and isn’t shooting on automatic. Later some will invoice you if you asked for anything not in their plans. 

What you do not know about megapixels, raw, jpeg, DPI, copyright law, stock photography, where your images may end up, pixel count, and releases may end your modeling career.

There are a few excellent photographers that can and will do it right. How will you know?  Ask your agent, that is what they are there for. Always get your trade photographer to sign a statement that they do not have the right to sell your images ever to anyone and get their real address on it. View their driver’s license.  If they offer you wine or any intoxicants just leave. Remember if you do exotic work on camera your future child may find you as an embarrassment when they discover your work. It can break up a family. Never let those you are dating talk you into tawdry deals so that you can give them your earnings.

Modeling and acting are businesses. Learn to make your own business decisions. Invest in your abilities and in quality photography.  Always insist upon paying photographers so you have rights. Hire only those that show you their FASHION shoots. That means no cut off feet, hands, heads, etc.. Too many are terrible at fashion shoots which are not the same as weddings.

When you get your images/pictures, if you ever do, do not put them on mayhem or a social site in hopes of paid gigs. These site are used mostly to find you to sell your something. No casting director, advertising agent or art director is going to these sites to view your photo, they just don’t have time. Get on an agency site that is free and NEVER pay to register on line for anything.

The Effect Of Your Parents On Your Modeling Career

By: David St.John

Parents always want the best for their children. Unfortunately modeling has many unfortunate connotations. Every hooker and porn star refer to themselves as ‘models’ These are tramps, by most standards, not models. Models actually model clothing and are expected to be quite proper model people.  Many men troll on the internet and find tawdry ads by ‘models’ that are not models. So if a man in your family forbids you to be a model, good luck.

Many have been models that slept around and did drugs. Those choices were not caused by being models, too many of nearly everyone has made bad choices.

Trained models schooled in modeling/finishing schools often have a better grip on life skills and self confidence than those who avoided the training.

Mothers who claim to be their child’s modeling agents often ruin your image with the best agents by telling the agent that mom knows more than any agent about what is best for you. True, mom knows you better but mom has not placed hundreds of models in paid gigs. Often mom is so far off beat that she puts you in free fashion shows year after year for prestige.

Any fashion show that doesn’t pay its models had better be a charity or it isn’t prestige, it is manipulation.

When a child requires a modeling or acting course, the really loving parent will provide it. Otherwise the child gets the message that they are a waste of money. When the parent makes excuses not to provide professional help for an aspiring model or actor it is sad because you may be over the perfect years for modeling by the time you can afford training on your own.

When a parent registers a child for a training program it is paramount that the parent follow the progress of the training and never allow your child to skip class or drop out. If a child drops out it sets an unfortunate pattern in their lives. Finish what you start, needs to be the message.

When selecting a modeling or acting or finishing school it may be important to avoid chain schools that google in awe over each applicant, telling you that they are the only one that got chosen, or promising you paid placement. That must not be part of the deal, if honest.

Modeling Industry Lies & Misgivings

By: Justin Gold

Because every hooker refers to themselves as models and because you may have a family member that has been jilted by a so called “model”, lots of fathers refuse to let their young aspire to become models. Models, worldwide, have been everything from druggies to party animals switching mates faster than a pent up college co-ed freshly let loose on a campus full of randy males. A true model is a model human being, actually superior to the above types while often humble and understated, a real lady or gentlemen worthy of an investment in proper training. Such an investment in life skills will totally prevent their ever becoming the types above.

When it comes to explaining to Dad (who skipped your modeling interview) that you realize you need a modeling course, most Dads would rather have a riding lawnmower than see you off to what they believe to be a seedy profession. Only the parent that places your needs first will see this investment as part of the reason for your ultimate success in life, whether or not you ever decide to model.

ABOUT MODELING TRAINING

The modeling course is mandatory only if you really want to model. All those lies that you heard on TV from big modeling stars about never taking a professional modeling course, are contradictions from the mouths of those who wouldn’t be on television if they had not been formally trained. These same people that changed their TV show height requirements from 5’10” to 5’4” are proving their own lies to you.

LIES FROM ESTABLISHED MODEL AGENTS

When you hear a BIG NAME agency and you think, “If they accept me, I’m IN” = joke. How many thousands of people before you went in only to discover that some of the biggest agents have fallen back on their payments due their top models and are trying to make these losses up by selling you a photo shoot for $700 and then COMP cards for $700 more.  Only after you spend $1500 to $2500 on having been “discovered” will you realize that these agents are normally only going to continue placing their same old regular trained models. Models who know the ropes get the work on a request and demand basis – not because they paid for comp cards but because artistic directors and casting agents demand professionalism. Remember this: sleeping with your modeling agent will never get you a big gig because your agent is not in control of hiring – only sending applicants.

WHAT AGENTS TELL YOU ABOUT TRAINING

Why would any agent that wants to sell you their photography and comp card services, want you to shop elsewhere for training. They tell you that they will “show you the ropes”. They will probably show you just enough rope to hang yourself. If you have ten years to learn what any excellent modeling school or finishing school could have taught  you in ten weeks then perhaps you should listen to them.  Remember that most modeling opportunities have been missed by age 25. As soon as your face begins changing to the point where photo shop skills become mandatory, the opportunity shifts to youth. Do you have ten years to learn your skills?

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHERS TELL YOU ABOUT TRAINING

In my recent experience I have noticed that too many photographers are now proclaiming expertise about modeling. They have learned that it is popular to advise aspiring models against formal training often in favor of the photographer training you – sometimes “hands on”. Please understand that 1 in 500 photographers (since now days nearly everyone has become a photographer) is actually a fashion photographer. Also please realize that the quality fashion photographer is well worth top dollar for their best work. THUS NO TOP FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER WILL WORK ON TRADE unless they are lonely. Do not work on trade because you have lost control over the style and resulting images and may even be invoiced.  Very few photographers are using the right equipment.

NUDITY

There is nothing bad or wrong or improper about the human body. Just realize that however you pose today may come back to visit you later. Historically, this has occurred when someone won a major beauty contest. Often, this may occur when you have your own 14 year old child investigating where mom may have appeared on the web, using face recognition technology. Do not allow today’s drug desires to ruin your future family.  If you chose to go nude just realize that no conservative business can ever use your image if they find out – and they will find out.  Nude work is not the same as adult work. Adult work speaks directly to your complete lack of judgment or tainted views.

THE MODELING SCHOOL STIGMA’S HISTORY

THERE IS NO MODELING TRAINING STIGMA. Everyone respects professional training in every field. Unfortunately the “chain” modeling schools all call themselves agents as part of their sales lure. You may be scouted, lured, discovered only to learn that you are the ONLY ONE WE WANT –if you pay $3,000 to $10,OOO for training. They introduce you to their fake modeling agent to further convince you that the investment is worthwhile. Often, as these “rip-off” chain schools close, their fake agents rush out to start their own model management company calling everyone else rip offs and creating false rip off reports about anyone that looks promising. The smaller the pond, in an ego driven industry, the more the fish are biting each other.

THERE ARE 60 HOURS worth of mandatory information taught at any quality modeling/acting or finishing school and rates up to $50 a training hour are considered moderate.  Without the training you will cost clients too much and will likely ruin things for many, including yourself.

In our opinion none of the chain schools had bad curriculum but some had underpaid instructors who were not working models. No modeling school should teach once a month. Once or twice a week is required. Practice hours should double the training hours.

OUT OF STATE OR OUT OF AREA MODELING DISCOVERIES & AGENTS

And ROGUE AGENCIES

Rogue agents drift in from anywhere and begin scouting to discover victims who will pay $2500 for their photo shoot. Any agent from out of town that uses “seminar sales techniques” may use false promises and hire slick models to give the “hopefuls” a proven sales presentation at a hotel. If they come from places like Las Vegas and promise parents and children that they will attend training once a month at a hotel, taught by an instructor (which they will hire sight unseen), pledging to you that someone from MGM or Disney will review you at graduation – those are LIES – just do the math. 15 suckers X $4900 each = ??? And their egos make them angry at those who point out their stupidity. But this is often a train-wreck  for models.

WORSE YET is the aspiring model that never bothers to notice the agent does not have a physical business address, a CITY license, a State business registration number or entity name, an actual business bank account, an actual land phone number (instead of a cell only). These are the reasons why models are not considered “Created Equal” – because they flock to those with big promises without knowing how to protect themselves for actual payment.

Modeling Agency Reputations

By: David St.John

Modeling agency reputations are a lot like your high school reputation, always up for grabs. Everyone knows which agency didn’t pay them. Some agencies dabble in sex trades such as phone sex, and camcorder sex. Only one in Portland has such a reputation. That agency tells you to pay them $100 for digital photos which they take in their office, then they send you to their photographer for $500, then it’s on to expensive comp cards, then you get to meet VIPs that can make you famous (the VIPs fail to arrive).  They show you ‘their’ international work on the computer and you do not really know if the work was theirs, an affiliates, or someone else’s work – do you?

One model management company owner routinely writes false Rip Off Reports about his competitors. He got caught doing this last year because his email handle ‘Talentscout’ was right on the top of the report in which he had posed as a young girl in an effort to injure 3 other agencies reputations. As soon as he was told that his handle was on the report it magically disappeared yet he still says he didn’t do it.

When a model tries out for an agency two negative scenarios can playout; either she is rejected or cannot afford modeling tools required of every model.  That model goes out to tell the world bad stories about that agency. Call them a rip off or scam because the problem could never be you, right?

SCAMS: All car dealers tell the buyers that they owe too much on their trade in. This costs everyone of us thousands.  Yet we all accept that.   All people selling their homes want more than they paid. All horse selling leaves out important facts about problems with that horse. Most models do not want to face the costs associated with the correct pursuit of possible success in this industry.  Someone said they were attractive and that is all it should take, they think. So anyone who tells them the truth is thus a scam.  The scams in modeling occur when a chain modeling school lies about your actual modeling possibilities in order to sell you something.  Some sell ‘fame’ trips down south to get discovered, costing from $2,000 to $10,000 without ever telling you that there may be the need for your family to move there if you get chosen.

The fact that a modeling business moved at the end of its lease is not dishonest. Most do that. A name change or the filing of an LLC is not dishonest. Changing personnel is not dishonest, it happens. Be honest with yourself, get training and practice daily.

In Portland, Oregon the biggest fashion shows of the year pay the models nothing because modeling is not yet mature here. Until models understand that they will not be worth anything without professional training and that they remain worth no money until they insist upon pay and stop prostituting the industry by volunteering for shows which actually have a budget, there will be no change. The experience one gains by constant volunteering is worth little in such a market where most refuse to pay even for professionalism.  Unless those shows are by non-profit 501C3 type organizations is may be illegal to volunteer. Eventually the labor board will deal with this when a single model keeps track of their unpaid rehearsals, shows, fittings and turns in the hours to the board. The $10,000 fine may force the organizers to pay at least minimum wage. Talk about scams.

Model scammers come here from Granite falls, Las Vegas, L.A. to sell your family on the dream of international fame and fortune. If you ever get scouted at the mall or ballgame by an out of town scammer they will direct you to a meeting at a hotel about their company. Don’t go. One even charged $4900 for a once a month, all day Saturday class at a hotel in Vancouver, Washington. They hired their modeling instructor over the phone, never saw her, and promised the suckers MGM and Disney would review their graduation. Then they sold the list of suckers to someone that sold them an ’Intensive’ short training in Vegas for $7000 more.  Once sold the dream even these parents refused to wake up.

Guess what? Paying for quality training or quality photography is not a scam, it is part of the cost of becoming a professional.  All models need some acting and audition ning training and all actors need some training in grooming and stage presence.

The only person that creates a scam is the model ‘wanna-bee’ that wants it all for free or the model’s managed by mothers that have spent a lifetime paying needless waste bills for that daughter or son who started everything but finished nothing.

Tyra paid for training, lots of pictures, agent fees and look where it got her. Those tools worked in her case. Remember much of what gets said on a TV show was ‘scripted’ for dramatic impact.

If you ever saw the money that some of those crying scam invest in drugs and other unhealthy wastes of money then you would see the facts about bad spending choices. “My boyfriend was mad because I gave money to modeling expenses…” So she said. Control issues here?

There is no where in Portland Oregon that will pay for your vocational training as a model, pay for your photography, comp cards and portfolio just because they think you ‘have it’. They don’t know you or whether you will follow through to completion if they paid for it for you, do they?

No one with much integrity ever bad mouths an agency because that is like biting the hand meant to feed you.  What you say travels on wings of air directly back to whoever you stung. It inevitably hurts you the most because now no one trusts either of you.

As one matures or ‘grows up’ one realizes that all professions require dedication, training and professional tools that you purchase yourself.

If a parent or spouse pays your way through a modeling/life skills/ finishing school they will probably save 3 times the amount they paid in mistakes you will not make because of the training. You will go to better schools, marry better, earn more; all because your self confidence matures in this kind of training, plus you will probably make good money in this field.

Read all rip off reports thoroughly, usually they are written by jealous competitors and no one got ripped off.