Expert: Kitty Kavey - 3/22/2007

Question
I went through Barbizon classes also and they have also asked me to attend a $4995 trip to LA for IPAC. We are halfway through with the payments and we are struggling to make the rest payments as it is. If it is a scam my parents will be furious. What do you think i should do, go or get whatever amount of money I can get back?

Answer
I will tell you my personal opinion.  Of course each person's situation is different, and you must always weigh your options carefully.  
I'm don't feel that modeling schools and modeling conventions are necessarily a good use of money.  Models (other than promotional models) do not use resumes, so there's no reason to go get training like you would as an actor.  
It doesn't cost anything to submit your information to an agency for their consideration, and most of the fashion agencies have open calls which are also free to attend.  So if money is tight, you may want to look at the list of agencies that will be attending the event, figure out which ones you might be interested in (many agencies have websites) and submit your info directly via postal mail or in person at an open call.
Here's a link to another website that has additional information on the down side of model/talent conventions:
http://www.modelingscams.org/modelingconventions.html

Again, this is only one viewpoint, and there are also, I'm sure, reasons one might want to go to one.

Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you.
~Kitty