Emerald City Model & Talent

I’ve been a professional model for four years. Throughout my time in the field I have come across multiple companies like this. They try and charge you upfront for some terrible head shots and placement on their «special websites».
I have worked with real talents agencies in Seattle and LA. (currently representing myself) Real talent agencies do not charge you any money upfront for anything. If you have what they are looking for they will sign you no questions asked and cover all the costs to get you started because they see potential with you and will regain the loss quickly.
I went to them because I thought it was an acting audition for a local role. Little did i now it was this talent scam. After I realized they were wasting my time I decided to waste theirs and go along with the spiel. At the end of it I explained that I did not new head shot and that I had professional ones taken by a world renowned photographer (which is true). Well they were not happy about this, but said that it would be okay but id still have to pay to be represented on their websites. I asked to see these websites and explained if it was anything like the company website i was going to walk out. (considering it hasn’t been updated since like 2003). Sure enough I walked out. It was pretty funny because while I was there the price started at $ 300 dollars for this package and as I kept challenging them the price kept going down and down to the point where he was willing to take $ 20. How ridiculous is that!
Well with little surprise I left. I almost wish I could stand outside of their crappy office and warn people before they go in. I guarantee you the dude will show you his personal portfolio with his «work» he did in the 80’s and how he was a stand in for Sly Stalone. Too funny, I bet he shows that to everyone.
Even if they were to find you some work, it is definitely something you can do on your own. Just do you research people. I started out with zero representation and became successful and at the end of the day I don’t have to pay any agency fees.
Anyways tread lightly my friends.

This place is pretty cool. I’ve had experience with a few other talent agencies and this place has been a lot more comfortable to work with.
Other places had management that was either too uptight or too stressful, or in some cases had management that treated me like a number, which I found completely disrespectful.
The management at Emerald City get work done without the annoying micromanagement that certain people in leadership roles tend to overdo. My cousin has modeled here for years and I didn’t realize until I started working with them and they asked about my cousin and my aunt. My aunt was happy to hear from them and gave me a copy of her book for them.
Johnny is pretty cool, he was a model when he was my age, doing lots of cool shoots and other gigs including being a stand in for Sylvester Stallone. I feel like his experience really helps get me gigs. I’m hoping to one-​up my cousin this year, he’s had several gigs and I’m still pretty new here.
Cheers to helping me further my acting and modeling career and making 2016 the best yet!

This place will not get you anywhere. I’m been in their database for over four years and have only booked one job for $ 100 dollars. They charged me $ 350 for a bunch of cheap photos they claim cost that much to produce. If you do the math, I am still in the hole by $ 250. I’m sure there are a lot more people just like me. When an agency makes more money off of their recruits then the job itself, they are not serving their purpose and should close their doors but, instead, emerald city talent keeps its doors open and continue to make $ off of people looking to pursue a dream. Heed my advice, look elsewhere.

We went in and they painted a picture of multiple auditions my daughter would be able to go on and they showed us a successful young child who had made it big in a national commercial using their agency. I fell for it and paid the $ 700 to have her pictures taken. Once the pictures came in, they chose one of the worst pictures of my daughter for her main photo. It was terrible so I have them select a different one. We waited and waited for a call for an audition. Nothing. I would call them and they would always promise me that there was something coming up and I would be sure to be getting a call soon. We received no calls. A year and a half later I received one call for an audition. That was it. Don’t waste your time or money.

Classic bait and switch, as soon as the light bulb went off in my head I’m pretty sure the owner saw it in my eyes … He politely and happily escorted me out. They were nice enough, and I’m not writing a scathing review to get revenge, but I think that people should know that honestly this place is scam! Oh, and I had made my appointment for first thing when they opened, and the owner with the key was about 20 minutes late… No one had anything nice to say. I still want in, since I had driven all the way from the ACTUAL emerald city, just sayn. Use your gut. Don’t go, but if you do don’t spend a dime! It’s just not right.

The building I was renting my apartment in, there was a guy who was working in a Talent agency. He recommended me to go there and give it a try since every time he will find a client the agency gives the employees a commission. So I went there to give it a try. They asked for so much money without even doing anything for me. That was crazy, they said if I want them to take my pictures I have to pay so pretty much it is a scam they just get money from you and do nothing for you.
And from an old friend I heard about Emerald and gave them a call. The lady on the phone was so nice and professional. So I made an appointment and went there the next week. It was such a nice and a cozy looking office. They interviewed me took my pictures and told me once someone is going to be interested in my then I will pay the fee for the agency which I was so happy about. Since that is how professional people work.
So I am in the process of waiting to be called any day now. So excited!

This is one of the most unprofessional places I have ever been in my entire life. I can’t believe they are still doing business!
Almost four years ago, I searched for some modeling agencies around Seattle area and unfortunately Emerald came across. I contacted them and a couple of days later, they told me they had a great job that would fit with my body type and for me to call them back ASAPto schedule an interview. I also had to bring 3 different clothes for the photo shooting. At that time I had no idea how the modeling business worked and I ate the bait.
Well, when I got there, thy guy started to talk about how wonderful his agency was showing me an old crappy book with old sloppy pictures of models at magazines adds, and etc.
Then, he told me about the picture package that was around $ 600 (the cheapest) and I said there was no way I had that money. So, the price dropped down to $ 125. I was stupid enough to pay. Then, I went to another room with a girl who put some old stinky make up on me and the business owner himself took my pictures, and not a professional photographer and it was took at the back of the building. Awful!!! OMG, how could I be so stupid. As soon as I left there I realized I was fulled and all they want was to sell me crappy pictures.
I never heard back from them about the suppose job I was going to be signed up for. Finally, after a few months passed, they sent me an email asking for more money for the rest of the pictures. I didn’t even bother to replay. Thankfully I was not stupid enough to sign anything when I was there.
Please people, stay away from this place everyone!!!

I am not new to the modeling world. When I was approached by Emerald City, they unprofessionally called me and told me that I needed to bring 3 changes of clothes because «well, you know what you look good in better than we do.»
When they called to confirm my appt, at which point I had decided I was not going to attend, they called and left a message where he rattled off the address and phone number so fast that I couldn’t understand what he was saying, and then said to give him a call back and just «lemme know you’re comin’.» and then abruptly hung up the phone.
Inappropriate, unprofessional, and I felt uncomfortable enough just over the phone that I will not be speaking with them again.

This business does not operate in an ethical way. They advertise on-​line on talent boards with what sounds like real jobs. When they call you to set up an interview, they ask you to bring in several changes of clothing and when you get there, you realize they are not hiring for that job at all! Instead, they will try to pressure you to sign up for their agency RIGHT NOW by telling you that you can get all this work if only you pay them $ 600 for sloppy pictures that they take then and there. I was told I could pay $ 300 up front and then I could pay off the rest through jobs. Yet when I was called to pick up my very expensive pictures, I was told that I couldn’t have them until I paid the remaining $ 300. So no pictures, no jobs (only one audition offered when I was told I was perfect for lots of work) and I’m out $ 300! And I’m not a newbie but someone with working credits already. Take my advice and walk away if Emerald City Model & Talent calls you back about a job.