VIP Talent Connect Reviews (%countItem)
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VIP Talent Connect Rating
Description: Modeling & Talent Agencies, Theatrical Agencies, Artists Agents
Address: 20 Terry Dr Unit 1116, Newtown, Pennsylvania, United States, 18940-4952
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The first red flag? The entire intro call dedicated to assuring us it's "not a scam." That should have been the end, but I wanted to assume the best in people. I booked an “audition” call with one of the head workers, Denine White. She never auditioned me though, instead running me through a subtle and manipulative sales pitch. She avoided discussing the program details, instead asking whether my husband was supportive, if I could pay $3,000 for an upcoming trip (with no refunds), and quickly read through a form, locking me in with my initials by the end of the call. I questioned a $30,000 payment on the form, but she brushed it off with a "don't worry about it until the trip."
The next few weeks involved a 21-day challenge and several acting/modeling workshops. Still optimistic, I enjoyed learning and being a part of a supportive community (other people going through the program). However, I started feeling suspicious when they got upset at me for doing photoshoots independent of them. They insisted (somewhat rudely) that we use all of our social media profiles to direct bookings to Truth MGMT (VIP’s “agency”), even though I wasn’t signed to their agency. Exploitation much?
Adding to the deception, VIP Ignite took credit for my work in a social media post, falsely claiming to be my "trusted talent guide" in writing a play they had nothing to do with. Their social media pages are full of fake, misleading posts like this, highlighting other people’s work and taking credit for it (with very minimal engagement, I would add).
The classes themselves SEEMED challenging but were disappointingly basic in reality, especially for the expensive monthly charges (on top of the $3,000 trip fee). As for the promised connections and opportunities, their biggest connections were with less-renowned acting coaches, screenwriters, and agents, setting us up and letting us down time after time. For example, VIP promised Actress Allie Grant would come speak to us, but of course, they shared DURING the meeting call that she couldn’t come, giving us hope until the last possible second.
In summary, if you want to help a scammy organization get exposure while wasting a lot of your time and effort and burn $3000+ in the process, go to VIP Ignite. You also may get mediocre acting classes, fake connections, stolen opportunities, and advice you could just as easily get from a YouTube video. All in short, if VIP is trying to convince you to join their program, RUN!
On December 16, 2015 my daughter, age 14 engaged in a VIP Talent Connect contract ( with my presence.)
As per the contract $2400 was agreed upon for her to be "managed " by the company and eligible for 2 networking events over a 2 year period.
This was paid in monthly installments of $ 333.34/month for 6 months.
A monthly fee of $39.95 was also required for the company for online marketing materials and online hosting of her digital portfolio.
This was later increased to $49.95/month (after the first year ),but wasn't stated in the original contract.
My complaints are many:
This company was negligent in that they had incorrect online portfolio info for my daughter for a long period of time, despite many phone calls on my part.
The company had multiple employee turnovers during this time who were unfamiliar with my daughter and did not follow through with what they stated they would do.
There were many verbal inconsistencies re- my daughter's contract info.
At the first event we attended in 6/2016 in NYC, the space was overcrowded, it lacked organization and we were not given any help or guidance from the company reps.
When my daughter applied for casting opportunities on their site, they were sent back as not valid(this happened more than one time).
When we attempted to participate in another event, in LA, we were told that her contract and" package" was only for NYC events, however it is not stated anywhere in the contract that NYC was the only event location.
I expressed my dissatisfaction with this to a company rep and the company director and was told that she could participate in an event in PA, however we were not available for that date.
It was at this time(last month) that I was lock out of her online portfolio,despite not changing the login.
When I inquired about this I was told that her contract had expired and did I want to re-instate it??!!
I pointed out that her contract wasn't due to expire until 12/2017,however I received no further correspondence.
10/14/17
To Revdex.com
This is pertaining to ***'s Customer Experience Information ID.
As per the enclosed paperwork, *** purchased a package for VIP Talent Connect Networking Events for $2400 on behalf of her daughter *** on December 16, 2105. It was for an event on June 25 , 2016 which was $1895 plus a 2 look photo shoot (valued at $795) purchasing this packaged at a discounted price of $2400 vs $2690 a'la cart. The photoshot included third party fees ie; makeup, hair, wardrobe styling, professional photographer, and more.
She and her daughter attended this event and met with some of the top experts in the industry,receiving instructional information in regards to the industry, one on one mentoring, gave themmarketing materials for *** and more.
The package also gave them the option of purchasing additional VIP Talent Connect Events(which are only held in New York City) for up to two years for a VERY discounted price of $195instead of $1895 per event. This included guest speaker costs, venue, professional headshotsand more. Since she is still a minor, an additional parent pass of $195 would also have to bepurchased. They choose not to attend any additional events.
She also purchased a membership for an online portfolio with a monthly billing to allow *** tobe submitted for direct castings and to look for opportunities of her own. She only utilized this 7times in over 2 & 1/2 years. Photos of *** were also not updated every 6 months as per theindustry whether through VIP IGNITE or on her own. Also, all information in regards to ***'sportfolio was the responsibility of the parent to make sure that it was accurate and updated.They had access to make any necessary changes and again did not do so.
Numerous phone calls and emails were made/sent to *** in regards to attendance ofevents, ***'s portfolio, photo shoots,‘ casting opportunities and monthly billing most of whichwere either not responded to by *** or done a month or so after the initialcorrespondence.
The company offered to waive a $997.00 mastermind in our office on September 30, 2017 for*** in good faith and again they chose not to attend.
She was deactivated as per ***'s request and for non- payment of the monthly $47 amonth technical fee.
No contract was ever signed. As per her paperwork it was only an agreement and could be cancelled at anytime with 30 days notice.
VIP IGNITE also offered 3 months of‘ over the phone coaching program valued at $149/mo fortwo (2) thirty-?ve minute sessions per month with a total value of $447. Again, ***declined.
A certified letter was also sent to *** showing exactly what it was she purchased -again with no response.
The issue was that the parent failed to fulfill her duties in maintaining an updated portfolio,attend events, submit her daughter for opportunities and lack of response to phone calls andemails. As with anything opportunities may be offered, but can only be utilized of taken.
Alycia K.
CEO and Founder
[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because:The response is not truthful.I did not request to be deactivated as they stated.I was deactivated on their part after complaining about their services and the non disclosure of “events” paid for.It was never stated or written anywhere in the paperwork that the events were limited to NYC.Re- the online portfolio,there were numerous e-mails and phone calls to the company re- the incorrect info and difficulty with the site.The responses were not consistent and numerous staff turnovers made it very frustrating to obtain an solution to my issues.In regards to signing the paperwork,this was done ,and also corrected in that’s they sent the incorrect info.I will forward the e-mails that I have and well as the paperwork correspondence.
Regards
Revdex.com
*** regarding daughter ***.
As stated before, she stated she was unhappy, so as a courtesy we dropped her without a30~day cancellation notice from her for non-payment of the monthly $47 technology fee. .*** also did not keep the online portfolio updated, i.e vital statistics, updated photos,etc. The site was only used by the *** family only 7 times in two years.
We also maintain the right to cancel and deny access to the management firm without notice orrefund if the talent or in this case the ta|ent‘s mother as she is under 18 years of age, disparageor misrepresent REACh to any third party.
When she signed with VIP Talent Connect, events were only held in New York. Those eventsare still only in New York. All other events are with VIP IGNITE with which, her daughter ***is not signed.
She chose not to attend a New York event in which *** was eligible to attend. Again, this washer choice. Many of your emails and phone calls to inform her went unanswered in regards tothe online portfolio and upcoming events.
Alycia K