
Where? At the Hilton hotel on 53rd and Ave of The Americas. Katie Holmes, Jessica White, Ashton Kutcher and many more have participated at IMTA, here in NYC or in LA, in their times and found fame. To participate at this convention and any convention for that matter is in no way a free pass to stardom. However "Good practice makes perfect." Through the years IMTA, has offered it's participants the most knowledge and crash courses on the modeling and acting topics available out there all in 1 week.
It is not cheap but if you are realistic with your children aspirations; and you can afford to pay the fee for them to be seen without guarantee they will be signed to an agency at the end of the marathon week; then this is for you. I make a point to attend this convention; because it is clear there is a wealth of talent there. Still I prefer to scout models on the streets.
At IMTA; you get a chance to see the young models and talent and feel their energy and see what they got right there and there and it is a privilege for us managers scouts agents to have that work cut out for us. In contrast on the street you must imagine the potential talent and envision them and that is not an easy fit. Often you give the kids a card and they never get back to you; a shame and a waste for them because at Djamee Models, I get the castings! I noticed that people usually respect more what they pay for. Hummmm. So if your kids care about the money you spend on them; that should help when you enroll them to IMTA. Often streets find take the opportunity for granted and waste it because they have no knowledge of the industry As I describe it bellow; my rate of success with street casting is prettey high.
Competition and bidding among agencies can be overwhelming at the convention. I believe a model can be in a big or small agency and do great. Models should remember that either they were scouted on the street online or at the IMTA convention. If the model is right the client will hire them no matter where they are or where they are coming from.
At Djamee Models, we have introduced some fantastic models to the industry such as Robert K, pictured above who has booked countless United Colors of Benetton, worldwide campaigns; Jarret which last could be seen in a TV national commercial for Converse; Shaun Ross, who is the first established albino male model in the world, and Robert aka Rahda, who has shot with celebrity photographer Sarah Friedman; shot for Interview mag starring Alexander Wang. and even booked a worldwide Benetton print campaign Summer 2010, or Rafael, who was featured in a Open Lab mag big story last May featuring designer Logan Neitzel. All where discovered on the streets; backstage at shows or the Subway except Shaun Ross, via a Youtube videos. So be confident but be serious, if you are lucky to be on the runway this week at IMTA.
All in all no matter what or where you are coming from; never give up! If a scout from an agency take you from the street and give you all the resources you could have paid thousands of dollars at any conventions; please be appreciative and mindful that their time cost money. If you are not interested do not waste their time just say: No thanks. I will see you this week like our models page HERE. Thanks - DR