Be sure to read this before joining an agency!

"I have been offered to be taken on by a modeling agency but they want me to pay an up front fee to be put on their books. Should I do it?", is a question I get asked frequently by aspiring models.

The simple answer is: Think very carefully and do your homework. Reputable agencies should not charge their models any fees. They make their money by negotiating paid assignments for their models.

If you pay an agency an up front fee, there is very little incentive for them to go out and find you work, especially if they claim to do so for no additional commission.

If you receive an offer and are told that it is a time-limited opportunity, it is a warning sign that the offer may be suspect. Often, a time-limited offer comes with a discounted sign-up fee, which serves as a sweetener. A good agency will never try to push you into a decision.

Even if you believe that you will not be charged a fee, ask, ask and ask again. Get the agreement in writing and read it before you sign it.

There are many variations on the same theme: initial fee, registration fee, retainer fee, annual fee, service charge, membership fee, and probably many more. The chances of you actually getting any work are very slim - and this is putting it politely.

Reputable online modeling sites, such as OMP and Musecube work differently. They provide a space for you to show your photographs on the Internet, but they do not (and do not pretend to) actively look for work for you. Usually, they offer some sort of free, basic portfolio and charge a small fee for something a little more sophisticated, and that's okay.

If you are planning to market yourself through one of those modeling sites, go for the big players who attract big traffic on the Internet.

For the sake of legal argument, I should state that I am not suggesting that every agency that wants to charge you a fee or issues a time-limited offer is necessarily operating a fraudulent scheme.

Before you join an agency, always research the agency (do a search for their name) on the Internet to see what other people say about them on notice boards and similar sites.

You should also be aware that it has been known for false messages and testimonials to surface on notice boards. Your research should be thorough and in-depth.

As far as I know, there is nothing illegal in agencies charging up front fees and all kinds of other ongoing fees. However, this is a potential warning sign.

One warning sign that an aspiring model should spot is the agency's promise that they would definitely be able to get her work. No agency can make such a promise with any amount of certainty.

What do you do if you already have signed up with an agency, paid a fee and never got any work?

Do some soul searching. So many girls (and boys) want to become models but they are just not model material. To be a model, you need to have the right looks, correct height and body measures, weight, and attitude.

If you do not get any work from your agency, this does not automatically mean that you have been conned. Just because you think that you deserve to be a model does not mean that you have a claim to success.

Skip the next paragraph if you are easily offended.

Look at yourself in the mirror and wake up to reality: Perhaps you are too short, too tall, too fat or the wrong age. Perhaps you are out of proportion. Perhaps your skin looks like the rugged surface of a distant planet. Perhaps you are simply not this season's look. Or you could be perfect but there is nothing to distinguish you from all the other perfect models. Of course, a good agency would have told you about all this from the start.

When it all goes wrong, there is probably not a lot that you can do. Check the contract if there is a refund clause in case you do not get any work after a pre-defined period of time.

If, after all this, you are convinced that you are a victim, try not to feel victimized and do not lose your sanity over it. It is not the end of the world as you know it. Write the whole thing off to experience and try to see the positive side. You have made a mistake that you are not likely to repeat. Now you can get on with the rest of your life.

I regret that I am unable to comment on any individual agencies.