|
|
My personal experience
|
|
This is a long one, but it summarizes my entire experience with this company so it may be worth reading if you are considering them. A lot of reviewers claim that Global One is a “scam.” I will say that they are a legitimate management company. However, I would not go so far as to say that they are in the top management and/or agencies. Unlike the other top name ones in the area, Global One requires you to use their photographer if you need headshots done. This was a bit upsetting because I had a photographer in mind who does all of my dance photos and they sort of turned their nose up at the idea of me getting my headshots done through him.
But I didn’t fuss too much and had my headshots done by their photographer since he came recommended. I chose to do the $300 package for two looks and that did not include the extra $100 for prints (which also had to be done through their photography studio, not on your own). The headshots came out just fine, but there was a minor detail on one of them that bothered me (a blur on my neck that seemed to blend my jaw and neckline). So I brought it up to the photographer to see if he could fix it or if maybe I could choose another photo (I had no say in the photos they chose initially). He didn’t seem to see the issue I was talking about, but it particularly bothered me so I didn’t want to just bypass it. Unfortunately the whole thing turned into an argument where he felt like I was insulting or attacking him. All I wanted was to be satisfied with the headshots that I would be using for all my submissions. By the end of our emails, he basically told me to “end this relationship with Global One now before it gets ugly.” That was particularly unprofessional and upsetting, especially considering the fact that he was a sole proprietor photographer and was not in the position at all to tell me to leave the management company. I brought the whole incident up to one of the main office people at Global One and basically just got a phonecall apologizing for anything that was said. Most everyone made me feel like I was a crazy woman for seeing something wrong with my photo. In the end, the photographer told me he would try to fix it. So I waited and waited to see if he made any progress. When my prints came in, I found that they just chose an entirely different photo. It was a lovely one, but now I had two commercial shots instead of one commercial and one theatrical like I should have had. It began with this incident in which I noticed a severe lack of communication. And when I tried to ask questions and be proactive about getting things resolved, the vibe I received back was that I was bothering them. Not comfortable for a new client.
Another pricey thing that is, not required, but heavily encouraged, is their Worldwide Star Search annual showcase. After hearing about the potential of meeting great industry contacts, I decided to do this. The showcase cost $1200 with a $35 credit card fee and that did not include airplaine travel or hotel. The showcase itself was a little sad for the price that they market it at. Yes it was held in a lovely hotel, but trying to perform my dance routine on a 16 by 30 foot T-shaped makeshift stage (the kind they usually set up at the Puyallup county fair) was nearly impossible. If they are going to include dance in their showcase, they really need to have an appropriate stage. I also felt sympathy for the singers performing because the sound operators kept getting the music wrong for several contestants and on top of that, they had the microphones on echo, which was a huge distraction to the audience and the singers themselves who were trying to hear their soundtracks. The showcase seemed much more like a talent show that was put together by a school rather than a professional LA and Seattle-based management company. I also forgot to mention that they waited to tell me that I was required to be in an exclusive contract until after I paid for the showcase.
The bright side of the showcase was that I ended up on the lists of several agents and casting directors who wanted to speak with me further after the event. I had a lovely conversation with all of them and was told when I get back to Seattle to make sure I let the office know who wanted to set up an interview with me. Kendall Park from JLA talent was particularly excited about getting to know me; so I told Global One all the details when I returned home from the showcase, only to be told by the CEO that most of the agents are LA-based and cant really do anything for you when you live up here in Seattle. I’m sitting there thinking, “then why would you encourage your Seattle clients to do these showcases if the benefits of meeting people in the industry are only for those who live in LA?” She then proceeded to tell me, “I think you could smile more and do a lot better next time. Why don’t you do our casting director workshop so you can be trained. Then join us for another showcase in June and then stay in LA afterward so that we can match you up with industry professionals.” Does that really sound like the most financially sound plan? To spend $700 on their casting director workshop, another $1200 on a showcase, and then stay in LA afterward with no job, no place to live, and only their word that they’re going to get me in contact with the right people?
The final straw with this company for me was the catty reaction that I witnessed to a facebook post. Some woman from some acting studio or management company from another state shared a post claiming that Global One was a scam and that actors should not reply to their email inquiries. Was it right for this woman to post this without a confirmed source? No, probably not. But what Global One’s clients and employees did next was unspeakable. They basically went to her business’s facebook page and blew it up with a bunch of bad reviews that included cold-hearted, personal insults in order to “get back at her.” Maybe if Global One didn’t operate under Christian values, this would not have phased me so much. But the pure childish approach they took to resolve this issue instead of talking about it like adults really irked me. All of these little things added up finally led me to resign from my contract with Global One.
If you decide to work with them, I would say to just do so very cautiously and don’t be in a rush to sign contracts until you feel extremely confident that you know what kind of professional relationship you’re getting into. I’m not here to bash them, but I will tell my personal experience exactly like it happened. There are plenty of clients who are very happy with Global One, so definitely talk to current clients and past clients. I just know it was not a good fit for me. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions because I have many more details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|