CHATSWORTH, Calif. — A warning about unlicensed talent agencies has been issued by recently formed trade group Agency Licensed Trade Association (ALTA) today, specifically targeting Ideal Image Management.
ALTA claimed that Ideal is not licensed as a talent agency as of Feb. 7 and is warning performers about signing on with the company.
"We want to protect the talent in the adult industry from unlicensed representation," ALTA co-founder Shy Love said. "Of course we would like them to sign up with a licensed ALTA agency, but it's important that their representation be licensed."
ALTA further stated that California state law requires that agencies must be licensed to procure jobs for talent and not simply be a “management company.”
"If Ideal Image has attempted contacting you as talent and stated they have a job for you on a set date; they have set up a price you get paid; they call you with details of the job (like location, wardrobe, makeup, talent); and collect commissions: This is a job of an agent not a manager.
"A manager is allowed to manage your career, and an agent is allowed to procure you work. If this happened to you, you are entitled to get all of the agency fees that you have paid to that company reimbursed in entirety,” ALTA said.
But Ideal partner Corey Carnes disputes ALTA’s claim and told XBIZ that he recently spoke with ALTA’s Love only two days ago for over an hour and explained that the company is in the process of being licensed and has been acting as a “mangement company” in the interim.
“I explained to her and Sandra (owner of OC Modeling) that Ideal Image Management has been in the process of obtaining our license and bond for a few months now. Both owners of those companies have gone through the process and have admitted that getting a license and bond isn't an overnight process. There was even an article in AVN where OC Modeling indicated that the process took several months. Shy Love even admitted that when she first opened ATMLA she was an unlicensed agency and it took months to complete the process,” Carnes said.
He added, "As much as I would love for the state of California to expedite the process they have to complete to much paperwork that involves background checks, financial checks, etc.”
Carnes further maintained that the Labor Commission has assured him that all agencies will be able to check and verify that Ideal Image Management is licensed and bonded by the end of the month of February.
“I explained this to Shy Love as well just two days ago, and her response was to offer Ideal Image Management to join ALTA as soon as that went through,” Carnes said.
ALTA meanwhile advises talent who may have a complaint against unlicensed agencies to contact the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and lodge a written complaint.
The group also suggests that performers check the State’s database of licensed talent agencies to verify that their representation is licensed.
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