Second Life Modeling

[KateHershey]

Pardon me while I vent and ask advice. Not even sure this is the right category. 

Before I give the details, I love learning and to me SL is one big school.  I decided to learn about modeling.  Mostly to see what it was about, not to do it seriously. (After learning, I know it's not for me.)

I took a modeling class for 3500L.  We took our "final" last night.  He told the other three girls that they passed, but I have asked him three times and he has not responded. 

At the beginning of the class, he said to pass we need to walk the T-planks.  Three attempts, one fall,  In the final, he also gave us an additional requirement to pass that he NEVER showed me how to do in any other class.  He may have shown the others, who are already certified, but he never showed ME. (because I was in the later class, which he constantly cancelled)

Well, for my final, I did OK with the clothing (which I winged because he never showed me the correct way to do it) and I did not once fall off the "planks."  All three of the other girls fell off numerous times, and he never asked them to re-start.  All three girls passed.  I also did the "circle plank" for extra credit.

You would think that if the other girls FELL and passed, I certainly should have passed rigiht?  I think he does not want to pass me because at the end I demanded/questioned the things he taught us.  I felt like I was behind and did not learrn what the others did.

The class was supposed to be seven weeks, but because of his other modeling commitments/cancellations (and his SL WEDDING), it is now week ELEVEN.  I want to do other things. 

I will confess I got a little testy with him at the end because I said, "When did you teach us that." and was not very nice to his pet student, who tried to bully me into doing things.  He did nothing to stop her.  But I PAID 3500L for this class, and he should deliver on his promise to teach us and folow through with things.

My question is, do I have recourse?  I don't want him to get away with it.  I want my certificate or 3500L back.

Even if he reponds after i write this, I really want to tell people that the experience was not a good one.  He abused our trust and time.

I signed up for another modeling class to start 8/25 at another school.  I signed up on 8/8 and paid them 2000L.  In other groups, this school posted for enrollment until 8/18.  On 8/21, the instructor quit and the owner (not the instructor) of this school closed her school location and said they will be opening in mid-September.  I don't WANT to go in September, I chose the 8/25 session because that fit into my schedule.  I sent HER a notecard asking for my money back and why.  I have not heard from her.

Do I have recourse?

It seems we should be able to vet Modeling Schools so we don't get taken/scammed. 

I almost want to report them to Linden Labs but I decided to try here first because I have received good advice from people here :)

Anything advice you could give would be appreciated and thanks for listening.

[Rolig Loon]

The sad advice is that this falls into the large category of "disputes between residents" and according to the TOS (Sect 6), "You are solely responsible for your interaction with other users of the Service, whether online or offline. We are not responsible or liable for the conduct or content of any user. We reserve the right, but not the obligation, to monitor or become involved in disputes between you and other users. "  In other words, unless the other party has violated the TOS, Linden Lab will almost never get involved.  You may submit an Abuse Report, of course, but I can almost guarantee that will be the answer.

[Lindal Kidd]

I'm sorry you had two bad experiences.  But as Rolig says, you really have no recourse.

The whole idea of a "modeling school" is sort of silly anyway, IMO.  Anyone can teach themselves to assemble Outfits and change them with a single mouse click.  Anyone can learn to walk their avatar in a straight line, or (as many runways do) to use a poseball-and-menu system.

Most SL "models" are actually the creator, or her alt.  It's cheaper than paying someone else to wear the clothes and pose for the pictures.  Those who actually do modeling work generally get paid in free clothes, not money.  And the whole modeling scene is rife with drama, backbiting and petty feuds.

It's not something I would pay to get into, especially since (as you found) you don't always GET into it, even after paying.

[KateHershey]

Thank you for your help. And YES I found that out about the drama. They also wanted to change my face (to look more ASIAN - which I think is racist). They also gave me a shape that made my look like Olive Oyl. I wanted to learn about it. and boy did I!

And 3500L is CHEAP.  One school wanted 25,000L, the average is 7,000L.

Also, you must be CERTIFIED to get a modling job (I know right).  And to be certified you must go to a school. 

There is really NO PAY except for pay in clothing that you model. 

Everybody please take note so you are not taken in by this scam called modeling.  It is a huge industry in SL and if you really love fashion try it, but wow I hated it.

p.s. I got a notecard from him today saying I failed because of my attitude, and how I did not ask for help, and that I should have known how to style. Oh darn. I'm so sad.  Not.

Thanks again.

[KateHershey]

Thank you for your help. I had a feeling I had not recourse, but I'm glad I asked to remind others of this. Plus, there are not too many (IF ANY) forum posts on modeling, so I hope this helps somebody else. The forums were the first place I looked before I even signed up for the class.

 

p.s. I got a notecard from him today saying I failed because of my attitude, and how I did not ask for help, and that I should have known how to style. Oh darn. I'm so sad I failed. NOT. I'm glad to be done. Thanks again.

[sven Homewood]

I will add something from my own experience! I was a model in 3 modeling agencies and NEVER paid any classes! They wanted me modelling for them and teached me all I needed to know. You did fall for it. There is no official paper for anything in SL for SL related things. All I did was buying a bunch of poses and animations I needed to do a proper catwalk. As a kid avatar they also didn't ask you to buy different skins, because there are not too many (real good) ones to choose from. Which is different for adults, where you will need more than one skin sooner or later. And tons of walks and poses.

[KateHershey]

Thank you Sven. Yep, I fell for it. I'm so mad at myself! Let's hope your post helps others too. Even though I failed because of my attitude at the end when I realized this class and instructor were NOT what they should have been and I questioned it.

[Marcuri]

firstly, stop paying for classes. you dont need to. anyone can model if they get the right person to help them start. deep breathes, yeah you really cant do anything about it, just dont fall for anyone selling modeling classes anymore.