City Model Management

I can sum up City Model Management in 3 words … Sh#%ty Model Management, shifty too.

To sign in with them you have to pay several hundred dollars. Here’s what they emailed me:
Next steps:
1. Return attached contract via mail or in person. We cannot accept faxed or emailed contracts. Include a copy of your social security card and driver’s license or state identification
2. Digitals with Pat Johnson. Date for digitals is Sat, Jan 31^st, fee is $ 50.
3. Register for the website (
). Yearly fee is $ 128.
4. Register for SF Casting. Registration is free but you will need to upload a photo (photo uploads are $ 15).
5. Testing — you will need professional images for us to represent you. I can send you references if you like.
6. Once you complete your test shoot you will need comp cards. The printer charges $ 125 for 50.
SCAM.
This is predatory. A good agency makes you money. It doesn’t charge you.

RUN. RUN FROM THIS PLACE. DO NOT LISTEN TO ONE POSITIVE REVIEW… JUST RUN.
With that said where shall I begin. Sure they will get you work and there’s so much to be thankful in that. BUT… YOU WILL NOT GET PAID. There is no sense in working if you aren’t going to see the money. This place was nothing but a pain in my ass. I worked multiple modeling jobs through them… and never saw a cent for about 6 – 7 months. THAT’S NOT NORMAL. If you talk to Sal the owner about this… or any of the other agents who no longer work there… they will send you to what seems like the imaginary secretary that you never hear back from. Once you REALLY start to request payment… you will be yelled at and more than likely dropped as a client.
And this doesn’t just happen with print work… it happens with SAG commercial work also… which is totally illegal by SAG union rules. Sal is too stupid to get that though. It’s only a matter of time before his «management» company is a thing of the past. And yes… clients in the industry know he doesn’t pay his talent. It’s very well known.
Once you do get payment… you are more than likely to not see full payment at all. Just like the other reviews you have read.
I feel bad saying this about him… and about his business. Unfortunately it’s just the plain old truth. There are other amazing agencies in the city… JE Talent, Look, Starz… the list goes on. Go check out those!!!
As I said… you will book work with City… but at what cost?! Do you really want your image out there for free?

If you want to get screwed out of your money then this is the agency for you. Payments were always SUPER late and I always had to complain over and over again to get paid. I also had several clients complain to me that it was difficult to communicate with the agency to confirm booking details. When I finally left City Models they altered accounting information to screw me out of over $ 800. I’m so glad I’m not with them anymore!

Yeah… totally sketchy business. Impossible to communicate with. If you email them they will not respond. They will make you feel like they are doing you a favor by working with you. Agencies are overall pretty crappy to work with. I would stay away from the business. Plus all agencies take like 50% of what you bring in and it’s not much. It’s really not worth your effort. After reading reviews on them, and based on my own experiences, it seems best to stay away from agencies.

Unprofessional. Open calls are Fridays. The Friday before Labor Day they canceled the open call but neglected to update their website with this information. I thought to call to confirm the open call before making the hour drive due to the upcoming holiday but dismissed it. That’s a lesson learned for me. Anyway when I got there was a sign posted on the door stating that the open call was canceled. I started to walk away but thought I’d try my luck. I hit the intercom and told them my situation and they were not the least bit apologetic. Just bad business.

My daughter had been getting booked for several gigs and I was not happy that we were losing 40% of every booking to manager plus agency. So, we saw another girl at a go see and asked which agency she was with. She was with City. So, I set up an appointment to have my daughter transfer to City so we could get rid of the «middle man» aka manager and just have an agency.
After we transferred, we got sent out on a SINGLE go see in 2 years? I think whoever is in charge of children is not connected or didn’t really care. When I brought this up (why did the volume of go sees drop dramatically once we joined this company) with the management, they said that children’s bookings had moved to LA. Later, after we changed to Models Inc, we ran into another girl who we had worked with on a Pottery Barn shoot and she said, «no, my daughter has gotten lots of bookings with Pottery Barn, etc.» So, we learned this was not true…
Then when it came to payment, they were really really slow. I had to escalate it to Sal and then finally we were paid!
so, if you have a child who wants to model, don’t go here.

A great model agency! I have been working with City past years. They are always kind and provide best. Especially Sal A. Marquez the owner has a lot of experiences at the business since 1985. If you work with City, you don’t need worry about anything. Happy holidays City:)

I called earlier today because I went to the open call where i met Sal Martinez, he was all nice and everything when he met me until i called back this morning like he said to. I called kind of confused about who to speak with and the ‘president’ Sal Martinez along with his assistant were EXTREMELY rude to me. I wouldn’t suggest this agency to anyone just off the way they handle phone conversations.

my son was signed with their agency about 2 years ago. the person that handles the children’s division’s name is Alyson. SHE IS HORRIBLE! I would email to ask questions because I am new at this is she was soo rude!
then when my son finally got a job it took months for them to pay him… when I began to ask about his money they were even worse!
I emailed Sal and left a voice mail, he never responded to me, but we all of a sudden received my son check within two weeks.
Alyson became ever more rude, and disrespectful after that so I wrote a letter to them and asked to void my sons contract.
I wouldn’t suggest this company for children at least until they get rid of Alyson people who don’t like children shouldn’t be managing them !!!

City is one of the top 3 modeling agencies in SF, with the ability to place you in other agencies in different locations around the nation. Because they are so big, they can give you the castings that will actually be good for you. Like Stacey says, big name and small name companies alike are all clients of City Model. (Hi, Stacey!)
I’m really happy being represented by them. They are super friendly and helpful. I love them. :D
Edit: I almost forgot to add that they are very in touch with the social events that happen in SF. They put together benefits for breast cancer, have done some work marketing for AIDS awareness, etc.

by far, one of the worst/​poorly ran agency’s…
WTH was i thinking when i signed up with them…
Sal is a nice guy, but everyone else is a waste of time… way too pomp…
if you are a guy, go to JE or Ford if you can…

The five stars says it all. Sal, Mimi, Ellisa, everyone at City that I’ve encountered has been very professional, reliable and upfront. I would recommend City to anyone. I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with them and hope to continue a mutually beneficial relationship as time goes by.

Sal and Tracy Marquez are wonderful people. Very professional, willing to help, and dependable which makes City Model one of the best agencies in town.
Their talent have been professional, easy to work with, and energetic. I have been fortunate enough to build a strong relationship with CITY and they have been very supportive of all of my endeavors.

The #1 agency in San Francisco. I’ve been represented by City since 2004 and have to give a huge THANK YOU to the whole City family, especially Sal & Ellisa!!!
City is a full service agency and has kept me working through the years with such companies as: Michael Kors, Macy’s, Verizon, ATT, Sony, Mervyn’s, Chevron, Rosetta Stone, Polycom just to name a few…