Parents and Models Beware! - Model Elmer Olsen Model Management Employee Review

The agency genuinely encourages diversity within the industry and within its working environment.

Toxic environment supported by the founder and the other agents. We were always encouraged to be competitive as agents AGAINST one another than working with each other. Since it's an open-set up agency, there was no privacy and tension amongst the agents were constantly high. It felt like we had to always pander to Elmer's and his partner Gary's egos. We always worked at our desk and had to eat lunch at our desk while working because of an unspoken rule that you were looked upon lazy if you took an actual break. The interns usually run to get our meals so we wouldn't miss a beat from work. Even though I had to work closely with other agents, it was more of a "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer" relationship than a professional mature one. There is NO moving up - once you are an agent, that is it. If you are an intern (amongst a team of 5), if an agent (once in every two-three years) leaves the agency, then there will be room for you to get hired. Other than that all interns are just free social media/instagram/run our errands and get our lunch people.

Elmer was nice when I first signed with him, this changed shortly thereafter. He had a yearly bootcamp to help sign models to international agents, he no longer hosts the bootcamp. I initially signed with him in 2010; he likes signing young models that are new to the model world because he can get away with manipulation. Most of the models that were initially with him switched to other agencies because of this mistreatment.

He was nice at first but after a while he started to become mean and controlling. He manipulates and micro manages his models every move, if you disobey you will be punished. He discourages "having a personality" and tries to control your social media. He punishes models by bullying them, not submitting them for bookings and holding payments.