I needed cash and I needed a good idea...

I started thinking about sponsorship. That seemed to be the best way to get down to Toronto. But how and who? I wondered. I decided to take a bit of a breather and head out to a club where my good friend Deejay's every so often. After getting there I was in my usual spot in the deejay's booth and I decided to throw out the whole UMM thing and the situation to Mike to get his feedback. "Ashley. I can sponsor your flight. Yeah I can totally do that to help you." Mike excitedly said as he scratched his vinyl. I almost dropped on the spot. Flights were expensive and extreme weight lifted off my shoulders instantly.

The next day I was a little more motivated and as I looked at some of my friends stuff on facebook, I noticed a friend who joined a group called 'Empire Clothing'. I had seen this name before and I realized that it had just re-opened in a new and bigger location in the city. I decided to talk to them about sponsorship for Toronto so I sent them a message via facebook saying I was a local model and I was looking for sponsors.

"Dammit, who's calling me now?" I fumbled about trying to get my laptop, coffee and papers off my lap and onto the table. It was Jamie and I suddenly became very nervous.

It was basically a call to see if I had come up with the cash. The call dragged on as usual about how great he was and some girl who wanted to date him, again. The persona he was giving off irked me which made my skin crawl in utter agitation. Click. Ah, thank god I thought to myself.

I pondered and surfed the internet aimlessly when I came across that clothing shop again on my facebook that had just opened up. I decided to go for the kill. I contacted them again and asked when the owner would be in, 'this afternoon? Great! I'll see you then' was my message. I quickly started writing information on what I was planning to do and my pitch. If they gave me their products, I would model them and have them shot by a professional photographer and graphics for advertising was their choice after they received the prints. They would have all access to the pictures and a dual copyright.  I had emailed Jamie just as I was printing out the sponsorship package and let him know what I had planned. Immediately my phone rang, I picked it up and he wanted to know all about what I was doing. He insisted he call them before I go down there to meet them and he would help seal the deal. So he dialed the owner right while I was on the line and told me not to say a word. To my astonishment he started taking over what was my business and turned it into his, as if he was running the whole thing. I was fuming but that wasn't all. As he started to talk about Toronto he kindly mentioned "Well, all the models in Toronto are the hottest in Canada, no other models can compare to what we have here. I would love to offer you some of our Toronto models as well. I mean once Ashley gets down here we can transform her. I mean, she's cute, but let's face it, she's not a Toronto girl..."

...

"Ok, nice talking to you, take care. That went pretty well hey Ashley? Look what I did for you; I got you a sponsorship of $1,300.00. So you'll be left with $200 after my fee's ok? Ashley, are you there?"

SLAM!-Click.

I hung up as hard as I could, but not before they finished their conversation. After that my phone flew threw the air better than a pitcher throwing a ball at a Yankee's game. I was literally seething. In my life I have never experienced someone so blunt, so manipulative and so stupid.

I ignored every electronic beep, ring and electronics in general, for three days. I regained my professionalism back and I talked to the store owner myself. I decided I needed to be back in control, and I wasn't going to let this loser ruin my career. So everything was still in place, my contract still set and the $1,300.00 and product ready to go. Meanwhile I was being harassed by Jamie. Every half an hour for those three days. Making $1,100.00 off me, by me, and still I had no money for a hotel, food or again even to wipe my ass. He did offer me to stay at his house in a nice email he sent me after that phone call.

No way in hell.

I emailed him and let the owner know, I had fired Jamie. He was supposed to be working for me, representing me in a professional manner and working with me. After that phone call I didn't care if he was god's modeling booker, he was a piece of...well, you know.

Twas' the night before my departure. I had the money and I was able to book a room at the Soho among everything else I needed. No I didn't have spending money. Everything I spent the money on was hotel, food and transportation. It was a little depressing.

As I was saying, it was the night before my departure and I was in trouble. I had no photographer, I had product I needed to get prints of, and I had no reason to go to Toronto.

What was I going to do?

I cannot tell you how stressed out I was. I hunted all over the internet for jobs in Toronto and photographers. I finally pulled through when I got an email in regards to a casting call I applied for, for an editorial job to be featured in a magazine. I ended up hiring the photographer after our editorial shoot, for the products that I had, and he shot me in everything I had. Fortunately I ended up saving myself and everything went smoothly. I didn't get to meet Kenny Hotz as I hoped because he was in L.A. but we still chatted back and forth about la la land. Unfortunately, the photographer I shot with never gave me any of the pictures for the editorial and instead publishes them to a paying-membership website online every six months or so, without telling me anything. So another industry loser crossed my path in the end. But that's another story!

Here are some of my tips on how to spot an industry loser:

• They ask you to do very secretive porno or pictures for overseas websites and/or private buyers.
• They have a arrogant ego
• If you don't want to work with them your nothing or nobody
• They misrepresent you in a non professional way
• They promise to make you a star
• They brag about knowing celebrities
• A lot of the time they contact you via email, saying they have seen your profile and they have a all expenses paid job
• They 'scout' out talent
• Why would they send you an email about hiring you overseas when they have beautiful models right in there own back yard? It would cost them money? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

I hope you haven't experienced what I have, but most likely you have or will at some point being in this industry. Remember, get yourself a good agent and you can send all those people their way and if they don't want to talk to your agent, their not real!

Why not comment and tell us your experience with an industry loser?

Like I always say: There's a reason big wigs can afford their Gucci suits!

Stay safe!

By Ashley Almon

This Canadian Hottie is coming up quickly in the world of entertainment. Ashley is intelligent, quick witted and very funny and to top it all off she is an "A" List  Actress, Model and Journalist.

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