2006 was a very busy year for my business. We had several national accounts and I was hiring an average of 200 promotional models a week. Although we were busy, we were having a great time.
The beginning of the year a former employee was no longer an employee. It did not end on good terms. After a short time, I had to hire an attorney to write up a Cease and Desist letter and send to her. She was contacting my clients and writing bad things about me to my talent. (which she had stolen from our talent emailing list)
It was all down hill from there. What does the old saying go "Hell hath no fury......"?
In 2006, we were hiring promotional models all over the United States for promotional in store events. For those that have no clue how or what that is, here is a brief synopsis:
A client hires me to find people to go into stores and promote their product to customers. This might be handing out samples or coupons. With promotional modeling, if the event is ran correctly - which includes the promotional model getting paperwork signed by the store manager and stamped with a store stamp (this ensures the model was actually there and working the event - it serves as a time card) - then that model will send the original paperwork to our office ASAP (within 10 days) so that we can invoice our client for the event weekend. As you can imagine, when there are over 200 people working one event in one day, it will take about 20 days to get paperwork (If I even get it) in to invoice. Obviously, I cannot (and will not) invoice a client without the proper paperwork. Most of my clients have extensive contracts that state they will NOT pay without the proper paperwork.
After my client receives the paperwork and invoice, it will generally take another 30 days to receive payment from that client (if they are a good client). We do not pay our models until our clients pay us first. (models have signed contracts that state this beforehand) So, as you can figure, these promotional models may get paid around 60+ days. (again, as stated in any contracts signed beforehand).
Before anyone gets all judgemental, please do your research on individual contractors - as this is what they are being hired as. Please, also, do your research on promotional models.
As a small business owner, I love what I do and working for peanuts. I have wonderful people that have worked for me for 6, 7, 8 years and I have gotten to know them personally and consider them friends. I have girls that have worked for me since they were 16 and now are in their 20's still working through college. They are appreciative of any type of work that I send their way, and of course, I am appreciative that they will work for me when I need them to.
Unfortunately, there are always the minority that are trouble makers. They whine, complain and make waves no matter what you do for them. I heard Oprah say one time that statistics show that no matter what you do, 10% of the population will not like you. There is nothing you can do to change that. In my case, I have about 5 that have been stalking, internet harassing and blogging about me daily. I guess that's not bad considering that I have about 5,000 promotional models across the US.
What is saddening, however, is that they stalk my websites daily. They post on ripoffreport.com almost weekly. (or all kinds of other sites) They have noted my husband and children in their postings. So now, it has become personal.
According to them they are righteous to "warn" potential models that I/my business is a "scam". Why? Because they say it is. Not the thousands of promotional talent that I have hired over the years........just the few of them that have bonded together. LOL.
Over 12 years I owned the building and operated a business out of it. In 12 years, I have never had any problem with vandalism or theft. I think it is ironic that all of a sudden I have someone breaking into my mailbox, tearing up all my mail and throwing it all over my parking lot. Then, within 2 months, someone breaks into my office with a crowbar. And takes what? NOTHING? HMMMM..............It caused me to resort to cameras on the property. I wonder how many times it caught certain vehicles going by my property and in my parking lot? LOL
Yes, I was taken to Small Claims court for "money owed to talent". But only one side of the story has been heard for three years. Theirs.
Yes, a local news reporter did a story on my business. I was informed by my attorney NOT to meet with her - and was also informed not to issue a statement. (which I did) So, only 1/2 of the story was told during the interview.
I had worked with Molli Funk, owner of Molliwood Productions for many years either contracting work through her or using her to contract work for me. We had a good working relationship (or so I had thought). I co-contracted many jobs through Pierce for instore events. I hired many promotional models for her since 2003. They worked her jobs that she booked through Pierce - AXE, Vaseline Intensive Care, Gillette, etc.
Also, she hired staff to work many promotional jobs for me, as well. In this time, I considered her a friend. We talked constantly on the phone - almost daily. I knew all about her family, her life, etc. - as she did me.
In 2005, Molli Funk was pregnant and was extremely sick (or so was said). I booked several events for her during this time frame and the events ran without problems. Several different events were worked throughout a few months time. Paperwork was mailed in and invoices were sent. None of which were paid. At that time, she was pregnant and moving to another home. I knew she had a lot on her plate and emailed her regarding the past due invoices. I knew that we had a lot of jobs on the horizon and just figured out it would wash out in the process. In the meantime, I paid all of the promotional models out of my pocket. (all of which I have cashed checks to prove) (I also have all emails saved regarding these jobs - along with paperwork)
I hired her in 2006 for several jobs that she cobooked for instore events. If paperwork was turned in, a check was written. Several thousand dollars were paid to her agency for jobs worked. In late 2006, she personally worked a print campaign for a local hotel and casino. She was paid right after the new year. In that time, several other jobs had been paid out, as well. We had over 400 promotional talent that checks were going to be written to for over 6 different jobs. Because I am a small business owner, I do everything by hand - invoicing, check writing, paperwork, etc. So, in order to keep every job straight and hours worked, an individual file was established for each individual job. A mass email was sent out to every model worked that they had received a check and checks were being written out according to job. So, some models received 6 different checks. (again, I have the original emails sent out) (that email was also sent to Molli) We worked for many weeks not only mailing out checks, but booking additional jobs, verifying W9 paperwork, verifying hours, etc. Because Molli worked her print campaign, I put her to the side unintentionally. In this time frame, I had a close family friend that committed suicide. We were gone for about 3 days. In those three days, Molli was contacting my clients and slandering my name and company. I was appalled, as this person was supposed to be a friend. At that time, two checks had already been sent out to her for jobs worked.
We left for a family vacation and in that short time, in my return home, I had clients calling me asking who this individual was and why was she calling them. I was broken hearted to find out that a friend had called three different clients AGAIN complaining about me - telling them that I do not pay my talent, etc.
Again, this is the same individual that still owed me money for many jobs booked. How is that for a pot calling the kettle black?
By this time, she had hooked up big time with my former employee. How convenient for the both of them.
A few weeks later, I received a summons for Small Claims for two different individuals that supposedly done work for me. (BOTH, of course, were friends of hers) One had inquired about payment for a foot model job that she had done. I emailed my client asking the status of payment and forwarded her the answer from the client. The client was polite in saying that he was sorry for the delay and that he would check with his accounts payable department and get it sent right out. (again, still have the email) I called the Small Claims Court and acknowledged that she was owed the money and explained to them that the client was paying soon. The individual I spoke with said that in the state of Indiana, if you call in and acknowledge that you owe and will pay, you will not have to show up to court on the day assigned. Needless to say, she was paid before the court day by the client.
The second girl supposedly worked an AXE event in 2005. She did not show up to the store - as the store was called by the client to confirm. Emails were sent to her to explain and none were returned. I had not heard from the girl since before the event and now she conveniently states that I owe her money? Where is the paperwork to prove otherwise? I never have received them. Upon notification from the courts, I called her three times (all are documented). I also emailed her asking her about this (again, still have the email). Finally, when I reached her regarding the money I supposedly owed to her and asked her where her paperwork was, her reply was "Molli has them". OK, so why don't I have these papers? So I told her that I would be happy to pay her, but she needs to get me the paperwork. (I, by the way, have NEVER been paid for this event) To this day, I do not have any paperwork. In the meantime, I figured since she has already been contacted by Molli, then she is already in ca-hoots with her. It's only a few hundred dollars, so I will just pay it. Again, I called the courts and acknowledged that I owe her and paid her.
So, with that said, the reports that individuals have sued me and "won".....are 1/2 truth to say the least.
As far as Molli Funk from Molliwood Productions, yes, she did file a small claims and yes, she did win. My advice to anyone out there, never go to court without an attorney. (of course, my attorney said that no one ever goes to small claims with an attorney - LOL) I went without one and her attorney threw out everything in court. Afterwards, my attorney advised me that I could file an appeal through the state - which would cost a lot of money and a lot of drive time to Indianapolis. Again, it was just a few thousand dollars and not worth my time and headache so I paid and am over it.
I have been slandered, libeled and stalked by these people. There are several that are involved (and I have IP#s that prove all of it - along with emails sent out to individuals and other people that they have contacted) they are as follows: Lori Rosas-Russo - who, by the way, has started her own "agency" - therefore is in direct competition with me. (imagine that) Chadwick Ganz - who claims in his statements on internet websites that he is a former employee of mine. The man has NEVER been employed by the C. Taylor Agency. He worked as an independent contractor hired as a model for a few jobs - all of which was paid entirely. In fact, there has only been one male that has ever worked as an employee of mine and he is still a model and actor working in LA. He is as big of a fan of mine as I am of his. Chadwick, by the way, has a history of moving every three months or so - sometime in the same city, mostly out of the city and state. I wonder why that is? Lupe Alsidez - who is a convicted felon with a rap sheet including drugs, dealing drugs and prostitution.
This is Molli Funk's little gang. Pretty great group of people, wouldn't you agree?
My life has been total turmoil for two years now. I'm afraid to answer the door when there is a stranger outside. I don't answer the phone when I don't recognize the number, I have video cameras around my business and home and I'm terrified for my 15 yr old to go anywhere without her father and me. I don't know when or who is going to be following me at any time. I'm suspicious of new talent emailing me or calling me. I have had to hire a private investigator.
I have had several jobs that I have hired promotional model or print models for that have not paid my agency. I am still owed money that total in the tens of thousands by the Sunflower Group, and Donna Groff Agency - and others. All of which - my models/talent were paid out of my pocket. The funny thing is, both Molli and Lori have witnessed it firsthand and still claim that my agency is a "scam". They KNOW that my talent were paid for jobs that my agency was NEVER paid for by the client.
I'm tired of it. I have had a business for over 15 years. I have won numerous awards nationally and locally for the business that I have ran.
It's a shame that individuals cannot get on with their lives. It's a shame that I have become their primary focus in life. My suggestion would be to go donate time to local charities. Use that obsession for something good in life. Turn that bitterness into something else and do good for others. In other words, get a life.
I might also add to all of this, that several of Molli's ex-talent have contacted me in the past few months. Seems that a Molliwood Productions owes several people lots and lots of $$. In the thousands. Again, isn't that a pot calling the kettle black?
You know, I was going over my invoices, payments in 2005 and the earliest that Molliwood Productions ever paid me or my agency for worked done was 90 days (if paid at all). I nor my agency, was ever paid on time. (again, I have the paperwork and pay stubs to prove it)
My advice to Molli - if you are going to throw stones, make sure you don't live in a glass house.
