Do you know what IMTA stands for?

Yesterday I returned from L.A., California attending the IMTA Convention.  It stands for International Model and Talent Association and it is a fabulous opportunity for the young contestants that are able to get in.  The runway show is great and the talent is broken down into an array of categories.  It has been going on for 23 years now and there is one held in NY in July every year as well.  I was there for my daughter who was a contestant.  But I got so much out of it because of the seminars they provide for the contestants and the parents like what casting directors are looking for, how to pose on a photo shoot, how to be a commercial print model, etc.  This is really a once in a lifetime event for most people.  It costs a lot of money but it includes airfare, hotel and 8 workshops just for starters.  We went through Barbizon and I’m glad we did.  I know a lot of people say negative things about Barbizon but I can tell you that it is what you make of it. They are only the transportation to opportunity.  It is up to the participant to ride the bus and get off or don’t get on at all.  My daughter is very short so she went for talent as she wants to be an actor.  But ironically, she came in 1st runner up for Theatrical Headshot.  Anyway, the week long convention was grueling but gratifying.  A lot of young people were given a lot of opportunities they may never have gotten had they not attended IMTA.  The highlight of the entire convention was when a girl, who is attractive but overweight, won a $64,000 scholarship because she was the talent that stood out above all the rest.  You could tell that she was a natural Broadway entertainer and we all knew she is going to go very far.  Obviously the school that offered this scholarship saw what the thousands of other people saw and jumped on it immediately.  So dreams do come true…especially at IMTA!