9 Tell-Tale Signs That You're Being Scammed

Upon request, I recently gave this presentation to a group of actors, and after reading many disturbing posts on a couple of Yahoo Group Forums, realized that it was time to make this information available to everyone.

Please be advised that the information I am giving you is intended for educational purposes only. I am a former agent; not a lawyer, accountant, business advisor or tax expert. Therefore, any decisions made in these areas should be discussed with the appropriate business professional.

In the forthcoming weeks, I will tell you about the “9 Tell-Tale Signs That You’re Being Scammed,” beginning with Number One:

1) Paying for Agency or Management representation BEFORE getting work.

It is illegal for a talent agency or management company to accept money before getting you any work.

A talent agency is the equivalent of a temporary agency. When someone is looking for temporary or full-time employment, they will often go and register with what is called a “temp” agency, which is an outside firm that is hired by a company to help them find employees. The outside firm either pays the temporary agency a set fee for their services, or a percentage of the salary of whomever they hire.

When it comes to talent agencies and/or management companies, the same rule applies. They agree to take you on as a client, either via a signed contract or a “hip pocket” arrangement, meaning there is no contract in place, but there is an “unspoken” agreement of representation on a trial basis. The agency or management company then begins to submit you (i.e. your headshot and resume) to projects for which they feel you are appropriate.

If you book a job that your agent or manager has submitted you for, a deal is negotiated and you are paid for the job, with the agency usually taking 10% of whatever fee is negotiated for you, and the management company taking 10 or 15% of the negotiated fee.

Your agent and/or manager do not get paid in advance – ever. THEY GET PAID AFTER YOU GET PAID. PERIOD

Unfortunately, there are many agencies and management companies doing business who, in addition to taking a percentage of their client’s negotiated rate, also require their clients to pay them a monthly or yearly representation fee.

This is NOT the way it works, regardless of what they tell you, which, by the way, usually goes something like: “This fee covers the cost of your submissions (either via mail or messenger);” “This fee is for office supplies or Xeroxing your resumes;” “This fee covers our overhead costs to represent you,” or some such story.

This is bunch of baloney! If they want to represent you, then the cost of submissions, postage, messenger services, office supplies, Xerox copies, rent and other overhead expenses are THEIR cost of doing business … not yours!

As an actor I realize how vulnerable we are, and how desperate we can sometimes be to have an agent or manager. However, don’t let anyone play on your vulnerability or desperation. With patience and perseverance your time will come and you will find the right person to represent you – someone who will NOT take any money from you until you book a job.

To Your Acting Success,
Sharon

P.S. If this information resonated with you, please know that I will
be giving a lot more “insider” tips just like this one at my upcoming
Hollywood 101: The Basics™ Workshops, so stay tuned for more
information on how you can attend!

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Sharon Moist, also known as The Industry Coach®, is a highly sought-after professional career coach, whose clients include Hollywood Power Brokers and A-List Celebrities. After 5 years as a Hollywood Agent, Sharon left the agency to open her own coaching company.

As The Industry Coach®, Sharon has clients from all areas of the entertainment industry who represent such projects as: 24, Desperate Housewives, Las Vegas, The Unit, Navy NCIS, and CSI: Miami, among others, as well as companies such as Industry Entertainment and HBO, and talent agencies, including Innovative, Endeavor and the William Morris Agency.

For more information or to work with Sharon directly, you can visit her website at: www.TheIndustryCoach.com

To subscribe to her bi-monthly newsletter, the Industry News Digest, visit: www.IndustryNewsDigest.com

To purchase a copy of her book, "101 Tips For Actors: Secrets for Success Every Actor Must Know" go to: www.101TipsForActors.com