It’s also more confusing when we see things on the news or people warn us that “we should not pay for anything”, or “if it costs money it’s not legitimate”. While this is true in some cases, the mistake people make (even the ones reporting the news) is they lump everything together and they generalize. The truth is you do have to pay for some things like training or services, photos, showcases etc. People are not going to give you these things for free just because you are talented. And in 99% of cases, people are not going to hire you for an acting job if you don’t have the proper training and knowledge. You wouldn’t hire a doctor to perform surgery on you who has never been to medical school right? You wouldn’t hire a professional football player who doesn’t know the rules of football or who has never played a day in his life right? Why would a producer who is spending millions of dollars on a project hire an actor who doesn’t even know what camera angles are? How would a director direct that actor if he has no knowledge of what to do on the set? You still have to be educated. But you don’t have to be taken advantage of!

The best way to know if something is legitimate is…does it make sense? If I pay this money, what do I get in return? Is it worth the investment? Can the person actually deliver what he/she says? For example if someone says, I can make you a star, just pay me $1000, that does not make sense. No one can control the world! No one has the power to make somebody successful. But if the person says: I am producing a showcase and AB talent agent is going to be there, it cost’s $500 to be in the showcase, that is different. In the second example the person is giving you something specific for a price. You just have to decide if that price is worth it. That is not a scam. You are paying for a service. It may or may not be worth it to you. You may have been trying to get with AB Talent Agent for years to no avail. However, someone else may already be with AB Talent and choose to pass.

Another way you can find out if something is a scam is to get references from industry people–not your friends or co-workers who have no working knowledge of the industry. Call a few talent agents and find out if such and such company, opportunity etc is legitimate. Ask the agents if they know or have heard of the person or company you talked to.

You may also want to watch for red flags. If you are talking with person or company and they don’t give you straight answers to your questions, or play on your emotions rather than answer with facts, or if they keep promising you things… those would all be warning signs. People who have to resort to those tactics are avoiding telling you something. They tell you what you want to hear. Ask specific questions and don’t back down till you get specific answers.

Other red flags include telling you that you have to make up your mind on the spot. This is a pushy salesman tactic. It’s fine to give you a deadline–most business have to work that way (a sale is not good forever) but if they say something to the effect, this offer is only good right now and won’t be tomorrow–you may want to think twice.

Price of things can clue you in to legitimacy. If something sounds exboritantly high, don’t pay for it right then. Instead, call competitors to find out their price. For example many people are scammed with photography. In this industry a photoshoot for 1-3 looks should cost anywhere from $150 on the low end to $425 on the high end. Any more than that and you are overpaying. I have heard of people who have paid thousands for a photoshoot.  Below, I give you some of the more common scams or examples of people overpaying for things.

Last, you have to trust your gut. If you feel there is something wrong–there probably is. Do your research. Call the Better Business Bureau. Ask for references. Any company not willing to give you references is a company I am not willing to deal with. At the Actor’s Scene, we have a few programs that are expensive. However, we know that our product is worth it. We are willing to give out all kinds of references–names and numbers of people who have gone through the program. We are willing to back up what we offer. If a company is not willing to stand behind their product or service, that would lead me to believe they are not who they say they are.

Bottom line, you can’t be so distrustful that you pass up every opportunity that is put in your path that you lose out on the good ones too. You just have to do your homework, ask the right questions and trust your gut. Without risk, there is no reward.

Some of the common scams or people overpaying:

1.Photography: You shouldn’t pay more than $500 including makeup artist

2. Headshots or comp cards: To get 100 printed should be anywhere from $100-$200 at the top end.

3. Classes or training: There are several scams associated with this one. First, you should expect to pay anywhere from $70-$125 a month for a class that meets one hour a week, $100-$250 a month for a class that meets 2-3 hours a week. Places that want to charge you thousands of dollars for classes are usually in it for the money. There are so many great places in Atlanta to obtain GREAT training for the prices listed above.

4. Classes and training: Don’t pay a talent agent or agency for classes or training (unless it’s a one-time business class of how the agency works for around $100). An agent or agency who offers classes usually makes their money on classes and not booking their talent work. The Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG), the union who protects actor’s interest, has made it against their guidelines for an agency to charge for training classes. This is because it’s a conflict of interest. An agent can lure you into the agency by promising to sign you if you pay for classes with them first. A legitimate talent agent does not make you pay for classes that are given by them. They only make money when their talent books work. An agent may require to take training classes and that is okay–if they give you a list of a couple different schools or studios to go for training.

5. Searches. In and of themselves, searches like Pro Scout and Model Search America are not necessarily scams. They do bring in legitimate agents, managers and directors for the talent to get exposure. However, what they don’t tell you is these people are looking for talent who are already knowledgeable and have training. They count on most people being ignorant of the industry and playing on people’s emotions of “discovering the next big star”. People are discovered through them. But 99% of the time, its the people who have worked hard on their craft already and have all the elements lined up to “be discovered”. Think about shows like America’s Next Top Model and American Idol. Most people on there have been in the industry for a while and have taken training and gained knowledge. Sure there may be one or two that slip through on raw talent, but they almost always struggle to play catch up and hardly ever win. Look at this year’s American Idol contenders: Frontrunner Adam has trained and trained, has done musical theater for years. Alison has sung in concerts and such since she was a girl. Danny is the music worship leader at church etc etc. They all have put in the time, effort and hardwork to be “discovered”. Remember that.

6. Competitions: These can be a great shortcut to success because the big legitimate ones can put you in front of dozens or more of top industry professionals–people who, under normal circumstances, you would never get a chance to meet or perform in front of! You just have to watch for pricing. There are some out there who charge $7000 to $10,000. That is a little steep. There are other ones that charge $3000-$4000 and include training, the competition itself and a slew of other things. Again, you need to do your homework. You also want to consider how long these competitions have been running. You want a good track record!

The first question is about whether the talent show is legitimate. Well, I have spent the past six years creating a top acting studio, cultivating contacts and working hard to give opportunities to our students. We have DOZENS and DOZENS of success stories–we are in all facets of the industry: Movies, TV, Commercials, Broadway and Recording Artist. All in 6 short years. The reason for this is we strive to provide our students with top notch knowledge, vital agency placement assistance and opportunities like the talent show. The 3 combined create a powerful mold for success. Furthermore, we are recommended by almost all the top talent agents in Atlanta including: J Pervis Talent, Houghton Talent, Elite Model Management, B & B Talent, Sister Entertainment and others. We have been producing our talent show for 4 years now and we have had 0 complaints about our event.

The second question concerns price. It costs a lot of money to produce a show like this. We have to pay for the venue, employees to run the show, the agents, directors and VIP’s to judge, the prizes etc etc. So you pay an entrance fee just like you would if you are in a softball tournament, beauty pageant, dance recital and so on.

The last two questions are the most asked questions in various different forms. So I will lump them together. If you are new to the industry, or don’t have a talent agent, the talent show can be the ultimate exposure opportunity for you! There is so much upside. Agents will see you perform and as a result could offer to represent you. That is a major vital step in getting jobs in this industry. You just can’t be successful with out one.  What if you already have an agent? What’s in it for you? Well aside from the prizes…lots of things.

I often counsel my students and parents of students that having a talent agent does not allow you to just sit back and wait for things to happen. Sure, it’s the first step and an extremely vital one. However, you still have to be proactive to ensure you get all the opportunities you want. Is your agent going to send you to the 3 film directors so they can see how talented you are? Is your agent going to call Nickelodeon and arrange an audition with the network? Most likely not, no matter how great of an agent you have. The nature of the business is your agent gets breakdowns for specific roles and submits their talent accordingly. They do not generally arrange general auditions with all the directors and casting people in town.

This is why these things are so important! You have to be proactive in seizing opportunities to show your talent to the people who have the jobs–directors and casting directors. If they like you, they will remember you and they will call your agent requesting you for roles!

Also, think of this? When are you going to get a chance to be seen in person by the casting people of Nickelodeon network? Even if there is an audition and your agent calls you in for it, guess what? You goe on tape and that tape is sent to the network. Meanwhile they are seeing hundreds if not thousands of people in person. They may or may not watch the tapes. And even if they do, being seen in person is 10 times better than on tape.

Finally, there are more directors and casting people judging this talent show than agents. I made it that way on purpose. Because I want everyone to have opportunities whether they are represented or not.

I truly, in my heart, believe in creating opportunities for people to be seen by industry professionals so they have an easier path to success than I had when I started out. This industry is hard. It can be a long hard road. It may take a person doing it the old-fashioned way 3 or 4 years or more to see all the people they will perform in front of in one night at the talent show. I mean, it’s taken me YEARS to cultivate the relationships and network I have! I want to share that with people to make their path easier and shorter. That is why I am so passionate about The Actor’s Scene and the things I create for not only our students, but for every person out there who has a dream of making it in this industry. It’s why I have made the talent show so huge this year with such a huge grand prize! It’s why we have a showcase at the end of the year for our students. It’s why we go to AMTC (Actor’s Models Talent for Christ Competition) twice a year. Because these things can shorten the path to someone’s dream. These things can truly cultivate the right and safe relationships you need to be successful in this industry.

You can’t be afraid to take risks. You can’t be so afraid to get burned that you let every legitimate opportunity pass you by. You have to have faith and take that leap sometimes. I learned a very important lesson from my paster Andy Stanley one day in church and I have taken it to heart. Yes, you should pray and ask God for your heart’s desires. Yes you need to have faith that he will deliver in his time. However, that does not mean you just sit back and wait for it to happen. You do all you can do now and trust God to do the rest. But you still have to do your part. And your part in this area is being proactive. Taking risks. Putting yourself out there. Taking that leap of faith.

And that is why it is so important to me to give people the legitimate opportunities. The safe path. In the world filled with scams, gimmicks and dream stealers, I want a safe haven where people can go to obtain the right knowledge, contacts and training to make their dreams come true. The It Factor Talent Show is part of that path. It’s a part of my passion and my dream…to help people realize theirs.  

Hi Nicolle:

It is great to find a company like The Actors Scene who not only find and promote talented actors, etc., but to find someone whose business is close within the area where I live. I have been very interested in TV commercials, and would like to know what does it take to be cast for upcoming commercials without costly spending to get there. I am 46 years of age, but look late 30’s (I believe). I have been in the recruiting industry for 11 years; am funny at times, married - no kids, but fit very well into any setting. Any tips for this middle-aged woman? Keep up the good work.

Unfortunately, my answer to Sheila is it does cost to get into TV commercials or any other aspect of the entertainment industry. This is a business. And when you want to become an actress, model, singer, dancer etc, you are opening your own business. To open a business, you invest in it. It really is that simple.

The problem is, most people do not see this as a business. Many people think that you can wake up one day and say you want to be “an actor” and you can achieve overnight success. However, most people who have achieved “overnight success” have been working in this industry for years until they obtain their “big break.”

We hear all the time on the news, or from people like Clark Howard, that you should never pay money  to get in this business. While that is true to some extent, it is misleading. When news reporters tell the public these kinds of statements, what they mean, specifically, are to talent and modeling agents. And, this is where it is prudent for people to research and gain knowledge about the industry so they can know the difference between an agent and an acting school.

It is true that you should never pay an agent any sort of fee to represent you. An agent makes money only when the talent they represent works. They receive a commission. So any agent or manager that requires you to pay them for representation is not a legitimate agent. They can, however, require you to provide your own marketing materials or pay a small fee (under $100) to list you on their website. But an agent is not the same as an acting school or studio.

However, you do need to make an investment in yourself if you want to be in the industry. You must take training classes and workshops, you must have a photoshoot and purchase headshots or comp cards for your agent to market you to casting directors. All these things you have to pay for. An agent or manager is not going to pay for these things. And they will not represent you unless you have these basic requirements.

Next, you may ask: Why do I need training? Well, it’s like anything else. If you want to be good at something, you have to learn it, gain the skills and practice. Acting is no different. If fact, it’s vital. There are so many people who want to get into this industry. The competition is fierce. Agents have their choice of a long buffet of people. Why would they choose someone who doesn’t have the skills over someone who does? Why would a casting director, network, producer or ad agency hire someone to be in their TV commercial, film or print campaign who has no skills when they could have someone who does? I have a favorite quote by a famous actor: “There is always someone right behind you who is willing to work harder, practice more, train more. To succeed, you have to be willing to be that person.”

This business is the same as any other. Employers hire the most highly skilled and trained personnel. However, this is where the general public is confused. They think “scam” anytime there are costs associated with this industry. Training schools, acting studios, classes and workshops are different than agents. Just like you pay for karate lessons, dance lessons or any other activity, you pay acting studios for training. You pay photographers for a photoshoot. You pay a printing company for headshots or comp cards. These are all legitimate and necessary costs that each individual must invest in to start in this industry.

And to be competitive in the industry, you have to have the training. At the very least you need the technical knowledge of acting in front of a camera as opposed to stage, or the technical knowledge of acting for TV commercials as opposed to film, and so on. Directors on a set don’t have time to teach someone those things because every person on a set from the camera man to the key grip is paid each filming day. Teaching someone would eat into filming costs. So, they hire professionals who are already trained.

Photos are necessary as agents and managers use this tool to market you to the casting directors and ad agencies. You can’t go to an audition without them. Therefore you must have a professional photoshoot, then print headshots and/or comp cards. A normal photoshoot costs between $175 and $400. Anything higher raises a red flag.  Even in NYC and LA, these are normal prices for great industry photographers. I would walk away from anyone who wants to charge you more than this. You can print 100 headshots or comp cards from a great printer for $100 to $150.

There are great acting studios in the Atlanta metro and suburb areas that cost anywhere from $100 to $200 a month. Anything more than that for ongoing acting class should also raise a red flag. Call your local talent or modeling agencies to obtain a reputable list of recommended acting studios. If that agency wants to offer you classes through their agency, you walk away. Legitimate agencies do not offer training because it’s a conflict of interest. It’s also against acting union rules. If an “agency” offers training classes, then you should suspect that is the primary source of income for them–not sending their talent on auditions.

To summarize, there are legitamite costs required to get into TV commercials or any other form of acting or entertainment. You just have to be smart, use common sense and above all…do your homework. Knowledge is power.

I get so many questions on a daily basis about the entertainment industry and how to get started. This will be a great way to provide answers to some common and not so common questions!

Every 2 weeks I will pick a question posted here and give you the right answer! So ask away…..

To ask a question, click the comment button and ask your question.