Full-service Commercial Talent Casting Services

TALENT AGENCY SCAMS​

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​Also referred to as modeling, talent management or talent booking agencies, FAKE talent agencies are at the top of the list of notorious scams. Here is what you need to know:

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REAL TALENT AGENCIES...

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• work solely on commision (10% to 20%, 这取决于你住在哪里)，而且只有当他们为你找到真正有报酬的工作时，他们才会给你报酬.

• 可能会推荐摄影师或技能培训机会来帮助你提高你的市场价值，但他们不应该要求你使用任何特定的人或公司来代表你. If they require it, you should assume they are getting a kick-back.

• 在他们的办公室试镜或者让你去客户或选角导演的办公室试镜，但他们不应该要求你为任何工作的试镜支付任何形式的费用. EVER!

• 有非常具体和详细的人才筛选程序吗. 他们没有时间或资源去签那些他们认为不会带来佣金的人. 

• 你的合同可能是排他性的(你只能和他们签约)或非排他性的(你可以和多个代理商签约)，他们希望你了解细节. 在你有时间和你的法律顾问审阅合同之前，他们不会强迫你签署合同.

• do not PAY for talent search ads on TV, radio, newspapers or billboards. They don't need to. Actors and models find them, they don't need to pay to advertise... not even Jesus!

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SCAM AGENCIES...

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• ask for UP-FRONT fees to be interviewed or represented. 如果你被要求支付一定的费用来签订合同或委托代理人，那就走开. Agents get paid for getting you work. Period.

• make a TON of money by selling portfolio photography, expensive training classes, talent conventions, showcases, etc. 如果你的潜在经纪人看起来真的很兴奋让你签约以上任何一个, THAT is where they make their money. They are not a real agency!

• pressure people to act quickly before the opportunity passes. 如果一个代理认为你很适合他/她的公司，想要代表你, they won't change their mind in a week. There isn't a limited number of contracts available. Take your time and NEVER sign a contract without careful consideration. 

• 比如提到他们认识的名人，或者“让你加入”他们正在进行的大交易，让你对自己的前景感到兴奋. That's a sure confidence game. Head for the door!

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REMEMBER:

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• 一个令人印象深刻的名字或豪华的办公室并不意味着人才经纪公司就是真的. Do your research!

• 很少有人能以演员或模特的身份谋生，尤其是在规模较小的市场. If someone suggests that they are going to make you a star, they are probably working on depleting your bank account.

• NO ONE can guarantee you or anyone else for that matter, will get work. Don't buy into it!

 

AVOIDING OTHER COMMON SCAMS​

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而我们听到的大多数骗局都是由自称是人才中介的公司实施的, 骗子们发明了很多更有创意的方法来把你和你辛苦挣来的钱分开. Here are some notes to help you avoid them!

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• Con artists are REALLY good at what they do! The word "con" comes from "confidence", 意思是他们让你信任他们，然后在你最脆弱的时候抢劫你. This makes it really tough to spot the good guys from the bad guys. 在你和任何人建立商业关系之前，你应该做以下事情:

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1. Check their online presence. 如今，一家合法的公司必须在网络上生存，至少在某种程度上，才能维持经营. 查看他们的数字足迹:网站，Facebook, Twitter, Instagram等. 确保他们有活跃的账户，并且他们分享的内容显示他们正在做他们声称做的工作, not just trying to recruit more talent. 

2. Google 'em! 进入你的搜索引擎，输入公司名称和/或个人名称以及“诈骗”这几个字, "rip-off", "complaint", etc. If you get any hits, read the reports. You can chalk up one or two complaints as someone with sour grapes, but if there is a pattern, you should pay attention.

3. Call someone you know who is in the industry. Especially in smaller markets, people in our industry tend to know of each other, even if we don't work together directly. 如果这家公司是真的，你的朋友可能对他们的工作很熟悉. 

4. Call us! . Or use the form below to send a question. 让我们知道你在考虑什么，我们通常可以在半秒内告诉你是否合法. 

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• 不要(或带你的孩子)去听你在广播或电视上听到的选秀节目, especially that are happening in hotels, convention venues or shopping malls. Disney is NOT in your town looking for a needle in a haystack. Trust us! It's a scam!

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• Don't ever agree to process money for anyone. Nigerian-style scams work in this industry as well. 如果有人寄给你一张银行本票要兑现，然后要你用一部分付款给另一方, 他们很可能准备好1)让你诈骗银行，2)窃取你的身份. 

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• 小心那些吹嘘自己在商业改善局有良好信誉的人. BBB只能显示你付费实体的负面报告. 所以，如果你认为你在和“国际精英模特”做交易，但你把支票开给“乔·史密斯”, Inc.", you can't file a complaint against the former, 当他们和BBB调查乔的公司时，没有人知道搜索后者. 

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• Not every scam is criminal. Be sure to read the fine print! Making you believe 有些事情会发生，把它写下来是两件不同的事情. If you get caught up in the moment and let them gloss over the details, good luck getting that "satisfaction guaranteed" refund! And, unless you have it writing, you have no recourse. 

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• Getting it in writing only helps if you can find them! 在这个行业中，一个合法的人应该有一个实体的地方做生意. Some producers may work from their homes, 但他们应该为业内其他人所知，你应该能够证实他们确实是他们所说的那样. If you can't, it's just not worth the risk.

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• Trust your instincts! 如果有人邀请你在晚上或僻静的地方见面，不要一个人去. 不要让你十几岁或不到十岁的孩子在没有成人监督的情况下与任何人约会. 我们甚至听说过食肉动物会在学生生涯中与孩子进行初次接触. Just don't take a chance!

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• EVERY MODELING SCHOOL IS A SCAM. No one needs a modeling school. Really. We promise.

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• 参加选美比赛并不能提供一个直接的道路去表演或模特生涯. If you love the dresses and the tiarras, knock yourself out. But don't do it as a means to get your kid discovered. Fake agents LOVE to judge pageants. Talk about easy pickin's! 

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• We can't say that all ONLINE talent listing sites are scams, we can say that if they cost you money up front, it's probably a waste of money! Casting directors, with only occasional exceptions, hire talent from where they are, not from hundreds or thousands of miles away. 在离你最近的商业市场上找一个有信誉的选角导演或经纪人. 我们不需要波士顿的人才，波士顿也不需要印第安纳波利斯的人才.

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• 我们不想这么说，但事实是，可能有更多的人假装在我们的行业，而不是真正在我们的行业. Be extremely cautious. 没有尽职调查就不要签字或付款.

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