Acting Scams: How Fake Talent Agents Try to Take Advantage of You

The many people who dream of finding fame and fortune in the entertainment world often prove to be great targets for con artists, and new kinds of acting scams are popping up every day. Acting scams come in all shapes and sizes, and it is little wonder that they do. If you are trying to make a name for yourself as an actor or actress, it is important to protect yourself against acting scams. The main thing that will keep you from falling prey to the acting scams that turn the hopes and dreams of into revenue from criminals is education. The key to surviving acting scams with your hopes of a career intact and your bank account balance still in the black is getting out as quickly as you can, and everything you learn about how casting does and does not work will help you recognize a scam if you encounter one.

One of the most common acting scams takes place when a con artist poses as an agent or manager and then asks for a fee to represent you as a client. He or she will be likely to tell you that it is possible to get you on a famous television show if you pay them this representation fee, or will promise that they can get you work with big stars or highly respected directors. A real agent will never demand a fee other than a percentage of the work that you book, usually ten to fifteen percent of your take. If somebody asks you to pay them money before you have booked a job with them, you are probably dealing with one of the many acting scams that so many newcomers to the entertainment business fall prey to.

Another one of the most prevalent acting scams involves requiring that you pay a fee to have a screen test, or to audition for a casting director. Auditioning should never cost you money, so if somebody asks you to pay them for the right to audition for a project, they are trying to swindle you. Occasionally, acting training programs will require an application fee before they will see your audition, but outside of the world of education no industry professional would require you to pay them money so that they will see your audition or cast you.