Help...ds invited to participate in int'l comp.

[lovbeingamommy]

Hi Mamas,

I need some fast help/advice. My ds (almost 5) has a contract with a local talent agency in AZ. Today the agency had auditions for an international performing arts competition to be held in Hollywood next July. We just got the call that my son made it to the competition in the modeling and acting sections. We have to go back to the agency tomorrow morning for registration and to place the deposit (almost $900) total cost is almost $7000 which I guess can be raised through business sponsorships along with friends and family sponsorships. It's a lot of money and I really don't know much about this organization other than what our local talent agency has told us. My husband is leery of it and doesn't understand why it would cost so much especially if the child has talent. He mentioned, "If you make it to Hollywood on AI, for example, they pay for everything. Why would we need to pay so much for this if our child is talented?" Well, I'm sooo confused and don't know what to do...I don't know this business (I'm in AZ) but I certainly don't want my child to miss out on what could be a life-changing opportunity. Any help/advice would be so much appreciated. Sorry if this sounds a little unorganized, but we're trying to decide what to do so we can at least sleep ok tonight

[AllyRae]

I personally would not be dropping $7K without knowing much about the organization. My only advice would be to do a lot of research on both the agency and the competition--is it legit, what does the money pay for, etc. There are some agencies and competitions that do cost money to enter, but there are also a lot of agencies, etc. that are scams. Only having 24 hours to decide and put down almost $1000 would pretty much send up about a million red flags to me.

Good luck, and I hope it works out. Your little one is only 5...unless you want him to be a child star, I think he probably has plenty of time. The competition probably comes around at least every couple years, right?

[LynnS6]

I would be very very leery of any place that requires you to come in the next day to place a substantial deposit, and then requires $7000 to continue to participate!

I would look up this organization on the internet. I would ask them for references for people who've gone through it. If they can't/won't give you any references and the time to check them (this will take more than a day or two), then I would run, not walk, away from them.

[ErinYay]

As far as I understand it, the rule of thumb for child talent is that you pay for maybe headshots- it shouldn't cost you anything like $7k for an AUDITION, which is what an "international competition" is.

[mirlee]

I've done modeling in the past, and have been on stage. I have NEVER shelled out that kind of money. This sounds like a scam. I wouldn't do it.

[Latte Mama]

Another vote for scam. I wouldn't do it. These people prey on parents.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Don't do it. Ask for an extension so you can do research, if they won't give it to you or be totally honest, don't do it.

[eepster]

Why in the world would the deadline for something like that be on a Sunday. If it was legit, they wouldn't the deadline be on a business day.

[momtoS]

Sounds like a huge scam.

[Dar]

Is this your agency? They came to my city a month or two and tried to talk people into paying for their kids to be stars, but there was a ton of news coverage about how low their Better Business Bureau ratings were. I'd check BBB anyway, and see what kind of ratings they have... but really, no. Not legit to charge that kind of money. As a pp said, headshots should be about all you have to pay for.

[c'est moi]

my daughter models and i have always gone by the rule of you should get paid for their talent/looks/whatever it is and not the other way around. if an agency really thinks that your child will do well, they should KNOW he or she will get booked and make the agency money through commission. i turned down an agency over that and never pay for the "fee-based" services of the agencies she's with, but she still gets work.

and my, oh my! 7K is a lot of money to dropping on an audition. that sounds like an absolute scam! especially the, decide by tomorrow stuff. they're just hoping to get a deposit before you come to your senses.

[ErinYay]

Here's a pretty good blog post about child acting scams; OP, please pay particular note to the bit about open casting calls:

Be very careful when answering open call and auditions. When a real production company needs someone, they need someone specific, as in 8-9 year old (redacted) girl who can ride a horse. If you go to a casting and see tons of kids with nothing in common of different age groups, then it’s most likely a scam and be very skeptical.

[Teensy]

Like a PP, my daughter has had two paid acting jobs (and some other auditions and one big call-back) and we haven't paid for them (outside of the expense of traveling to where the call-back was held). I have paid for headshots (but basically the same amount I would pay for a portrait to be taken anyway), but her first job came from using a snapshot I took on vacation. Her talent agent gets a percent of what DD makes, but we don't pay anything the agent otherwise.

I would assume the competition is, if not an outright scam, at least a good money maker for the company and that you will NOT be recouping the money you spend.

[lovbeingamommy]

OP here - thank you so much mamas for all your insight and advice on this issue. Dh and I decided that there were way too many red flags with this international competition. I did check BBB in CA and apparently this company has an AAA rating and is legitimate. However, and a huge however, after reading through all the material and claims very, very carefully again as well as checking online, the chances of anything coming from this competition seem to be slim to none...unless, of course, you're one of the 2 out of 75,000participants that actually wins . So after a night of research and discussion we decided that for our family right now the cost far outweighs the return. Thanks again mamas...