Friday, October 2, 2009

SCAM TALENT AGENCY LISTINGS IN ARIZONA

:: LIST OF SCAM / CASTING AGENCIES IN ARIZONA ::

It's time to call out these shady scammers, they deserve prison time for scamming and taking advantage of aspiring actors/actresses/models. Please spread this list. A REAL CASTING COMPANY / AGENCY WILL NEVER ASK FOR MONEY! THEY GET A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT YOU MAKE FROM THE GIGS THEY GET YOU!!!!

Starmaker Talent
Movie Work Now
Talent 6
Via Models & Entertainment
The Young Agency
Empire Talent & Models
Tyler Model Management
Socialite Models
Deborah Maddox Agency


:: REAL TALENT COMPANIES / AGENCIES IN ARIZONA ::

Only stick to SAG / AFTRA licensed agencies. Visit SAG.ORG for more information.

Good Faith Casting
Dani's Agency
Ford/Black Agency, Robert
Fosi's Talent Agency
Leighton Agency, Inc
S.I.M. Model/Talent Agency
Signature Models & Talent
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35 comments:

  1. If you have any particular questions or would like to add to this list, feel free to comment here.

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    1. I am a professional SAG-e "no-up-front-fees"actor. On Friday, January 27, 2017, I spoke on the telephone to Michael Bright (Administrative Assistant, Professional Representatives SAG-AFTRA) who explained to me that in 2007 SAG "locals," such as AZ-Utah (my "local"), voted to begin charging its talent a maximum annual FEE of $100 for website marketing maintenance, however representation must not depend upon payment of this fee. I can not find this information on the SAG web site.

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    2. Are you aware that Dani's agency Charges an Up-front Fee of $120.00 for the First Year, PLUS $ 60.00 per Year Renewal Fee ..? And they Do not Guarantee work ...

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    3. I love when I see parents and talent talking about their experiences. My site www.actingbusinesscoach.com has lots of information for talent at all levels about the business side.
      You can call around and talk to other agencies in others states with sites with all their talent on it and yes they will charge a fee to be on that site. Really not many sites that work are free. You get jobs that pay $1000 a day or more booked right off the agency site with no audition at our agency. This is a small business you are starting and yes you do have an investment to make but with a good chance of making some damn good money per day. Over two decades ago no fee why...no site. I work at Dani's Agency with my mother Dani and we are a family business and I started another company to help educate talent on the biz so they can avoid scams. The fee for the sites should always be reasonable and inline with what industry sites are charging. Actors Access, IMDB, Casting Networks and others are all great sites and yes you have to pay to be on them. If you are lucky enough to get an agent they will do all the work and submit you weekly when you fit the roles off those sites. If not that is how your week is spent reading castings and submitting when you fit and those are long shot auditions. In Arizona local castings are not posted for the masses they contact agencies. I've been interviewed by several news stations over the years as an industry expert because of my reputation. I've worked at Dani's Agency for 25 yrs and was a child talent for 10yrs. I don't know you but I genuinely want to help you do this right since I have helped so many others. Check out my YouTube videos/website and you will see that. I have so much info for free because I care about the actors and models in the community!!!!

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  3. indeed i agree they suggested the class just so i can become marketable and be able do get more gigs i did a cold read and she likes how i sound and by taking the class i can perfect it..

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  4. One of the things that is interesting is how parents want their children to model or do commercials but for some reason think that they should not have to pay for professional pictures or comp cards. They think it is a scam when The Young Agency or another agency requires them to do so. This industry is a professional business and anyone who desires to be a part of it and are serious about it would not be too bright to let a few hundred dollars for the tools they need to stand in their way. The Young Agency SHOWS the work of models, adults and children, that have worked. The only people who cry 'scam' are the ones who for reasons no one can know didn't get a job that they auditioned for maybe! Alot of the children on the covers of Arizona Parenting magazine are children models from The Young Agency! The girl that ended up on the cover of Seventeen magazine probably feels like her photo shoot dollars and comp cards were well worth it!!!!!!!

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  5. To kourneyown and Fnom:

    Wow. I did not see any evidence you got any jobs with Young Agency. Too bad you are too ignorant to read the SAG website. The person who made this blog did indeed do research. For all we know, you could just be Young Agency writing this BS. Maybe you should do you research and find out the true definition of REAL agencies. A a couple posters on the wall means nothing. Any business can do that. In fact, many business cut articles out of magazines and placing them on the walls. They pretend they have launched a famous person's career to impress the people walking thru the door. Like I said, read the SAG website. NOT difficult.

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  6. I took my daughter to the young agency, that place is a scam! They told me they would help me pay for pictures, the price was $1100! I called around and found out that pictures are no where near that much. I wouldn't bother with them. And by the way they are not franchised with SAG/AFTRA

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  8. Does anybody know anything about Dani's Agency or the Leighton Agency? Both agencies are interested in my 2 children and I am a little nervous about getting scammed. If anyone has any information they can give me, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

    vanessaruiz1983@yahoo.com

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  9. GREAT posting!
    Starmaker is A JOKE!! Still owe me $200 from over 5 years ago.....they'll take anyone!! If ya saw me, you'd agree! =)
    THE YOUNG is a joke as well.....

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  10. I want to do modeling, but keep running into scams. Anyone know any legit agencies?I would like to be a model for "The Agency Arizona" but don't exactly know how to message them telling them. I don't have any experience in modeling but I know I have what it takes. It's my dream to be one. I don't want to sound desperate or look that way so how should I message them?

    rgards,

    hvac training in AZ

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  11. Is there anything I can do if I have started to use an agency and feel that they have scammed me and taken my money?

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  12. does any one know about the Deborah madox ageancy ? Is this a legit agency ? I knw the young agency is a joke !!!

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    1. Deborah removes the pay stub before giving checks to Talent. If you request them she doesn't give them to you. She won't tell you the gross amount of the checks. I think it's a scam agency.

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    2. When you fill out a W4 on set yes you should get a copy of the pay stubs from that job. This is extremely important when doing SAG work and especially National SAG commercials where you filled out a SAG contract on set. Those can pay $50,000 with over 20 checks over the year and you want to know you got them all. I know of an agency that did not pay over 20 of their talent years ago so you want to keep track. Take a photo of everything you fill out on set. You can call SAG about this if it was a SAG job and get help. Another reason why you want to work with good people. Dani's Agency does send them. Talent only get a pay stub if the client used a payroll company and you filled out the W4. Most non-union jobs don't use payroll companies. The agency bills for the jobs could have 10-20 talent on the commercial. They get the check deposited and then issue checks minus the commission owed to the agency and mail out checks 10-20 checks. Most of these jobs pay between 30-45 days. If you work on a job like this the rate is established before you audition or book the job. All talent should have paper work on set saying what they are making X and sign it, this is normally a voucher supplied by the agency. This allows you to know you are making a $1000 for the day and they signed it saying they are paying you a $1000 per day. Nothing shady then. But if you didn't know what you were making or were not told to fill out paper work that is odd to me and you should be very concerned. Talent that make more then $600 a year will get a 1099 from the agency for that work and a W4 for the payroll company jobs.

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  13. Deborah Maddox is legit. Did not ask for any money upfront for my daughter.

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    1. Deborah has presented me for the past few years. She's very legit.

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    2. Deborah has presented me for the past few years. She's very legit.

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  14. Rob Cravens,
    Can you tell me more about your experience w/Deborah Maddox? My 2 children have been offered a contract with her agency and I'm hesitant as they are not SAG/AFTRA endorsed. They asked us to pay $89 to set up their digital com cards and we had to pay for headshot for our older child...was this the same for you?

    Any info would be greatly appreciated!

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  15. I had read the reviews about the Young Agency before I took my daughter there. From what I had heard, I was careful not to be scammed. I wasn't happy with the process and decided we would get our own photography at a later date. But then we got a call from them a few months later from "Susie" saying that she had seen my daughter's file and thought she could get her some commercial gigs. We got sucked into a meeting with Susie (who never told us her last name, never gave us a business card, only showed us other kid's photo sheets that she pulled out of a ziploc bag). I ended up getting a "deal" on a photo session for professional head shots. It took over a month and lots of phone calls to finally receive the head shots and when we got them, they had been so photoshopped that it didn't even look like my daughter. If I was a client, I would be upset that the photo didn't represent the child correctly. I complained about this and was made to feel guilty like I didn't think my child was naturally beautiful or some kind of crap like that. So I continued to get their emails for "jobs" that hardly ever fit my daughter's age and descriptions...and the ones we did reply to, we never heard back. I understand that it may have been a bad fit, but after a year...and nothing....and never heard from Susie again. WTF? If this isn't a scam, I don't know what is! SAVE YOUR MONEY...go elsewhere!

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  16. So there were these auditions a Chandler mall. They had a catwalk out and everything, but it still look sketchy.

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  17. The young acency will take youre money,time. They are fake I took my daughter I had to pay 1,000 dls for ugly pictures.and they wanted more for fees,please dont waist time and youre money.

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  18. The young acency will take youre money,time. They are fake I took my daughter I had to pay 1,000 dls for ugly pictures.and they wanted more for fees,please dont waist time and youre money.

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  19. John casblanca is a fake agency they wanted a very large amount of money for books and classes and god knows what then wanted us to sign a contact for more fees on the first day of call back

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    ReplyDelete
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  22. The Young Agency is not a scam and truly books their talent. First of all, I wanna say THANK YOU to The Young Agency! Because of you, my son's confidence has boosted tremendously. He has participated in his first photo shoot, then Kids Fashion week where he got to play dress up and show off his wonderful charm. It took so much courage for him to walk down that runway, it's not something he's ever done but, with great guidance he did it without any fear. He even got to be on TV for an interview with Brad Perry (moms fav anchorman) promoting the fashion show. Most recently he landed a short film where he got to do something he never thought possible... be in a Film! It really inspired him and made him want to do more as an actor. He loved it! Especially the pay ;) Everyone on set was so professional and kind to him. They made my son feel like a star! From the photoshoot, the walk on the runway, the TV appearance, being in a short film, to him getting his first paycheck, he has grown a confidence that is unbreakable and lived out a few dreams. He gave this thing called modeling and acting a shot and got way more than expected! They really do make dreams come true and our family is sincerely grateful for their opportunity... Again, THANK YOU! Whoever created this needs to look at the facts and not the cost for marketing tools which are neccesary to get booked.

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  23. Understand that even with an investment in marketing tools you cannot take the credibility this agency has. They book and pay talent daily. There is proof found on their social medias. Real talent, real bookings! Most the time it's the parents who didn't see a return in their investment that complain. Which is understandable however, what about all the people that DO? Not everyone gets selected and not everyone has what it takes for the business. If you are looking to tap into someones 27 years of contacts and get a photographer to shoot you for free, you are looking for a handout and that's not the way business works. You invest in your neccesary tools (photos, web exposure) and they invest in getting you connected to big brands and people booking. It's fair and in the end... a credible agency.

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