Talent agency scam...?

Question

If a talent agency tells you to come to their open call and you call them and ask if they everrrr ask for any type of money, and they tell you they never do! and you go to the open call and they end up asking for thousands of dollars....Can they do that after they personally told you that they never ask for money?! isnt that illegal?!

Answer 1

Trick questions...

1. Talent agency scam...?

It happens

2. Can they do that after they personally told you that they never ask for money?

Sort of, yes. It is like a free estimate, surcharges may apply.

3. isnt that illegal?

Sort of, yes. It is misleading, but that has been a Side Show trick to separate peoples and monies for thousands of years now.

Caveat venditor.

Caveat venditor is Latin for "let the seller beware". It is a counter to caveat emptor, and suggests that sellers too can be deceived in a market transaction. This forces the seller to take responsibility for the product, and discourages sellers from selling products of unreasonable quality.

In the landmark case of MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co. (1916), New York Court Appeals Judge Benjamin N. Cardozo established that privity of duty is no longer required in regard to a lawsuit for product liability against the seller. This case is predominantly regarded as the origin of caveat venditor as it pertains to modern tort law in US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_vend...

Common law exceptions

There are exceptions to the general rule, allowing rights to third parties and some impositions of obligations. These are:

    * Collateral Contracts (between the third party and one of the contracting parties)

    * Trusts (the beneficiary of a trust may sue the trustee to carry out the contract)

    * Land Law (restrictive covenants on land are imposed upon subsequent purchasers if the covenant benefits neighbouring land)

    * Agency and the assignment of contractual rights are permitted.

Attempts have been made to evade the doctrine by implying trusts (with varying success), constructing the Law of Property Act 1925 s. 56(1) to read the words "other property" as including contractual rights, and applying the concept of restrictive covenants to property other than real property (without success).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privity_of_...

In this case, the third party would be null. That is why it has never been tried.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_pr...

If one agent says that no monies will be expected or exchanged, and agent requests payment, well that is the rub of it.

Once you are on the property , you are fair game.

If looked at logically, a talent agency would seek talent out, then it would hire out or lease the talented property for a commission or some silly added on ,but justifiable, sur charges.

It is venditor because you, the seller of yourself, and them , the reseller of your existing and performing are the property.

Caveat emptor

Caveat venditor

Answer 2

it's not illegal-- it's just lying. it would be illegal if you gave them thousands of dollars and they said you never paid.. but unfortunately, thats not illegal.

Answer 3

it's obviously a scam.  try looking for acting jobs yourself.  it's free.  try this one for casting calls: Hollywood-opportunities(dotcom)

Answer 4

Unfortunately, it is not illegal to lie.  Unless they put it in writing, "No fees, for any reason, hidden or otherwise, ever!"  And even then- the scummy scammers, find a legal loophole out of it.

It is also unfortunate, that you cannot legally give the 'talent agents' the punch in the face they deserve.

Man, I hate hearing about that stuff.

Sorry, you had to experience that.

Don't let the scammers, get you down though.

You just keep on pluggin' -- and do some research from other sources before going to another talent agent audition.  You can call the union, ask other actors, research on the net what others have said.  Ask an acting couch.

Just  Don't ever take  agencies 'word for it.'  They are not going to tell you if they are scumbags.

Answer 5

SCAM, and on the edge of being illegal because they use false advertising to get the kids in there, they they lie to them about their talent and fututre to get them to buy their worthless classes.