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Scams to Watch
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| These are just some of the scams we found while surfing and looking for bad deals and fake agencies. | Acting Scams: How Fake Talent Agents Try to Take Advantage of You
How to Avoid the Many Con Artists that Prey on People Who Hope to Become Actors and Actresses
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
As
an actor myself, I personally use this technique, however I do not
completely rely on it. I use it as a step in my character and scene
development. It is imperative that as an actor you do not rely solely
on one type or variation of creating your character and scene, solely
because by doing so you are putting a box and limitations upon this
character. And as any human knows, the emotions that flood throughout
us are not this kind. They are rude, they are sudden - they act as an
earthquake or a tornado. They are flighty. One rule that you must
always remember is to never become stuck in a rut. Never become
completely dependent on a single technique. Always remain flexible as
well as inventive.
The
basic introduction to Character Development is to remember that as
humans we are very complex, and this complexity must, in-turn, delve
into our character. By doing so, it is very easy
for you to create a very interesting and multi-dimensional character.
Remember, stay true to who you are as well as your character.
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