Oh, by the way. If you're approached by an agency called 'something something' or 'something, something and something' (no names, no lawsuits - heareafter called Agency X), think incredibly carefully before agreeing to let them take you on. When they do graciously allow you to be on their books, they'll INSIST that you have new headshots done by one of five headshot photographers. Sorry, to be fair, they do say that you can have any photographer take your shots but they'll 'have to approve them first'. Yeah, right. What's the deal between these five 'approved' photographers and Agency X? Who knows. Would you like to take a guess?
Then they'll instruct you to join a certain 'commercial' acting class, one and only one commercial acting class. Not sure of the rates but I think it was around $400 a month or $400 for seven classes or something. If anyone knows, maybe they'd be kind enough to drop a comment here.
Oh, and the deal between Agency X and this commercial acting class? No idea. But I do wonder.
Anyway, dear reader, commercial acting classes are no substitute for good solid, all 'round training and are about as relevant as taking classes for 'learning to breath thru one's nose'. They're that useful.
Yes, I know, fellow LA thesps, that being offered representation is incredibly enticing and soothes the deep rejection scars you bear from life in LALA land but think about it.... Would you really want someone offering to take you on without actually seeing you on stage or film or even auditioning you (They didn't ask to see what you can do, did they? NO monologue, NO reel, NOthing. THIS IS A RED FLAG PEOPLE!). You might be crap! They don't know if you are or not and, frankly, my friends, they don't care. You are just another open wallet to them.
Buyer beware.
If you're not local and have no idea what I'm going on about, the above describes a typical scam from a seemingly reputible talent agency here in LA and a network of photographers, acting coaches, classes and suchlike which, on agreeing to a backhander deal, are put onto a shiny list of approved suppliers for new 'talent' (male and female actors) to use to gain entry to their 'books' (the catalog of actors represented by the agency for communication to casting directors, producers, directors, etc.). Getting an agent is a foothold in the 10 mile high cliff face in front of anyone trying to pursue acting as a career out here. They prey on these poor saps, throw them a bone and rev them up into thinking they're being signed by a great agency and regular work is seemingly only moments away. So how many people do these Agencies take on? How many agents do these agencies have? How could one agent be able to represent all of the actors being taken into these places? Truth is that they can't. The talent signs up, pays the approved photographer and the approved acting coach and is then never called for an audition. Upon calling the agency, if anyone bothers to speak to them, their type isn't working at the moment (truth is they not submitting them and they also have 50 of the same type anyway) or some other crap excuse.
Oh, and don't even get me started on 'Advance fee agencies'.... Holy Mother of God....