Expert: Phil Nemy - 12/22/2008

Question
Hello im a 10 year old from the sacramento area and i have been to tons and tons of agency's and most of them have said yes to me but they are asking for $1,ooo's so my mom had said no to all of them just for that.
So i was wondering how is it possiable for myself not to pay at all?!!
Please Write back this is the dream i have had for about 4 years and i cant what anylonger im dying inside not to act...

so please please please write back
<3 mercy

Answer
Mercy,

Thanks for writing, Something seems amiss here. By law, no legitimate talent/acting agency can ask you to pay them a fee up front for the right and privilege to represent you. If an agent says he'll represent you if you pay him $1000, then he's a crook, he's not legitimate, and I would run from him as fast as I could! What they are doing is against the law.

That said, if the person is not an agent but a talent manager, then the situation is different. Talent Managers are not controlled by laws in the ways that agents are. A talent manager can ask you to pay whatever he wants you to pay up front. You don't have to agree to do it, but he can still ask, and he's not breaking the law.

Another law you should be aware of: talent agents may only take 10% of your earned income as a fee for their services. No more than that. A talent manager may take as much as you're willing to give him. Usually, however, a talent manager will take 10 to 15%.

So, yes, you should be looking for agents that are legitimate and will NOT charge you up front for anything!

Good luck!

Phil