Tips on How to Avoid Acting Scams

Okay so I am going to share some of my tips for you guys on how to avoid the guys who want to take advantage of actors:

1) Don't pay for auditions!!!! Unless it's through a company like Breakdown Services or Casting Networks don't do it! There are too many good, legitimate, free sites out there for you to search for auditions.

2) Don't pay for representation!!!! Agents only make money when you make money. They make a 10-20% commission of the profits you make from acting. No agent is legally allowed to require payment from you. There are agencies that are not SAG Franchised that can teach acting classes and have their own headshot photographer, but they are legally not allowed to force you to participate in their services. Some agenices will charge a fee anywhere between $25-120/year to be on their site, but if they do, they can't force you! If it is a free service, then yes they can force you to be on their site.

3) Don't fall for the "Get Discovered Instantly" line!!!! Most actors have worked their tail ends to get where they are today. Only a small amount of successful actors were discovered instantly, so don't fall for any program or site that teaches this is valid for everyone.

4) Don't get sucked into smaller producers and directors making you believe that you are guaranteed to become famous if you work for free in their film or projects!!!! There are a ton of these smaller no budget filmmakers who have only becoming rich quick in their mind.

5) Learn the business!!!! Many actors do not know how this industry works and because of that can be taken advantage of. Learn how everything works and then you will notice that you are getting amazing opportunities!

6) Don't Sign up for acting classes that are not taught by an ex-professional actor, current professional actor, or someone who has worked in the business!!!! First of all you're not going to learn anything valuable to this business and how to act. Second of all you will waste some money. If they haven't worked in the business, their only intention is probably is to get money. They don't care if you don't learn how to act.

7) Be careful using craigslist!!!! There are a lot of people who want to take advantage of actors and there are a lot of people who don't have the best intentions on craigslist. Use craigslist with common sense!

Remeber success doesn't happen over night. You have to achieve it!