Hollywood Auditions Hollywood Auditions SCAM total ripoff stay away Internet
this company is a total BS ripoff of the weakest kind. I filled out a Profile for my daughter and some Jerk called me this morning with a foreign accent. He said he was calling from Hollywood Auditions and I said "who?" He said in a smart@#$ way (like his company is something really special) "Don't you remember emailing us?". I said I emailed quite a few firms, and asked for the name again. He Said with his best Car Salesman lines "so are you ready to be a model or actor?" I said I'm trying to remember who your firm is. At that point he got really arrogant with me again and said, "well you really don't seem that enthusiastic about this!" I then informed him that my daughter is already signed with one of the largest modeling agencies in the world (FORD Models) but we were looking for more work closer to home. You could hear a large GULP when I mentioned FORD and then he said " well we don't charge any upfront fees, just $385.00 for initial photos." what an AHOLE. I told him to take his scam elsewhere. He bid me good day after that. IF ANY FIRM charges you upfront for anything RUN!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
FloridaJudgmentServices.com
United States of Americaanother Indian website scam is what I think.
#3Author of original report
Fri, April 09, 2010
In Florida it is a crime to present yourself as an Agency if you do not have an Agency number for one. It is also illegal to request money in advance from someone even if you are an model/talent agency. Phototgraphers and website owners may be able to get away with it but an agency can't. these people IMPLY that they are a talent agency. I foresee a short career for these crooks that speak with an Indian accent. I doubt they have any connections at all.
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Not really proven a fraud or scam so much...
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, April 09, 2010
..by your report...but obviously they are using sales "tactics" over the phone to get people to sign up. Now I don't know if they promised you anything they can not deliver, but this "company" is just a website, they don't even have a physical address that I can find, other then the internet office which is in California, but ironically not Hollywood.
I did take a look at the site and it does promise to help find auditions, but it also states most unknown talent may have to go to hundreds of auditions before landing a job, which is true. I live in Hollywood and I see the lines for auditions all the time.
Oh, and the $385.00 you mentioned for initial photos? It says on the website that it is $389.00 to join for 3 years, and you have to submit photos. So for that money, unless the guy on the phone told you something different, does not even include photos.
Although this site may not be a ripoff or scam per say, it may be geared to take advantage of those that want to break into modeling/acting, and who may be desperate/gullible enough to get sucked in. As far as their claims, who knows? It hasn't been substantiated either way if they can help get auditions for a member or not.
If the guy on the phone was an AHole, that does not prove fraud, it just means he was an Ahole, or in other words, a "good" salesman, but not good enough to fool you. Which is good news for your daughter if you are helping with her career, the industry is neck deep in Aholes and D-bags so the more street smarts you have, the less chance of getting taken advantage of, or worse. If a model/actor has potential, they will get auditions, roles, an agent etc without paying for more broken dreams to those that can't really help at all no matter what they claim, and apparently you already know this.