Complaint Review: John Casablancas

A Dead giveaway for a "Less than reputable" agency is if you are charged ONE PENNY for anything.

IT-IS-100%--100%-ABNORMAL-100%--FOR ANY AGENCY TO CHARGE YOU UP FRONT FOR ANYTHING.

A REPUTABLE agency will ALWAYS work off 100% comission. Why? Because this is a highly competitive business.

If you are bookable talent, you can pick your agent., Thus they'll fall over themselves to sign you. 

The only time you would *EVER* pay an Agent/Agency ("Pay out of your pocket"). Is if you found your own work/the agent did not send you on their card. It is REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY, to *OFFER* your Agent a % of your booking. (or to eliminate confusion, send them the check, let them decide what they will do with it).

However it is *NEVER* acceptable for an Agent to

1. Charge you for Pictures

2. Charge you for Comp Cards
3. Charge you for Classes.

As a matter of fact, A REPUTABLE AGENT will NEVER TELL YOU where to train, as they will say to you, "due to conflicts of interest, we can't tell you".

Example--Many of the REPUTABLE Schools in Atlanta are also working professional Actors that teach classes. Thus can create problems of interest with assingments,etc.

Please, heed this warning do not *EVER*---*EVER*---*EVER*---Pay for Representation.

To stay competitive in this FIRECELY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY, you most certainly will need to take classes/network, etc. However an Agent would *NEVER*---*EVER* have the same school as their agency (or even have a arms length family/friend of family/etc. Training center they will send you to.

An agents job is to *GET YOU ADUTIONS*--*PERIOD*---you prove to an agent, they need to keep sending you based on how prepared you are when you are sent out.

I have been in this business MANY MANY years. I've seen many a broken heart. Don't let someone bankrupt your as well .

Again, let me be clear *NEVER*----*NEVER*-----*EVER*---pay an Agent or anyone else promising to get you work.

To prove another poster wrong. Let me give you a REAL WORLD example. In the Business World. As you move up in the ranks. RECRUITERS (SAME AS AGENTS)--will get to know you and want to represent you and send you on Interviews,etc. The recruiter gets paid *ONLY* if you get hired. Thus it's in their best interest you are prepared for the Interview. .

You would *NEVER* pay someone to find you a job "in the Real World"....why people LOSE THEIR MINDS and think paying to get work as a Model/Actor is any different is beyond me.

*AGAIN NEVER* pay. Also, check *THEIR REFERENCES* What is their career like? Where have they worked? Check them out on LinkedIn. *YOU* have a reputation to protect. You don't want to start having to repair it your first year in the biz working with "Less than reputable" agency.

You've been Warned--*NEVER*=-==*EVER*====*EVER* pay for *ANYTHING*---*EVER* regarding an Agency and them helping you find work.

----as a cavet (for those not catching on)--Yes, you will have to get your own Comp Cards/Pics made (at your expense). Again, AN AGENT will tell you what they need. You will write this information down. If might sound greek, take notes. The PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER YOU DECIDE TO WORK WITH...will know what the agent needs when you provide them with the information.