Trandall
Rockville,#2Consumer Comment
Mon, March 18, 2013
This agency isn't simply a high-pressure sales force, they are despicable con-artists who play to children's ambitions in order to manipulate parents into giving them money. The lead "talent agent" Holly Kennedy has a long history as a franchise player for John Robert Powers agency - the first link is proof of that in salt lake city JUST TO SHOW ASSOCIATION AND AFFILIATION : The links following that are complains about the company itself:
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2723982/franchise-beverly-hills-talent-agency-open-salt-lake-city
http://www.ripoffreport.com/modeling-schools/performers-academy-j/performers-academy-john-robe-x877a.htm
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/modeling/john_robert_powers.html
KNOWN SCAMS BY "OTHER" AGENCIES USING THE SAME FORMULA: RADIO AD + AUDITION
http://double19productions.blogspot.com/2011/01/tay-acting-and-modeling-scam.html
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/05/19/disney-reacts-to-kdka-investigation-on-talent-scouting-event/
http://delaware.bbb.org/article/the-new-york-studio-bringing-controversial-kids-show-biz-event-back-to-st-louis-bbb-warns-27544
there are LITERALLY hundreds of complaints, so why use the name "Big City Talent" recently huh? I know why: because there is no history and slew of negative complaints about that name yet! AMAZING then levels people will stoop to for money, even scamming children.
Almost any name associated with this agency, the above mentioned or any of its off-shoots has some sort of rip-off report or BBB warning about these "franchises" How many legitimate people do you know who's name is associated with multiple rip-off reports?
The domain www.bigcitytalent.com wasn't even activated with new content until march 5th...they held auditions on the 16th, how fishy is that? SO YOU HAVE BEEN A TALENT AGENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS YET NOT A TRACE OF YOUR COMPANY CAN BE FOUND ONLINE BESIDES RIP-OFF REPORTS AND BBB COMPLAINTS OF YOUR ASSOCIATED COMPANIES = RED FLAG = SCAM. WHAT LEGITIMATE COMPANY DEMANDS OVER $1500-$5000 TO EVEN DISCUSS MANAGING YOUR CHILD... DO NOT FALL FOR THIS ANYONE READING.
This company made it their main priority to mention Disney, Miley Cyrus and everything to excite your child but couldn't add a simple sentence like "Fees may apply for consideration" at the end of the commercial? Gimme a break. I wonder after they pack up and leave the area what line they will use to get parents to pay them more money? Probably a similar conference in a different area and more money up front - these people are scum.
NO LEGIT TALENT AGENCIES CHARGE THOUSANDS UP-FRONT AFTER A 2 MIN AUDITION--- It's not even logical.
The difficulty with throwing these scum in jail is that they move from place to place and are very careful about how they word their literature and their radio ads, so unfortunately they have a defense for being "within the law" but that doesn't mean that they are fully malicious as far as your child and stealing your money . They are not affiliated with Disney at all, they never claim to be but give the strong impression they are and even name-drop Disney shows and actors to excite the children in the room. Run from this scam unless you don't mind paying huge $$$ for a photoshoot, a local play and for your child to be coached for a short time by industry imposters.