Acting is an art that is driven by passion. It is fun hard work and sometimes a little confusing with regards to knowing how to start out and knowing what we are getting into. There are many opportunities where aspiring actors get pulled into things they are not prepared for or do not understand. Sometimes the passion and our desire to make it, blinds us. Actors Youth Academy comes across many parents who tell them how their child was scouted by a talent agent to be part of a commercial or a TV show. What is heard mostly is how they were Disney scouts or scouting for a particular commercial, let’s say for Old Navy. Is this real? We have in a previous post explained the difference between a talent agent and a casting agent. We haven’t really explained talent scouts, but to clearly do so, it is important that we distinguish between them.
Picture is of Paolina A.G. is a student of AYA
A talent agent, referred to as “agent,” is who works to get their actors (those they chose to represent) work in the industry (commercials, TV shows, promos, and film). They are licensed and franchised by SAG/AFTRA. They are hard to get to and harder to have them pay attention to you. They tend to work directly with acting schools to scout for their talent, or an actor they already represent introduces another aspiring actor to them. Some actors spend years trying to get an agent. Agents do not scout for talent in the malls or at places families congregate. They do not create talent scouting events at the nearest fancy hotel. Talent agents may employ talent scouts that go out to talent scouting events such as theatrical events, and acting showcase events. The point here is that they go to places where prospective actors are showing off their talent, not walking or playing around in the local hang out. So in essence talent scouts are scouting for talent not a “look.”
Then there are other “talent scouts” that go to the mall, festivals, and parks, and they approach families with young ones and carefully tell parents how they are a talent scout and somehow mention Disney or mention a Disney program or a network, as if they actually work for them. Disney does not send out scouts to malls. They may ask the child directly if they would like to be an actor for Disney. They haven’t seen your child act; they just say your child has a look. Then they give the family a postcard that has industry names on it with logos to make it look official, but if you look carefully there is a disclaimer saying they are not with those industry leaders. The family is told to go to an audition at a neighboring hotel or at a school. For those parents who have gone through this, you know that where you end up is at an acting school similar to ours who then charges you $2,500-$5000 for acting classes. Is it a scam? Not necessarily. Is it deceptive? Pretty much. Could they have just said we have an acting training site, and we work to have showcases for agents to scout? Yes. Can they get you in front of a real licensed agent at some point after taking the classes? Most likely, just like most acting schools who focus on film and TV. Eventually after a family pays for training, they have an opportunity to get in front of real “talent agents.” For more information about “talent scout” potential scams, the Federal Trade Commission has this to say. See link to FTC website.
“Could you really be a model or actor? Or maybe it’s your kids that have the right look? If a talent scout says you’ve got a future in the business, you might be flattered. Then, be skeptical. You could be the target of a modeling scam.” http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0071-look-out-modeling-scams
The reason we were propelled to write this today, is that last night we came across another parent who felt they lost an opportunity. Many parents feel guilty for months and sometimes years because their kid lost their chance to live their acting dream because the parent couldn’t afford it (the acting classes). Really, what they lost was a chance to get into the acting school at that time. Acting schools/forums-for-training recruit all year long even when they say they don’t.
As a film and TV acting forum founded by a parent, Actors Youth Academy makes sure that when they are out in the community and at local events, they let parents and youth know that AYA is an acting forum for training. They help parents and youth understand about the business, and the steps to get into the business. The sessions include classes for parents. AYA will hold acting showcases, and invite agents to scout. The academy has and is continuously creating relationships with licensed and franchised agents who may come out and scout or ask AYA to send their talent. The importance here is that AYA is upfront with what they offer.
So if approached by a talent scout, ask them if they work for a licensed and franchised talent agency. If not ask them if they are hired to scout for a acting school or training site? Ask yourself, did this scout really get to see my child act or model for him/her to know that my child has talent? Every child has the “look.” The screen is full of kids different ages, different sizes, and different ethnicities. There are acting opportunities for every “look.”
To end this, if approached, and you realize that the talent scout is for acting classes and not for “Disney,” do yourself a favor call the acting training forum/school nearest you. You will save time and most likely money. An acting forum for film and TV (not necessarily theater) will provide the same services, and most likely also have showcases for agents.
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