HELP! I need info about My Artist's Place!?

Question

I tried to find info on the web about My Artist's Place, but I am not able to find much. Does anyone one know about this company? How good are they with the children? And, does anyone have information about the six weeks booth camp? Somehow, I ended up signing up my son in their membership... The whole process was quite fast and I am wondering if I did make the right decision. My son was invited for an audition a week ago. After the audition he was invited for a call back. At the call back I signed him up for a membership with My Artist's Place. The price for the service was a bit high, but includes photo shoot, a booth camp and a part at a tv show they are producing. But I feel funny about this whole thing. Does anyone know someone that participated in their program??? Thanks.

I have visited their web site. But it does not say much about the program itself. Have you heard about this place before? And, do you know anyone that has become a member?

Answer 1

The whole thing sounds fishy to me to be honest. These companies seem to be popping up all over the place. I certainly hope they're not a scam, but they sound just like all the others. You do not need a company to help you get started, you just need to do the research.

Yes you need training and photos, but I've heard so many people complain that especially when these things are packages they do not get what they thought they were getting. The so-called insustry professionals they were promised knew little about how things really worked, many lying about their credentials and who they've actually worked with. The photographers took terrible photos. That may not be the case with you, but let me tell you how things normally go at these things.

You're walking around the mall, minding your own business when suddenly someone walks up to you and tells you (or your mom) that you are absolutely adorable and have such a special or different look that you could totally make it in the entertainment or modeling industry. They just happen to be having auditions in your area in the next couple of weeks that won't cost you a thing. Just show up and they'll put you on camera to see if you really have what it takes.

OR They actually put out an ad either in the paper, on the radio or even on tv (MTV, a local station, or whatever) that claims that their holding auditions for Disney or some other well-known name company and for you to hurry and call this number if you have a child between the ages of 5-17 or wheatever.

Audition day... you show up, they take a polaroid of you and film you reading a scene or commercial page (probably something that you recognize. The commercial might be a big name product, the scene might be from a well known tv show... both materials are easily obtained). NOTE - what they are actually doing here is sizing you up. If you look like they can squeeze a couple thousand out of youm the they will tell you "Congratulation, they think you have the talent and they want you to meet with the agents"

Either at the above meeting or at the next one is where you'll find out that money is involved. They'll tell you you need classes and workshops and seminars, etc. All of which may be true, but not at the prices they are selling them. These places get you all excited and make you think you are meeting agents, when in fact you are meeting high pressured sales people trying to get your money.

How things normally go when you get into the business of your own doing:
You get in to classes on your own accord. You find your own photographer for headshots. Resources for these things vary for where you live. Finding an agent falls to the list the SAG has or Ross Reports which I feel are the only legitimate sources to use for finding an agent. There are more, but the more you branch out from there the more fly by night people can sneak in so I prefer to stay close to the best sources.

You've already paid and it would likely be hard to get your money back so it's up to you what you do now. If you let him take the classes, offer to help the instructor and stick around during class. Take a few notes and see if you feel like their really learning anything valuable. They very well may learn something especially if he's never done anything before, but that doesn't mean you're getting your money's worth.

Also, check out everyone they recommend to you especially if there's an additional fee involved. They're liekly geting kickback for it and you may want to choose your own people to go to.

Please know that reputable agents take 10% of a clients pay AFTER they help them get a job, absolutely no more and not a cent before. A manager generally takes 15%. If however anyone there is trying to act as his manager, they'll need to fullfill a manager's duties and not just have you sign away 15% of his future for nothing. Please do not sign anything without thorough examination. Maybe after the 6 weeks, take him elsewhere and have no further dealings with them. Find your own agent.

If you want to find a legitimate agent to represent you for commercials, TV & film go to Sag.org. Use the dropdown menu on the right labeled 'resources' and choose 'agent information'. On the next screen, on the left choose 'Find a SAG franchised agent' and follow the directions. You can look up agents all over the US, but there are higher concentrations where the work is (Los Angeles, NY, IL, FL, GA etc.)

Then you can send them your headshot, resume, and a cover letter stating that you are seeking representation and wait to see if they call you in for an interview.

Once you have an agent, they will get you the auditions, but until then you can check out actorsaccess.com. You can also see if your state has a film alliance. Sometimes they post audition information for projects filming locally. For theatre, you can go to backstage.com or http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/... If you find the audition on the Equity site, you still may be able to go, as long as their not taking appointments from equity actor's only :-) On backstage.com you have to pay to get all of the info, but the initial search is free and you may be able to see enough info to find out the rest on your own without paying.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I don't know if this helps but:http://www.myartistsplace.com