Scammers and con artists enjoy haunting even the entertainment industry with their shady plans and ideas. Do be that person that says it will never happen to them when it comes to being scammed in New Orleans. That phrase alone can make you more vulnerable because you may not even see that scam coming and sometimes being overconfident can get a person in trouble. Scammers tend to prey on those that seem like they are going to be gullible and sometimes they will even target those that have been in the business for a while too. It is purely about the money, they don’t want to help you advance your career or get you work; they just want to see how much money they can get out of you and what they can do to forward their scams in New Orleans. They just want a slice of the entertainment industry pie.
Scammers are in the business of scams so they tend to be pretty good at what they do and ultimately they can compromise your safety and peace of mind in New Orleans. Con artists will hone their own skills, just like an actor does with their skill set, just so they can get to where they can take your money without you being none the wiser. That's why you should be aware of them so you can get the jump on them first as you begin your career. They really like to attack those that are just graduating out of acting or modeling school in New Orleans. They target graduates because of their lack of experience in the field. You will have a much easier time in New Orleans if you understand how to spot these con artists before they take you for your worth in New Orleans.
An undercover investigation really shook the acting community everywhere, even in New Orleans back in 2017. There were 28 defendants that had criminal charges pressed against them when they were found guilty of being linked to five casting workshops and this was just over alleged pay to play schemes. A year-long effort by government officials found that these workshops had violated the Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act when they charged their aspiring actors to participate in auditions. Among those charged were several well-known casting professionals with credits in shows on Netflix, ABC and CBS.
Scams are on the rise around the country, that is just one high profile example of the scams you may actually come across as you start your career in New Orleans. Though any scam can be bad news, not just those in the entertainment industry, romance scams can even be played into as well, if they think they can make you a long term profit. If you are just starting out or it’s early in your career, you need to be careful about upfront fees, guarantees of employment and really anything that looks too good to be true as you start your career in New Orleans.
A national director and senior counsel at SAG-AFTRA, once said that it is imperative for new actors to talk to those that are more experienced in the industry. Articles online about scams in the entertainment industry can be really helpful in gaining more knowledge however on the ground experience is really invaluable. So you should find yourself a trusted mentor in New Orleans that can help point out the less than reputable companies and individuals hoping to exploit you.
When you start looking to find yourself a good agency to work with or even just looking for auditions in New Orleans, you should know that knowing the warning signs is half the battle when it comes to not falling victim to a scam in the entertainment industry. In any actor or entertainment career, there are bad actors. You can spot them by noticing if they have upfront fees. Talent service companies or talent agencies are not allowed to charge upfront fees to their clients in exchange for the promise of securing employment. There are numerous services in places like New Orleans that market themselves as casting agencies and promise auditions and employment opportunities, offering to promote new actors on their websites.
One sure fire thing you can do as you come around to working with a talent agency before even going to meet them is to check with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to ensure the business holds the appropriate licenses and permits. Once you have clarified that they are a real agency with clients in New Orleans, that’s one step done and you can breathe a little easier. You should also ask for references and research online reviews of the business to see if other talent or models have complained about their services. Get everything...contracts, promises in writing and keep copies.
An entertainment industry scam can be a sad affair because actors tend to be very hopeful and obviously you have to be optimistic and hopeful to be an actor in the first place. This hurdle can be so vast, the hurdle is also high, but it can make even the more seasoned actor a little gullible. Though if you are talking to someone in New Orleans that seems to have “unearned bravado”, they are saying that they are “a big Hollywood manager,” or “Big Hollywood agent,” that is clearly a scam. Also be skeptical if you receive an unsolicited offer. It is a bit of a myth, that actors and models can be discovered anywhere...gas stations, the mall. If you find that someone is approaching you unprompted, do your research.
