Child Acting Scams
How can parents find out if a casting agent is legitimate?
Parents can find out if a casting agent is legitimate either online or through a professional directory of casting professionals. Go and visit their office. Call some agents and ask if they're reputable. It depends what town you're in, but in general use common sense when checking things out.
Are there any watchdog groups for disreputable casting agents?
For commercials in print, not so much. For theatrical and movies, there are organizations. But there are so many independent casting people that it really doesn't mean they are not professional if they are not part of an organization. You should want to make sure they are in a good location and they are not operating out of their garage. Also check, that they have actually done jobs that you have heard about.
Will a legitimate casting director ever ask to be paid to audition a child actor?
They shouldn't. That's the telltale sign of a scam, if you charge a child to interview. The idea of the interview is that you need them to interview, because you have a job you're trying to get filled. So it would be like paying for a job interview if you were in any profession. You know if they want to fill that job, and you meet that requirement, you come out of courtesy and meet them and see if you qualify, they decide if they want to hire you, and they hire you. Then they pay you. But you shouldn't pay to play.
What should parents know to avoid scams in casting for child actors?
When a parent calls me in and says that they have been approached by somebody in the mall or at the beach or in the market, the thing to be on the lookout for are the people charging for your time to come in and interview, or to sign up for lengthy classes. There's a lot of companies out there that simply make their money by charging parents with the promise that they will get their children in front of casting directors. I won't mention names, but there are some big companies in LA that have never once submitted to us, and we do a lot of commercials. I know they are seeing kids every Saturday. If they want to do it, do it for the experience of doing it. Don't do it because you think you are going to get representation or seen by a casting director.
