Do not be that guy that thinks that being scammed will never possibly happen to you. Do not let yourself be lured in by false promises of fame and fortune in Columbia, South Carolina. You would be surprised at how many actors and models fall victim to scams in the entertainment industry every year. Just by thinking it won’t happen to you means you are already open to being scammed as you get your start in Columbia, South Carolina. 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 Columbia, South Carolina. They just want a slice of the entertainment industry pie.
Sadly enough, scammers have become quite good at what they do and this can compromise your safety and peace of mind in Columbia, South Carolina. They hone their skills just as well if not probably even better than you will be doing as you start working as an actor or going to school for modeling. They hone their skills because ways to get money from unsuspecting people not only changes but can be made harder, so they have to be on top of their game. Are you on top of yours? Can you spot the con artists around Columbia, South Carolina?
Scams and cons of all sorts are on the rise around the country. That is why it is important that you know who you are talking to in the entertainment industry in Columbia, South Carolina. Any scam can be horrible, not just the ones that you can see in the entertainment industry. As you start making a name for yourself, you may find yourself even targeted by romance scammers; they are relentless in their tactics. 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 Columbia, South Carolina.
Experts working with SAG-AFTRA have advised that it is important to those that are just starting out in the field of acting and modeling; take the time to talk to others that have the experience working in the entertainment industry. Take the time to browse articles online about scams in the entertainment industry to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to avoid such scams and cons. You should also take the time to network and find a good mentor in Columbia, South Carolina; they may see something that you didn’t and can point out less reputable companies and individuals that may be looking to scam you out of your hard earned cash.
When you start looking to find yourself a good agency to work with or even just looking for auditions in Columbia, South Carolina, 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 Columbia, South Carolina 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 Columbia, South Carolina, 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.
Because of the general optimism of actors and models trying to get started in the entertainment business, this can make these scams a really sad affair. 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 Columbia, South Carolina 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.
