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Kelly Ross thinks she has what it takes to become an actor. When she saw an ad in the paper about a talent agency looking to expand its roster, she submitted a headshot and resume. The talent agent agreed that Kelly had the look.
"The agent met with me and said she would represent me, but only if I took a commercial acting course with a specific school," recalls Kelly.
There were 16 aspiring actors in the course, all hopeful of being represented by the same agent who observed portions of the class and said she would call those she wanted to represent. The following week, Kelly received a call. The agent said Kelly had real potential but she needed to take a scene study course, through the same school, before she could be sent out for auditions.
Something started to smell rotten and Kelly refused to pay for another workshop.
"Looking back, I realise the price of the first course was exorbitant, but at the time I put it on my credit card and just figured it was an investment in my career," says Kelly, who recently graduated with a BFA in acting.
Fortunately, Kelly's instinct for self-preservation kicked in before she was
bilked out of serious money. If Kelly had read CanadianActor Online's Essential Guidebook for Actors, she would have realized from day one that she was being scammed by a bogus agent. Unfortunately, this is a regular practice in a industry
where unscrupulous agents and modelling agencies take advantage of people with stars in their eyes.
CAO's Essential Guidebook for Actors is full of information that can help stop rip-offs and scams perpetuated by fraudulent agents.
CAO's Essential Guidebook for Actors is part of the CAO Discussion Boards, which constitute a national, online thespian community recommended by acting teachers and coaches, ACTRA, UBCP, AMIS, Theatre Ontario, Equity, Equity Showcase and others as a reliable source of information and a great place to learn about the Biz.
CanadianActor Online Discussion Board moderator, 'Arthur Dent' filled CAO's Essential Guidebook for Actors with answers to most questions you might have about getting started in the Biz, but there is so much more interactive information on the CAO
Discussion Boards. Moderated by industry professionals,
the CAO D-Boards are organized into 20 forums, including CAO's Essential Guidebook for Actors. Mega FAQ topics include:
- Ten Nasty Truths About Acting
- Spotting Scam Agents
- Training - Acting Schools & Classes
- Gaining Experience
- How to Get a Principal Agent
- Choosing the Agent who is right for you
- What an Agent Looks for in a Client
- Choosing a Photographer
- Creating a Resume
- Writing a Cover Letter
- Scripts, Monologues and Audition Pieces
- How to Survive the Audition Process
- Making a Demo Tape
- Dealing with Depression and Self Doubt
- Actor-related books
- Actor-related Websites
- Becoming a Union Member
- Union Rules & Regulations
- What Every Actor Should Know About Taxes
- and more....
Full access to the CAO Discussion Boards is restricted to CAO Members. Annual subscription fee: $30 + GST ($20 for ACTRA/UBCP members).
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