Government warning on rogue casting agencies

Aspiring models and entertainers are being warned to look out for rogue casting agencies who will try to take their money with false promises of fame.

The Department of Trade and Industry has published new advice to help would-be entertainers and models ensure that they work with reputable agencies while they pursue their dream career.

The advice includes:

• Never sign anything on the day, especially if you are being pressured. Reputable agencies let you take paperwork away to study at your leisure
• Check out the agency before signing anything; look at their website, ask about the percentage of their clients in regular work, ask them for references from recent clients
• Beware of adverts claiming to provide artists for popular TV programmes like 'Eastenders' or 'Dr Who' - directors for these shows usually use agencies and individuals they have used before
• Rogues will tell you what you want to hear - "You are just what we are looking for" - so you sign up and pay unnecessary or excessive fees
• Reputable agencies will tell you that only a very small number of people have what it takes to succeed

The campaign follows a number of cases where agencies have advertised casting sessions in local newspapers, then used hard-sell tactics to take payments from candidates on false promises about prospects of success and stardom.

The campaign comes as the DTI opens a consultation on new measures to protect vulnerable agency workers, including a proposed ban on the taking of fees (or a promise of fees) on the day of a casting session and possibly for a further period thereafter.

Employment Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "Most agencies are reputable and will tell you that the entertainment industry is tough to break into. Beware of anyone who promises to make you a star overnight. If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Our advice is designed to help stop rogues turning people's dreams into nightmares."

(KMcA/EF)