My wife does occasional modeling, and I do occasional acting. We've run across various scams in NYC. We want to help others avoid them!
We're both just amateurs who enjoy acting and modeling as hobbies when we have the opportunity and/or time. For sure, it's a difficult business and I have infinite respect for those who've put in years of training and dedication.
One of my undergraduate degrees is in Drama, and I performed in several plays in college. Over the past 25 years, I've been paid as a professional actor about 18 times, ranging from extra work to featured extra work to minor movie lines to some principal roles in commercials. I also worked behind the scenes for two years in LA as a production assistant to help pay for college.
My wife has little formal training, but has a theatrical, outgoing personality and perhaps/hopefully an interesting look.
In our eight months in NYC, here are seven scams to be aware of:
1. The photo/modeling shoot that sounds too good to be true, and they pay you in advance. They send you a check for too much money, and once it clears your bank, they ask you to wire some back. Later the check will be considered fraudulent and you will lose your funds. The scammers have created checks that initially clear, but much later (a few weeks later) will bounce. We knew this had to be a scam from the first few emails, but went along with it out of curiosity. Of course we didn't touch the money after it cleared our account, and even after Chase bank initially said it was fine. We waited, and sure enough, it bounced. As soon as they realized we weren't wiring any money back, they disappeared. We didn't lose any money, just some time, but we learned a lot.
2. This one is trickier. It's a phony Craigslist ad that mainly wants your email and phone number. They've copied info from other casting sites, so it looks real at first blush. Once you respond to them, they bombard you with spam both via email and phone calls.
3. Another tricky one -- shady agents or shady promoters that offer "TFP". Trade for print. It means you do free work, and you get professional images and/or videos. Sometimes this is legitimate, and a good way for a model or actor to build their portfolio. But many just take your time and energy and offer little to nothing in return. Your best bet is to research each individual carefully before agreeing to work for free; and then making connections with the photographers and videographers during the shoot, so you can follow up later. Don't depend on others to get the images or videos for you, because they may just blow you off.
4. Male creeps. Self-explanatory. They ask for images via texting early on, always a bad sign. Or seem a little too friendly early on, and asking about favorite types of clothing.
5. There are lots of semi-legitimate people in the business who offer various "workshops" or "master classes", though in truth, offer little more than expensive BS. They've inflated their reputation and connections to make a few hundred bucks from you. Again, you just need to research individuals carefully, and that's easier these days.
6. Crowd work. Be sure to ask what the "crowd" is. I took a job and showed up near NYC city hall, and found out I was part of an Uber protest, alongside a bunch of sketchy-looking cab drivers. Looking at them I said to myself, I'm thrilled Uber is here. Anyway various protests in NYC need crowds so they often hire starving actors.
7. Audience in the Maury Show. I got paid, so it's not really a scam. But it's a lousy job, cheering on these dysfunctional people fighting and supporting a show that is half fake and half exploitative. Also, the "free meal" is one lousy piece of pizza that they let you take when leaving.
All that said, there are many great people in the acting and modeling business. Unfortunately the various sleaze and scammers across the city and online require each potential actor and model to be hyper-vigilant!
Good luck out there.
Cheers, Brendan