Government proposes up-front fee ban?

Location > Networking > Forum > Government proposes up-front fee ban? - The Stage 7Oct09

	Topic: Government proposes up-front fee ban? - The Stage 7Oct09
Posted : 09/11/09 / Views : 641 / Replies : 5 /
CliveHurst 1001 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	To read this weeks 'The Stage' report on a purported up-front fee ban - by the government, click: here **;^))

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	Reply #1
Posted : 07/11/09
CliveHurst 1001 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	According to my sources, the government will be making an announcement on what their new regulations will cover, towards the end of next week... **;^))

	Reply #2
Posted : 08/11/09
lorraine 107 posts last on: 07/01/12 send private reply	On this agency charge nonsense, ( I am Digressing here) Can you tell me why they these extra agencies should be charging any fee's at all? I know you are Equity, but whilst we are on the subject..... I also know some of Professional actors on here top up their earnings by doing extra work.. (oh yes they dohoo!) My sister was with a film extra's agency a couple of years ago. They have got to be the biggest film extra's company in the country and they take the first days wage as there fee. So, apart from the fee, she has to get to the location, pay for parking and probably have to purchase suitable clothing for the casting. In all it will cost well over £100. So that's basically two days worth of money gone before they earn a penny. We are always ranting on here about agents that try to charge actors to join their books, preaching to the newcomers to beware, but because equity has nothing to do with extra's, they are getting stung all the time. It's the same industry, so why can't they get some support from the government as well? I also know a very well known pantomime company in my area, who charges Am-Dram people to do various backstage work as well i.e. ASM, wardrobe, stage hands. They have to pay £15.00 to get an interview and then get the privilege of working for nothing!. The fact that they are allowed to do this in professional theatres on major productions just baffle's me. Taking the bread out of the mouths of trained professional's techies. Unbelievable! Rant over, but seriously what is going on? Why are these Companies allowed to take the P'.. like this?

Reply #2

Posted : 08/11/09

lorraine
107 posts
last on: 07/01/12
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On this agency charge nonsense, ( I am Digressing here) Can you tell me why they these extra agencies should be charging any fee's at all? I know you are Equity, but whilst we are on the subject..... I also know some of Professional actors on here top up their earnings by doing extra work.. (oh yes they dohoo!)
My sister was with a film extra's agency a couple of years ago.
They have got to be the biggest film extra's company in the country and they take the first days wage as there fee.
So, apart from the fee, she has to get to the location, pay for parking and probably have to purchase suitable clothing for the casting. In all it will cost well over £100.
So that's basically two days worth of money gone before they earn a penny.
We are always ranting on here about agents that try to charge actors to join their books, preaching to the newcomers to beware, but because equity has nothing to do with extra's, they are getting stung all the time. It's the same industry, so why can't they get some support from the government as well?
I also know a very well known pantomime company in my area, who charges Am-Dram people to do various backstage work as well i.e. ASM, wardrobe, stage hands. They have to pay £15.00 to get an interview and then get the privilege of working for nothing!. The fact that they are allowed to do this in professional theatres on major productions just baffle's me. Taking the bread out of the mouths of trained professional's techies. Unbelievable!
Rant over, but seriously what is going on? Why are these Companies allowed to take the P'.. like this?

	Reply #3
Posted : 08/11/09
markkempner 1113 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Quite right Lorraine....and the answer: Because the majority allow them to do so!!! If "nobody" paid upfront fees.....the extras agents would not be able to charge it......but there are lots of people who will always be willing to pay.....and so it goes on. Mind you I always thought if you could get your money back if you never worked in the year...it was kind of an alright fee to stump up really….like a registration fee? When I used to do it - 20 years ago now...there were only a handful of Extras agencies....now of course everyone is at it....and the upfront fee became a money-spinner and got abused accordingly. Also…Do people seriously still look at these heavy massive printed casting books??? Surely in the 21st Century, the production bookers Laptop, wireless internet, and the agency website reign supreme, rather than agents paying to print massive books? It is dirt cheap to run a website for a year….and the agent only has to do about 10 mins work to add an extra's pic and profile. I thought Equity did cover extra work???

Reply #3

Posted : 08/11/09

markkempner
1113 posts
last on: 07/02/12
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Quite right Lorraine....and the answer: Because the majority allow them to do so!!!

If "nobody" paid upfront fees.....the extras agents would not be able to charge it......but there are lots of people who will always be willing to pay.....and so it goes on. Mind you I always thought if you could get your money back if you never worked in the year...it was kind of an alright fee to stump up really….like a registration fee? When I used to do it - 20 years ago now...there were only a handful of Extras agencies....now of course everyone is at it....and the upfront fee became a money-spinner and got abused accordingly.

Also…Do people seriously still look at these heavy massive printed casting books??? Surely in the 21st Century, the production bookers Laptop, wireless internet, and the agency website reign supreme, rather than agents paying to print massive books? It is dirt cheap to run a website for a year….and the agent only has to do about 10 mins work to add an extra's pic and profile.

I thought Equity did cover extra work???

	Reply #4
Posted : 08/11/09
lorraine 107 posts last on: 07/01/12 send private reply	Hi Mark I think Equity steer clear of Extra worker's for obvious reasons, but I do think that they should have maybe, a separate office to help them out, as their own union don't seem to involve themselves with this issue, which I think needs looking into more at a higher level (which, now at last, the Government seem to be doing. I am sure however that the big cheeses will find a way around it.) as does the abuse of Am-Dram techies, which in my opinion is blatant robbery! I don't think I've seen a book in a casting office since I was at school! Gosh that was a long time ago!! I am going to pm you later regarding the other things we have been chatting about. Lorraine. x

Reply #4

Posted : 08/11/09

lorraine
107 posts
last on: 07/01/12
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Hi Mark
I think Equity steer clear of Extra worker's for obvious reasons, but I do think that they should have maybe, a separate office to help them out, as their own union don't seem to involve themselves with this issue, which I think needs looking into more at a higher level (which, now at last, the Government seem to be doing. I am sure however that the big cheeses will find a way around it.) as does the abuse of Am-Dram techies, which in my opinion is blatant robbery!
I don't think I've seen a book in a casting office since I was at school! Gosh that was a long time ago!!
I am going to pm you later regarding the other things we have been chatting about.

Lorraine. x

	Reply #5
Posted : 09/11/09
CliveHurst 1001 posts last on: 07/02/12 send private reply	Well it seems almost definite that the government announcement will be on Thursday this week, regarding a ban on up-front fees. The ban will only come into force, in October 2010 and not as expected in April 2010. There will be no ban on photographic costs/portfolios. So agents can still charge up-front fees - for taking your photo... The scams will continue! **;^))

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