Don't do it.

I just got this email a few days ago. An anonymous reader writes...

Hello Jeremiah
I just had a question regarding acting agents. Is there a fee when meeting an agent. I am asking because a guy i met was saying he could introduce me to his agent and all i would have to do is pay a two hundred dollar fee. The guy that I met would also be getting a certain percentage for introducing me to the agent as well. IS THIS TRUE? I am thinking its a scam. What do you think? Please write me back whenever you have the chance. Thank you.

Hello Anonymous Reader,

Yes, this sounds like a scam or at the very least a rip-off. From my experience when people introduce their friends to a talent agent there is no fee. You should never pay an agent money upfront. Talent agents make money from getting their clients work. If they charge you a fee to take you on as a client, you shouldn't trust them. And my theory would be once you forked over this ridiculous amount (two hundred dollars!), the agent would string you along with other fees, like making you get headshots from a friend of his or paying to be in some talent book. Talent agents make money from the money they get for you. So don't pay them unless its a 10% fee from a job they got you.

That being said there are places like Actors Connection in New York City (www.actorsconnection.com) where you can pay to meet talent agents and casting directors. I know this kind of contradicts what I just said, but this is a legitimate business that makes money for having sessions and classes where you pay to meet agents (and its something like $35 a pop). I would never pay an agent or a "friend" directly for such services.

Thanks for your question and save that $200!

Jeremiah