100064516
BBB file opened: 3/11/2008
Business started: 2/26/2006
Licensing
California law requires any company that procures or offers to procure employment or auditions, or that provides artist management services, direction or counseling to develop an artist's career, for any of which they collect a fee in advance to post a $10,000 bond. This law also prohibits charging for such services such as; registering or listing the artist for employment, providing photographs, videotapes, other promotional materials, costumes, lessons or training, or auditions. As of our last verification, on August 26, 2008, we could find no record of this company's license or registration with the Department of Industrial relations as an advance fee talent service, or Talent Agency.
For the most up-to-date information regarding licensing status, consumers may contact the Industrial Relations Board by calling (415) 703-4846 or visiting their website at www.dir.ca.gov/databases/dlselr/TalAg.html. To obtain bonding information, write to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Department of Industrial Relations, Legal Section, at P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco, CA 94142 or call (415) 703-4846 or by email to DLSE.licensing@dir.ca.gov. The website address is www.dir.ca.gov.
Contact Information
Liz Brainard -
Business Category
Talent Consultants - Advance Fee
Alternate Business Names
Alternate Web Sites
Industry Tips
This company's principal, Erik Desando, has previously owned or operated other talent agencies or talent management companies in Southern California. Our past experience with Mr. Desando's companies has been that the companies failed to obtain and maintain licenses required by the State, and some developed complaint patterns alleging misrepresentation of services. Some of these past businesses include, but are not limited to, Kids and Teens Casting, The Hollywood Group, and Hollywood Handbook.
These companies advertise for talent that imply that by responding, you will have started on your road to stardom. If you answer an advertisement, they will often tell you outright that they will help you obtain acting or modeling employment. The catch is that everyone who responds needs lessons or training to go before a camera or down a runway, they say. This training is really what these companies are selling, and their courses can obligate you for thousands of dollars. In reality, they cannot guarantee you employment, and you will not find such a guarantee in their written contract.
California law contains certain requirements of advance-fee talent services and prohibitions against certain practices. If the company promises you auditions or employment, or if they even ask you for a fee in advance, a talent service is considered to come under the provisions of this law. Under the law, they are not allowed to charge you, for example, to provide photographs, filmstrips, audition tapes or videotapes, lessons or training.
By law, you are entitled to a refund of anything you pay to an advance-fee talent agency if you do not receive the services you were led to believe would be performed. The refund is to be made within 48 hours of your request for it. Additionally, you have the right to cancel your contract, for any reason within 10 business days of the date of the contract. If you cancel, your payment is to be returned within 10 business days.
If your written contract does not inform you of your right to a refund or to cancel, you may demand your refund or cancel your contract at any time, without regard to these time limits. If your money is not returned within the 48 hours or 10 days, respectively, the company is required to refund double your money. Despite the law’s protections, if you are not dealing with a reputable talent service, you may find it difficult to enforce your rights.