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Many young people and their parents want to get a start in show business, and it may be tempting to buy into a service offering a way to “skyrocket” them to stardom. However, many of these services are not legitimate and end up preying on parents who simply want the best for their children.
How glam scams take advantage of families
Florida-based talent development team Turner Talent, led by mother and daughter duo Kelli and Erica Turner, has made a name for itself by educating aspiring actors and models about the truth of the industry. Their Casting-Coaching-Connections program equips young talent and their parents with the skills needed to succeed in the industry, including knowing how to spot and avoid falling victim to “glam scams.”
“Unfortunately, these businesses that have become known as ‘glam scams’ aren’t actually illegal, but their dishonesty tends to prey on the dreams of children and their parents,” Kelli says. “Even though what they are doing is wrong and wastes parents’ money, glam scams are allowed to continue to exist in a gray area. The only way to prevent glam scams from victimizing more families is through increasing awareness and education about them.”
Ultimately, many of these glam scams come down to making money. “Although there are some valid costs to get your foot in the door — such as headshots or training with an industry professional — always make sure that they come from a reputable, credible source,” Erica explains. “Our goal at Turner Talent is to help save prospective talent time and money by guiding them safely every step of the way.”
Glam scams to avoid
One of the most common glam scams is showcases that charge a significant amount of money and make becoming a star sound as easy as it is glamorous. “The adage is true — if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is,” the two assert. “These pep rally-style showcases will tout their success stories, but the reality is that they are few and far between. Glam scams are scams because they charge an absurd amount of money for a minimal amount of success.”
Live auditions that come through town are similarly ineffective ways for children to get their “shot at stardom.” Many of these auditions are simply sales tactics, offering vague promises of roles in projects without anything to back them up. Like acting showcases, roaming auditions will proclaim a handful of high-profile discoveries they have worked with in the past, but the chance of newcomers to the industry replicating this success is virtually nonexistent.
Another common glam scam Turner Talent mentions to avoid is agents that act interested but try to sell their clients additional services, such as photo packages. “In general, licensed agents are not allowed to sell anything,” Kelli states. “Beyond that, agents who are busy pushing sales of photo packages aren’t busy booking their clients jobs, which is what their time should be spent doing.”
Parents should also look out for acting and modeling schools that appear glitzy but don’t address the real “how to” of the industry. “Many acting schools don’t focus on the skills that hopeful actors and models need to learn the most — common lingo, audition techniques, and set etiquette, for example,” Erica adds. “These are essential to secure a gig in the industry. Acting schools that are high-cost but don’t teach these skills simply aren’t worth the cost.”
How to spot a glam scam
Turner Talent advises that any person or program that guarantees work or promises fame should also be avoided. “Although there are plenty of projects looking for people of all types and from different backgrounds, there is no way to guarantee success,” Turner Talent explains. “People who genuinely want to help new talent to enter the industry will be honest about the place they could have and how many opportunities there may be for them, not exaggerate and make empty promises.”
Over time, these glam scams have become a multi-million-dollar industry because many people don’t know how to spot them. But industry leaders like Kelli and Erica Turner are hoping to disrupt the talent industry and take down these glam scams by increasing public awareness of their tactics and using education to prevent people from falling victim.
“No one looking to break into this industry should ever have to worry about being scammed,” the two say. “By working with Turner Talent, we can give you expert insight on how to avoid these schemes so you can focus on what you love doing without worry. We offer one-on-one virtual consultations via Zoom to answer any questions you might have, including where you might best fit in the industry. And by joining our CCC program, you’ll have access to an entire community of industry experts who are ready to help you whenever you need it.”
