Community Discussions

Agency takes 50% of the earnings from the work I do.

Main Post:

I recently joined a new agency. The agency gets 50% commission from the work I do, but they handle client outreach and closing deals. While it's convenient to have the agency find clients and provide editing work, the 50% commission feels excessive. Could others share what percentage commission their agencies take and what services the agencies provide? Getting this perspective would really help me evaluate if this commission rate is reasonable or not.

Top Comment: Agent fee = 20% max Working via an agency = 50% of project budget for 10% of the work - its typically fine though as long as they overbid, Feels a bit shit on the low end

Forum: r/editors

Paid $50 as a sort of deposit for a modeling agency. Am going to call tonight to ask questions and figure out how all this works. Is it a scam?

Main Post:

I met with a modeling agency in downtown NYC today. They said I needed a portfolio which costs $360. I told the woman that I could not pay for that. I said I could offer $50 and that was it. She said that 50 is okay and I could just work off the balance once she starts booking me jobs. She said that it’s the busiest time of year for them and that she was interested in younger men because that’s what they’re looking for in these castings.

She told me to call tonight. She said she’d explain everything to me in detail and I could ask all my questions. She also said that she may even be able to find me work as early as tomorrow.

I made a few mistakes today tho. I DIDNT get the name of the agency. That’s the dumbest thing I could’ve done and I can’t believe I didn’t even think to ask. All I got was the woman’s name, her phone number, and the building of their operations. The building itself didn’t look very suspicious if it’s a scam. I did not provide her with any crucial information tho (credit card, SS#, address, etc).

Do agencies normally ask for something up front? Or is it normal for someone like me who doesn’t have a modeling portfolio. I guess I’ll find out when I call but I just wanted to know if this is a common practice

EDIT: I called the woman I met today. It was a very quick call which was weird. She said that she told the agency and bookers about me and asked me again if i could pay off the deposit balance. I again told her that my $50 is all I can pay and that they can cut my pay from the jobs they book me but that’s all I can offer. She told me that she explained this to them but was told to ask anyway. She said it was fine tho. The full deposit wasn’t a requirement and she can still book my auditions and/or jobs. My lack of pay doesn’t seem to be an issue.

She said I really just had to wait for a job to come up and I’d be notified of it. The call really didn’t clarify if it was legit or not. She can either call me for a booking or she could never call me again because she’s already taken my money (albeit a low $50, but it’s all I had so it’s a sorta big amount to me)

Top Comment:

Scam. You should never need to pay an agency. They'll get their money through your work.

Edit: i had this happen to me. So much money was lost 😤

Forum: r/acting