Manchester agency

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Yeeo
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Manchester agency

Post by Yeeo »

Hi, I am fairly new to this but my dd who is 7 wants to act and/or model.

We've been bitten by an agent in Manchester having paid (or thought we'd paid for 12 months admin/spotlight etc and now 6 months in we are paying an additional £10 per month admin fee.

On top of that we had a recall and a fee was agreed. I had to chase and chase for 4 months for this to be paid.

I understand there is a financial commitment but I feel well and truly ripped off. Is this normal or should I expect to be treated just a little bit better?

Thanks for your opinions.
Moosmum
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by Moosmum »

I think I know who you mean and a lot have been put off by this new fee,myself included. Honestly you shouldn’t be paying for anything other than spotlight and possibly headshots if needed,however they should still give you an option to provide your own rather than their photographer providing they meet their desired criteria. I can’t help on the fee front I’m afraid as we are very new and haven’t had any jobs as yet. There are some wonderful northern agencies around,we went with a boutique style one as preferred smaller but when we were researching I was surprised how many good ones there are :) xx
tracie
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by tracie »

Hi there,
I think everyone up North will know the agency you are talking about, infact we were with them until I realised just how awful they were and moved. Agencys should NOT MAKE YOU PAY ANYTHING. You pay for headshots and spotlight and that's that. Headshots don't need to be done by the Agency either. We got stung with that one and I actually loathed the pictures which were done by a man (did he have a brother). This Agency does not pay on time, infact we just got something from them which should have been sorted a year and a half ago. I get so angry thinking about the injustice that goes on with this agency ( I am assuming its the same one). 25% commission for Ads 20% for TV - daylight bloody robbery. We are with the most wonderful agency now who treat my son so well, everything is transparent, 15% commission and my son gets lots of auditions etc. I would strongly advice you to find somewhere else. lots of good ones around. Anyone who wants you to pay Admin fees is a no no in my eyes.
Good luck and pls look for a decent agency. xxx
Yeeo
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by Yeeo »

I should also point out that we are tied to a six month notice period? Any way out of this? Another agent has suggested a speak to equity??
Moosmum
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by Moosmum »

If you signed a contract to start off with no fee then I would gather when they added the fee it would be null and void? Not sure but worth reading small print x
jpsreb
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by jpsreb »

would anyone like to suggest the 'good' agencies in manchester area they are using please, PM if necessary, thanks
tracie
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by tracie »

We just told them we were leaving, we were also in a contract but bit the bullet and left. A lot of agencies don't have contracts like that, might have a month but certainly not 6 months. We were stuck in a years contract with their Saturday school as well and coz we left that we had to give them some money. We sent them an email telling them we were leaving, I wouldn't let me son do anything more for them. Good luck
Yeeo
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by Yeeo »

How did you just leave tracie? I've spoken to another agent who also says 6 months is ludicrous. I thought of giving them the 60 quid (6 months x£10 admin fee) and saying we're going now.

She really enjoys the Saturday classes and has friends there so I have no intention of stopping that.

Can anyone recommend a "good northern agency?"
tracie
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by tracie »

Hi we just told them we were leaving and gave our reasons. I also said my child wouldn't be doing anything for them. A brill northern agency is Purple Giraffe, you will love them and they are the total opposite to what you have at the moment. Have a chat with Louise or Andrea. I know someone else who told them they were leaving without the 6months notice. I will have a word with her and get back to you or she might answer on this. Get in touch with purple giraffe ASAP. lots of luck. x
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whattodo
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by whattodo »

Oh dear! The mighty agency that screams strikes again... we were with them too and my ds did extremely well to be fair. However being lied too ie sending you for castings down south and telling you one time yet directors have another repeatedly is just poor. Lying re payments and holding onto cash. Communication was non existent. When we left I told them I wasn’t doing the 6 months as they had broken their own contract. It wasn’t ideal and was very stressful and we had stern words however I was not prepared to put up with it any longer and they came back saying do 3 months notice I told them not a chance. So we left under no notice and I would tell them the £10 charge per month is not only illegal it’s breaking contract terms. We are with a London agency now who are amazing there are lots agencies around in Manchester purple Giraffe is great there’s ora, pha, etc depends what you want really as many agencies cover north and south now. Good luck and if you need any help let me know as I truly feel for you x
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whattodo
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by whattodo »

I do wonder could this agency be reported as I was tempted at the time as something is seriously amiss with them. The whole you can’t phone accounts etc what kind of accounts dept don’t take calls. I had a strong feeling they hold onto cash for a long long time (I caught them out) and I even suspected that we were being paid less for a job as I never saw the contracts towards the end and even when I asked for them repeatedly they never were sent!
thenorth2017
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Re: Manchester agency

Post by thenorth2017 »

Have you had a look at ASA Talent? They are a fairly new Yorkshire based Agency for young people age 6-19. I think they are connected with The American School of Acting, but you don't need to be a member of the school to be part of the Agency. They specialise is really great young actors. They don't charge any fees and they seem really small, nice and busy!
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